Nadine Hammami: studying during Ramadan

Islam has five religious obligations, the five pillars of Islam. Fasting is one of them and falls in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, fasting is done from sunrise to sunset. This year, Muslims will celebrate Ramadan from 1 to 29 March. For Nadine Hammami, first-year student of Finance Tax and Advice, Ramadan means: focusing on yourself and on the right way to live.

Text: Loes Vader
Photo by: Nadine Hammami

How do you feel?
"Very good, from the very first day of Ramadan. I feel at peace and that's what this month is all about."

What does Ramadan mean to you personally?
"For me, Ramadan means focusing on yourself and on the right way to live. It's not just about the food, but also about abstaining from bad things. The actions you perform during Ramadan are only positive ones. We make sure that we don't say the wrong things, so we don't gossip and don’t swear. I am always aware of that, but during Ramadan even more so. Focusing on that is something very precious, which brings you closer to your faith."

What do you find difficult during Ramadan?
"I don't really find anything difficult. It's just a really nice thing to do. It is God's plan and everything falls into place. God makes it easy for you. I feel more peace than in the other months. From the age of seven I do this voluntarily and compulsorily from the age of twelve. It doesn't hinder me in my daily tasks. I'm sharper than usual."

So you have no trouble focusing on your studies.
"You can get tired later in the day because your energy is a bit lower. Now my energy is very high, I also have that in the morning when I get up for breakfast and after my prayer. It gets less during the day, but that's also the case on normal days."

What is your favourite time of the day?
"I actually have two favourite moments. ' Early in the morning when the whole world is asleep and I am awake, I feel peace and I have an energy peak. In the evening after dinner when I go to the mosque for our night prayers, is also a nice moment. At mosque I see all my fellow Muslims, all with only one goal: to pray to God."

How do you break the fast?
"We make a supplication, then I drink a glass of water and eat a date. Just like our prophet before. This is how you hydrate and a date contains a lot of good. Then there is Tunisian soup, spring rolls and a salad. You feel like eating a lot, but you fill up quickly. As a result, you are also aware that it is a shame to make too much food and throw it away. We keep it limited and healthy."

What is your favourite Ramadan dish?
"Definitely that Tunisian soup, it's always tasty. We put fish or meat, vegetables and a kind of grain in it."

Do you perform extra rituals during Ramadan?
"I pray more often than usual. Normally we pray five times a day, we also do that during Ramadan, but during the night prayer at the mosque we pray four more times. We remember God through various supplications. We read the Koran, the manual for how we should live. Everything is in it, the bad that you have to refrain from, and the good that you have to do."

What do you look forward to the most during Ramadan?
"I always look forward to this special month and I love Eid al-Fitr, when we all come together. Friends, family, presents, going to the mosque together, praying together... And I can fully focus on what is important."

Do you have any suggestions for non-believers or people of other faiths on how to deal with Muslims in this month?
"Learn what Ramadan is really about. It's more than not eating from sunrise to sunset. We study and work with all kinds of different people, so it is important to know who is sitting next to you. Get to know the people around you, so you will grow as a person too. If you are interested in the people around you, Muslim or not, the world becomes a little more beautiful."