A Month That Lives in the Heart 🌙

Hi friends, Naga here. I am a volunteer in the Ruvvy Resilience Lab, and every week I prepare this weekly newsletter.

As a Muslim member of our lab, I wanted to share what this month means to me - and to millions of Muslims around the world.

Ramadan is not simply a month on the calendar.
It is a time when the heart feels more awake.
A time when faith feels closer.
A time when the soul feels intentionally tended to.

It is the month of tranquility.
The month of peace.
The month of mercy.
The month of forgiveness.
The month of giving.
The month of goodness.
The month of the Qur’an - the month of revelation.

And for many of us, it is the most special time of the year.

Because Ramadan is not just about fasting. It is about becoming.

Why Do Muslims Fast? 🌱

From sunrise to sunset, Muslims refrain from food and drink. But the purpose of fasting goes far beyond hunger.

• We fast to grow closer to God.
  Fasting is an act of faith and discipline - a way of strengthening our relationship with our Creator. It teaches us to control our impulses and choose intention over habit.

• We fast to feel gratitude.
  When you experience hunger and thirst, even briefly, you begin to appreciate life’s everyday blessings - food, clean water, safety, and shelter. Things that once felt ordinary begin to feel like gifts.

• We fast to build empathy.
  Millions of people experience hunger daily, not by choice. Ramadan reminds us of this reality and inspires generosity. Charity and caring for others are deeply emphasized during this month.

• We fast to detox the soul.
  Ramadan is not only about avoiding food - it is about avoiding negativity. It is a time to be more patient, more kind, more mindful of our words. A time to soften the heart and strengthen character.

In many ways, Ramadan is a reset.

The Month of Revelation 💫

Ramadan holds deep spiritual significance because it is the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed in 610 CE. Muslims believe that on a night known as Laylatul Qadr - the Night of Power - the first verses were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Laylatul Qadr is described as “better than a thousand months,” a night of immense mercy, forgiveness, and spiritual closeness. During the last ten nights of Ramadan especially, Muslims increase their prayers, reflection, and hope for renewal.

It is a month centered around reconnecting with the Qur’an - reading it, reflecting on it, and allowing its message to shape our character.

What Ramadan Means to Me 🤎

For me, Ramadan is the time I intentionally step back from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with my purpose.

It is the time I invest most deeply in making du’a - in prayer - asking God for everything I hope for in this life and the next. From the smallest concerns to the biggest dreams. I ask with certainty, trusting that God hears me and will answer in the best way possible, even if that answer unfolds differently than I expect.

Ramadan is also my annual moment of reflection.

I look back at the past year - at my growth, my challenges, my progress. I think about who I was and who I want to become. I plan for the year ahead. I set goals not only for achievement, but for character. For patience. For faith. For kindness.

It is a time when I try to become the best version of myself - spiritually, emotionally, and personally.

A Shared Reflection

While Ramadan is sacred in Islam, its lessons are universal.

It invites us to slow down.
To practice gratitude.
To reflect on our purpose.
To give more than we take.
To choose intention over impulse.

In a world that moves quickly and loudly, Ramadan teaches quiet strength.

And for millions of people around the world, that is what makes this month so deeply beautiful.

Wishing peace, mercy, and renewal to all who are observing - and appreciation to those who take the time to learn about it. 💛 

The Greenhouse of the Mind:

Resources to Help You Bloom

Help Support Science Content & Communication

Our team is so excited to get the word out to the people we serve and inform for FREE … and your support will allow us to put more resources and energy into doing precisely that.

Your donations help fund the creation of content that translates our research into practice.

Consider supporting our outreach efforts:

Stay Resilient!