- by Waleed Aslam

This will be a very challenging Ramadan for many of us. Normally we spend this month amidst our families and our community. However, both those things cannot happen right now. We’ve had a very hard time explaining this to our three year old.

This picture reminds me of a happier time when we could all celebrate together.

It is important to talk about the premise of Ramadan, which is of community, giving back and taking care of your neighbours. I feel we need all that now more than ever, especially in the wake of the senseless massacre in Nova Scotia.

So, as we fast from sun up to sun down for the next 30 days, let us look forward to a better future - a future where we can go back to rejoicing with our families, neighbours and friends.In the meantime, let's use this blessed month to give back. Check up on your neighbour (virtually), sign up for that shift at the food bank or donate to a local charity.

On another note, let me just say how blessed I feel to call this amazing country home. I was at a local grocery store in Owen Sound and was shocked to see an entire section dedicated to Ramadan. While I have seen this many a times in some of the larger cities south of us, it was a pleasant surprise seeing it up here in our beautiful and accepting community.

PROUD CANADIAN HERE ??
#novascotiastrong
DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH

Until better times!
Waleed