Ramadan Mubarak: Student Merdith Spahić’s Perspective on Ramadan
Today, April 13 2021, marks the first day of Ramadan, a month observed by Muslims worldwide as a time to fast, reflect, pray, and spend time with community. Student writer Chenoa Baker ’21 interviews Arts Management and International Business double major Merdith Spahić ‘22 about how she celebrates Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan. Through sharing her traditions with the Chatham community, Merdith challenges us to be more inclusive through fostering dialogue and supporting Muslim students.
What does Ramadan Mean to You?
For Merdith, Ramadan is about more than fasting and doing good deeds. She observes Ramadan by reading the Qur'an, reconnecting with the Five Pillars of Islam, and getting closer to Allah—by approaching Ramadan with “self-reflection, humility, and gratitude. I feel compassion for people who are poor or cannot eat because I fast up to 14 hours a day during this month. Cleansing my soul and spirit from negativity makes me better person. It goes beyond once a year, but it is a lifestyle.”
Merdith shares that fasting during finals and the end of the semester may be challenging, but it allows her to focus more on her schoolwork. Traditionally in her household, her mother prepares traditional Bosnian food for Iftar (the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan), and makes plans for Eid celebrations. Her whole family talks more about Islam, and practices zakat (alms), one of the five pillars, by donating to charities during the month of Ramadan.
Breaking Misconceptions
At the start of Ramadan, she has a special healthy meal called Suhoor. She eats beans, rice, quinoa, scrambled eggs, crackers, and lots of water. This edifies and hydrates the body prior to the month-long fast. Beginning at sunup to sunset, Merdith fasts for Ramadan. At the end of the day, she eats with her family. Mental preparation for Merdith is reminding herself why she is doing this, how this will make her feel afterwards, and overall, just focusing on her purpose especially because she is a coffee-lover. Another way she prepares is by making sure a lot of her work is done prior to fasting so that she does not stress as much.
“ Many people feel that Ramadan, as a part of Islam, is extreme because of fasting. It’s challenging mentally but you feel good afterwards because it cleanses yourself, you focus on what matters, and fasting is healthy for you.”
How do you Observe Ramadan differently During COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic changed how many celebrate religious holidays and observations. In many ways it requires us to be creative with technology to derive meaning in our digitized festivities. During Ramadan, April 12 to May 12, 2021, Merdith shares how she observes Ramadan during Covid. She says, “Before COVID, I felt more alone during Ramadan because my friends and family are over in Bosnia, so it can be lonely. With everything online now, we Zoom or Facetime. I feel more connected this time around. Ironically, during Ramadan and Eid families typically gather together but technology helps.”
How can the Chatham Community Support You During this Time?
Merdith is very open and believes in honest dialogue: asking questions rather than making assumptions is always best. As a practicing Muslim, she loves to exchange ideas about her faith and learn more about other religious practices that are different than hers. “I have some Muslim friends on campus that I asked to Iftar together or invited my non-Muslim friends to join in.” She suggests that some ways that the Chatham community can support her and other Muslim students is by having campus-wide dialogue, opening dining services for later hours, and hosting a communal Iftar where Muslim students cook traditional dishes and conduct a dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim students.
For more opportunities for the exchange of cultural ideas, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion holds a Diversity Dialogue series as well as several events aimed at creating brave spaces for students to learn, grow, and connect.
