With blessings, people who celebrate Ramadan, get another month of forgiveness, fasting, helpfulness and kindness. Ramadan, starting from the first day of March this year, will end with breaking fast during sunset on March 29. This is an important month for the Muslim community who fast all day long from sunrise to sunset to empathize with the less fortunate.
This month of Ramadan has its own importance as it is the revealing month of the Holy Quran. According to Muslim belief, on the twenty seventh night of Ramadan, the Quran was brought to earth by Prophet Muhammad S., the last prophet of Islam. Ramadan’s twenty seventh night (Laylatul Qadr) is stated in the Holy Quran to be the best than a thousand months. “لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَهۡرٖ ” which translates to “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” [Surah Al-Qadr, surah no. 97, ayah no. 3] During this night, Muslims pray and try to connect to Allah, staying awake for the whole night. In this month Muslims try to be busy in worshiping along with fasting for a month and bid farewell to Ramadan with Eid Ul-fitr, one of the two main celebrations of Islam, largely celebrated all over the world.
Ramadan brings a lot of excitement to the local Muslim community. Nada Isa, a senior, says, “The most exciting part is getting together with your family, a lot of people gather around during this time of the year. You also get to go out more during the night and you get to stay up.” Isa’s goal is to be more disciplined and patient.
As Muslims fast throughout the month of Ramadan, many face struggles. Isa struggles with “dehydration and energy throughout the day” as she can’t drink and or eat anything. She says, “You can get very exhausted, especially when you have to do your daily activities. She added, “Going through each day on an empty stomach can be very difficult.”
Jahan, a sophomore, says “The most exciting part about Ramadan is that in this month, we get a lot of blessings and the devil is imprisoned. I feel more guided than normal, I’m doing more religious activities than before.” This special month also brings out the best in people. She wants to improve on her arrogance and behavior.
Sumaiya says, “The biggest struggle I face is that I get a lack of sleep, I have to get ready at 6 a.m. and then leave the house at 7 a.m. The rest of the day I just feel tired.” She likes to eat dates during suhoor to feel energized and make fasting easier.
One of the math teachers, Rich Himed, observes fasting each year. “It’s the ninth month of the [Islamic] calendar; it’s when the Quran was sent from God. You visit family more often, you check up on people, you’re just kinder in general.”
Himed mentions how he struggles with “less patience.” He wants to remain disciplined throughout this month and believes in “giving yourself more grace.” He mentions that he likes to have samosas, a fried pastry, when breaking his fast and hopes to start eating more fruit.
For many participants, Ramadan is viewed as a time of spiritual renewal that reveals the best in Muslims.
