Ramadan at Oxford
Members of the Oxford University Islamic Society (OUISOC) share their experiences of Ramadan at Oxford.
Nabeela Zaman, University College
As’salamu’alaikum, may peace be upon you.
It was during my first year at Oxford that I spent my Ramadhan (alternative spelling) away from family. Over the course of Michaelmas and Hilary term it hadn’t really crossed my mind that I’d soon be fasting on my own. However I was soon able to appreciate the need for meal prep as it became my own responsibility to ensure I get proper nutrition from the short space of time in which I could eat my meals.
Once Ramadhan came round in Trinity term, I realised that I didn’t need to worry about fasting on my own. It’s not the same as breaking a fast with my family from home, but at Oxford we are lucky to have a very warm community at the Islamic Society. Iftar meals are provided for our members (when they break their fast) in the student Prayer Room by the Pitt Rivers Museum; and so every night people come together to break their fasts and pray together. In terms of this community, I think Muslims at Oxford have a special experience of Ramadhan.
Ramadhan is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. The main focus of this month is for Muslims to fast and perform special prayers. Fasting in Islam is abstaining from food and drinks, from sunrise to sunset. Outside the group of physical consumption, other activities are discouraged as they take your mind off of Allah (God). This may include listening to music or limiting usage of social media. The intention behind this is to re-centre your intentions and bring your focus back to Allah. So fasting is like a spiritual detox. It’s also been proven to have many health benefits for the body.
Last year I spent my year in Beijing for the year abroad component of my course. Whilst at Oxford I am able to spend Ramadhan with other members of the Islamic Society, but in Beijing it was more of a lone struggle. There was no one I knew of in the areas close to me who were observing Ramadhan and I had to explain the concept to people who were even more unfamiliar of the culture. I’m still grateful for the opportunity as I was able to experience a very unique Ramadhan. Besides, the food was amazing.
This year I look forward to once again experiencing fasting with peers who be on the same journey as me. Although I don’t eat much on a normal day, I can’t deny that I’m a little worried. My main concern is of 5th week blues combining with a major lack of sugar and music — but I’m hoping it should be fine. As Ramadhan begins in 4th week and lasts for a month, I also look forward to the possibility of spending my first Eid (end of Ramadhan celebratory festival) in Oxford.
By: Nabeela Zaman.
Ezzidin Yonis, Lincoln College
Growing up in a Syrian household, the presence of Qasidas — Arabic odes, often devotional — was always in the background of my religious experience. And every year, around this time, I would find myself on the cusp of the month of Ramadan. And as with most religious festivals, this time comes with its assorted Qasidas.
The mother of all Ramadan classics has to be Ramadan Tajallah, a Qasida as simple as it is accurate in capturing the spirit of the holy month. Qasidas are to be listened to as much as read, and Ramadan Tajallah has a particularly joyous melody, joy being an aspect of the Ramadan experience I would most like to articulate.
Ramadan appears, splendid and smiling
Blessed is the servant who reaps its benefits!
Every year, I feel so unprepared for Ramadan, but am still glad it has come. Truly, like a friend appearing unexpectedly; splendid and smiling.
Ramadan is a time for good deeds,
Ramadan is a time of blessings,
To fast in Ramadan is not only to restrain from food and drink, but also to conduct oneself in the best possible manner. That bit is much, much tougher then foregoing the food and drink.
Ramadan is an occasion for prayers,
By which the soul rises to its Lord.”
Every night during Ramadan, Muslims stand in prayer for hours on end, listening to the melodious recitation of the Quran in the special late-night Taraweeh prayers. The prayer is so special and valued that the students here in Oxford organise their own every year without fail.
Ramadan is a time for purifying the soul,
Ramadan is a time of joy,
Ask any Muslim in Oxford — the beauty of breaking the fast together is hard to express in words. There is something cleansing and celebratory about it. When one has resisted eating, drinking, lying, snapping, or gossiping for a whole day, and then sits down to break the fast with their closest family members, or with the beautiful Muslim community in Oxford, it truly feels like one is making progress in purifying one’s character, intentions and actions.
Ramadan is the guide to put things right,
In this life and the life to come.
Ramadan is when Muslims often make new resolutions, make up with estranged friends or relatives. It’s a time to contemplate where you are and where you want to improve, in an environment in which many of those around you are striving to better themselves too.
Ramadan amends the shortcomings
Of people, and their mistakes
Something I find special about the Muslim community in Oxford is the abundance of role models. I don’t just mean academic role models, though they exist. I mean people who I can see have internalised the Quranic message of patience, justice, restraint and charity much better than I have. Ramadan in Oxford provides a chance for me to sit with such people, during the breaking of the fast, and to stand side-by-side with them, during the prayers. I recognise, and am most motivated to fix, my shortcomings in the company of such people.
May Allah by his Forgivness
Fill the hearts of the Umma [the Muslim community] with his caring love.
Amen.
By: Ezzidin Yonis.
Maah-Noor Ali, Lady Margaret Hall
Ramadan has always equalled family. From as far back as I can remember, Sehri (Urdu word for the pre-dawn meal), Iftaar (the breaking of the fast after sunset) and Tarawih (extra prayers, up to 20 sets prayed with Isha — the night prayer) were all times family came together. Extended family members coming around, looking at each other across the table waiting for Maghrib (prayed just after sunset, the fourth of the five obligatory prayers. The prayer also marks the breaking of the fast) — kicking my brothers under the table when they would start the countdown out loud — Baba (Father)telling everyone to be quiet and make dua as the time before Iftaar is just that little more precious than the rest of the day.
I’m not going to say I don’t find fasting challenging at all, I do and especially the last few hours before Iftaar, I was nearly always out like a light and my family knew. I wasn’t much help in the leadup to Maghrib but I would do small things like help make the Shikanjabeen (a type of lemonade) or laying out the table (sometimes the dastarkhwan — Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent use it to refer to a space where food is eaten, often with one sat on the floor — it is a Turkic word meaning ‘tablecloth’ or ‘large spread’), but my parents and brothers would do the rest of the job perfectly.
So once I came to University, I was scared. Yes, I’m still in Oxford but I’m not at home — I’m not around my family. I can’t keep and break fasts with my family everyday — I can’t go to Manzil Way Mosque (my local Mosque, also known as Oxford central mosque) for Tarawih. I can’t just sleep away the few hours before Iftaar and wake up to everything basically being ready, but I had to make changes within myself.
Yes, my mum cooked for me and gave me food for Sehri and Iftaar but it’s not the same — Ramadan doesn’t feel right unless you’re around people. So, I’d have Sehri at College with the other Muslims on my floor and most days for Iftaar it would be the Prayer Room. The first few times it didn’t feel right, and I did end up asking my parent to come and get me but this meant that my Mama or Baba — whoever picked me up would sometimes be late to Tarawih as they needed to get me back to college then get to Manzil Way Mosque (I still had classes/deadlines etc. so couldn’t just stay at home). I also had exams during this period and I realized It just wasn’t feasible for me to break my fast at home every day as the travelling to and from home would take time, time I could have spent revising. So, I started staying at College/the Prayer Room, with the occasional trip home.
Here the Islamic Society comes in. Although it took a while mentally, I got used to it and they were able to somewhat replicate the community family orientated environment of Ramadan at home, and even reminded me a little of Iftaar in Saudi Arabia, which I’m forever grateful for. From occasionally helping set up and clear up, I felt like I was doing something worthwhile and it felt a little like the Shikanjabeen making or table laying — a little like home. My favourite Iftaar event was probably the interfaith Iftaar at Lady Margaret Hall. From the College, Murrium the Access Officer and Helen Barr, the Vice Principle and my Tutor, were instrumental in the leading of it and even now we speak of how nice it would be to hold something of the same sort again — it was so incredibly inclusive with such a warm inviting, very community feel to it — a complete success Alhamdulila (all praise to God)!
Having prayed most of my Tarawih prayers at Manzil Way Mosque and when I lived in Pakistan, at home, I was used to the specific Imam and reciters leading the prayer — It probably sounds odd but the sense of familiarity and the fact that I could recognize them every year was something that I held close to me, it was almost like revisiting my childhood each year? But Tarawih at the Prayer Room was fantastic, I would try and get a spot near the fan, which would help. There were some regular Tarawih faces, which was nice. There were fewer people than the mosque, understandably, but prayer is prayer and I loved it.
I’m very much looking forward to Ramadan this year :)
By: Maah-Noor Ali.
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