Jihad quite literally means “to struggle.” While there is more than one form of jihad, one brand requires patience, self-discipline and a bull-like tenacity — it is a jihad, or struggle, against oneself. Fasting during Ramadan is one form of such jihad. Ramadan is the name of a month in the Islamic lunar calendar — this is why it falls at a different time each year. During this month, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. At sunset, Muslims break their fast with a meal known as iftar. This is perhaps one of the hardest forms of jihad, especially in college. In the summer months when the days are long (thank you, daylight savings time), fasts last for sixteen hours. We at the Clog sympathize with the struggles of fasting, so here are some tips for the perfect iftar for fasters or the perfect evening snack for non-fasters:
1. Start off with a date! Dates can be found at many local grocers, such as Whole Foods on Telegraph Avenue.
2. Add a course of meat. Chicken is an easy meat to cook with and can be prepared in a number of different ways. Just add seasoning and bake it. Halal meat and delicious spices can be found at Al-Halal Meat Market, Indus Food Center or Middle East Market.
3. If you don’t have time to go anywhere far, Bear Market sells microwaveable samosas that make the perfect iftar snack.
4. If you’re too tired to cook, grab some friends and go out to eat! Julie’s Cafe, Cal Gyros, D’yar, De Afghanan and Hot Shop are great places for some quality iftar-ing.
5. On these hot summer days it’s important to stay hydrated. Try making a rose lassi! Just blend together:
– 2 1/2 cups plain yogurt
– 1⁄2 teaspoon fine sugar
– 2 teaspoons pure rosewater
– 3⁄4 cups ice water
– 1 cup ice cube, cracked
– Fragrant rose petals for garnish
Image sources: www.someecards.com, Daniel R. Blume, Alex Berger, penguincakes, Ibrahim Asad, Manuela Zangara via Creative Commons
