It’s easy to dismiss decorating for Ramadan as imitating non-Muslims, questionable innovation, or another materialistic and commercialized holiday. However, Muslims all over the world have Ramadan preparation practices which include decorating. Across the Muslim world, the first step to decorating for Ramadan begins with a thorough house cleaning. An integral part of preparing for Ramadan in many Muslim countries is minor home improvements, such as painting rooms, buying new furnishings, and a little interior decorating. Streets in Egypt, Palestine and Jerusalem are famously and beautifully hung with fanoos (lanterns). Making the bed with fancy bedding, beautiful flower bouquet for the dining tables are very common and traditional way families decorate for Ramadan.

Muslims in the west often carry on the tradition of deep cleaning their homes, and add on to the Ramadan and Eid decorating. One of the main reasons Muslim moms and families decorate their home is to help their children learn and understand the importance of the month, and to to instill love in their hearts for the blessed month and our deen. With that intention, here’s a few other great reasons families in the West decorate for Ramadan and we are convinced (and think you should too)!

 

To raise progressive and active members of our society
We are raising our kids in the West in a time when Islamophobia and discrimination are the norms and the kids deal with it…they have much deeper spiritual questions and they engage in a dialogue that we NEVER experienced growing up. Racism and discrimination, yes but Muslims were never made to defend their basic belief system like today. So at this point in time, Muslim mothers are making it a point to use Ramadan as an opportunity to engage in their communities and schools in active dialogue about Muslim holidays in a positive, relevant light. This in turn serves to teach our own children, not only spiritual acts, but also how to be progressive and active members of our society.”

– Sabahat Babar, Mom of 1

 

To embrace American Muslim authenticity
I live in Iowa. I don’t go to a mosque every day, I don’t hear Adhan in the neighborhood, or have a halal meat market close by. We don’t go to a million friends home on EID. I want to to embrace my American Muslim authenticity (which does not mean materialism). I think making traditions for our kids to look forward to and also share with their non Muslim peers is the beauty of the varied American Muslim experience. We want to celebrate it and get our kids excited fully but without losing the meaning. It’s so hard to be a Muslim kids these days in areas where there is not diversity. My kids want Easter baskets and all that because it’s everywhere. One day maybe the non Muslim friends will say “wow Ramadan is cool! I wish I celebrated eid”. I think the small gift after iftaar on each night is a sweet idea and so is special foods and decorations! It Warms my heart alhamdulillah.”

– N. Ahmad, MD, mom of twins, resident of Bettendorf Iowa

 

To build a foundation of positive association for the deen
My kid gets exposed to birthday celebrations her friends get to have but not her, holidays others get to have but not her, and she is always asking when she can have them and why she can’t. She’s 5. Part of my answer is that those things aren’t for us. But part of my answer is also that we can do some of those things and other things that are unique to us for our own holidays, for eid, or as a reward for meeting Quran goals. Making crafts is a good way to spend time with your kids when running around with them could dehydrate you (during Ramadan). It’s a good way to build a foundation of positive association for the deen so that when they are old enough to get into the academics of it, they are enthusiastic. I’m not very crafty… My house won’t be Pinterest worthy; I have a 5 year old, a 3 yr old, and a 10 month old. I’m not sure if I’ll have time at all for crafts at all. But if I do, it will make one 5 year old who asks to do art everyday and has lots of questions about Islam and what “Muslim guys” do very happy.

– Summer Khanfer, Licensed special educator, Homeschooling mom of 3

 

To make family tradition
“I put up a Ramadan Mubarak sign and a countdown board to help the kids keep track and also for me to keep track of the days they are fasting. Each weekend we do a craft project to decorate for Eid. I go big with decorations on Eid but it’s what makes me feel good. For a long time I didn’t decorate because as a previous Christian, I wanted to abandon anything familiar. It took me 10 years to develop traditions in my household that I felt weren’t copying or following what I used to do as a Christian and that’s been almost 30 years ago.”

– Staci Dudley, Teacher, Mother of 9, grandmother of 2

 

To make Ramadan and Eid Special
I want my children to eagerly wait for Ramadan, the most blessed month SubhanAllah. Growing up in a Muslim country, we were surrounded with Ramadan ‘ronaq’, from sehri transmission to lights and crowds in markets. It’s different for our children. They see other religious holidays celebrated in the media, at school while they don’t even get a public holiday for Eid. I see no harm in trying to make this month and then Eid as special as we can. And it doesn’t have to be an either or situation between ibadah and craft etc. Who says we can’t do both. We’re all just trying to get to the same goal, taking paths that suit us and our families I think. May Allah accept all our efforts.

– Syma Khan, Mom of 3, part time photographer

 

To Create Excitement and Memories
Muslims in foreign countries have to unfortunately compete with the very commercial Christmas. They don’t have to but they do. Can’t fault them. It’s about creating excitement and memories and everyone has their own way to do so. Decorating the house for special occasions is a world wide holiday tradition and there is nothing unusual about it.
Children are exposed to other religions and crafts so Muslim mothers are trying to do the same. I enjoy when my kids count days to Ramzan. It’s what feels right to us.

– Dr Uzma Yunus, Physician, Mom, Writer, Breast Cancer Survivor

 

P.S. Read more about Ramadan decor and shop all your Ramadan decor and gifts here.