We wish all Muslim students, faculty, and staff a blessed Ramadan and Eid Mubarak.
The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims around the world. The term Ramadan originates from the Arabic root word ar-ramad, meaning “scorching heat.”
Ramadan is marked by special observations such as fasting, prayer, reflection, communal gathering, and spiritual development by Muslims around the world. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from food, drink, and any sinful behavior. The fast is broken each evening with a meal called Iftar, and the pre-dawn meal before fasting begins again is called Suhoor. At the end of Ramadan, the holiday commemorating the end of fasting is called Eid al-Fitr, or the festival if breaking the fast. It is marked by communal prayers at the mosque, festive meals, giving charity, and spending time with family and friends. Special gifts are also given to the poor on this day and during the last days of Ramadan.
Ramadan will take place between sundown on February 28 through sundown on March 30, (depending on moon sightings). Fasting times are between 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the beginning of Ramadan and 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. by the end of Ramadan. During this time, Muslims try to follow a normal study or work routine as much as they possibly can, but have responsibilities for devotion to extra prayers and readings to their daily religious commitments.
To create a welcoming environment that allows our Muslim students, faculty, and staff to feel fully supported, please consider the following practical points:
We can best support those who are observing Ramadan by showing empathy, respect, sensitivity, and understanding for their religious beliefs and practices as they manage their Ramadan commitments. Observant Muslims might not fast for various reasons; It is respectful to avoid asking “are you fasting?” Cultural practices are sometimes personal and varying in shaping how Ramadan is observed among individuals who identify as Muslim.
Flexibility: Students and staff may request flexibility around their study, exam, presentation, or assignment deadlines, research, or working arrangements. There will also be leave requests, so members of staff/students can observe Ramadan or celebrate Eid at home. Not all Muslims will observe both prayer and the fast. It is not uncommon for some to fast but not pray. For prayer and reflection, the prayer room is located in GSU 134.
Breaks: Those able to fast will abstain from all food or drink (including water), and many more are involved in Community events through the month, all of which can impact energy levels, attention spans, and more, especially later in the day and cumulatively, later in the month. Please be mindful of this possibility in your classes, offices, meetings, and events. Students, faculty, and staff, please contact your professors, dean, or manager to arrange accommodations as needed.
Appropriate greetings: Some thoughtful ways to create space for students and colleagues. Saying the wrong things may land as microaggressions. Acknowledge the month by the following greeting “Ramadan Mubarak” (which means “have a blessed Ramadan”) or Ramadan Kareem (which means “have a generous Ramadan"). Refrain from saying things like: don’t you get hungry, I can’t understand how you do it, that can’t be healthy for you. Instead, say things like: I wish you a blessed and happy Ramadan or have a peaceful and happy Ramadan.
We invite the UHart community to review and use our resources for continued learning, provided below.
To view Ramadan activities, at the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center:https://www.fvamc.org/
Ramadan: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask
American Muslims: A History Revealed: "American Muslims" is a documentary film series that covers the history of Muslim individuals in the United States—from migration to diverse communities across the U.S. in present-day. The first of the six films are set to be released next month via Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Digital Series (learn more here). The project website offers an illustrative timeline of events, covering 500 years of history centering on the stories of American Muslim individuals (learn more here).
Muslim American Heritage Celebration, part of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA): The Muslim American Heritage Celebration offers curricula focused on an introduction to diverse Muslim experiences in the United States. Learn more here.
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) Educators Toolkit: The ISPU offers evidence-based resources to support all educators in fostering safe learning environments for all students, with focus on those who identify as Muslim. Learn more here.
Ramadan Mubarak!