Ramadan is the holiest time of the year for Muslims. The month-long holiday is celebrated during the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar calendar, to commemorate the revelation of the Quran. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset and prioritize spiritual growth by praying, reading the Qur’an and participating in acts of charity.
For many students, especially those living on campus, this Ramadan might be the first they’ve spent away from home, making it more challenging.
The Beacon sat down with members of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) to compile a list of tips for students who observe Ramadan.
Prioritize having a consistent schedule
During Ramadan, Muslim students have to balance both academic responsibilities and additional spiritual tasks, such as attempting to read the entire Qur’an throughout the month. Establishing a steady and consistent routine will help students stay organized and on track.
A busy day might also be a helpful tool in staying focused on spiritual tasks, like fasting, according to Lamar Gamaleldin, a first-year nursing student and member of MSA.
“I prefer staying busy,” Gamaleldin said. “If I were to just sit and watch a show, I’d want to eat popcorn. But if I’m locked in, then I won’t be thinking about food.”
For Beneen Salim, a first-year biology major, sleep is vital during Ramadan.
“I like getting a good night's sleep and eating filling foods for “suhoor”, the pre-dawn meal," said Salim.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a minimum of seven hours of sleep is considered healthy for adults. Sleeping the recommended seven hours maximizes the amount of energy you have throughout the day and acts as your main energy source in the absence of food and water.
Don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations
The university provides some resources without students having to ask, like free dates at Pilot House for students to break their fast, according to Salim. However, don’t be afraid to ask for more accommodations. Professors can be flexible to work with you and give you that additional support, according to MSA President Manar Surur
“Our professors are really accommodating,” Surur said. “Last year, I had a night class that coincided with when we were breaking our fast. We were able to leave, break our fast, pray, and then come back to class.”
Additionally, Surur emphasized the importance of reaching out for help to achieve academic success during Ramadan.
“I tend to ask for extensions on assignments during Ramadan because I feel like I don't have as much energy during the day,” Surur said. “My teachers are always willing to accommodate.”
Eat nourishing meals before and after fasting
During Ramadan, fasting is used to connect with Allah and the community around you. In Islam, fasting allows you to gain greater “taqwa,” or God-consciousness. Taqwa creates a constant awareness of Allah, from which a person gains discipline, self-restraint and a greater incentive to do good.
Fasting can also lead to fatigue and a lack of concentration, meaning that students who are fasting might need additional support to thrive in their academics.
Muslims who are fasting do so for up to 16 hours without consuming any food or water, depending on the area they live in and the time of the year. Because of this, students who are fasting should seek nutrient dense and filling meals for suhoor, the meal eaten before sunrise, and “iftar,” the meal eaten after sunset.
Gamaleldin recommends prepping these meals to make your days a little easier. During suhoor, Gameleldin enjoys eggs or overnight oats. For ftar, she eats comforting meals like the lentil and vegetable soups her mom prepares, which are filling and hydrating.
Gamaleldin also emphasized the importance of staying hydrated when you can.
“When you break your fast, and throughout the time you can eat, it's very important to drink a lot of water,” Gamaleldin said. “When you’re fasting, you’re not drinking it throughout the day, and it's really hard. I'm someone who doesn't drink water that much, but during Ramadan, I drink a lot of water. For some reason, when you can't drink, it becomes so much more enticing.”
Find a community to rely on
Ramadan is a time meant for community. Besides breaking fast together, Muslims often pray together and hold big celebrations during the month. However, on a college campus with a smaller Muslim population, it can be harder to find that sense of community.
Being surrounded by non-Muslims during Ramadan, especially those who are not aware of the holiday, can make fasting more challenging, according to Gamaleldin.
“When I mention fasting to people here, they’re always like, ‘Oh my God, not even water?’ and they just feel bad for me in a sense,” Gamaleldin said. “But when you're around people who are fasting, they understand what you're going through. They're not gonna be like, ‘Oh, you should just eat.’”
In addition to these types of situations, being far from family can make the holiday look very different for college students, according to Salim.
“It’s not like how it was last year when I was surrounded by people who fasted with me and celebrated with my family,” Salim said. “It's more lonely.”
MSA wants the Muslim community on campus to be as supported as they can be throughout Ramadan, so they encourage students to lean on each other for support. Whether that be breaking fast together, praying simultaneously or participating in events meant to create community.
Samantha Zavala is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at zavala27@up.edu
