Dear Faculty and SLCC Community Members,
I want to take the opportunity to bring your attention to Ramadan, which started last week on Wednesday, February 18, and is expected to last until March 19 (exact date may vary by a day or so depending on the sighting of the moon).
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar. The month is 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon. Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam.
Here are things you need to know about how Ramadan will impact our practicing Muslim students:
- Practicing Muslim students will fast from dawn until dusk (if Sunni) or a bit later when the last redness of the sun disappears or at the sighting of the first star (if Shia). (around 6 am until 6:10 pm or 7:40 pm towards the end of the month and after daylight savings).
- Fasting entails refraining from food, drink (including water), smoking, and sexual relations.
- Those fasting often wake up in early hours before dawn and before morning prayer to drink or eat.
- Ramadan means increased worship and prayers, so understand that students maybe staying up late to pray, which means they will have to adjust to a new sleeping schedule. Many students can also be more observant of prayer times during Ramadan. There are five prayers per day (dispersed throughout different parts of the day).
- Ramadan emphasizes increased charity and community involvement. This means students may be involved in carrying out charity events, feeding others who are fasting or cannot afford to eat, attending community iftars (breaking of the fast), and helping their mosques with their charity projects.
- Ramadan also involves spending more time with family and friends, praying, celebrating the reading of the Qur’an, and remembering those who’ve passed.
Bottom Line: Muslim students may be hungry (or hangry), tired, and dehydrated especially if they have classes late in the afternoon.
In light of this, I urge you to be mindful of the following considerations during Ramadan:
- Flexibility with Assignments and Exams:
- Recognize that fasting may impact students’ energy levels and concentration during the day.
- Consider offering flexibility with assignment deadlines and scheduling exams, allowing students the opportunity to perform at their best.
- Awareness of Religious Observances:
- Be aware of the importance of prayer times throughout the day for Muslim students. Allow students to leave if they need to perform any of their five daily prayers.
- Understand that students may need to break their fast at specific times, which may coincide with class (especially evening classes) or activities
- Respect for Dietary Restrictions:
- During Ramadan, fasting students abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. Please be considerate of this when organizing events or providing refreshments during class sessions. This in no way means you can’t eat or drink around fasting students; it only means you can consider providing fasting students with meal bags/boxes to take home for iftar as part of your event. MSA will be providing daily iftar bags that students can grab on their way home.
- Creating Inclusive Learning Environments:
- Foster an atmosphere of respect and understanding among students from diverse religious backgrounds.
- Encourage open dialogue and support among classmates, promoting empathy and solidarity.
By being sensitive to the needs of our students during Ramadan, we demonstrate our commitment to SLCC’s vision to be a model for inclusivity and creating a supportive learning environment where all students can thrive.
If you have any questions or concerns about accommodating students during Ramadan, please don't hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure that all members of our academic community feel valued and respected.
Best,
Sahar Al-Shoubaki
Faculty Advisor for Muslim Student Association (MSA)
