With the sun setting on their backs, more than 100 Muslim
students gathered at the loading dock behind Kerckhoff on Monday to
break their fast, but before they could take their first sip of
water since sunrise, they prayed.
As a fellow student led them in prayer, Shehab Ahmed, a
third-year biology student, knelt with his forehead against the
stone floor. He said he is thankful for this chance to be humble
before God and reflect on Ramadan, the month of fasting from
sunrise to sunset for Muslims to better themselves and bring
themselves closer to God.
It is not an easy endeavor. He tries to get up each day before
sunrise to eat and pray. He admits there are days he doesn’t
quite wake up for that morning prayer, and while he can make up for
his missed prayer later, the opportunity to start his day with a
meal is lost. He said he still goes to class and goes about
business as usual.
For Ahmed, truly participating in Ramadan means living life day
to day and changing small things about himself. He sees it as a way
to keep something meaningful from this month with him all year.
During Ramadan, Muslims are required not only to fast but to
improve themselves. They are encouraged to be more charitable and
productive in addition to following the teachings of the Koran more
closely.
“I try to be nice, practice generic goodness. Oh and I try
to study more,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed concedes it is difficult. He said he has not been
successful at giving up cursing, and given his sarcastic sense of
humor, he has not been able to keep himself from making fun of
those around him, especially his roommates.
But he said the important thing is trying.
“I believe God will understand if I try,” he
said.
Ahmed’s roommate, third-year biology student Abbas Anwar,
expressed a similar sentiment. Anwar said he sees other Muslim
students who do not fast or try to make changes in themselves, but
he is quick to point out that it is not for him to judge
others.
“It’s about doing what we can,” Anwar
said.
Both Ahmed and Anwar, as well as their roommate, Muhibb Khan, a
third-year economics student and advertising director for MSA,
agree that observing Ramadan here at UCLA is not quite the same as
being at home.
Ahmed’s meals after breaking fast at home usually
consisted of elaborate meals and family gatherings. For his family,
like many Muslim families, Ramadan is a time to be together.
“It’s like our Christmas,” he said.
At UCLA, their meals aren’t quite as exciting. The other
day, Ahmed and Anwar broke their fast with defrosted chicken curry
sent by Ahmed’s mother. Ahmed said the chicken was still half
frozen in the middle but since it was the only food in the
apartment, it made for an interesting meal.
The three of them, however, said having each other makes Ramadan
easier.
They said they have formed, in a sense, a family of their own to
celebrate this month.
“It’s good to have someone to go through the same
thing,” Ahmed said.
They said they have also found that being away from home has
helped them better understand the significance of Ramadan. Ahmed
points out that living with friends means there is no one to check
up on him. No one would know if he had broken his fast or acted in
a way he is trying to avoid.
“I could cheat easily, it’s not about other people.
This is my way to show myself that I believe,” Ahmed
said.
In fact, Anwar, Khan and Ahmed said they see this month as a
gift, an opportunity to better themselves and affirm their
faith.
But that is not to say it is without challenges. Even outside of
the self control it takes for the three of them to avoid eating and
drinking during the day, they have seen other effects to observing
Ramadan.
Khan remembers not being able to eat lunch with his floormates
or having enough energy to play sports with other freshmen. He said
he saw a definite change in his social life.
Anwar noticed many of the same changes as a freshman but was not
greatly concerned about them.
“Our faith is a way of life, it’s not that much of a
sacrifice,” he said.
Charity is encouraged during the month of Ramadan but as
students, many Muslims on campus have no income to be with
charitable with. To fill that gap, MSA has organized a fast-a-thon
to encourage local businesses to donate money to charity for every
non-Muslim student who pledges to fast for a day.
“We want to take on the responsibility of promoting a
moderate view of Islam,” Khan said.