Student Snapshot: Ramadan

Hussaina Musaji is a third year student at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). She is originally from Jönköping in Sweden, but has stayed in Latvia during the pandemic because she finds it easier to focus on her studies in Riga than at home. Salih Okutucu is in his fifth year of Medicine studies. His family is originally from Turkey, but he now lives in Castrop-Rauxel, which is close to Dortmund in West Germany. They know each other from the Ibn Sina Muslim society at RSU, of which Salih is the President.

Tell me about Ibn Sina.

Salih: The society started because we wanted to get people from similar backgrounds together to pray and celebrate Islamic festivals. The society is growing each year and right now we have about 50-60 active members. Basically what we do is that we pray together, hold events and organise weekend trips.

How do you maintain your community during COVID-19?

Salih: During the first lockdown, we'd still meet to go through readings and the teachings of the Quran together, but after some time it became difficult to continue. Some members graduated and others who were teaching us were busy with their state exams, for example. There are no real meetings right now, but we still keep in touch. Our members send us pictures and videos from their night prayers, or of how they're breaking fast and stuff like that. I think you even sent us something from Riga when you broke your fast, Hussaina?

We want to show that we're all still connected even though our members are spread throughout the world.

Hussaina, how did you get involved with Ibn Sina?

Could you give an outline of what Ramadan is?

Salih: Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars that every Muslim has to follow alongside keeping their faith, praying, being charitable and going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar. This means that while Ramadan is the ninth month, it falls on a different date every year. You have to follow the moon to know when it begins - you start your fast when you see the new crescent moon and it lasts for 30 days. This means that you stop eating at dawn, so you probably want to wake up before then to drink something and eat a little bit to have strength for the day. You can start eating again, or break your fast, once the sun sets. 

Fasting is only one part of Ramadan, however. You should perform even more good deeds during Ramadan than you do usually, which can mean something different for different people. A lot of people give to the poor and those who are in need and through this act you also cleanse your own soul.

If you're guided by the moon and the sun, does living in Northern Europe affect your fast?

Salih: To be honest, Ramadan in Latvia is very special. Geographically most Muslims live in the Middle East and wouldn't have this problem, but there are of course Muslims all over the world.

If Ramadan falls during the summer months, you have to fast for more hours the further north you are, and if it falls during the winter months you have to fast fewer hours.

What traditions do you follow when you break your fast?

Hussaina: Usually we each bring foods from our culture, or foods that we really like that we want to share with others. There are also the two night prayers Maghrib and Isha.

Maghrib is the one for when you break your fast, after which you eat together and then you can say Isha together. After we've eaten we sit around and talk. It's a nice time to bond and share and reflect. We can talk about the different teachings of Islam, and just really search within ourselves. It sounds very deep but that's what Ramadan is about. You should reflect on what religion means to you and how you can include it more in your life. 

Salih: I just want to add that the meal that breaks the fast is called Iftar. It is also customary to break your fast with a date, just like the prophet Mohammed did (peace be upon him). After the Isha prayer we do a Tarawih, which is basically a long prayer that is only said during Ramadan. 

Is there a Muslim community outside RSU in Riga, or a mosque that you go to?

Salih: To be honest, there's no real society outside RSU, at least not that I know of. There is a mosque where we have gone for our Friday prayers sometimes. While we're studying we don't always have the time to go there, however. 

Hussaina: Same here, Ibn Sina is the only connection I have to other Muslims in Riga. It's unfortunate but it's good that we at RSU can bring people together. We even have some members from the University of Latvia too!

You mentioned that charity is a big part of Ramadan. Can you tell me about the charity you're collecting for right now?

Salih: It's a children's charity in Turkey called Oyuncak Kardeşliği, which roughly translates to "toy friendship". We want to give them the money that we've raised. Last year we raised 2,500 euros for a charity! We want to be as transparent as possible because people trust us with their money. This year, I flew to Turkey myself to show people where their money is going, and so that they can see us handing out the toys.

Salih (on the right) handing out gifts in Turkey.

Tell me about Eid al-Fitr.

Hussaina: Eid al-Fitr is the celebration that marks the end of the 30 day fast. It is usually celebrated with family and friends. This year it's on 13 May. Before the pandemic, people would have gatherings and celebrate together with the community, or with your family. There's always lots of food, deserts and toys for the children. It's just a very joyous celebration.

How will you be celebrating?

Salih: Basically what you do is that the men go to a communal prayer in the morning. You dress nicely and come back and give presents to the children.

The significance of Eid al-Fitr is comparable to Christmas in Latvia.

This is the second Ramadan that is taking place during the pandemic. Traditionally we'd visit our elders. Now, however, especially as medical students, we understand that it's more important to have them around for a few more years than seeing them in person! I'm lucky to live with my grandparents, but other people call their grandparents online.

For the prayers last year, our local mosque had very strict hygiene guidelines in place so that people could still come to pray. Because the Eid prayer is so big, our local mosque held the prayers on a football pitch last year so that everyone who wanted to could still come.