Observing Ramadan, Millennials focus on what really matters
By Diane Cho & David Barba
It’s the night before Eid, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. Asad Farooqui and Tahmid Nazrul, both 31, are just one sunset away from ending thirty days of fasting during the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. This summer has not been kind to them. They’ve faced heat waves, temperatures reaching upwards of 90 degrees, and an onslaught of Islamophobia in the wake of terrorist attacks, overseas and at home: New York City. Summer also means longer fasting periods between sunrise and sunset with no food or water. The spotlight on Muslims to freely and openly practice their religion without fearing for their safety has been extremely hot. But Farooqui and Nazrul are just two average Americans trying to make it through to Eid, each in their own way.
“Ramadan becomes this pausing moment where I get to sit back and think about all that I do have and how I’ve never even had to struggle for one meal. So initially as a kid I did it because I was kind of told to and taught to, but I’ve kept up with it as an adult because I want to,” says Farooqui.
With approximately 3% of New York City’s population identifying as Muslim, over 400,000 believers are celebrating Ramadan this year. Even though they’re not from Syria, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Sudan or Saudi Arabia–the countries on President Trump’s travel ban list– Farooqui and Nazrul still find themselves in the crosshairs of anti-Muslim sentiment. Ramadan provides an opportunity to celebrate their religion and culture but also to show the world an image of Muslims not often seen.
“When I say I’m a Muslim, for me it’s someone who’s peaceful, who cares about others, who tries to be as honest as possible and tries to embody everything that you may not hear about,” says Farooqui.
Farooqui, a graduate film student at Columbia University, came to the United States from Karachi, Pakistan in 1994 — he was eight years old. Ramadan in Atlanta helped him feel a sense of community with the city’s other Muslims. This year, coursework has kept Farooqui in New York City for the best part of Ramadan but he still makes sure to pray five times a day and fast throughout the month. But the experience is quieter and lonelier than at home, though there is one side benefit.
He explains: “If I were with family, they cook stuff in oil, it’s Pakistani food. It’s a lot of snacking and it’s very heavy. You tend to feel bloated because you overeat because it’s so good. At the same time, when you haven’t had food for as long as you haven’t, it’s not good to stuff yourself.”
Farooqui spends his time writing in his room or at a library on campus, avoiding the summer heat and conserving as much energy as he can. Though he grew up being taught to observe Ramadan, he has now made a conscious decision as an adult to continue observing it. At the end of the celebration, he feels physically weaker but spiritually cleansed.
“Physically, you feel like you could go back to your regular routine to kind of gain that energy and that strength back. But spiritually, I feel like I’ve become a better person overall, because I’ve made a concerted effort to worship more, to pray more, to be better to other people,” says Farooqui.
Nazrul, a college counselor in Brooklyn, New York, takes a more liberal approach to fasting, while still considering himself a devout Muslim. After immigrating to The Bronx from Bangladesh when he was five, Nazrul started to focus more on his spirituality and veered from the strict rules of fasting.
“I observe Ramadan because it was what we did growing up,” Nazrul explains. “It’s pretty difficult right now because sunset’s at 8:30. So you’re not eating from 3:30 to 8:30—3:30 in the morning until 8:30 at night.”
He hasn’t fasted the full thirty days in years but he makes up for it by generously giving to charity. This year alone, him and his friends raised $4,000 to provide food for a village back in Bangladesh. It’s charity and prayer that helps him feel more well-rounded as a Muslim. As for fasting—skipping a few days isn’t going to harm anyone.
Experiencing so many different cultures in New York City, Nazrul grew to understand that it’s okay to observe Ramadan differently, as long as you come out a better person at the end. He’s been a lot more strict this year, only skipping five days and who knows—next year he could do the full thirty.
Although the two New Yorkers observe Ramadan in different ways, Farooqui and Nazrul are both looking forward to Eid. Farooqui will be flying home to Atlanta and Nazrul will take the train uptown to his family home in Yonkers. They both can’t wait to celebrate with family, the community and indulge in home cooked food.
