Salaam Shoreline Community,

I hope this message finds you all well and with a well-deserved break on the horizon. Ramadan starts TODAY! Thursday, March 23, 2023, for most Muslims, and I wanted to share a resource that might be helpful. Below are specific ways you can be intentional in centering the experiences of our students and colleagues:

• “An easy way to make your Muslim students feel connected is to wish them a ‘Ramadan Kareem’ or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ which both loosely translates to ‘Have a Blessed Ramadan.’

• “Students who are fasting are going to be exhausted. Not only is this still a pandemic, but it is a tradition for families to wake up before dawn to have a meal before beginning the fast (known as suhoor), and it is a tradition for some to also stay up late praying with their families. Since Muslims are no longer able to pray together in a Masjid, students might be spending even more time in front of a screen for virtual worship activities, in addition to their virtual learning.”
• “Prayer is important for Muslims all year round, and praying on time is also incredibly important, especially during Ramadan. Some families might want to pray together during the day because they are at home, even if students are expected by their teachers to be in a virtual class. You can look up the prayer times in your area and allow your students to miss a few minutes of virtual learning during those times if they wish to pray.”

• “It might also be helpful if you avoided lessons or class activities or finals that revolve around food, eating, or drinking during the month of Ramadan as well.”

• Students and colleagues may be celebrating the Eid-al-Fitr April 21-23. Eid is a time of celebration with family, friends, and community. There is communal prayers, feasting, new clothes, mendhi (henna) application, and joy to be had in this time. 

Ramadan is a time many Muslims look forward to because these days are focused on compassion, community, and connection to Allah. This month is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but also taking time to do some deep self-reflection to deepen one’s empathy, patience, honesty, and charity. 

Thank you in advance for helping your students and colleagues have a wonderful Ramadan. Here are some additional resources for information, readings, and ways of supporting the Muslim community during this time.

Digital Ramadan: https://www.digitalramadan.com/resources

Melanie Dixon

Pronouns: she/her/hers Why pronouns?

Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Building 1000 (Administration) Room 1019A

Shoreline Community College

www.shoreline.edu  |  206-533-6682