“One begins to wonder, what is the real message promoted during the holy month?”
This question, asked in front of a TV airing endless Ramadan-specific shows and entertainment, got artist and designer Khalid Mezaina from the UAE to devote an entire series of illustrations, released and shared daily, to the essence and meaning of Ramadan today. His images portray snapshots of things he remembers from years of watching televised Ramadan series, and they invite people to think, just like himself, about what place the holy month has in today’s fast and commercialised life.
“The holy month of Ramadan is a month of discipline and reflection. It ironically is also the month where excess is most apparent. Over the course of the many Ramadans I’ve encountered, I’ve always tried my best to be disciplined and play my part in being a ‘better Muslim’. Some years have been successful while others have been an absolute failure. But that’s the point of Ramadan I guess – to be challenging.”
