Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion during which Muslims read the Quran, the central religious text believed to be revelations from Allah, fast, and perform special prayers.
Fasting
Fasting is the abstention from eating and drinking. Muslims fast during Ramadan to become closer to God and to cultivate self-control, gratitude, and compassion for the less fortunate. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day for a month.
Mimin Mostafa, junior, said, “I look forward to it, it’s like a refresh. It feels good to focus on yourself and be able to reflect and better yourself and to do good things for others.”
Fasting is used to train Muslims both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts like lying, gossiping, and arguing. The ultimate goal is to gain discipline, self-restraint, and a greater incentive to do wrong from right.
Performing good deeds during Ramadan is the best time to do it because good deeds increase in virtue a thousand times when performed during Ramadan.
Fasting is one of the 5 pillars or duties of Islam and fasting is mandatory for all healthy adult Muslims. Children who have not reached puberty, the elderly, those physically or mentally incapable, travelers, and pregnant women.
Aliou Tall, a freshman, said, “It is very hard to not be able to eat or drink because we still have to keep up with sports and extra activities plus everyone around you is eating or drinking and it makes it worse but it gets easier every day.”
Fasting can both be physically and mentally challenging; it can cause students to be less active and productive in class and extracurriculars. It changes your mood levels and can sometimes cause fatigue and irritability.
Fasting is used as a way to shut down temptations and focus on a better way of living. All Muslims are expected to complete the full 30 days to make sure they do their good deeds and get into paradise from the gates called Ar-Rayan.
A picture of the mosque as a place of worship where Muslims perform prayers (photo courtesy by public domain)
After the month of fasting, there is a festival called Eid al-Fitr where they get up early to pray in a mosque where they bow their heads and kneel to submit to Allah.
After prayer, there is a large feast where there is a lot of sugary sweet food giving Eid the nickname “Sweet Eid”. Overall Ramadan tests your strength and willingness to sacrifice things you use every day with faithful intentions and Allah rewards you by forgiving your sins.
