FREE
Lanterns in Ramadan
On the first night of Ramadan, a Muslim
family set up a table and gave out lanterns.
People were coming home after work.
They looked like they were very tired.
Then they saw the Muslims and their lanterns.
Green. Gold. Red.
Soft lights glowed inside each one.
A sign on the table said:
FREE RAMADAN LANTERNS
TAKE ONE
AND SHARE THE LIGHT!
People slowed down. A young boy asked the man,
“What's Ramadan?”
The Muslim smiled and handed him a lantern.
He told him,
"Ramadan is the month of fasting!
“We don't eat any food during the daytime.
And we try to become better people.
More kindness. More patience. More prayer.”
The boy held the lantern carefully.
“It’s for me?”
“Yes,” the man said. “A gift.”
Soon more people gathered.
A delivery driver. A Lady. A student.
Each person received a lantern.
The lady looked surprised.
“Why are you giving these away?”
A young Muslim woman answered gently:
“Because Ramadan is about sharing light.
We want everyone to feel welcome.”
As evening grew darker, the street began to glow.
Lanterns hung in apartment windows.
Lanterns sat in shop doors.
Lanterns lit small kitchens and living rooms.
People smiled at each other.
A boy carried his lantern proudly and said,
"Look dad, street looks like a celebration."
His father nodded.
“Yes. Good Muslims SHARE The light.”
And one small lantern at a time, the . . .
Spirit of Ramadan spread across the city.
