Ramadan

My apologies on taking so long to write a new post. School is certainly taking up much of my time, but to be completely honest, I'm enjoying it so far. I don't want myself to get too comfortable, though, since I'm sure things will only get busier as the time progresses.

As most of you know, I've been fasting since September 2nd because it is currently the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. So far, it hasn't been too bad, despite running around all over campus while lugging a bag that weighs approximately 17 pounds. Generally Faisal will wake me up around 4:45AM and we'll eat a small breakfast while watching ESPN or something. I usually don't each much; a piece of toast, a cup of yogurt and a glass of water is almost too much for me. Though there are some days where neither of us will wake up and we'll go the whole day without eating. Honestly, I find those fasts to be somewhat easier, as getting a good night's sleep always helps me control my hunger.

I will admit there was one day where I was running around the city for a good hour and a half trying to find where the Muslim students at DePaul break their fast. The one kid I ran into gave me the worst possible directions (at one point, I'm sure I was closer to UIC than I was to DePaul) and I got a little panicky as the sun was close to setting and I still couldn't find the place. In fact, I was getting pretty angry and ended up having a conversation with myself to help calm down. It didn't help much. But aside from that day, I've been fine.

Also, if you're a friend on Facebook, you're aware of my invitation to fast with me next Friday. This found its origin during my stay at Augustana two years back, where I was fasting pretty much completely alone. Sure, there were other Muslim kids (a measly three, to be exact), but I hardly knew them and I felt awkward talking to them. I found it pretty hard to retain my fasts during those days, since even though I effortlessly fasted alone in high school, at least I'd go home to my family and had their support. But that wasn't the case then.

I still don't remember exactly what sparked the idea for others to join me in fasting, but just the thought of all my friends from high school who'd been dispersed all over the country fasting with me made me feel a lot better. I wasn't expecting much of a turnout, especially at Augustana, where I hardly knew anyone well enough beyond greeting them on sight. Nonetheless, I invited everyone whom I knew on Facebook.

I am still partially in shock from when I walked into the Westerlin dining hall, ready to grab some grub after yet another agonizing day at Augustana. There I was met with a pretty large group of kids (my memory tells me about 40 kids, but I don't know if I believe that), most of whom I didn't even know, who had decided to join me in abstaining from food and water that day. My roommate Alex, an archetypal hippie in every sense of the word, had been going through a phase where he was extremely interested in Islam, rallied quite a crowd.

This was a group of college kids, the most indulgent of people, joining a lone student in fasting whom they barely knew. I remember my exact thought as everyone lamented to me about how hard it was to go without eating, but managed to survive long enough to see their endeavor to the end. :

Maybe things won't be so bad here after all.

Well, it was, but that's not the point.

I continued it next year, more out of tradition's sake, as I was living at home again and it would be easier to fast. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I believe the turnout was a little less than it was the year prior. Either way, I was surprised to see that a lot of people were willing to fast for a day. I got a few more disrespectful comments as well, ("No, because I'm not fucking Indian like you!"), but that's to be expected.

This'll be the third year I do this. I hardly need the psychological boost anymore, but it does help quite a bit when I see so many people partake. I've realized that the reason so many people have such a poor image of Islam is because there is an onslaught of information against the faith and there's very little saying otherwise. I like to think that I'm doing my part in upsetting that balance, however miniscule.

Plus, you could all lose a little bit of weight.