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Knight Volume 64, Issue 3

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Writers March 1, 2024

Robinson High School

6311 S Lois Ave, Tampa, Fla. 33616

Embracing Ramadan at Robinson Breaking fasts and building bonds through a holiday about Allah and family By CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Beep, beep, beep goes your alarm. Looking over to your phone, it reads “5 a.m.,” instead of the usual 7:30 a.m. alarm. You drag yourself out of bed in order to take part in the morning prayer, Fajr, with your family. After, you eat a full meal before going to school. From then on, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything until sundown. For many students at Robinson, that is what their morning looks like in the month of Ramadan.

Tajikistan, they believe it is important to take part in all the rituals Ramadan brings. On top of their regular everyday routine, they also visit the mosque, pray five times a day and most importantly, fast from sunrise to sundown.

specifically, the meaning behind fasting.

“My favorite part about Ramadan is understanding how amazing water and food is, after experiencing thirst and hunger for a long day from dawn to dusk. I get the first sip of water of the day and it is such “It definitely is hard to fast, the whole an amazing feeling,” Aboouzeid said. “It purpose is to be in the people’s shoes who [fasting] is not hard when you understand struggle to find food or barely have any. I that you prevent yourself from the pleasures usually try to distract myself the whole day of this world and focus the whole month on so that I don’t think about food or water, but worshipping God.” Ramadan takes place in the ninth it does get easier for me at least as the month For Aboouzeid, who is from Giza, Egypt, month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is goes by,” Afandikhonova said. he believes that Ramadan is all about family. considered the holiest month of the year for Despite the challenges, she emphasizes He highlights how Ramadan is all about the many Muslims; it celebrates the revelation of how Ramadan is one of her favorite holidays community that he and his family have built. A plate of samosas premade for when the Quran. This year, it starts on the evening Afandikhonova and her family are ready for break as it allows her and her family to connect Not to mention, he mentions how more of Sunday, Mar. 10 and ends on Tuesday, fast. Photo Courtesy of Shokhina Afandikhonova to their culture and remember their values. prayers happen during Ramadan in order for April 9. She believes that the most important part individuals to feel closer to God (Allah) and “Ramadan to me is the time to practice of Ramadan is improving herself. However, their loved ones. self-reflection, to seek forgiveness and to her favorite part remains to be the food, “We do our best to spend as much time remember our creator Allah and be grateful especially when fasting ends. together in it, so we make our plans to be for all the things that are given and provided “My favorite part of Ramadan is definitely together and pray together. This is because to our life,” Shokhina Afandikhonova (‘24) eating all the delicious food. At the end Ramadan is about feeling the things people said. of the day, everyone gets hungry and my don’t notice until they don’t have and the The month of Ramadan looks extremely family just looks forward to the big meals. A month of family gatherings and worship,” busy for Afandikhonova and her family. memorable moment would be just everyone Aboouzeid said. Originally in my family gathering to prepare the Through all of the Ramadans that he from different types of meals for all of us to enjoy has celebrated, the most memorable for later and it is all so worth it. Every Aboouzeid would be last year’s Ramadan has been great and I Ramadan. After watching can’t wait for Ramadan 2024,” Aboouzeid fast one day, his Afandikhonova said. friends decided to join him to see Just like Afandikhonova, what he was experiencing. Abdelrahman “Abdo” “It’s a little hard only in Aboouzeid (‘25) expresses the lunch period due to all the Pelemeni, which is mini dumpling soup. Photo that his favorite part of people eating and drinking for a Courtesy of Shokhina Afandikhonova Ramadan would also be whole period in front of me. But the food, it can be hard sometimes, especially if you last Ramadan was memorable are out at a fast-food place and get food to because some people tried Ramadan with me who go and you have to wait all day just to eat were not Muslims and it. However, I still love Ramadan because learning is always a thing I enjoy and love to they understood the blessings of water and see others learn about different cultures and holidays,” Stephens said. food too,” Aboouzeid said.

Stephens, along with Afandikhonova and Aboouzeid, all hope that individuals who do Ramadan looks not celebrate Ramadan understand why they a little different for are doing this and respect their traditions, as Cadence Stephens this important holiday teaches them self(‘24). Although she discipline and empathy. partakes in many of the Ramadan activities and “I hope people not familiar with Ramadan traditions, she does not can understand why people do it. And that fast. they can appreciate something that they may not take part in in any capacity. It’s way more “I personally don’t than just fasting for the day, but breaking fast, but my mom bad habits and leading a good life,” Stephens usually does. For her, said. “Ramadan means a moment to take the An illustration of a family break- time to put yourself in a place you may have ing their fast with a festive meal. never been with yourself.”

HEADLINES FROM THE INSIDE

Illustration by Janiece Mitchner

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