After my previous reflection on Ash Wednesday, some readers pointed out that Lent currently coincides with Ramadan and will soon coincide with Passover. This is a remarkable moment. Approximately 2 billion Muslims celebrate the holiest month, which marks the time when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Meanwhile, President Trump has not yet decided whether to launch a long-term military offensive against Iran. The Winter Olympics are in the spotlight, Mr. Epstein is furious, and diplomats are chasing last-minute deals. There are already enough U.S. troops in the region to start a war, perhaps as early as this weekend.
The bigger picture is equally troubling. If parts of the left do not explicitly condemn Hamas, Hamas will hide behind Israeli extremism and hide the fact that it is also a real threat to peace. Prejudice against both ethnicities is sadly similar.
Lent and Ramadan feel especially relevant right now. Understanding Islamic customs is more important than ever. Despite their differences and troubled histories, both faiths call for a firm cessation. They resist parochial nationalism and the spiritual tinkering that continues while Rome burns. The kingdom of God and the rule of Allah is not a policy platform, but a moral claim by which all platforms are judged.
Ramadan is a call to reconnect with our faith not only through fasting but also through prayer and prayer. sadaqahemphasize the intention behind the donation rather than the amount.
Like Lent and Passover, Ramadan evokes a return to spiritual basics. Life gets in the way. Everything attracts our attention. This sacred time quiets the noise and gives us space to reflect and reevaluate our relationships with God and each other.
Ramadan is often misunderstood in the same way as Lent. Many consider it a difficult period that requires strict rules and patience. But these traditions are not just meant to be restrictive. It also provides space to breathe. In Islam, fasting is considered a gift, a time for clarity. For Christians, Muslims, and Jews, these seasons bring about deep renewal. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ and our own promises, Ramadan celebrates the grace of the return, and Passover celebrates the liberation of people from slavery. Alleluiaalready; eid, now. [*]
American Christians in particular are at risk for what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace,” a sentimental gospel without real sacrifice. Muslims face another risk the Quran says Al Ghurul, or self-delusion — the idea that someone can receive God’s mercy without being changed by it. If you stop for a moment, you might realize how far you have strayed from what really matters.
Our culture often treats constant productivity as a moral obligation, like a machine that views silence as a failure. Fasting goes against this by forcing us to stop and take a break. There’s a certain comfort in being told to pause, even if it’s necessary. By saying no to the demands of the world for a while, you can find comfort in detaching yourself from the friction of modern life.
Western culture tends to frame discipline as solitary heroism. Athletes train alone, hermits embrace silence, and students study long after everyone has gone to bed. But Ramadan offers something different. Fasting is communal. It’s hard to dwell on your own hunger when everyone around you shares the same hunger. Sharing hardships makes them easier to endure. A personal trial turns into a collective act of praise. Even the most difficult stops are easier when done together.
In the words of a Muslim colleague, “It was never a lack of effort, but a presence of clarity, something that usually gets hidden behind the noise.” This ritual endures across faiths, remains true, and is the beginning of a hard-won and therefore more lasting peace.
notes and reading
[*] I know – liturgically speaking, we “bury” Alleluia during Lent, but the celebration of Eid is still a long way off. But what I’m pointing to is a deeper reality. The joy of a feast is more than just a reward waiting at the finish line. In fact, that’s what makes the speedup possible in the first place.
Studying the Quran: New Translations and Commentaries (2017). The most acclaimed translation of the Qur’an to date, and a series of resources that explore the nuances of its text.
Reza Shah-Kazemi-The Other in the Light of the One: The Universality of the Quran and Interreligious Dialogue (2006). A theologically rich exploration of how Qur’anic concepts such as mercy, guidance, and spiritual warfare illuminate both Islamic practice (including Ramadan) and its relationship to other Abrahamic traditions.
Irshad Manji — Allah, freedom and love (2011). “Identity is not fragile; it is constantly nourished by a willingness to discuss the meaning of family.” Particularly in chapter 1, “There are more important things than fear.” Chapter 2 “Identity can trap you, but integrity can set you free.”
Faisal Devji & Zaheer Kazmi (Editors)—Islam after liberalism (2017). How liberalism has been criticized and restructured by Muslim thinkers and movements to envision a reality beyond the abstractions that define compatibility with Islam.
death cannot be controlled
deep dream
Approximately 2+2=5
Source: 2 + 2 = 5 – williamgreen.substack.com
