An Open Letter to Educators about Ramadan
Dear Equitable Educator,
March 11, 2024 marks the first day of Ramadan for Muslims around the world. The 9th month of the lunar calendar, Ramadan is not a holiday by Islamic standards; it is a holy month of worship. Muslim students in our classrooms will be fasting from dawn to sunset (about 5:40 am-7:00 pm depending on the region they reside in); they cannot consume anything (water, medicine, food, etc.). For Muslims, Ramadan is much more than abstaining from food and drink. It is a month that exemplifies the Islamic values of gratitude, strengthening bonds of kinship, spirituality, and maximizing acts of charity. Because Ramadan is a time of spiritual discipline, students may be spending a lot more time in mosques performing extra prayers. Taraweeh is a special prayer that Muslims pray during Ramadan after they break their fast; some students will attend special prayers until late hours in the night (11:00 pm). Qiyam is also an optional practice of spending the night in worship until the early hours of the morning prayer, before sunrise (about 5:40 am). Many mosques do collective Qiyam enabling communities to worship together through the night. This is especially prevalent during the last ten days of Ramadan, the holiest days of the month. Muslims believe that the Quran (the Islamic holy book) was revealed during the last ten days of Ramadan; they are some of the holiest days of the Islamic calendar. Additionally, during Ramadan, Muslims abstain from smoking, physical intimacy, as well as all things considered “bad deeds” like lying or hurting others. They are encouraged to donate to those in need as an act of appreciation for the blessings they have; it is a month of generosity and giving.
Some things leaders in educational spheres should keep in mind during Ramadan:
Islam is a faith and Muslims come from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds. Often Arab and Muslim are used to identify individuals interchangeably and synonymously. This is a misconception since Arabs can adopt any faith and Muslims can be from anywhere. Sometimes those identities intersect, but that is not always the case. Work to identify Muslim students in your school and remember, some may not look like the stereotypical Muslims represented in the media.
Students will probably not have the stamina to do rigorous physical or mental work, especially for the first week until their bodies adjust to their new diet. They may also be tired because if they are trying to make the most out of the month, they are probably spending a lot more time in the mosque. Homework may be a barrier to the spiritual journey of some students. Encouraging students to complete their homework during lunchtimes and other allotted times during the school day, if they are able, can relieve some of those tensions.
Some people are excused from fasting. People who are traveling, children before the age of puberty, girls on their menstrual cycle, pregnant women, the elderly, and people who are sick and require medication throughout the day are examples of groups of people not required to fast. Instead, they are required to feed a poor person for every day they are not able to fast in Ramadan. So if you see a Muslim student eating, they may be excused from fasting for one reason or another.
Research has shown extensively that students do not want to be the teachers. Avoid asking your students to teach you or their peers about Ramadan. Below are some links you can share with your students should you choose to discuss this in your class as a way of raising awareness and helping students develop empathy and understanding for their Muslim peers during this month. I am also happy to make ‘guest appearances’ if students have questions and my schedule permits. Ideal learning happens when educators work to create brave spaces throughout the year where all students are comfortable sharing the intersections of their identities and their lived experiences regularly.
Ramadan is 29 or 30 days depending on the cycle of the moon. The first three days after Ramadan marks the first of two Islamic holidays in the year, Eid Al-Fitr. Eid is a huge celebration that begins with morning prayer at the mosque. Because Muslims are not monolithic, Eid celebrations look different from country to country, community to community, and family to family. Usually, Eid is a time to gather, eat together, and gift each other. I usually begin my day celebrating with a cup of coffee in the morning!
Even if you have no Muslim students in your classes, talk to your students about Ramadan to help them understand and appreciate the diversity that exists in our world. Understanding groups of people who have historically been “othered” is the first step to humanizing each other and building appreciation through knowledge.
During the month of Ramadan, schools should provide Muslim students with the option of spending their lunch period in a separate space so that they do not have to be in spaces where other students are eating if they choose that as an alternative. Many students would appreciate a place where they will have the option to nap, read Quran, or do whatever they need to help them recharge for their day.
Muslims do not celebrate Ramadan, they observe it. You can wish them a Ramadan Mubarak during Ramadan and a Eid Mubarak on Eid. Mubarak means full of blessings.
In addition to understanding Ramadan this year, it is just as important to note the significance of Palestine to all Muslims. There are too many reasons to list in this short letter, so I will focus on a few of the most significant reasons why:
- As the Holy Land, Palestine is home to the Al-Aqsa mosque. The mosque is believed to be the location where Prophet Mohammed ascended to the heavens.
- Prior to the Kaba in Saudi Arabia, all Muslims prayed in the direction of the mosque five times a day.
- Palestine is also the birthplace and home of many great prophets, including Jesus.
Therefore, it is important to note that many of our Muslim students would benefit from trauma informed practices at this time due to the genocide currently taking place in Palestine. Recognize their trauma without putting them on the spot. Give them the grace they need. Create spaces for self regulation and support. Provide spaces infused with hope. Most importantly, humanize the students we serve in a world that is constantly dehumanizing them. Our classrooms can serve as healing spaces and our world is in desperate need of those spaces. Let’s validate our students’ lived experiences and actually “see” them. Every child deserves that.
If you read this email in its entirety, I appreciate you and your efforts to understand and work to include all of our students. Including them through empathy, understanding, and celebrating their pluralism is the best way to show them that we care about them and honor, appreciate, and celebrate who they are and what they bring to our community.
I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have or guide you toward resources that can answer your questions (@SJEducate).
Peace and blessings always,
Dr. Sawsan Jaber, NBCT
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