Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
By Madhavi Rao ’24
Staff Writer
On April 12, people around the world began observing the Islamic tradition of Ramadan, which is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a time for Muslims to reflect, fast, pray and build their relationships with God. The ninth month is believed to be when the Prophet Muhammad had a revelation about the Quran, the holy book of Islam. This revelation is commemorated through Ramadan.
“Ramadan is a month of regrounding, cleansing and recentering where, beyond limiting our water and food intake, we focus on strengthening our relationship with Allah and becoming better versions of ourselves,” Ladin Akcacioglu ’24, secretary of the Muslim Student Association at Mount Holyoke, explained. “In Islam, our Niyyah — intentions — matter above all else, and personally, during this blessed month, I focus most on making sure my intentions are pure. Yes, we fast, but we also restrain ourselves on other levels.”
Along with fasting, Ramadan is a time of prayer, acting selflessly and abstaining from cheating, lying, gossiping and other such negative inclinations. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from water and food from dawn until dusk.
“For me personally, the month of Ramadan is about contemplation and community. Abstaining from food and drink for long hours is not easy, and during this time, we remember those who are not as fortunate and give in charity while demonstrating gratitude even for the smallest things,” Nafeesah Ahmed-Adedoja, co-chair of the Muslim Student Association, said. “It is about focusing on how you can be a better person and also connecting with others in the process.”
People who observe Ramadan eat a meal known as Suhoor, or Sehri, before dawn, at around 4 a.m. They break their fast after the sunset prayer with a meal called Iftar.
Akcacioglu described how in Turkey, Ramadan could be a time of bonding among the community. “Being back home during this time has helped during Ramadan. For one, you don’t need to explain yourself; life kind of slows down accordingly, as most people are also fasting,” Akcacioglu explained. “It is much easier to know when Iftar is because you can hear the Adhan, the call to prayer, from everywhere. Traditionally, we even have drummer men walk around the neighborhood during Suhoor to wake us up for the pre-dawn meal.”
During Ramadan, these meals are a time of togetherness for families. “My family doesn’t always get the chance to have our meals together during the rest of the year,” Maeesha Tasnim Naomi, a Bangladeshi first-year, explained. “But Sehri and Iftar are always special because we all sit together at the same time to eat.” Naomi went on to say, “It’s the same with prayers — we read prayers together as a family, and it’s sort of a bonding time for us, which makes me really happy. I will definitely miss this when I am off to campus.”
Ramadan is observed by all healthy adult Muslims — the fasting portion of the holiday is not required of people mentally or physically incapable of fasting. “I wholeheartedly believe that everything that is asked of me in my religion is also for my own good. As stated in the Quran, I know fasting is good for me, both my body and my soul,” Akcacioglu said. “So I guess if there was one thing I would want a non-Muslim to know, [it] is that you don’t need to feel sorry for us for fasting. We don’t just do it because it’s asked — we do it because we choose to.”
The pandemic has affected how many communities are celebrating Ramadan. According to Akcacioglu, “The pandemic has taken away part of the traditions such as the prayer services in the mosque, but still, the spirit of Ramadan is still there. It is a joyous time for us, and it has been really nice to get to spend it with my family.”
Ahmed-Adedoja reflected back on how she celebrated Ramadan before the pandemic, saying, “We would usually go to the mosque and observe extra evening prayers to devote ourselves more to God during this special month. Although it would be quite late, the feeling of us all being there together in the car is something I would treasure. Now, we all sit together and tell stories and enjoy being around one another during this time.”