Ramadan in the West

By Amira Muthalip

Ramadan has dawned upon us Muslims, so let’s address how we can make this a cherished and productive month, not only for ourselves but also for fellow Muslims in the community.

The Islamic Calendar is observed based on moon sightings, and Ramadan is the ninth month, beginning on March 23rd, 2023. Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam, and to Muslims, is a month for spiritual cleansing, healing, and rebuilding. Fasting, standing long nights in prayer, and giving charity are just the outward aspects of this spiritual journey, but inwardly, the Muslim experiences a bodily cleansing, emotional connectedness, and gratitude shift when doing each of these acts. 

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Surah Baqarah, Verse 183)

Fasting is observed from the morning prayer of Fajr to the sunset prayer of Maghrib. Between these hours, the Muslim abstains from food and water. After dusk, they eat iftar, the dinner meal, and begin preparing for their next fast. Not only are the individuals restricting themselves from any nutritional digestion, but they take on a deeper sense of peace within themselves when interacting with others and performing tasks throughout the day. It is relatable for Muslims to grow more conscious about their actions and interactions, to preserve their energy throughout the day, and also to be in constant reflection and connection with their God.

While Muslims are required to meet their regular schedule obligations, it should be accommodatable for students and clerical workers to request a quiet place to preserve their energies, or additional breaks to perform their prayers. Acknowledging the month in classrooms can help Muslim students feel heard and accounted for in a community where they are forced to act regularly despite their physical and spiritual state. It is easy for individuals to go through their day without making a hassle for others, but it should be okay for them to ask for simple accommodations. This is necessary not only for their physical health but valuable for them to feel seen and honored. 

As a Muslim myself, to feel that care from others makes me happy knowing that I am outwardly representing my religion positively and confidently even in an environment that isn’t usually recognizable about it. Like me, other Muslim students from our local city of Cerritos communicate their Ramadan journeys while attending public high school. 

One student shares, “The people that I talk to on a daily basis don't know that I am fasting nor know what Ramadan is, but of course after I have told them about what Ramadan is, they often check up on me.”, while another expresses “My friends are well informed about what the month of Ramadan is, and they do ask me about how I'm doing with fasting from time to time, which I appreciate.”. This proves that there is some distinction between students who are educated about the religion versus those who are not, as well as some Muslim students who are more comfortable communicating their religion versus those who are not. Some students express what they would like to see within their schools: “A separate room for students that they can just relax in during lunch time while other students are eating their meals outside” or “Saying kind words such as “Ramadan Mubarak” to encourage the students during their 15-17 hour fast.”

As someone who has experienced a transformation from living in a majority Muslim population to a lesser Muslim population, I’ve had various what-ifs in my head for what I would have liked to see done for Muslims in my community here. I hope by small steps in schools and workplaces, we can create a celebratory environment for people who observe it to feel confident and proud of their acts in this Holy Month of theirs. 

Written by Amira Muthalip

• @ a_mxr_a

Edited by Sadhvi Aiyer & Nandini Karmokar

• @sadhviaiyer & @nrkarmokar