After Long Winter Weekend, as the community pushes through the final stretch of winter before spring break, many are trying to get back into an ordinary rhythm. For Muslim students, February this year brings the start of the holiest month in their calendar.
“The school makes Ramadan accessible for us, despite being far from home,” said Yusuf Ahmed ’27.
Ramadan, which commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad, is one of the most important holidays for Muslims. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset to draw closer to God and cultivate self-control and compassion for those less fortunate.
“Ramadan has been a large part of my life,” said Amy Deme ’26. “In the months leading up to it, I feel closer to God.”
Yusef Ahmed ’27 said, “Ramadan is a time where I pray, have my prayers answered, and empathize with those who are less fortunate.”
Observing Ramadan at a boarding school is different from at home. “At home, the celebration is more energetic,” Deme said. “At school, the scale is much smaller, with fewer kids. It is harder.” Ahmed agreed. “There is less of a communal feel,” he said. “At school, it’s lonelier and personalized.”
Fasting during daylight hours is a requirement for healthy adults during Ramadan. Observant Muslims avoid all food and drink while the sun is in the sky and often break their fast with celebratory after-sunset meals. “I try to wake up at 4 a.m. to eat before the fast begins,” Ahmed said. He prays, goes to class, then heads to practice before breaking his fast at the Multicultural Center (MCC).
“In the months leading up to Ramadan, I feel closer to God,” said Amy Deme ’26.
Mr. Souleman Toure ’19 said, “Fasting makes the day more exhausting and endless; the important thing is to pace myself.”
Even with the challenges, students feel supported by the school. Ahmed said, “They make Ramadan more accessible despite being far from home.”
Still, students hope for more awareness. Ahmed and Deme proposed an All-School Meeting to introduce the idea of Ramadan and overall understanding and respect from others.
