Hina immersed in her afternoon reading of the Holy Qur’an. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar and is the month when Muslims say the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. Consequently, Muslims around the world spend the month of Ramadan reading all 30 chapters of their sacred scripture in its original Arabic language.

Ameen sharing his thoughts on the connection between God and nature during his late afternoon walk around the lake.

Shaan sought solitude in his bedroom for reading.

Zeeshan finds comfort in reading by his bedroom window given the abundance of light that seeps in the late afternoon. During such time, he often reads the scripture in English.  

In lieu of a physical copy, Shaan uses a phone to read scriptures.

Post-dinner tea with milk and sugar which is a staple among Pakistani-American households.

Zeeshan reading the scripture in Arabic. While English is his native language, he reads in Arabic to develop a close connection to the Quran’s origins.

Zeeshan stands in prayer with two of his sons [Raahim and Shaan] along with Abdul-Majeed [‘Majeed’], a close family friend who has been embraced as a son.

Once the sun sets and the family breaks their fast, they enjoy the tradition of Iftar — the consumption of sweet and savory appetizers prior to dinner.

Raahim and his mother [Hina] in their afternoon reading session. Raahim wears his prayer beads around his neck. He will later click the 99 beads with his fingers as he recites the different praises of God. Just like followers of other religions, Muslims also use prayer beads as a meditative practice meant to calm and center themselves.

Every other day, Zeeshan exercises in his bedroom to balance the time spent between reading and prayer.

Traditionally, Ramadan is a very social time for Muslims who usually break their fasts with friends and family members and then congregate with community members in their local mosques for the nightly prayers. Being housebound due to the spread of COVID-19 this year, many Muslims are now relying on chat rooms and video calls and webinars in order to hear Islamic lectures and catch up on the latest news with their loved ones. Using Zoom on a smart phone, Shaan and Majeed sing spiritual hymns to their relatives residing in Houston.

Hina prepares the family for Iftar — Medjool dates filled with cream cheese and fruit salad.

Medjool dates and water are traditionally consumed to break a fast. The sugar rush that comes from eating a date provides a much-needed boost of energy after a long day spent in fasting.

Majeed, known for his exceptional vocals, sings the ‘Adhaan’ — the Muslim call to prayer.

Ameen spent 3.5 years memorizing the entire Holy Qur’an in Arabic and is now known as a “Hafiz.” Before the pandemic, Ameen would have been leading his community in “Taraweeh” prayers at the local mosque. Due to the shelter-in-place orders and the subsequent closure of houses of worship, Ameen now leads his family in their nightly prayers at home.

Raahim reading ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X,’ a literary classic about a renowned Muslim-American civil rights figure whom he admires.

Raahim assisting his mother, Hina, in the kitchen as they prepare dinner.

Hina leads the preparation for supper.

Majeed, Shaan, and Raahim congregated in the kitchen after assisting their mother Hina in clearing the dinner table and washing the dishes.

Homemade chicken curry served with naan. Muslims are especially mindful during Ramadan to avoid gluttony and waste while they strive to show gratitude.