For Muslims, Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer in the mosque, and reading of the Quran.  It is one of the most important holidays in Islam, as it holds deep religious and cultural significance, according to pcrf.net.  Sacred Heart Greenwich seniors Nouha and Kenza Aissaoui, and Ms. Ayesha Alirahi, Upper School Science Teacher, shared how they celebrate this holiday. 

Ramadan, the holy month of worship for Muslims, began Wednesday, March 22, and will end Thursday, April 20.  During this celebration, Muslims anticipate the sighting of the new crescent moon that signifies the official first day of Ramadan, the ninth and most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, according to nationalgeographic.com.  Muslims believe that God forgives the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention, according to britannica.com. 

Ramadan is not a time of reconciliation.  Rather, it is a time to practice self-restraint, or ṣawm, one of the five pillars of Islam, as Muslims abstain from food, drink, and immoral activity each day from sunrise to sunset.  When the sun sets, Muslims gather in their homes or mosques to break their fast with a meal called ifṭār, oftentimes with family and friends, according to britannica.com.  Ms. Alirahi reflected on the lessons she has learned and the significance of the celebration for her.  

“While celebrating Ramadan, I have learned how to deepen my connection with God,” Ms. Alirahi said.  “Every Ramadan is a chance to reflect on myself as a Muslim and increase my prayers, worship, and good deeds.  It’s also an opportunity to increase my knowledge about Islam.  Not only do I try to become a better Muslim, but I also try to become a better person as well.  I try to give more charity, have kindness, and help others in need.  Fasting is not just abstaining from food but also from the ego and other bad deeds as well.  Ramadan has great significance for me because it allows me to deepen my faith and strengthen it while getting closer to God.”

While certain Ramadan practices are universal, different countries and cultures hold unique traditions and customs when celebrating.  Nouha and Kenza traveled to Casablanca, Morocco, from March 8 to 27, where they spent the beginning of Ramadan.  Nouha compared Ramadan in Morocco to the experience in the United States, where she normally celebrates.

“Celebrating in Morocco is very different than the United States,” Nouha said.  “Everyone is fasting with you.  The schedule changes completely, things are closed in the early morning and open later.  School gets adjusted, and work gets adjusted.  Everyone is out at night, and it’s quiet in the morning.  For context, we fast from the Fajr prayer to the Maghreb prayer, which is from dawn to dusk.  When it’s time to eat, when we are in the US, we have to look up the prayer times, here in Morocco, you can hear the call to prayer on TV and outside coming from the Mosque through a speaker, and that’s how you know it’s time.” 

Just as prayer and fasting differ between Morocco and the United States, so do the gatherings.  Nouha observed that, in Morocco, she is able to celebrate with her family and a larger Muslim community.

“Celebrating in the US can be less ‘big,'” Nouha said.  “We sometimes break our fast with our family friends from Morocco, but mostly just as a family.  Here, the cousins, uncles, and aunts all come to have breakfast and enjoy time together.  The mosques are full of people at night, and it’s very common to see ‘Ramadan Kareem’ everywhere as well.  I enjoy it regardless of where I am, though, because I always have someone to do it with.  The difference lies in the atmosphere and the feeling.”

After spending a week of Ramadan in Morocco, Kenza explained how visiting impacted her outlook on the holiday.  She touched on the emotions she felt when celebrating in Morocco with her family.

“Visiting Morocco during Ramadan has allowed me to experience this holiday in a way I’ve never been able to before,” Kenza said.  “I’ve never been in Morocco during a Ramadan that I’ve fasted for, and it is so different.  Being with my family and being in an atmosphere where celebrating this holiday is the most important thing has made me feel at home.  I feel like everyone around me is more like me than I’ve felt in the United States.”

Kenza also mentioned the significance the Muslim community had on her experience.  She enjoyed having a large Muslim presence surrounding her because she was able to connect with others.  She also described the atmosphere and culture surrounding Ramadan in Morocco.

“Celebrating at home with my family of four and some friends has always felt normal to me because that’s all I knew,” Kenza said.  “But when I go to school in the morning, or I go out, I’m surrounded by a lot of people who maybe don’t even know that Ramadan is happening.  There’s definitely a community of Muslims where I live that are celebrating Ramadan, but it’s not something I’ll see every time I leave my house.  In Morocco, it’s very obvious when it’s Ramadan because there are ads, and everyone is wishing each other a Happy Ramadan in the streets.  Seeing my family every night to break our fast has made me feel like it really is Ramadan as opposed to feeling like it’s any other night.  I feel so much closer to God during this time generally, but being in Morocco has made it even better.  I feel like I’m more myself here.  Overall, it has been an amazing experience that I will definitely miss when I am home.”

Featured Image by Caterina Pye ’23