Fasting Ramadān in the university: A treasure for campus students
By Dr Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam
Last week, I had a pre-Ramadan lecture session with Muslim Health Students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. I reiterated the merits of the four most important acts of ibadah in Ramadān: fasting, recitation of Qur’ān, night prayers, and feeding the needy. I also emphasized how, as students, we can make judicious use of our stay in the university during Ramadān.
Contrary to the mainstream notion, observing fasting in the university is scrupulously enchanting and divinely pleasing. In this piece, I want to write some of the points I mentioned in that session for the benefit of a larger audience. It is worth noting that I drew most of what I said from my experience as a former university student who stayed on campus.
Although fasting is physically exhausting, particularly for a university student who, in most cases, lacks sufficient foodstuff for suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftār, it can quietly serve as a pathway that provides students with immense opportunities to connect heartily with their Lord.
During Ramadān, affluent students often use to invite the indigents for suhoor and iftār. You mustn’t cook food before you eat. Moreover, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria [MSSN] sometimes obtains funds from the Sokoto State Government and Muslim lecturers to purchase all that is needed for Iftār. In such circumstances, students usually gather in a hall and break their fasts in what was popularly known as “Tarāsoo” (the word was gotten from the state of closely and neatly joining legs in a congregational prayer).
I haven’t observed a more composed Tarāweeh that is full of tranquillity and serenity like the one we used to observe in school. Specifically, in Tora Bora Masjid, we used to read one page in each raka’ah of Tarāweeh and spend an average of an hour. The congregation was very large. Retrospectively, the Imāms there recited with melodious voices that would touch hearts. There were brief admonishments between every four raka’ah. We were always happy observing this prayer.
When it was the last ten days of Ramadān, many students would be in the mosque for Iʿtikāf (seclusion in the mosque for the purpose of worship, especially the last ten days of Ramadān). Those performing Iʿtikāf receive food from Tarāsoo and from their friends who aren’t staying in the mosque. They constantly recite the noble Qur’ān during that period. In a nutshell, they devote themselves to all kinds of ibadah for a period of ten days.
During Tahajjud (night prayers), we had more than enough Imāms because there were many memorizers of the Qur’ān among us. The ruku’uh and sujood were almost as lengthy as the qiyām (standing). We were given a chance to make prayers to Allāh in sujood because it’s the closest moment a servant is to his Lord. Most university dignitaries attended such ibadāt with us. They relate with us with humility and demureness. This played a role in reducing the imaginary hiatus between students and lecturers.
Females, too, were given special consideration. A portion of the mosque was dedicated to them to observe I’tikāf. Everything they needed was provided to make their stay delightful. When it was time for Tahajjud, they made rows in the mosque and observed prayers with males. There was a question-and-answer session every night, usually organized by experts in Islamic jurisprudence among the I’tikāf members.
I am neither trying to portray my stay in the university during Ramadān as Shangri-la nor am I being utopian. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, some students do not participate in these ibaadāts. They instead go to the female hostels and spend time with their inamoratas. It seems as though they prefer worldly pleasure to the everlasting one. In some instances, they often present what they call Ramadān baskets to these inamoratas, thereby engaging in prodigality.
Others spend much time in social gatherings. You mostly see them chitchatting about politics and entertainment. They burn calories in debating about football. Champions League matches used to be on the night at the exact time of Tarāweeh. Therefore, big boys won’t attend the night prayers. Females, too, weren’t left out. They commit themselves to watching Korean TV series and Indian love movies. Their role models used to be Lee Min-Ho, Lee Min-Jung and Aishwarya Rai.
I entreat you not to be like these students. Be steadfast in your ibādah. Remember that Ramadān is made up of either 29 or 30 days. If the month elapses, you may not necessarily live to witness another Ramadān. Stay in the circle of pious friends. Never befriend anyone that doesn’t help you in your studies or doesn’t add to your religiosity. Devoted servants in Ramadān are rewarded in multiple, so also the transgressors – their punishment is multiplied.
Lastly, I narrate this to settle the nerves of students who are unhappy with their stay in the university during Ramadān. I, admittedly, was unhappy in school in my first year. Subsequently, it became apparent to me that I could turn that cheerless moment to my advantage. I doubt if, in the nearest future, I can have enough time I dedicated to myself for ibadāh in Ramadān as I had in the school. So, make good use of your stay in school during Ramadān while you are still a student. You may not have much time if you graduate.
Dr Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam is a serving corp member with Area Veterinary Clinic, Argungu, Kebbi State. He graduated from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He can be reached via: zakariyyashuaib2020@gmail.com.