Ramadan is a month of spiritual renewal and self-discipline. Many of us are coming to Ramadan this year with varying situations. For some of us, life is slowly returning to normal. For individuals with health concerns, they may continue to experience a socially distant Ramadan. The Family and Youth Institute has prepared this Ramadan Toolkit with practical tips to nourish your spirituality and well-being this year.

As the month of Ramadan draws closer, our minds turn in anticipation of fasting, suhoor/sehri (pre-fast) meals, festive iftar (breaking fast) parties, and taraweeh with the community. But for some of us struggling with an eating disorder, Ramadan may be a stressful and challenging time.

If Ramadan is especially difficult because you struggle with an eating disorder, ease your way into the month by checking out our 6 Tips for Coping with an Eating Disorder in Ramadan resource here.

Ramadan can be a source of stress or anxiety for those already struggling with substance abuse addiction. Among Muslim Americans, more than one in three people say they know a person who has or is struggling with addiction.

This Ramadan, you or someone you know may be looking to cope with their addiction. Click here for helpful strategies to move closer towards recovery during this blessed month.

COVID Ramadan Resources

For many of us, Ramadan is a time to change habits, heal from hurt, or set new goals. It is the perfect time to turn our focus inwards and think about how we want to grow.

Although mosques are open now, things may not be the same as they were before. Ramadan is also now coinciding with a time of year when you or the people around you are busy with school, finals, graduation, and other responsibilities. How can we get our energy and excitement back as we welcome back the blessed month of Ramadan?

Check out the article for tips here.

Ramadan is coming— and this year, a lot of uncertainty is also coming with it for many of us. The FYI conducted a survey to better understand the spiritual and community needs of Muslim Americans during this Ramadan. Based on these findings, the primary concerns of American Muslims were about the spiritual growth and connection we so much associate with the community/masjid. 

Click here to read on.

Family togetherness during Ramadan is especially important for parents of young children and adolescents. Children’s early experiences of Ramadan informs the feeling and memories they associate with this blessed month  throughout their lives.

Creating family traditions to get children excited about and engaged with Islam during this month will help them grasp hold of the inexplicable aura of blessings and sacredness that we as adults cherish about Ramadan.

The Family and Youth Institute Community Educators, Duaa Haggag and Nadeem Siddiqi give tips, pointers, hadith, and homework in this webinar that is designed to help families get ready for the blessed month that is on our doorsteps!

Take a minute to listen, pause, take notes, and come back for more! Check out the webinar here and the resources provided here.

How can I give back to others and my community if I still can’t leave my house?!

This is a question that many of us may still be struggling with as we finish these last few blessed days of Ramadan. Many of us spent most of the month missing our friends and family and figuring out new ways to catch the blessings this year. While we have no control over our current circumstances, there is still plenty that we can do to kindle the giving spirit of Ramadan.

Click here to read on.

What are the issues and concerns of Muslim Americans as we approach a COVID-19 Ramadan? The FYI conducted a survey in order to gain a better understanding to support you during this physically distant and spiritually different Ramadan!

In an effort to provide community leaders and organizers with pertinent information about the needs of Muslim Americans, we’re sharing these preliminary findings. Please keep these limitations in mind as you review the responses here.

Eid Resources

Along with the joy of being with the people we love, the holidays may also remind us of who we’ve lost. A holiday can bring on a fresh wave of grief after the passing of a loved one–even many years later. The difficult emotions we thought we had dealt with begin to resurface. And when everyone else is celebrating, the grief can feel even more heavy than usual. 

Click here to read on.

This Eid, you or someone you know may be grieving the loss of a loved one. The way we respond to someone’s grief can support or hinder their grieving. If you know someone who is grieving a loss this Eid, use these tips to support them.

Holidays may seem as simple as a day to have fun and celebrate. But, they are far more important to our well-being and identity — and work to build resilience in all of us. Celebrating Eid is no different. If humans have shown one trait through this pandemic, it’s resilience. Day by day, we are making it through some tough times, and celebrating Eid is just one example of that. In this article, we’ll discuss the true meaning and impact of celebrating Eid, within a pandemic or not. 

Growing up, the last few days of Ramadan in our household were always a flurry of activity. Whether we were quickly baking one last batch of cookies for the neighbors, putting the final touches on our Eid outfits, or quickly running out to buy bags of candy to hand out to the kids at the Eid prayer – there was always something that needed to be done! 

Click here to read on.