Ramadan is a spiritual time for Muslims around the globe and the holy month begins this year on Saturday 3rd of April 2022. Many Muslim pupils look forward to this month of fasting and engaging in prayers, as part of the 5 pillars of Islam.

Exams and fasting 

Many students express their concerns for dealing with exam stress and doing exams during Ramadan season. Luckily, this year, Ramadan is in the Easter holidays, giving pupils plenty of time to rest and spend half of this holy month with loved ones. A student in Year 12, Mohadesa Sherali, expresses her excitement for the upcoming month "I am so delighted that we are so close to Ramadan, and we are so lucky that it is in the holidays this year. Hopefully when we return to school after the break, we can create a Ramadan society for our fellow pupils to engage in during break times and lunch times, where we have Ramadan based activities, such as arts and crafts. 

Ramadan in school 

Many teachers also demonstrate their interest in this holy month by fasting with the pupils. For example, Mr Rayner, teacher of Business and Economics, fasted last year for the whole month of Ramadan, despite not being a Muslim himself. Many other teachers are also interested in taking part in fasting this year, due to the many health benefits, such as preventing harmful diseases.

How do we celebrate Ramadan in the community?  

There are many local events that take place during Ramadan, such as charity fundraiser Iftaar (the time of opening the fast) dinners to allow all people, including non-Muslims to come together and celebrate this occasion. Neighbours also often exchange food during this holy month to express their compassion for their fasting peers. 

Overall, Ramadan is an exciting time for everyone, due to the festivities in the local community and in the school environment, and we anticipate its arrival each year!