The Abdullah family were very excited about the approaching Ramazan, especially the seven-year-old Mustafa, who was hoping to fast for the first time this year.

On the night of the first of Ramazan, before going to bed, Mustafa asked his mum if he could keep a fast the next day.

“You will do it soon, but not tomorrow, as it’s’ your school day and your assessments are also going on. It’s too hot these days, and since you are too young, you will be stressed out. You can fast on the weekend.”

Mustafa was a little disappointed, but he accepted what his mum said as she had a point. The next day at school, his friends asked him if he was fasting. When Mustafa told them that he wasn’t, they all started to ridicule him.

“Hey, you loser, we have been fasting since we were four years old. We are fasting today too. When will you grow up boy?” one of the boys taunted him.

Another said, “When are you going to set your boundaries Mustafa? Why did you listen to your mum?”

Mustafa got upset and felt very ashamed. Once he got home, he couldn’t control his feelings and started crying. When his mother saw him crying, she hugged him and asked him the reason.

He told her what had happened at school. After hearing that, his mother explained, “I didn’t let you fast because it is very hot these days, and you were having a fever as well. Moreover, you have not reached the age when fasting is obligatory on you. You have to trust your parents, as we know what is best for you.”

Mustafa burst out, “You don’t understand my feelings, mum. If you were at my place, you would have also felt disheartened. All the kids were fasting and I was the only one not fasting. But I will keep a fast tomorrow.”

Even though his mum did not approve, Mustafa kept a fast the next day. When he was at school, he felt pretty tired. He also had PE class that day, in which he went out and played, even though the teacher had allowed the students to stay inside the classroom if they were fasting. Things obviously became very tough for him and he felt dizzy. Later at home, he was too weak to even change or say his prayers and just flopped on his bed.

Mum came and sat with him and told him lovingly, “Mustafa, I did not say that you can’t fast at all, just grow a bit older, eat healthily, build some stamina, and then I will be the one waking you up at every sehri to start the fast with us, and I won’t let you skip a single fast.”

Mustafa understood and realised that he was not physically ready for fasting, he need to grow up first. The next year, Mustafa fasted for several days, and with every passing year, the number of his fasts increased, within a few years, he was keeping all the fasts in Ramazan. He also prayed five times and, also on the blessed nights of the last ten days of Ramazan. His mother was proud of him and she invited all his friends and cousins once, every Ramazan for a grand iftar dinner.

When he was in his late teens, Mustafa observed the aitekaf in the last ten days of Ramazan and grew up to be a pious man, for the lesson he learnt in childhood was strong enough to lead him to the right path.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 23rd, 2024