Ramadan karim!

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, an occasion that requires both spiritual and material preparedness.

Upon instructions from His Majesty King Abdullah, the government has stocked up the necessary food items at affordable prices.

That should put to rest citizens’ fears that shops will run out of foodstuffs, and maybe we will be spared the agonising traffic jams and the long queues at shops that already started, at least in Amman.

This year’s month of fasting may be harder than previous ones. There are about 17 hours of fasting; that and the weather — even with normal summer temperatures if the country is blessed — could tax bodies and minds.

Still, people should remember to avoid lavish iftars and try to have simple and healthy meals, to avoid health problems.

More important is to preserve the spirituality of the holy month and avoid splurging on the material, which we, Jordanians, like to do, out of hospitality or to impress.

Ramadan is supposed to be a time for reflection, meditation and soul searching, the month when one tries to better one’s life and the lives of those around.

It is the spirituality of the month that counts and not the foods we eat, at the end of the day.

Soul cleansing should be a top priority for people in this holy month. This should be constantly reminded by imams who can impress on the believers the duty to turn religious in the full sense of the word, refraining from evil thought and action.

The less fortunate — our own and refugees — need all the help that comes their way. Jordanians have always lent a helping hand and will no doubt do it this time, too.

But particularly this Ramadan should be the time when the nation, as a whole, counts its blessings, is grateful for the privilege of living in peace and harmony when the world around has gone mad, and when citizens remember to be civil to each other, fasting or no fasting.

Ramadan karim!