Ramadan season rolls around for Muslim students of Park

Celebrations continue for the widely anticipated holy month

Riyan Said

A group of Muslim students gather each day in the Dakota Foyer to pray duhur, the required noon prayer. A new location was recently chosen by staff which has given students an area to pray during the school day.

Riyan Said and Mushtak Barqab
June 2, 2019

As we leave winter behind and the Park student body gears for April showers and May flowers, a select minority prepares for something else: Ramadan.

According to HowStuffWorks, Ramadan is a Muslim holiday that over one billion Muslims worldwide participate in. It is observed as the first crescent moon is seen following the new moon.  Ramadan is a key pillar in the five pillars of Islam that has its participants fast from sunrise to sundown to remember the poor and less fortunate. After Maghrib, or the prayer right after sundown, there’s a feast with exotic food such as sambusa and malawax. Afterwards, nightly prayer or taraweex, is encouraged but not requirement.

Many students have their own meaning and feelings surrounding Ramadan, but they all share the same purpose. Freshman Ayesha Sohail said its holiday for her was spiritual.

“Getting closer to God for sure. Some people who don’t have enough food and have to go through that every day. For us, when we fast it’s just for a while but for them it’s an everyday struggle,” Sohail said.

Sohail said fasting has a lot of its own struggles though it’s for a good cause — some may find it to be the hardest part of Ramadan.

“Fasting is pretty hard for me, so that’s what I don’t like,” Kiin Aden said.

While fasting can be hard, freshman Bisharo Hassan said she would encourage non-Muslims to try fasting during Ramadan.

“I would recommend it because you can sort of experience what the less fortunate have to go through and it makes you thankful for what you have,” Hassan said.

The month is filled with festivities and it’s the time of year that brings families together. With its cultural traditions, dishes and religious value, Ramadan is all-around an awaited and beloved holiday for the Muslim community of St. Louis Park.

The holy month will end on June 4. Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the breaking of the fast, is expected to be on June 5.