This month marks the important Muslim holiday of Ramadan.  Even though there are observant Muslims in our school community, many people don’t know about this important event in the Muslim calendar.  Ramadan is an annual event that Muslim people all over the world celebrate. It’s a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. “The Ramadan start date for 2023 is expected to begin on Wednesday 22 March, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Friday 21 April, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Saturday 22 April or Sunday 23 April.” (https://www.muslimaid.org/what-we-do/religious-dues/when-is-ramadan/)  During Ramadan you cannot eat or drink from sun up to sundown. To get a first person point of view on observing Ramadan I spoke with two observant Muslims in the TCA community.  

TCA senior Kady Doumbia spoke with me about Ramadan. “For me Ramadan is like a holy month where I do fasting… it’s basically a month where God forgives all your sins. All you gotta do is fast for thirty days and do good stuff like… you don’t smoke, you don’t do bad things. Also it’s like a month but people say that during Ramadan the door to hell is closed and the gate to heaven is open if you do good stuff and stop doing like you used to do God will forgive you.”  Ms. Doumbia’s words reveal that some people think of Ramadan as a holy month where we can make positive changes in ourselves.

Assistant Principal Mrs. Firdaus also shared her perspectives on Ramadan.  “Ramadan is the month to pray for yourself, give more charity, reflect upon yourself and try to find the time to do more prayers than the other year”. Both Ms. Doumbia and Ms. Firdaus see Ramadan as an opportunity to spread positivity and to do good deeds for others.

Just like how some Christian people celebrate Christmas, Muslims also celebrate the end of Ramadan, or Eid al Fitr. (“EED AL Fitruh”).  Both Ms. Firdaus and Ms. Doumbia, along with Muslim people around the world, will celebrate the end of the holiday by having meals after sunset with their families consisting of foods they enjoy to eat.  Gifts will be given and families will spend time together.