Ramadan still not recognized enough in schools, says organizer of …

With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan now underway, events to celebrate, break the evening fast or give back to community are taking place nearly every evening in around the Hamilton area.  A Saturday event is a first for the Muslim Association of Hamilton’s youth society, as it brings together young people of all backgrounds for an interfaith “fast-a-thon” to fundraise for Turkey-Syria earthquake relief and raise awareness about Ramadan itself, said one of the organizers Aida Taha, 22. “In Hamilton there’s a huge Muslim community,” Taha said. “[But] our youth have mentioned that Ramadan is not really recognized in their schools, so they wanted to introduce their peers to that experience.”

Two women in headscarves smile. Kawthar Taha, left, and Aida Taha, right, are part of the Muslim Association of Hamilton’s youth society, which is organizing its first-ever interfaith fast-a-thon Saturday. (Submitted by Aida Taha)

Around 80 young people aged 14 to 25 have registered for the event, which as of Friday had so far raised £400, Taha said.

The group is fasting during the day and then after evening prayer and sunset, will break their fast together over Pakistani and Arab food, such as Biryani chicken, dips, kababs, salads and for dessert, tradition sweets like rice pudding.  The youth society partnered with local public and Catholic high schools to spread the word. “We just wanted to help introduce non-Muslims to the culture and the idea of fasting and what it means to us,” said Taha, who said Catholic schools in particular seemed open to fasting with them due to their own experience with Lent. 

Taha said the local Muslim community has grown “exponentially” in recent years, especially since welcoming Syrian refugees from 2015 onwards, but there still feels like a lack of recognition of student needs in particular during Ramadan. “It’s not treated the same way, [the youth] feel like. There’s not a lot of excitement about it, the way they see Christmas…

Some of the youth mention they have to fight for time off during Eid,” Taha said.  During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. The fast ends each day with an iftar meal, commonly shared with others. This year, Ramadan began on March 22 at sunset and ends with Eid al-Fitr on April 20. 

Taha and her team prepared a “fasting guide and tips for the big day,” for those who are participating. It includes a description of Ramadan, saying the fast is “first, a lesson in humility” and the month includes “going into overdrive with good deeds.”

A printed pamphlet is shown, with a description of what Ramadan is and fasting tips. The event Saturday aims to share what Ramadan is all about. (Submitted by Aida Taha)

The “dos” and “don’ts” of fasting, according to the group: 

  • Do eat a suhoor (the meal eaten before sunrise) with plenty of protein and fat to help keep energized. 
  • Do drink water in the last moments before starting to fast.
  • Do plan a nap, a walk or a fun distracting activity.

Meanwhile, it says:

  • Don’t fast if you are ill, or taking medications that require food.
  • Don’t fast if you will be doing intense manual labour outdoors.

Tickets for the Saturday event in Hamilton cost £10 and participants are encouraged to also donate what they’d otherwise spend on food that day. The gathering will take place at the Mountain Mosque, 1545 Stone Church Rd.

E. and begins at 7 p.m. It is one of several others this week — Orchard Park’s Muslim Student Association is also hosting a community Iftar Potluck on April 5 at 7 p.m.  Imam Sayed Tora, with the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, said there are also youth-organized daily meals to break the fast at the mosque, serving an Iftaar meal for around 250 to 300 people each night.

The McMaster Muslim Student Association is also hosting daily Iftaars and called upon its members to support others this month by donating meals, food or gift cards.

“We are urgently calling upon our MacMSA community to aid the number of food insecure Muslim families within the GTA,” it said.

Tags:

aden-and-anais listed on couponmatrix.ukanker listed on couponmatrix.uknaked-sprout listed on couponmatrix.ukraja-pack listed on couponmatrix.ukvoidu listed on couponmatrix.ukyorkshire-wildlife-park listed on couponmatrix.uk
aden-and-anais listed on couponmatrix.ukAs a parent, you know that babies need a lot of stuff. And that stuff can be expensive! Aden & Anais provide top products for babies and parents alike. We're always on the lookout for ways to help you save money. That's why we offer the top Aden & Anais discount codes for their products. Just enter your code at checkout and you'll get a nice little discount on your purchase. We work hard to find the best Aden & Anais discount codes for you to use on their products. We know that every penny counts when you're a parent, so we want to help you save as much money as possible. That why at Groupon we are always on the hunt for the best offers and deals, so you don't have to break the bank. Check back here for the latest Aden & Anais discounts. If you're looking for a top-performing Aden & Anais product, we recommend the Aden + Anais Classic Muslin Swaddle Blankets. These blankets are made of soft, breathable cotton and they're perfect for swaddling your baby. They're also machine-washable, which is a huge plus for busy parents. Their products are worth the investment and with a little help from our Aden Anais discount codes, you can make them even more affordable. So don't wait, head over to Aden & Anais and start shopping!
anker listed on couponmatrix.ukCharge faster, charge better. Anker is your go-to for wireless, car and portable chargers, featuring an ultra-sleek design and unprecedented speeds. We’ve tracked down the very best offers, seasonal sales and Anker discount codes to help you upgrade your charging game for less. Power your camping fridge, smartphone, laptop and more—whatever you need, there’s a smart, fast charging device by Anker.
naked-sprout listed on couponmatrix.ukNaked Spout does loo roll a whole new way. As a B Corp, Naked Sprout emits 50% fewer carbon emissions than other eco toilet paper companies, and it’s cheaper too! Wave goodbye to fossil fuels and deforestation and say hello to bamboo and recycled paper. Save money on a one-off purchase or subscription using a Naked Sprout discount code from Groupon – you’ll earn yourself some green rep while making your household run more smoothly. It’s never easy to swap life-long habits, but it’s a no-brainer when it’s this convenient and affordable!
raja-pack listed on couponmatrix.ukIf you’re a hard-working business, you’ll know the pain of finding the right packaging to ensure your items arrive safely at the buyer’s location. At Raja, you’ll find every box, bag, or bubble wrap you could possibly need to ensure your items are well-protected for whatever journey they have ahead. With your Rajapack promo code, you can save money on a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and customisation options for your packaging, including cardboard boxes, postal tubes, storage containers and jiffy bags. Deliver with confidence thanks to Raja.
voidu listed on couponmatrix.ukVoidu is a well-known digital game store that offers PC game keys at discounted prices. They offer a wide variety of games from popular publishers such as Ubisoft, Bethesda, and Square Enix. Be it an RPG or a first-person shooter, make the most of a Voidu discount code and enjoy your favourite games without breaking the bank. With a library that includes over 4,000 titles to enjoy, rest assured you’ll never be stuck for choice when gaming with Voidu. We work hard to find the best Voidu discounts and voucher codes for our members. We search high and low for the latest Voidu deals so you can save big on the biggtest gaming releases. Be sure to browse the catalogue during the next Voidu sale to secure as much as 50% off games that’ll give you endless hours of content. In the meantime, check Groupon for the best bargains for your PC games library. Voidu offers a wide variety of titles from a multitude of publishers, so it's easy to find a great deal on everything from AAA releases to the latest indie hit. If you fancy taking a trip through the world of Norse mythology for example, you can rip and tear for less by using our newest Voidu vouchers to knock the cost God of War. Whether you’re new to the platform or are an absolute PC gaming god, you’ll find plenty to please at Voidu.
yorkshire-wildlife-park listed on couponmatrix.ukAs one of Northern England’s biggest bastions of wildlife, Yorkshire Wildlife Park is home to some of the world’s greatest animals. Whether you come for the adorable otters or the formidable rhinos, a Yorkshire Wildlife Park discount can cut the cost of seeing your natural wonder of choice. With up-close experiences, ranger talks and animal adoption available to enhance your day out, Yorkshire Wildlife Park is an experience you won’t soon forget.