There is a beautiful month—the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, lovingly placed between a Sacred Month, Rajab, and Ramadan—that is forgotten.  Sha’ban is this beautiful month, and translated from Arabic, it means the month of separation.

Excitement for Ramadan rises, and hurried preparations swallow our time during this month. Amid our mass shopping and planning, the importance, blessings, and rewards of Sha’ban slip away from us. This neglected month is one in which we need to wake up and give it its importance, remembering it as true spiritual preparation for Ramadan. Not only is it preparation for what is to come, but Sha’ban holds its own significance. It is a month that consists of historic events, blessings of a powerful night of forgiveness second to Laylat-ul-Qadr, an invitation to purify our hearts with salawat on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and a call to increase in fasting and Quran recitation.

From Indonesia to the Pacific Northwest, Ratu Vanda Wardini’s journey has been one of devotion—to her family, community, and faith. Residing in Portland, Oregon, she is a dedicated wife and mother of four boys, having homeschooled them before they transitioned to high school. While her family life keeps her engaged, Vanda’s commitment extends beyond her home. 

I have always been passionate about education and my journey over the years has informed my role as Education Director at Rabata. The first day of school always had me lying awake the night before, unable to sleep from excitement—the anticipation of meeting a new teacher, starting a new grade, reading more books, and learning new things. As a child, my mother would lovingly refer to me as Dr. Eamaan, as I longed to one day fill that title, hoping to reach the pinnacle of knowledge. I would seek out learning in all possible ways, even jealous when my older brothers were assigned homework and I was not. Soon enough, my day came, and I remember eagerly rushing to my desk to complete my much-awaited homework.

Meet Ariel Schmid, our Ribaat Student of the Month who is on a journey to deepen her connection to Islam. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, to American and German parents, Ariel now resides in her hometown with her Palestinian husband and enjoys spending time with his extended family of siblings, cousins, and young ones. Ariel works as a strategy analyst at VITAS Healthcare, a leading national hospice provider, but her life is as much about nurturing faith and knowledge as it is about her professional endeavors.

The story of Ribaat women echoes in the journey of our December Student of the Month, Meherun Khanom-Noor. British-Bangladeshi, Meherun’s journey with studying Islam has transformed over the years, especially as she navigated new life changes, from university studies to, now, stay-at-home mother to three. In the midst of it all, she has always been a dedicated student of knowledge, whether it be in university classes, personal learning with podcasts and reading, or now with Ribaat.