As if their souls are in tune with the lunar cycle, 1.9 billion Muslims around the world welcome the holy month of Ramadan at the sighting of a crescent moon. Just as the night is beloved for its stillness, this month of fasting and worship exceeds a mere shift in routine — it is a period of solitude, reflection, and spiritual nourishment. At the beginning of this semester, many Muslim students will be observing the month of Ramadan. But what exactly is Ramadan; what does a month of fasting look like as a student, and how can you show respect and support to your Muslim mates this month?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, officially commencing upon the sighting of the crescent moon on the 29th day of the previous lunar month, Sha’ban. In 2025, Ramadan is expected to begin on March 1st, and to end around March 29, depending on the crescent moon sighting.
Fasting is a critical feature of Ramadan, where Muslims abstain from all intake of food and water from sunrise to sunset, and make a concentrated effort to refrain from sinful behaviors. There are many people who are exempted from fasting, including people who are ill, travelling, menstruating, or pregnant. Whether it is being able to attain adequate sleep, take medication or nourish their bodies, Islam teaches us to nurture our minds and bodies by fostering good health. Women’s health is substantially prioritised in Islam due to the strenuous implications of menstruation or pregnancy. This not only allows Muslim women to nourish their bodies physically, but also mentally, by attaining extra rest and relaxation.
However, Ramadan goes far beyond the act of fasting.
Rich in history, community worship, and individual solitude, Ramadan is referred to as the ‘Month of the Quran’. Its significance comes from the miracle of the first Divine revelation, where the beloved Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Islamic Scripture. “Iqra”, he was told. “Read.” The miracle of the Quranic revelation lives on today, where Muslims devote their time to reciting authentic Islamic scripture and stand shoulder to shoulder for extended night prayers, Taraweeh, at mosques. It is believed a person’s good deeds are multiplied by 70, our righteous acts are most rewarding during Ramadan compared to any other month of the year.
The warmest memories come from the most challenging Ramadan routines. Kitchen windows illuminating the stillness of the pre-sunrise morning, where Muslim families share Suhoor in loud whispers and tired eyes in order to sustain the day of fasting ahead. And those very same windows capture the rush to beat the setting sun, setting the dinner table, and the gathering around a wholesome meal at the end of the day. The sweetness of breaking your fast with a prayer and a Medjool date. Hearing the rhythmic hum of your mother reciting the Quran from her embroidery prayer mat during the night. In Ramadan, not only do families feel most bonded, or communities feel most synchronised, but the inner self feels most tethered to God and the trinkets of worship we often overlook in the busyness of everyday life.
A day on campus looks and feels a little different for a fasting friend. Because the reality is that observing Ramadan in a Western country is difficult to navigate — it is commonly misunderstood and often unaccommodated for. A student’s energy levels are lower than usual due to the absence of a latte from Taste Cafe, or broken sleep due to Suhoor and pre-dawn prayers. Yet Muslim students remain pressured to maintain their academic performance at a non-fasting level. They may be compelled to limit their socialising and decline invitations to society events or join study groups after class. Muslim students may also gravitate towards the comfortable company of their families or Islamic spaces to foster a nourishing sense of belonging.
With empathy and understanding, we can be better mates towards Muslims on- and off-campus in several simple gestures. You can offer support with studying or class work through gentle encouragement, or changing your regular morning coffee meetings at Courtyard to a night-time Zoom call over a warm cup of tea.
Another means of enhancing our empathy is by asking questions about Ramadan! Every individual experience differs, and so respectfully engage in enlightening conversations about this blessed month. Beyond this, you can best explore the authenticity of Ramadan by observing it alongside your Muslim mates! It could be attending a Friday khutbah at a local mosque, joining a friends’ family Iftaar or simply feeling the solitude in the stillness of the night.
This Ramadan, we can collectively create a more accommodating space for our fasting friends. And as we anticipate the sighting of an iridescent crescent moon, may the month of Ramadan bring us peace and blessings. Ramadan Mubarak!
