A German revert shares honest reflections and practical advice from his first Ramadan experience.
I took shahada in November, so I had a few months to prepare for my first Ramadan. I read books. Watched videos. Talked to brothers at the masjid.
Nobody warned me about the headaches.
Day three, I thought I was dying. Caffeine withdrawal is real, and my body was not happy about the sudden change. I used to drink four cups of coffee before noon. Going cold turkey during the longest fasts of the year was... an experience.
But Allah tells us:
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." — Quran 2:183
This verse kept me going. I wasn't alone in this struggle. Muslims for over 1400 years have done this. I could too.
But here's the thing - it got easier. And then it got meaningful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Fasting is a shield. When one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner nor foolishly. If someone fights him or insults him, let him say: 'I am fasting.'" — Sahih al-Bukhari 1894
By the second week, I started understanding why everyone talks about Ramadan being special. It wasn't just about not eating. It was about noticing things I'd always ignored. The sunrise. The way food actually tastes when you've been waiting for it all day. The quiet of fajr time when the rest of Berlin is still asleep.
And this beautiful hadith gave me comfort:
"Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said: 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it.'" — Sahih Muslim 1151
What helped me the most: finding a routine. Suhoor at the same time. Breaking fast simply - dates and water first, always. Not trying to pray every single optional prayer from day one and burning out.
Some brothers told me to "go all in" since it was my first Ramadan. But honestly? I think pacing myself was the right call. I actually made it through the whole month without giving up.
Ready to embrace modest fashion for your spiritual journey? Whether you're a new Muslim or preparing for Ramadan, our collection of comfortable, quality Islamic clothing can help you feel confident in your faith.
If this is your first Ramadan too, go easy on yourself. You're learning. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is showing up, day after day, even when it's hard.
Especially when it's hard.
For anyone else navigating their first Ramadan, know that comfortable clothes make a real difference. We've got pieces designed for exactly this at our Ramadan collection.
