Zuhair Sulaiman returns to his hometown of Daraya to observe Ramadan after years away, feeling both joy and loss. It is his first Ramadan in Syria in over a decade, as he reflects on what is missing from his celebration.
Zuhair Sulaiman, alongside his wife, sits patiently in their living room awaiting the call to prayer to signal the breaking of their fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Sulaiman has recently returned to his hometown of Daraya, following the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad last December. For the past several years, he had resided in Egypt and Lebanon, leaving in 2014. This Ramadan marks a significant moment, as it is the first time in over a decade that he observes this sacred month in his homeland. While Sulaiman expresses joy at returning home, he poignantly notes that a sense of loss lingers, indicating that something essential is absent from this experience.
In summary, Zuhair Sulaiman’s return to Daraya highlights complex emotions intertwined with his first Ramadan back home. The nostalgia for a past life, relief at returning, and the pervasive sense of loss reflect the multifaceted impacts of conflict. His story serves as a reminder of the lasting effects that displacement and war have on individuals and their communities during significant cultural observances.
Original Source: apnews.com
