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Ramadan Mubarak! The holy month of Ramadan begins in the next two weeks and lasts 30 days. During this month, which celebrates when the Quran was given to the Prophet and the people, devout Muslims refrain from eating, drinking water, and other activities from sunrise to sunset. At the high school I teach in, about a quarter of our students identify as Muslim. They have advocated for many supports during Ramadan, like an established prayer room and lunchtime alternatives to the cafeteria for students who are fasting.

There are numerous resources explaining how teachers can best support our Muslim students during Ramadan. However, I was curious to hear directly from Muslim students about what they want their teachers to do. I sat down with a few groups of Muslim students to get their take on Ramadan, Eid, and how teachers and administrators can support them during the holy month. Here are a few major takeaways.  

A Typical Day for Muslim Students During Ramadan

“A typical day of Ramadan starts off by fasting first thing when you finish the morning prayer,” my student Fadwa noted. “Otherwise, it’s a pretty relaxing, chill day. But it is a little exhausting because we don’t eat anything until sundown.” This seems to be the theme. Some students try to sleep again after morning prayer, but often they just stay up. “We are usually pretty sleepy, especially by the end of the school day,” a senior named Baytu commented. Students asked that teachers just be mindful of their lack of energy and “try not to be too hard on us.” One commented, “if we have our assignments done and we have a good grade, it is nice if you let us just chill in the library.” 

It’s also helpful to find alternatives to food in class. Some students don’t mind if others are eating in class while they are fasting, but some asked that we “refrain from eating in front of them.” If handing out prizes or rewards in class, it’s a good idea to think of non-food options during Ramadan or give students individually packaged foods or candies they can take home and eat after sundown. 

On a school-wide level, establishing an alternative space that students can be in during lunchtime if they are fasting is essential. In my school, the library becomes the go-to space, and many students shared that they enjoy this time to be with their Muslim peers during the school days of Ramadan. 

Ramadan is observed by 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, it is, in fact, a very personal observance. Through fasting, Muslims deepen their gratitude for all things Allah has given, including the Quran. However, according to the scriptures, one does not fast if they are sick, pregnant, or menstruating. “Sometimes we aren’t fasting for some reason, and teachers shouldn’t point that out or make us feel guilty for eating during the day,” a sophomore named Hanan noted. I have even had Muslim students who are not fasting come to my room to eat lunch because they are worried their classmates may ask them why they aren’t fasting. Sharing the traditions and exceptions of sawm (fasting) with all students can help bring clarity and understanding to this issue across the school. 

Likewise, expectations and responsibilities during Ramadan change as children grow up. Although Muslims are not expected to fast until they reach puberty, many kids are interested in following the fast with their families and older siblings. Therefore it’s likely that elementary-age students participate in “baby fasts,” where they refrain from eating until 11 AM or just skip the lunch meal. As teachers, we can support younger students by recognizing their observances and not questioning their choices. Parents and families are extremely cautious with their children’s health, so trust that they are having discussions about appropriate fasting during Ramadan with their younger children. High schoolers, on the other hand, are more likely to be fasting. “Our parents expect us to take Ramadan more seriously,” Zakariye shared. 

Supporting Fasting Students in Electives

When asking students what they wish teachers knew, many of the responses centered around their elective classes. “Well, during Ramadan, we aren’t really supposed to listen to music or sing,” Hanan told me. She had been in a choir class during Ramadan last year and wasn’t comfortable talking to the teacher about it, so she just continued to sing along even though it went against her faith. “But we aren’t trying to get out of the work,” her friend Zeinab chimed in. “They can give us an alternate assignment or something, but ya, we aren’t really supposed to be around music.” While the Quran doesn’t explicitly forbid music during Ramadan, many Islamic scholars and leaders have said that it distracts people from prayer and celebration during the holy month. 

The other elective class that students brought up repeatedly was gym. Once again, students commented on their exhaustion during the day and hoped that gym teachers would give them modified versions of exercises or alternate assignments altogether. “During gym class, I need to take a lot of breaks,” said Ahmed. Not drinking water throughout the day can also lead to dehydration, something gym teachers should be aware of. 

Eid Al-Fitr

Finally, I learned a lot by chatting with students about the last day of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr. This holy day signals the end of the fast, and Muslims often go to the Masjid in the evening and stay until the early hours of the morning. “Sometimes my mom makes me go home around midnight, but sometimes we stay until 2 or 3 AM,” one student told me. While this year, Eid will most likely fall on a Friday (April 21st), in other years, it is important to recognize that students will either be absent or exhausted the next day. While schools are required to excuse student attendance for religious holidays like Eid, students noted that teachers can help support them by not planning major tests or assignments for the holiday. 

Supporting Students

Ultimately, while a lot needs to be done on the school-wide or district-wide level to support Muslim students during Ramadan, classroom teachers play a major role in a student’s day-to-day experience. Whether just one or 100 of your students are observing Ramadan, it’s never too late to ask them about what they typically do during the holy month and what you can do to support them. In my experience, students are more than willing to share, and they have a lot of good ideas, too. A little understanding goes a long way in making our students feel that they belong in our schools during all months of the year. 

Kristen Sinicariello is currently in her seventh year of teaching at a high school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  As a Social Studies teacher, she is passionate about taking a diverse approach to history while helping students unpack bias in a rapidly changing world.  Before stepping into the classroom, Kristen spent time as an outdoor educator and wilderness guide, and continues to find most of her opportunities for learning and personal growth in the outdoors.  Currently she also keeps busy as a girls soccer coach, a union communications leader, and a Social Justice Club supervisor.

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