No food all day, but still happy

The SAC is buzzing with chatter and noise as students relax and enjoy a lunchtime break during 5A. However, for some Muslim students lunch is more of a test of will than a break from the busy school day.

During the holy month of Ramadan, which began on October 7 this year and ended on November 26, Muslims celebrate by fasting from sunrise to sunset and refraining from sexual activity and cursing.

Senior Fatima Munu, born in Sierra Leone, began fasting during Ramadan when she was seven years old. Still, her fasting has made her feel drowsy and tired in class this year. Fasting can be particularly hard when the rest of the people are eating. "It is difficult when hardly anybody is fasting with you," says Munu.

However, the physical effects of fasting are vastly outweighed by the sense of unity in the Blair Muslim community.

For Munu, Ramadan serves as a time for her to connect with her spirituality, "[Ramadan] is a way for me to be one with God and do what he wants," says Munu.

Both Munu and junior Aminata Salloh feel the Muslim students in Blair share a unique and tight bond during Ramadan. They are able to discuss what they experience and share common emotions. "We all know how important Ramadan is for each other," says Munu.

Salloh feels Ramadan creates a "common ground" amongst Muslim students. Also, she believes that although her non-Muslim friends are not very aware of Ramadan, they would be understanding. "I don't know if many of them know about [Ramadan], but they would be supportive if they knew," said Salloh.

Mix of Cultures

Salloh's parents were born and raised in Sierra Leone where they were educated in Christian schools while they maintained their Muslim faith. This created a mixture of religious beliefs in Salloh's family.

Munu was raised by her Christian aunt. She has only recently begun to learn and understand more about Islam, her parent's religion. She did not learn Arabic when she was young, which has made it difficult for her to read prayers.

Salloh feels that American culture can interfere with traditional Islamic restrictions and rules for Ramadan. " Since the country is westernized it is hard to do everything you have to do for Ramadan," says Salloh.

Munu has decided not to cover her head because she feels American kids do not understand and doing so would make her stick out.

Divisions within Blair

Not all Blair Muslims are fasting for Ramadan. Senior Dauda Kondeh has decided not to follow the fasting and guidelines of Ramadan.

Kondeh thinks he will wait until he is older. " I feel like when I am 18 I will [fast]," says Kondeh.

Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth of the five Pillars of Islam. Once Muslims reach puberty they are expected to begin fasting, although exceptions are made for the ill, elderly and pregnant.

Kondeh says that how strictly you follow the restrictions of Ramadan depends on how serious your parents are about Islam and their level of involvement in the Mosque. Kids born in the U.S often do not celebrate the holiday seriously. " The kids brought up in American society don't do it [Ramadan]," says Kondeh.

Still, many Muslims fasted for Ramadan despite the pressures of American society with the support of their fellow Blair students and their strong religious beliefs.