This article was written by Shadia Igram, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Muslim Space, wife, mother and 4th generation Muslim American.

Last week, I had the privilege of watching my 5-year-old son give a cultural presentation to his pre-school class on Ramadan. I watched as he read his report, a list of facts he came up with that defined his understanding of the holy month. “Ramadan is 29 days. Ramadan is when you fast. Ramadan is 696 hours. At the end of Ramadan is Eid….”. Sitting in his chair, wearing his blue thobe [traditional outfit worn by men in the Middle East] with the yellow trim, he fielded questions from the group of inquisitive 5 and 6-year-olds with a level of confidence that made my heart burst.

There he was, sharing his religion with his peers, free from any feelings of judgment or exclusion. It was the sort of beautiful interaction that is innate in children but seems to diminish as we grow up. As a parent, I want that to last in him forever. And as a faith advocate, I want to provide that to everyone who has ever felt excluded, unseen or been told that there are limitations to their expression of faith. I want the normative environment my son has in his school to extend to his house of worship.

That is what Muslim Space strives to build – a community that is welcoming, affirming, and free of judgment. A place where you can come as you are, where your past, your personal choices or your style of dress doesn’t define you. Where you will be afforded the freedom to worship in a manner that resonates with you.  Where your relationship with the divine is deepened and your surroundings are aligned with your values.

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims all over the world. It’s a month filled with shared meals, shared worship, shared acts of charity, and shared challenges. This year, in our second Ramadan as a community organization, events moved briskly and left little time to prepare before the first day of fasting.

At the end of Ramadan last year, we decided to host our own nightly prayer service for this Ramadan. A service that was not only free from barriers separating the women from the men, but also a service that was specifically catered to the personality, needs, and interests of the American Muslim. In January, we began our search for an Imam who could lead our congregation during Ramadan- an Imam who could uplift our spirits after a long day of fasting, value the participation of each person, and guide us to a deeper connection with God.

For nearly 5 months we searched but to no avail. We conceded to the reality that this was not our year and we’ll try again next year. Then, with less than a week before Ramadan, we received an application we could not ignore. Turkish-American Imam Onur Kaya, with his mesmerizing recitation and his soothing demeanor, was the perfect fit. And with only a few days before Ramadan, discovering he was local to Austin seemed like a gift from God. Then came the scramble to find a venue willing to host us every night for a month. The word went out and the wonderful folks at Austin Yoga Tree graciously offered their studio for our use in the evenings. We were greeted at the door with a quote from Rumi, “Remember, the entrance to the sanctuary door is inside you.”  We knew this was going to be a very unique month filled with blessings.

Muslim Space opened Ramadan on Sunday, May 5th with an evening prayer service in the serenity of a yoga studio where the melodies of Quranic recitations and devotional songs filled the air and each worshipper felt connected to one other. This will continue every night until the last day of Ramadan with the days in between filled with community iftars, celebrations, charity projects, and educational events.

It is exhausting and challenging and at times I question my sanity. But then someone will tell me that Muslim Space is where they feel included, honored, and seen and I know there is no other way I’d rather spend my Ramadan.