{"id":3368,"date":"2016-06-07T14:37:30","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T13:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=54488"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:12","slug":"campus-talk-long-days-and-warm-weather-during-ramadan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/06\/07\/campus-talk-long-days-and-warm-weather-during-ramadan\/","title":{"rendered":"Campus Talk: long days and warm weather during Ramadan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thirty days of no eating, drinking, smoking and sex between sunrise and sunset. That\u2019s life for many Muslim students during Ramadan, the month of fasting that starts on Monday. And this year it promises to be tougher than ever.<\/p>\n

Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, it never falls on the same date but begins a couple of days earlier each year. According to Islamic teachings, Ramadan starts as soon as the new crescent moon appears in the heavens. And this year it falls in June, the month with the longest days and therefore the hardest month in which to fast.<\/p>\n

Many EUR students will also be observing Ramadan. How are they experiencing this month?<\/p>\n

Yusuf \u00c7akmak (28), Business Economics student<\/h3>
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\u201cWith this warm weather, it will be a lot tougher to fast and it will not be easy to focus on your studies because you\u2019ll be constantly thirsty. In the evenings I\u2019ll therefore have to drink more than usual. From experience I know that the first couple of days are the toughest, but that you get used to it after that. I\u2019m really happy I can participate in Ramadan. During Ramadan I distance myself from my sins. In this month I try to avoid bad things, like insulting people. Ramadan proves that the religion brings out people\u2019s good qualities, like self-control. That\u2019s something that the media, when they write about Islam, don\u2019t focus on nearly enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senem Oylum (21), Psychology student<\/h3>
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\u201cI don\u2019t look forward to this period. For one thing, I\u2019m always suffering from stomach trouble during Ramadan. Normally, my tummy gets upset if I eat 30 minutes later than usual. Still, I never have problems with my studies in this period. I believe I received a special gift from God. He gave me patience so that I can make it through the fasting and concentrate well on my studies. I will be fine even with this warm weather. I am convinced that I can come closer to God this month. Not only by fasting, but also by restraining myself. For example, I won\u2019t use any ugly language or get myself angry. My fellow students really admire me, and they tell me they could never do it themselves. They often ask me, with a pitying look, whether I can\u2019t even drink a little water or have some chewing gum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omar Gamal (22), Media & Communication student<\/h3>
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\u201cI\u2019m skipping the first two days because I need to work on my thesis. To be working on a thesis for the entire day on an empty stomach would be extremely tough, especially in this warm weather. God also said that fasting should not be at the expense of everything, and you can catch up on fasting days missed another time. In the last two days of Ramadan I\u2019m going to my family in Egypt. Ramadan really is a family occasion. And everyone expects you to participate in the fasting. But, at the end of the day, it\u2019s about you, it\u2019s something between you and God. During this holy month, people in my country always donate a lot to good causes and they give money and food to the homeless, for example. It really is a time of giving. I\u2019ve noticed that other students around me really encourage and support me. They think it\u2019s wonderful that I practice my religion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Campus Talk<\/h2>