Photo Survey Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting for a month

By Victoria Nikfar Cub Reporter

March 22 marked the first day of Ramadan, a Muslim holiday that occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is a holy month in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a 29-day period and are encouraged to pray five times each day. They finish off the month with a large feast and celebration called Eid al-Fitr.

Sophomore Joseph Abuhalawa is Muslim and participates in Ramadan. He enjoys Ramadan because he gets to connect with family members that he doesn’t often get to see.

“Whenever Ramadan hits we have big feast [at the beginning of the month] and we have special foods that we normally never make. We also gather with our family members that we [don’t usually] see and have a prayer each night for an hour,” Joseph Abuhalawa said.

Joseph’s brother Jacob Abuhalawa, a current junior, feels closer to his family during Ramadan and enjoys focusing on his family, schoolwork and giving back to the community.

“Ramadan brings your family together. My mom owns a restaurant so the majority of the time she’s not with us for dinner. In the month of Ramadan, everyone wants to eat at 7:30 p.m. so everyone’s [going to] be at the dinner table at 7:30 p.m. One aspect of [Ramadan] is that we’re all closer together,” Jacob Abuhalawa said.

The fast is meant to cleanse the body and remind us of personal fortune. It puts people into the shoes of the less fortunate who may not have food on their tables

[food] more. [Ramadan helps] me be appreciative [of what] I have, give back [to the community], care for my family and focus on religion,” Jacob Abuhalawa said. The Abuhalawa brothers agree that there is a supportive community of Muslims and non-Muslims in Marin.

“I have some friends that aren’t even a part of the religion that have fasted with me because they find it interesting and want to [try fasting]. They always say [fasting isn’t as bad as they thought]. Although they’re hungry, it makes them relaxed, calm and stay disciplined and focused,” Jacob Abuhalawa said.

Sophomore Cameron Momsen is a good friend of Joseph. Although he is not Muslim, he has learned about Ramadan through Joseph.

“I think [Ramadan] is impressive and I respect it. Having the willpower and the ability to restrain yourself from eating food and drinking water is very impressive [to me]. Just watching [Joseph] being able to get through his day, even when he’s tired, is really impressive,” Momsen said.

The Abuhalawa brothers believe fasting during Ramadan helps them improve as people and makes them feel more relaxed.

“I feel like I have more time to do things. Based on my tests so far during the fast, I’ve done a lot better. I feel it’s because you’re not distracted. You don’t really have the energy to go out, work out or hang out with [your friends]. All those distractions just get lost. [In school] you have to do a lot of things but not [using] physical energy. You just have to use your brain’s energy,” Jacob Abuhalawa said.