Zuhair Sulaiman’s First Ramadan Back in Syria: A Journey of Nostalgia and Loss
Zuhair Sulaiman returns to Daraya, Syria, for Ramadan after years abroad. This is his first Ramadan at home in over a decade, bringing feelings of happiness mixed with nostalgia and loss.
Zuhair Sulaiman, accompanied by his wife, patiently awaits the call to prayer in their living room as they prepare to break their fast during Ramadan, a significant period in the Islamic calendar. After years of living in Egypt and Lebanon, Sulaiman has returned to his hometown of Daraya following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad last December. This marks the first Ramadan he observes in his homeland in over a decade, a moment filled with mixed emotions.
While Sulaiman expresses joy at being back in his country, he acknowledges a poignant sense of loss. Despite the relief of returning home, he notes that something essential is missing from his Ramadan experience. This complex interplay of nostalgia, relief, and loss encapsulates the feelings of many who have returned to Syria after prolonged displacement.
The return of Zuhair Sulaiman and others to Syria for Ramadan underscores the multifaceted emotions of nostalgia, relief, and loss. After years of exile, the joy of returning home is tempered by the acknowledgment that significant aspects of their past are irrevocably changed. This narrative reflects the broader experiences of displaced individuals reconnecting with their cultural roots amidst profound changes in their homeland.
Original Source: apnews.com
