Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims, characterized by fasting, prayer, and personal reflection. For many people, it is a time of family bonding, friendship, and personal growth. To better understand what it truly means, sophomore Jana Sanad and Junior Ridda Saraheen share their experiences and memories during this special month.

When Sanad and Saraheen celebrate Ramadan, they feel a sense of peace and unity that stays with them throughout the month. For them, these rituals are more than religious duties—they are opportunities to bond with family, connect with friends, and grow personally.

Sanad said that part of her experience revolves around traditional meals rather than any particular dish.

“I like anything my mom cooks or just anything. I really don’t mind,” Sanad said.

For Saraheen, sharing meals with friends and family is the main event.

“[Being with] the community, being with your family, the meals, being with each other—it’s the one time of year where everybody gets together for you, every single day, all together. It’s nice,” Saraheen said.

Beyond family meals, Sanad’s and Saraheen’s favorite memories of Ramadan center around community and friendship.

“I like going to the mosque and praying with all my friends, and we get to do stuff, and that’s really fun. I just feel like it’s time to get closer with all your friends,” Sanad said. “Usually I’ll just go to the mosque whenever I’m free. But when everyone’s close together, it’s a really nice way to feel united.”

Even though Ramadan is largely a joyful time, fasting can be challenging, especially when balancing school and sports. Sanad has learned to manage it over the years, developing patience and resilience.

“After a while, you get used to it because I’ve been fasting for about six years. Some days are harder than others, like you’ll feel extra thirsty or hungry, but you deal with it,” Sanad said. “My very first Ramadan, I wouldn’t really consider that I was fasting the whole day. I was really young, so sometimes I would take breaks.”

Ramadan can be difficult for young children, and Saraheen expresses how he felt this challenge in his childhood.

“I was young, and so it was hard at first but now I’m used to it. And when it was younger, it was in the summer.. so fasting was a lot [harder] because the days were longer. Now that it’s winter, it is a lot easier,” Saraheen said.

Despite these challenges, these students have found special moments while observing Ramadan. Sanad’s favorite part of the day comes after the sunset prayer, Maghrib, when she breaks her fast and prays Taraweeh.

“After you break your fast, you go to pray Taraweeh. It’s really nice because you just feel so calm, and the mosque is really peaceful,” Sanad said.

Central to Saraheen’s and Sanad’s Ramadan observance is the role of family. Sanad shares that breaking her fast alone would take away some of Ramadan’s magic.

“Having to break my fast by myself would probably suck because I like breaking fast with my parents and my sister,” Sanad said.

Aside from breaking fast, food plays a big role in family. Saraheen explains how the different people in his family work together during Ramadan to make food, making the experience memorable.

“My mom and grandma, they all cook and make food and I like that. Then I mean, my dad will help … just helping [with] whatever he can, stuff like that. But it’s really just being together,” Saraheen said.

For Sanad and Saraheen, Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food—it is a month of patience, self-discipline, and reflection.

“The lesson you learn is patience. You learn how to be patient, not just because you’re hungry and thirsty, but to still be the same person you are before fasting,” said Sanad.