Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and represents a time where Muslims worldwide practice a month of fasting, communal prayer and reflection. During this time, observers fast from dawn until sunset — abstaining from all food and liquids — and use this time to engage in increased acts of charity and prayer, all with the hopes of growing closer to Allah. This year, Ramadan began on the evening of Feb. 28, and will conclude on the evening of March 30. 

“For me to be able to observe it means that I am getting closer to my religion and getting to be part of a community,” Maisha Ahmed, a junior majoring in business management, said about her experience partaking in Ramadan. “The community where everyone observes Ramadan and has the same beliefs as I do. Observing Ramadan for me is very peaceful since it’s about bettering yourself and reflecting.” 

Islam is based on five core principles and believing in these principles is necessary to follow the Islamic faith. The five principles are as follows in Arabic: Shahadah, which is the belief in Allah; Salat, which is prayer; Zakat, which is charity; Sawm, which is to fast and Hajj, which means pilgrimage. 

“I observe Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset, praying five times a day, donating to charity and taking time within this month to reflect on how I could become a better person and Muslim and also change my bad habits into good ones,” Ahmed said. 

Ramadan requires significant adjustments to daily routines, balancing religious observance with academic and personal responsibilities. Ahmed explained that the month brings unique challenges that require careful time management. 

“[Ramadan] impacts my daily life a lot, my whole schedule switches around during this month. Little things like getting less sleep or having to find increments of time to run errands, hang out with friends or even go to the gym. It’s hard having to fit all of this in with school and work; I feel like there’s not enough time in the day to be able to achieve all of it.”

For students like Ahmed, Ramadan can bring a significant shift to daily routines. From waking up early for Suhoor, which is their pre-dawn meal, to breaking their fast at Iftar after sunset, every aspect of their day is shaped by their observance of the fast and prayer. 

“Balancing academic responsibilities has to be the hardest because there is always so much homework to be done and so many exams to prepare for,” Ahmed said. “It gets really draining when trying to do all of that while fasting, especially since our bodies are low on energy from not eating or drinking anything [throughout the day].”

To support Muslim students on Stony Brook University’s campus, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senators Eesha Uddin, a senior majoring in biochemistry, and Mahjabin Raiqa, a junior double majoring in biology and psychology, both also members of the Muslim Students’ Association, created Ramadan assistant kits to help fasting students break their fasts more easily. Each kit includes essentials such as snacks like dates, a traditional staple food to break a fast during Ramadan, and electrolytes for hydration. 

“Islamically, Muslims are encouraged to prioritize the welfare of people and give back to the community, so this is the perfect way for me to be able to help lots of fasting students on campus,” Uddin wrote in an email to The Statesman. “Sometimes balancing academics and fasting can be challenging, and I wanted to help bridge the gap and provide my fellow Muslim students access to an easy solution to help alleviate any stress. I know I’ve gotten caught up in schoolwork, even outside of Ramadan, and can forget to take care of myself. The kits are intended to help with that challenge.”

Recognizing the challenges of balancing academics with fasting and overall religious observation, Uddin hopes to ease the burden by offering practical solutions.

“As a senator a part of USG, we can do different initiatives like this and we get the support from the whole senate which I am very grateful for,” Uddin wrote. “This year, I worked with Senator Mahjabin Raiqa and we worked to have the kits filled with healthier food options to help people open their fasts.”

These kits are given out once a week throughout the month of Ramadan to any undergraduate student, in both the Student Activities Center and the Stony Brook Union.

“I hope these kits help students feel that the campus appreciates them and respects their religious beliefs,” Uddin wrote. “We hope that the assistance kits can become a kind of tradition, one that can be provided in years to come and build a community of volunteers and observing students.”

Although USG and MSA support fasting students to the best of their ability, Uddin said she hopes the University would accommodate fasting students as well.

“Generally, in a university setting, the biggest challenge is that we are all exhausted from fasting all day while managing our hectic schedules,” Uddin wrote. “I always wish the University professors would be more accommodating to students and more flexible during this time to allow us to find ways to accomplish everything we need. With our collaboration with the USG/MSA, we seek to bridge that support gap and also provide an accommodation that might then change the trends we see.”

Amy Cook, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, emphasized in an email with The Statesman that Stony Brook remains dedicated to supporting all students and promoting inclusivity. 

“Stony Brook is deeply committed to celebrating diversity and supporting an inclusive community where all Seawolves can bring their full selves to the work they do,” Cook said. “We are committed to ensuring that every student has the right to pursue their education while practicing their faith. Any time a student has to miss class for a religious holiday, students are responsible for notifying instructors as soon as possible and seeking alternate arrangements.”