A Manor College Student’s Guide to Ramadan

Moniel Hashmi (New Foundations Charter School, Philadelphia) gives insights on how to stay focused, motivated and spiritually engaged during Ramadan.

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The annual observance of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and Muslims worldwide take time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

Fasting, in particular, is challenging. Beginning at dawn and ending at sunset, Muslims refrain from food, drink, and bad habits.

“This is when you take time for yourself to be closer to God,” said Moniel Hashmi, a freshman at Manor College studying Business.

Students face being more tired due to lack of energy from the fasting. Hashmi believes the sacrifice is rewarding.

“There’s more to life than just eating and drinking, and despite it being hard, fasting is worth it,” Hashmi said. “ Ramadan gives you opportunities to highlight better habits and do rewarding service for family, community and yourself.”

Hashmi provides a few tips on how to get the most out of Ramadan and navigate the challenges:

Keep Busy

“For me, I try to keep myself busy. I do it to keep my mind off of things. This year, I’ve been trying to learn the English translation of the Quran. I know the stories, what we should and shouldn’t do, but now I’m working on learning the English translation. I try to spend 30 minutes to an hour a day working on it.”

Know Yourself

“Fasting helps me focus more at times since there is less of a distraction. However, there are moments where I remember that I am not eating, which can be a distraction itself. Studying can be tiring but it’s important to push through and understand the benefits of this month. That should be your motivation.

Don’t Be Afraid of Thinking About Food

“Some people like to watch food prep videos. For me, I watch food prep videos because it gives me the motivation to learn new recipes. I might even start to prepare food while waiting for the sun to go down.”

Plan a Routine

“Knowing my schedule helps me get through the day. If I’m at Manor, I’ll go to my work study job in the morning, then I’ll pray, take a nap, go home, prep food and it’ll be time to eat by the time I’m done. If I have a gap in my schedule, I try and find time to learn more Islamic knowledge. It’ll teach me something I didn’t know heading into Ramadan.”

Know Your Why

“Ramadan – that’s your month to get closer to God. Sure, we struggle with being hungry, but we distract ourselves with better things such as learning more about the religion and increasing our knowledge in it. It’s also a chance to give money or prepare food for the homeless. It’s all about becoming closer to God, improving your character and how you live your life. The goal of Ramadan is to end the month being more knowledgeable, having empathy, gratitude, and a sense of unity, solidarity, and brotherhood among Muslims.”

—-

Prayer Room at Manor College

In 2024, Manor College opened the Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room. The Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room is a space dedicated for prayer, reflection, meditation or simply quiet contemplation for students, staff and faculty of various religious and spiritual beliefs. It is located on the first floor of the Basileiad Library near the lecture space.