2008 Woodie Awards
Regulating Ramadan
Muslims on campus call for more accommodations
Jacqueline Seaton
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Religion
- Page 1 of 1
Last month, Abdul Barr-Khaliq should have been more concerned with studying, but he had a hard time focusing.
Khaliq was observing Ramadan, the religious ritual of Muslims that take place during the ninth Islamic calendar month, the time when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
During the month long holiday, Muslims are required to fast and pray from sunrise to sunset each day. They are also expected to disconnect from their sinful natures and become one with Allah.
Khaliq, a junior who is majoring in music, found it hard to effectively focus in his classes on an empty stomach.
"I'm used to eating breakfast in the morning to help jump start my day," he said. "Because I'm not upbeat in the morning, it seemed like the day went by slower because I didn't have the energy. It's much easier for me to practice when I'm home because everyone in my family is Muslim so we all practice together."
At school, Khaliq is constantly surrounded by food.
"I guess Allah is testing my faith," he said. "What he sees in me to trust me with such a challenge, I'm not sure, but he sees it."
During Ramadan, dining services were provided upon request, but many Muslim students expressed dissatisfaction.
"It's sad," said Michael Rahming, a senior. "Do you wait until a baby motions that he's hungry before you feed it? No. I don't feel that we should have to request to have food to be set aside for us at the close of the day. We don't eat for roughly thirteen hours."
Rahming said that college officials should better cater to its Muslim students.
"The administration knows that they have Muslim students who participate in Ramadan," Rahming said. "Why not make provisions for us to eat, if nothing else?"
The only other option for food is Lincoln' Row, the restaurant-style eatery designed as an alternative to eating in the main cafeteria. The business hours of Lincoln's Row--11 a.m. to 10 p.m.--extend beyond the regular cafeteria hours.
"Administrators should make an exception for the month of Ramadan in terms of guaranteeing that the dining halls are open for an extra hour or so," said Latoya Kaif Abdullah. "The cafeteria has many more options than the grill. After all, it is only a month," she added.
Several attempts to reach officials in the Office of Student Affairs were unsuccessful.
Khaliq was observing Ramadan, the religious ritual of Muslims that take place during the ninth Islamic calendar month, the time when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
During the month long holiday, Muslims are required to fast and pray from sunrise to sunset each day. They are also expected to disconnect from their sinful natures and become one with Allah.
Khaliq, a junior who is majoring in music, found it hard to effectively focus in his classes on an empty stomach.
"I'm used to eating breakfast in the morning to help jump start my day," he said. "Because I'm not upbeat in the morning, it seemed like the day went by slower because I didn't have the energy. It's much easier for me to practice when I'm home because everyone in my family is Muslim so we all practice together."
At school, Khaliq is constantly surrounded by food.
"I guess Allah is testing my faith," he said. "What he sees in me to trust me with such a challenge, I'm not sure, but he sees it."
During Ramadan, dining services were provided upon request, but many Muslim students expressed dissatisfaction.
"It's sad," said Michael Rahming, a senior. "Do you wait until a baby motions that he's hungry before you feed it? No. I don't feel that we should have to request to have food to be set aside for us at the close of the day. We don't eat for roughly thirteen hours."
Rahming said that college officials should better cater to its Muslim students.
"The administration knows that they have Muslim students who participate in Ramadan," Rahming said. "Why not make provisions for us to eat, if nothing else?"
The only other option for food is Lincoln' Row, the restaurant-style eatery designed as an alternative to eating in the main cafeteria. The business hours of Lincoln's Row--11 a.m. to 10 p.m.--extend beyond the regular cafeteria hours.
"Administrators should make an exception for the month of Ramadan in terms of guaranteeing that the dining halls are open for an extra hour or so," said Latoya Kaif Abdullah. "The cafeteria has many more options than the grill. After all, it is only a month," she added.
Several attempts to reach officials in the Office of Student Affairs were unsuccessful.
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