Celebrating Ramadan

Today, we are welcoming Ramadan on campus for 2024. Wondering what Ramadan actually is, and how it is celebrated? Here is a quick whistle-stop tour of the celebration.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is an Islamic holiday celebrating the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. In this month, Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset (yes not even water!) Ramadan ends and begins with the siting of the crescent moon and the end of the month is marked by Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. Ramadan is special in the Islamic calendar because it was the month when the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohamed. 

What's Ramadan like?

Ramadan is a time when Muslim families practice togetherness and discipline, fasting from food and drink during the daytime and instead focusing more energy on worship, prayer and repentance and bettering their spiritual connection. Muslims use this month to break any bad habits, as well as give back to their wider community and help people in need. This is how a typical day can go during Ramadan:

• Before Sunrise (Fajr) - People wake up before sunrise to have an early morning meal (Suhoor) before starting their fast. At sunrise, they pray the Fajr prayer and either go back to sleep or start their day nice and early. 
• Throughout the day - There are two other prayers before sunset, which must be prayed on time, Dhuhr and Asr. 
• Sunset (Maghrib) - Just before Maghrib time, food is prepared to have breakfast at sunset. Typically, fasts are broken with dates and water. Then Maghrib prayer is performed and then the meal is had. 
• The evening - After eating, the evening prayer (Isha) is performed, which is the last regular prayer of the day, however in Ramadan, people also typically perform the optional night prayers (Taraweeh) which is a longer prayer, usually prayed in congregation, either in a Mosque or at home with family.

Other acts of worship, such as reading the Quran, and avoiding bad habits such as backbiting, gossiping, swearing and lying, are goals for Muslims to implement in Ramadan and beyond.

However, with the diversity of Muslims worldwide, the month is celebrated in different ways and with different foods all over the world.

Ramadan on Campus 

This year, Ramadan is mostly during term time. The Islamic Society (ISOC) is volunteering with the Runnymede Muslim Society while they work to provide group prayers and Iftaar meals to the local community. If you're interested in checking it out, follow @RHULISOC on Instagram. 

Check out Runnymede Muslim Society's website to find out more about events they are holding for the local community. 

P.S. Make sure to check out the Ramadan decorations up at the Muslim Prayer Room.