God, I love Terawih

photo by : nurphoto

I really love this month. Ramadan is so special to us, especially for me. As an Indonesian, there are many traditions to celebrate during Ramadan.

We have “war takjil” every afternoon. There are so many sellers offering different kinds of food, such as gorengan, kolak, cakes, lupis, and many other traditional dishes. Since we live in Indonesia, where people have different religions, people from other religions also join the “war” to get takjil. It’s fun because it shows the spirit of tolerance.

In the evening, we perform tarawih after Isya prayer. We usually pray 11 rakaat. I really like tarawih because it makes me feel peaceful, calm, and happy.

I always go to a mosque near my house where I feel comfortable praying tarawih. One of the things I like most is the kultum, or short sermon, from the ustad. I gain new perspectives, and it reminds me to always be kind. Even though there are many rakaat — and Gen Z jokingly calls it “leg day” because it can make our legs sore — it’s not a problem. I truly enjoy and cherish tarawih in this holy month.

Today is the last tarawih of this year. I feel a bit sad, but also happy because I know I performed tarawih with all my heart. It makes me feel calm, peaceful, and fulfilled.

Thank You, God, for allowing me to feel this way. I believe it is a gift to experience such deep emotions. I am truly grateful for everything You have given me.

See you next Ramadan. I hope that next year I can fast overseas, gain new knowledge, and become wiser.