As Ramadan has approached Muslims throughout the world in February, some traditions stay true: In the case of Muslims in Santa Clarita at Al-Umma Center, keeping close with the community is a given.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, or the Islamic lunar calendar, started on the evening of Feb. 17, and will continue until the evening of March 19. Muslims who are able-bodied are required to fast from dawn prayer, or “Fajr,” to sunset prayer, or “Maghrib.”
Abstaining from food, water (yes, water), coffee, and even gum, Muslims gather for nightly “iftars,” or the post-sunset meals, to commemorate the day.
Welcoming the month with the first “iftar” on Saturday, as the fourth day concluded, Muslims of all ages shared their experiences at the center.
“I thought it would be hard at first, especially with school and [physical education], but it’s actually kind of easy, since it’s not as long as I thought it would be, because we usually break our fast around 5:40, so I could just take a nap and do my homework,” said Leena Hakati, 11. “There’s some days that I wish I could just eat, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it.”
Hakati, who is a sixth grader at Mitchell Community Elementary School, decided to try fasting for the first time this year since she felt ready.
“I felt that I’ve been more mature, and I’m able to do it. The most challenging part has been going to school, because there aren’t as many Muslim people at my school — maybe me and two other kids. Seeing people eat and bring snacks to school, I’m just wishing I could eat at that moment. I just sit down and watch my friends eat,” Hakati said. “Overall, I wanted to do it, because this is a way of giving thanks to Allah (God) and showing empathy for those who don’t have much. This is just the minimum for me.”
For lifelong friends Samy Couja, Morwan Osman, Deaneer Salman and Justice Buckly, the fasting may have gotten easier, but some things haven’t changed.
“We’re like a second family. Ramadan still feels the same. I know we’re way older now, but how we were like 10 years ago is how we are today. It’s rejuvenating. It’s like nothing changed. Everything remained the same — same jokes, same people,” Couja said.
“Ramadan means revisiting how I was raised, how I grew up with these guys. I’ve known them for years, and to know that we still gather at least once a year in such a blessed month is very peaceful, very nostalgic,” Buckly added.
Even though Ramadan could be a disruption to daily routines, reaping the spiritual reward is much more gratifying, according to Salman.
“This is my favorite time of year. It’s a time for me to get closer to Allah, get closer to my religion, and bond with my community members a little bit more. Things of that nature. I’m always excited for it every year, ever since I was a kid,” Salman said.
With changes taking place in the group over the years, including university acceptances and career moves, one thing remains constant: knowing there’s a community to come back to.
“I feel like this community brings me closer to Islam, and growing up, it was definitely a big highlight of my life — going to the parks and being around these guys and the parents, and knowing that I have this community to fall back on when my school life or personal life is hard,” Osman said. “This community is disconnected from all of that, and is a bubble in the sense that I am able to place myself in that bubble with familiar people.”
Osman, who is a senior at the University of California, San Diego, finds trekking back up to Santa Clarita for the Ramadan festivities worth it.
“Another reason why I really like Ramadan is that it’s constant. It’s once a year for the rest of your life. At least the way I like to think about it is that, since my parents live here, it’s once a year in Santa Clarita for the rest of my life. So I could be anywhere in the world, but I’ll for sure fly out, even if it’s one week,” Osman said. “As much as I’m active in the community in San Diego, it’s not the same. Some people have their childhood friends there; I have mine here.”
With goals of reading the Qur’an more, and even losing a couple of pounds, the most important thing for the community is simply being intentional, they said.
“Part of fasting is explaining to people who don’t know what fasting is every year. [To me,] the food and the water is easy,” Buckly said. “Fasting is more than the food and water. It’s how you react to things. It’s how you carry yourself. It’s how you keep God a reminder in everything you do.”
