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Sweet Briar Students Observe Ramadan
By Maggie Saylor '07
STAFF WRITER

This month the Islamic community celebrated Ramadan, honoring the holiest month in their calendar. It was during this month that Muslims believe God gave the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed, and to this day, Muslims celebrate this special time through fasting and prayer.

We wanted to know more about this tradition and how Muslim students practice Ramadan at Sweet Briar, so I sat down with my friend Fatima Lbida to ask her some questions. Fatima is a Moroccan Muslim from Casablanca, studying International Affairs.

Maggie: So, Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, and you’re supposed to refrain from activities like illicit sex or talking behind someone’s back. If these things are always prohibited, why are they especially so during this month?

Fatima: Ramadan emphasizes controlling your nerves, so you’re not supposed to be upset. It is a fast on food and drink, but also on being angry. Whatever you’re supposed to do usually, you do it more during Ramadan. Whatever you’re not supposed to do, you don’t do it more.

M: Fasting is a big part of Ramadan, then. Are there other special rules?

F: There is no special kind of food that you’re supposed to eat, but it’s traditional to break the fast with a date and some milk, because that’s what the Prophet did. That’s what I do for Iftar [the late meal at the end of the day], after praying. It’s supposed to be modest in quantity, you shouldn’t try to make up for the food that you haven’t eaten that day.

M: How is Ramadan and fasting different at Sweet Briar? Is it harder?

F: It’s harder away from the Muslim community and facilities. Usually at home we do our night prayers at the mosque. Schedules change to adapt to prepare for something special. Like, our school schedules, transportation, TV…I like doing it with everyone because it develops an atmosphere of spirituality. You feel part of the community. Here, the Chaplain’s office and Tiffany’s office [International Studies] gave us money to buy halal meat, and the Bistro gave us four special options during Ramadan, so that was nice. We also did something with the Randolph-Macon girls: we had Iftar there one Friday and broke the fast together, and they came here one Friday. We cooked and ate—it was fun. But I miss not going to the mosque, a lot.

M: Besides fasting, are there other requirements? What kind of things will you be doing this month?

F: Well, [Ramadan] is a revival of the Jewish fast that the prophets did. We fast because it’s tradition, not just because of the First Verses. The fast is about food, drinking water, sexual activity. It’s about doing more good than usual. We focus on community. It is about learning how poor and deprived people feel. It is an opportunity to focus on your relationship with God.

M: Can you explain Eid ul-Fitr to me? It’s the end of Ramadan, right? What do you do then?