The Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice offers insight on an important holiday that begins today (April 1) for a significant population of the campus community:
During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline — of deep contemplation of one's relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran. Be aware that students and colleagues observing Ramadan may be hungry, dehydrated and tired during this time.
It's also a time of celebration and joy, to be spent with loved ones. At the end of Ramadan there is a three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, a religious holiday where everyone comes together for big meals with family and friends, exchanges presents, and generally has a lovely time.
If you want to wish your Muslim friends or acquaintances a happy Ramadan or happy Eid al-Fitr, you're welcome to just say, "Happy Ramadan!" or "Happy Eid!" But if you want to show them you made an effort to learn more about their religion, the standard greetings are "Ramadan/Eid kareem" (which means "have a generous Ramadan/Eid") or "Ramadan/Eid mubarak" (which means "have a blessed Ramadan/Eid").
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating any food, drinking any liquids, smoking cigarettes and engaging in any sexual activity, from dawn to sunset. That includes taking medication (even if you swallow a pill dry, without drinking any water) and chewing gum.
Muslims are also supposed to try to curb negative thoughts and emotions like jealousy and anger, and even lesser things like swearing, complaining and gossiping, during the month.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars — or duties — of Islam, along with the testimony of faith, prayer, charitable giving and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims are required to take part every year, though there are special dispensations for those who are ill, pregnant or nursing, menstruating or traveling, and for young children and the elderly.
The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind Muslims of their human frailty and their dependence on God for sustenance, to show them what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so they feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy and to reduce the distractions in life so they can more clearly focus on their relationship with God.