Zuhair Sulaiman returns to Daraya, Syria, to observe Ramadan for the first time in over ten years. After years in Egypt and Lebanon, he feels relief in being home but also acknowledges a sense of loss as he reflects on the changes and those he has lost due to the conflict. His story represents the mixed emotions of many returning to their homeland after displacement.

Zuhair Sulaiman reflects on his first Ramadan back in his hometown of Daraya, Syria, after years in exile. Following the ousting of President Bashar Assad in December, he returned from Egypt and Lebanon, where he had resided since 2014. This year marks the first time in over a decade that he observes the holy month in his homeland, a poignant moment filled with mixed emotions, even amid a sense of relief.

As Sulaiman waits with his wife for the call to prayer to break their fast, he acknowledges a bittersweet feeling. While he finds joy in being home for Ramadan, he cannot help but feel that something essential is missing from this experience. The weight of nostalgia and the loss of loved ones who did not survive the conflict cast a shadow over his return home, making this Ramadan both deeply meaningful and melancholic.

The return to one’s roots during such a significant religious time highlights the complex emotions faced by many who have fled conflict. For Sulaiman, this moment serves as a reminder of the past and the challenges faced by those who have endured the ravages of war, embodying both hope for the future and a painful acknowledgment of loss.

Zuhair Sulaiman’s experience illustrates the complexities faced by returnees during Ramadan after years spent in exile. His feelings of nostalgia and relief, interwoven with the pain of loss, reflect the broader emotional landscape for many displaced individuals. As he observes this holy month back in Syria, it captures a unique blend of joy and sadness, revealing the lingering effects of conflict on personal and communal observances of tradition.

Original Source: apnews.com