‘A time for the community’: How students are celebrating Ramadan

Hollyann Purvis, Managing Editor

Ramadan is a holy and significant month for Muslims worldwide, according to Samaneh Oladi Ghadikolaei, assistant professor in VCU’s School of World Studies. Throughout the entirety of the month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.  

“Common practices include fasting, increased prayer and devotion, fostering

community, engaging in religious education, and celebrating with various cultural events,” Ghadikolaei stated in an email.

Though Muslims observe Ramadan globally, there are cultural and regional differences in its celebration, according to Ghadikolaei.

“Despite these differences, the fundamental spiritual significance and purpose of Ramadan remain consistent across cultures and regions,” Ghadikolaei stated.

Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, with its dates changing by approximately 10 or 11 days each year, Ghadikolaei stated. The holiday commemorates the beginning of the Qur’anic Revelation.

“Muslims fast during Ramadan to thank God for his favors, perfect their manners, and control their behaviors and egos,” Ghadikolaei stated. “Fasting across these three monotheistic religions aims to establish a strong relationship with God and seek forgiveness.”

Two things to accomplish during Ramadan is to engage with the Qur’an and go deeper than just abstaining from food and water, according to Kamran Farouq, VCU biology student and Muslim Students Association general body member. 

“MSA has helped us do that,” Farouq said. 

Farouq said the organization is “very flexible” and he has had a positive experience throughout his involvement with MSA.

“Last year and especially this year, I’ve just really been able to make a lot of friends, have all of my religious and spiritual needs kind of accommodated for, especially in this month,” Farouq said.

A normal day during Ramadan begins with Suhoor, the meal eaten before sunrise, according to Ayesha Paracha, president of the MSA. After that, it’s the “same thing as normal routine,” just without food or water, Paracha said.

Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset to break the fast, according to Paracha. MSA at VCU hosts iftars two to three times a week during Ramadan, with a combination of catered meals and potlucks. 

The day-long fast is usually broken by drinking water and eating dates, Paracha said. 

“It’s traditionally what people break their fast with,” Paracha said. “But there’s also just a lot of health benefits in dates, and then the same thing with water, you want to hydrate right away.”

The meals’ funding comes from local Muslim families affiliated with the Islamic Center of Virginia, along with VCUDine, the Student Government Association and any students who want to donate something small such as dates or water, Paracha said.

“MSA tries to cater to all the different cultures so we switch up what we tend to have for the meals,” Paracha said. “Sometimes we have middle eastern food, sometimes we have South Asian food; we just switch it up from time to time to cater to everyone’s culture.”

MSA also has a partnership with VCUDine in which breakfast bags are provided for Muslim students to pick up at night, Paracha said. This allows students to have food to eat before sunrise the next day while dining halls are still closed.

Muslim students who sign up for breakfast bags without a dining plan are still able to receive iftar meals through VCUDine on days MSA doesn’t cater, Paracha said. 

“Everybody’s kind of setting similar goals and working together towards those goals and everyone’s just helping each other out through the month,” Paracha said.

Ramadan ends during Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the month-long fast. Despite many students going home for the holiday itself, MSA plans to host a banquet the following week to celebrate this occasion, according to Paracha. 

“Ramadan is really a time for the community. A lot of people come together at that time, and especially with the MSA, one of the things that is really nice about Ramadan is we have the biggest turnouts, and we have the most people come together,” Paracha said.