Have you ever wondered what Ramadan is? 

March 10, 2024, was the start of Ramadan. Ramadan is a communal prayer within the Muslim culture that happens every year. It is celebrated by a month of fasting, which they do as a private act of worship. It happens on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar every year.

“Ramadan isn’t the same month every year, it changes. Last year, it was a month before,” said sophomore Amina Kaissi.

When fasting, they worship Allah. During the fasting, they can’t eat, drink, smoke, or participate in physical relations. It’s also the fourth pillar of the Islamic religion.

“Ramadan is a way to get closer to god and be able to bond with god without distractions since we can’t listen to music,” said Amina Kaissi. 

Fasting only takes place during daylight hours. They can only stop fasting before and after sunset. The meals during Ramadan are called Iftar, which is when the sun sets and Suhoor is the meal eaten before dawn.

“The most important thing is staying with Ramadan and praying. Praying happens at specific times during the day like 6:00 a.m. , 1:30 p.m., and 4:49 p.m.,” said senior Adam Kaissi.

The purpose of fasting, other than worship, is to help reset habits. Ramadan is celebrated because it’s known as the month that the Holy Quran was sent from heaven. 

The Quran is known as the word of God, as it was revealed to the Prophet and is the holy book of Islamic culture. It’s written in classical Arabic. 

“Ramadan is important because it allows time to reconnect with god and learn more stuff about the culture,” said senior Waild Moumen.

Something to know about Ramadan is that not everyone has to fast. There are a few exceptions from that part of the holiday, which include elderly people and kids with illness, along with pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. 

 “Going to the mosque and getting to be with the community after eating and praying is the best part,” said Adam Kaissi.

The month of Ramadan is about the gathering of family and connecting to the community.  The last 10 days of Ramadan are the most important of the month since their most important night of worship happens in those last 10 days. 

Ramadan ends Tuesday, April 9, 2024, with the celebration called Eid al-Fitr which is the ending of the fast. This is a celebration within the community consisting of friends and family gathering together to feast and exchange gifts. 

“Everyone should know that it’s a spiritual month about reconnecting with God and giving back to the community,” said Moumen.

This is important to the student body of Fuquay Varina High School because we have students at the school who participate in this month of worship. It’s something people need to be aware of because it happens yearly and is part of our school’s culture.