All about Ramadan, its significance & the student experience

Ramadan and its Significance: A Student’s Experience at Queen Mary Halls

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, is an auspicious month of fasting for Muslims worldwide, including in the UK, and is about to commence this weekend. Although Ramadan is a time when Muslims fast from dusk till dawn, the month holds a larger significance - it's a period of self-reflection and discipline. The fondest memories of Ramadan I recall include the sense of community it brings, from watching my family come together to prepare for the fasting period by folding delicacies to now doing it as a university student with my flatmates.

Most people associate Ramadan with not eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset. However, at the core of its values, Ramadan is an important time of giving more to those less fortunate (Zakat and Sadqa) and counting our blessings. Ramadan teaches you the importance of patience, reflection, self-control, and, most importantly, gratitude.

Typically, a day of fasting includes two meals. One before sunrise, the ‘Suhoor’ or easily understood as breakfast and the other when sun sets, the ‘Iftaar’ around dinner time. The content of the foods eaten varies from continent to continent, place to place, and culture to culture. This is what I find super fascinating about Ramadan; as culture meets fasting, it sets unique traditions around the world. As a south asian, I occasionally indulge in rice and curry or yogurt for suhoor (can't forget at least 1 litre of water between iftar and suhoor!🥤). For Iftar, when observed at home (with family), it is a bit grand, with pastries🥧, layered rice dishes (Biryani), lassi (yogurt drink) and crucially, dates. The staple (sunnah) around the world remains the same: to break your fast with dates and a glass of water, followed by offering Maghrib prayer (fourth prayer of the day).

Fasting and Finals: A Day in My Life During Ramadan

At university, I sometimes struggle to maintain a schedule during Ramadan, as Suhoor usually takes place early in the morning, between 4 and 5 am. With time I find myself easing into a routine of prayers, fasting and exam revision. Last year, I generally woke up around 4 am to eat my go-to breakfast foods, offer prayer (Fajr - first prayer) and sleep to wake up in time for any 9 or 10 am lectures the next morning. If you’re struggling to prepare Suhoor so early, worry less! Reslife has your back with the ‘Suhoor Meal orders’.

After going to lectures, I prayed Zuhr (second prayer), and as I did not have to worry about lunch, I used this time to revise for my exams. After my revision time, I prayed Asr (the third prayer) and headed home to prepare for Iftar or more studying. As I prepare a table of food, I recite duas, expressing my gratitude to be able to come back home to a table of food and water. At around 6 pm (varies depending on sunset timing), I recite dua for breaking fast and sip water with dates. After a meal, I offer my fourth prayer (Magrib).

Generally, later in the evening is also time for the fifth prayer (Isha), and as it's Ramadan, many muslims pray taraweeh at night to strengthen their faith.

Such self-control is not limited to fasting and prayer, as it's equally important to control behaviour during Ramadan. So you will not find me (hopefully) getting angry at a slow walker on the roads of London! Jokes aside, I find Ramadan extremely rewarding, as even when difficult, making it to the end of each fasting day allows me to build self-confidence, reflect on my past behaviours, build positive routines, engage in charity and connect more deeply to my faith.

To mark the end of Ramadan (29-30 days, depending on moon sighting), Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated to thank God for the strength given during the fasting period. {stay tuned to ResLife for upcoming Eid celebrations 👀}

If you’ve read so far, as a university student you may relate to the daily routine and auspiciousness of Ramadan. While living in dorms, you may also miss home and the sense of community that Ramadan brings (I missed this). The good news is that Queen Mary Residential Life is doing several events for Ramadan, bringing the joys of gathering together again - this time with your flatmates and residents in halls!

To make new memories of togetherness this Ramadan, join us for the ‘Decorate Your Halls for Ramadan’ event. As mentioned before, we also offer Suhoor Meals to make your Suhoor prep less hectic. If you’re looking to introduce your flatmates to the holy month of Ramadan, there is no better way than joining us for the Floyer and Dawson drop-in & Ramadan cookie decorating.

Lastly, (early) Ramadan Mubarak!🌙🎊 I hope whoever is reading this has a joyous and peaceful fasting period :) (And do join us for the Ramadan events!✨)