{"id":153544,"date":"2023-04-20T11:47:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T09:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=153544"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:44","slug":"ramadan-is-a-time-when-you-empty-your-stomach-to-feed-your-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/04\/20\/ramadan-is-a-time-when-you-empty-your-stomach-to-feed-your-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ramadan is a time when you empty your stomach to feed your soul\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Muslim students Ana\u00efs and Iman reflect upon their experience with Ramadan this year. While fasting away from family is challenging, they recharge their batteries and reflect upon their lives.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFemke Legu\u00e9<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s a time when you empty your stomach to feed your soul.\u201d Iman Albertini (20) describes what Ramadan means for her. \u201cThe definition of the holy month of Ramadan is unique to each Muslim\u201d, she states. The French-Senegalese student of Arts and Culture uses this period to \u2018recharge her batteries\u2019 by getting closer to her faith.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Spanish-Algerian Communications and Media student Ana\u00efs Perez Nibouche (19) takes it as a reflection upon herself: \u201cI try to get introspective: do I like the kind of person that I am, do I like the people I surround myself with, the lifestyle that I\u2019m leading?\u201d For both students, Ramadan is a quite personal and sacred experience.<\/p>\n

Iftar table <\/h2>

Both students find the beginning difficult: \u201cThe first three days are the hardest, especially when you have a lot of schoolwork and need to focus\u201d, says Iman. Ana\u00efs also struggles with this: \u201cCooking for myself and cleaning after a long day of working or studying is quite challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the hardest part for both students is being away from their families. \u201cSharing that feeling of breaking the fast with my family at the iftar table, that\u2019s what I miss\u201d, says Iman. \u201cTalking to my family helps in those moments because I know they\u2019re going through the same thing.\u201d While Ana\u00efs explains the importance of self-control in these times: \u201cFasting does become harder when you\u2019re away because you\u2019re actually doing it for yourself and not because you\u2019re with family, which shows a lot of self-discipline and how strong faith can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Not even water?!\u2019<\/h2>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFemke Legu\u00e9<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

One question both Iman and Ana\u00efs have received many times by their non-muslim friends was \u2018You can\u2019t even drink water?\u2019. \u201cPeople are usually not surprised by the non-eating part because it\u2019s much more present in our lives\u201d, says Iman. \u201cPeople often do things like juice cleanses or intermittent fasting, but not drinking water is a big part of Ramadan that is often forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana\u00efs sometimes gets questions that make her feel quite criticised: \u2018Does fasting actually help?\u2019, \u2018But why do you fast?\u2019, or \u2018Isn\u2019t not eating bad for you?\u2019 which have made her feel quite criticised. \u201cGiving explanations can be intimidating at times, justifying why I\u2019m fasting, or why I\u2019m not fasting at a specific time. It\u2019s a very personal thing and you have to be delicate about it\u201d, she says. Then she adds: \u201cIt becomes more about the way they ask the questions rather than the question itself, instead they could ask \u2018How is fasting helpful?\u2019.\u201d For her, the tone of the question determines whether it\u2019s coming from a genuine place of curiosity or judgment.<\/p>\n

On the same journey<\/h2>

\u201cIn Senegal, a lot of muslims look forward to Ramadan, and the first day is always very exciting\u201d, says Iman. Ramadan becomes a national celebration: \u201cIn a country where 85 percent of the population is muslim, it becomes quite integrated into daily life.\u201d A lot of shops, restaurants and even schools close early. \u201cThat makes it so much easier because you know that everyone else is on the same journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana\u00efs recalls a memory from her Ramadans spent in Spain: \u201cI remember my father would wake me up for suhoor (the meal eaten before dawn, eds.). Now I have to pull myself out of bed to eat before sunrise, or else I will be starving and dehydrated the whole day.\u201d Although the family domain is absent, Ana\u00efs has found a good, supportive community to do iftars with, including mostly non-muslim friends of hers, which she appreciates a lot.<\/p>\n

Friday is Eid-al-Fitr, which would usually be a time of celebration with family for Iman and Ana\u00efs. But since they are away, neither has any remarkable plans. \u201cI may treat myself to a restaurant with friends\u201d, says Iman.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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