Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is a time for fasting, spiritual reflection, acts of charity, and spending time getting closer to God (Allah in Arabic) and with loved ones. While this year Ramadan takes place between Wednesday 22 March and Thursday 20 April in the UK, the exact dates vary in other countries depending on the sightings of the moon. The dates also go back slightly every year as the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, which lags behind the Gregorian solar calendar by around ten days.
Throughout the holy month of fasting, Muslims abstain from all forms of food and drink (including water) from dawn until sunset. Most Muslims will wake before dawn for a meal before the start of their fast (known as Suhoor or Sehri) and break their fast (known as Iftar) with dates and water at sunset, followed by a meal after praying Maghrib (the sunset prayer – one of the five mandatory daily prayers).
The end of Ramadan is marked by the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen on 1 Shawwal, the next month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims will not only celebrate the end of fasting but also thank Allah for the strength they were given throughout the previous month.
We hear from students about their experiences with Ramadan:
- “The focus of Ramadan is on spiritual purification, self-discipline, and generosity towards others. In India, I have seen people of every religion come together to support the Muslim brothers and sisters in preparing for Iftar.”
- “As someone who was raised Muslim, I feel very strongly immersed in the culture of Ramadan. I am Type 1 Diabetic which means I haven’t fasted since my late childhood. Although I am not required to fast, I am still able to donate to great charity causes such as the National Zakat Foundation.”
Staying healthy:
- Make a daily plan
Take a few minutes every morning to write a realistic to-do list, reset your intentions, and plan each hour of your day around prayers to maximise reward. This will help to ensure you spend valuable time reading and understanding the Quran and Islam, while keeping on top of academic revision. - Get at least 6 hours of sleep
Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep after spending nights in prayer and worship. You can try sleeping after Fajr (the dawn prayer) but avoid sleeping past noon. - Take naps
It’s Sunnah to take a nap during the day if needed. Just make sure they don’t exceed 20 minutes to avoid that after-nap grogginess. - Remain hydrated throughout the day
The key is to hydrate your body and cells properly. Sip water throughout the night and eat high-water content foods such as watermelon, strawberries, salad (cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce), spinach, etc. You can also try electrolyte-boosting recipes.
Get involved:
- The Islamic Society (ISOC) will be hosting free iftars every day, subject to donations, as well as their own Taraweeh prayers after Isha (the night prayer) in Garden Court on Highfield Campus.
- You can donate money for Iftar meals at the ISOC JustGiving page, and order your free Iftar meal to eat with other students by completing their online form each day.
- You can find prayer rooms on Highfield Campus, at the Sir James Matthews Building and the Southampton General Hospital. Quiet rooms can be used for prayer at the National Oceanography Centre, the Boldrewood Innovation Campus, and Winchester School of Art.
Get support:
- The Student Hub will continue to be available 24/7 via online chat , phone at 02380 599 599 or by email over the spring break – whether you are in Southampton or not. You can also still book one-to-one wellbeing chats, which can be in person or via Microsoft Teams. Visit The Student Hub website for more information about available support.
- Grab Too Good To Go bags from food outlets across campus buildings ahead of iftar for a low cost and zero-waste meal.
- You can reach out to Dr Aiman Alzetani, our Muslim Faith Advisor at the Faith and Reflection Centre, “Assalam Alaikum (Peace Be Upon You)! As the Muslim faith advisor, I would like to assure you that your spiritual needs and wellbeing are important and will be catered for. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email at [email protected]. Have a great Ramadan!”