On the final Friday prayer of Ramadan nearly, 100 Islamic faithful came together in a designated classroom in TRU’s Arts and Education Building.
In spiritual kinship with a billion people of the Islamic faith worldwide, Muslim students, faculty and staff at Thompson Rivers University will end their religion’s holy month on the next new moon.
More that 120 Muslims at TRU have been observing Ramadan these past 30 days, the most venerated month of the Islamic year. The religious observance takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
For thirty days the cycle of their daily life has revolved around fasting from dawn to sunset, stressing personal spirituality and generosity.
Ramadan can be a challenging time for students as they engage in their studies as well as observe the practices of not eating or drinking during daylight hours, along with its impact on sleep and diet.
For Jasim Khan, a Bachelor of Tourism Management student, those challenges have been eased with the growing Muslim community at TRU. Since he arrived in 2005, the Friday prayer group has grown from 30 to 150 he estimates, sometimes with nearly 100 students participating.
In addition to the regular prayer group, during Ramadan the group meets again on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at sunset for a prayer, then break their day long fast together.
“The prayer group has been a great way to meet new friends,” said Khan, who is originally from Kashmir. “I have been able to meet people from Saudi Arabia, Jordon, Egypt, Nigeria and Mali because we are united by a common faith. If not for this (prayer group) we wouldn’t have bothered to talk to each other.”
He notes that in countries where Islam is the predominate faith; prayer is not such a social outlet. “Here we sit together, eat together and pray together.”
According to Vera Wonja, Director of TRU World, the university is aware of the challenges facing the Muslim students and recognizes the importance of balance with all commitments. “Students have been expected to continue with their studies during Ramadan, so we have made our faculty and staff aware that Ramadan can make a significant difference to some of our students. Prayer leaders and student advisors have been available to assist students adapt to the new context of practicing Ramadan so far away from home.”
Ramadan ends on the next new moon, Oct. 1 with the holiday, Eid ul-Fitr, when special feasts are held. The TRU Muslim community will gather on Oct. 1 at 8am in the Independent Centre for cebrate Eid. Some have equated the celebration with having the same social and religious significance that Thanksgiving has in the west.
Contact: Vera Wonja, Director TRU World, 250.371.5529
