During the month of September, Muslims observe Ramadan. One important component of Ramadan is fasting from sunup to sundown. Ramadan lasts for one lunar month, which is 29 to 30 days depending on the cycle of the moon. One of the Five Pillars of Islam, Ramadan is about “compassion, patience, mostly self-discipline,” explains Fatema Maswood ’11, who is observing the holiday. “It’s to make you think about the less fortunate people in the world.”
Muslims are expected to abstain from vice during September.”It’s a time to be as good as person as you can be,” says Hyder Hyder ’10, who is also observing Ramadan.
Any prayers uttered during Ramadan are believed to be accepted according to Islamic doctrine, but “it’s most important to pray during the last ten days of Ramadan,” notes Hyder. “Laylat al-Qadr, the most holy night of the year, always falls on one of the last ten days.”
The first ten days of Ramadan emphasize mercy, the second ten days forgiveness from God, and the last ten days evasion of hell-fire. “Praying on the [Laylat al-Qadr] is better than one thousand nights of prayer,” says Hyder.
Eid al-Fitr, or breaking of the fast, celebrates the end of Ramadan. “We feast, wear our new clothes, visit family, and just have a great time,” says Maswood. “I’m going home for the weekend to celebrate.”
New fifth-former Ali Al-Shehab ’10 thinks observing Ramadan at Choate is an almost foreign experience. “Ramadan [at home] is a social thing; it brings you closer to family and friends when you gather together to fast, pray, and break fast,” he says. “Fasting is easier at home,” echoes Maswood. “You have your support group around you.”
The school tries to ensure the health of fasting students. “The sun used to set after the dining hall closed for the first [few] weeks or so,” said Al-Shehab. “I’d go to the Health Center whenever I wanted to eat dinner, and there’s early breakfast before the sun rises.”
Some Muslims at Choate do not participate in the fasting. In Islamic doctrine, the sick, the traveling, and the elderly are exempt from fasting. “Just recently I got sick,” said Hafsah Khan ’12. Others feel that the stress of sports, homework, and Choate life in general is too tiring. “They have to make up the days they don’t fast here,” says Al-Shehab. “Maybe when they go home.”
“[Fasting] might be hard the first few times,” says Hyder. Going for nearly twelve hours a day without food for a month might appear intimidating, although the students fasting would disagree. “It’s enjoyable, and it definitely brings me close to God… we wait for this month all year,” says Al-Shehab.
