What does Ramadan mean to young people in West Berkshire?
Many Muslims up and down the country have started fasting today (Monday) upon sighting the Moon for the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and acknowledges the revelation of the Quran – a holy book which Muslims believe follow the Torah and Bible (Islam being a continuation from Judaism and Christianity).
Muslims use this month, every year, to cut out worldly pleasures like food and drink and vices like smoking, caffeine and sugar, and they focus on learning their faith and giving to charity.
Despite being a journalist, I sometimes get anxious talking about my religion as it often invites a fair amount of negative comments – especially online.
Even as a young girl, I shied away from it out of fear of fear of making others uncomfortable.
But I look back now and regret hiding this part of my life and I hope that young people never feel the same way.
So before Ramadan started this year, I reached out to local schools to hear from their Muslim students about their experiences and feelings.
For Year 12 St Bart’s student Fatou Diallo, 17, it is about praying, reading and thinking of others.
She said: “For me, Ramadan is a time where I try to get closer to God by praying and reading; and spend quality time with my family and friends.
“It is also a time to be thinking about others, like people in Palestine who for most people will not be able to spend Ramadan with their loved ones or people who are less fortunate.”
For 16-year-old Shabas Muhammed, also at St Barts, it is a time of reflection.
He said: “Ramadan is a change from our normal routine life, which helps me to kick-start a fresh routine for the future.
“Realising our surroundings and knowing about other human beings who are suffering around us are very important during Ramadan.
“Ramadan teaches us all, to be kind and generous towards needy and suffering people around us.”
For Year 11 Little Heath School student Iyaad Bhatti said: “It reminds you to be humble and grateful for what you have.
“For example the basic necessities in life like food and water which not everyone can have access to.”
His brother Ayaan Bhatti, 15, said “Ramadan teaches me patience and is a way to fix your problems spiritually.
“I also learn to be grateful for what I have as some people in the world don’t have food but at least I know I will eat later in the day.”
Year 13 Kennet School student Callum doesn’t fast but said he tries his best to help those around him who observe.
He said: “I have never done Ramadan before but I understand the importance to the people that do Ramadan and that I try my best to help and create an easy environment for the people taking part of Ramadan for them to do it successfully by being careful of what I do around people.”
Year 13 Kennet student Aaryan said he gains three types of benefits, spiritual, mental and physical.
He said the spiritual benefit is gained through giving charity and increasing empathy and compassion, mental benefits are gained through reflection and mindfulness and physical through fasting which gives the digestive system a rest, regulates blood sugar and reduces cholesterol, detoxifying the body.
“It's a holistic journey that nurtures spiritual growth, mental clarity, and physical well-being,” he said.
And for me personally, it is reflecting on verses on my two favourite things in this world – animals and nature, both being the reason I believe.
Every year I re-read a particular verse from a chapter called The Bee which says: “... from their bellies comes a drink of various colours [honey], in which is health for mankind; indeed in this is a sign for people who ponder.”
This was said to be revealed 1,400 years ago before we knew or understood things as small as the inner workings of bugs and it gives me comfort knowing people are still reading and reflecting on it today.