Ramadan

Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic faith with over one billion adherents worldwide. Islam, as a religion, has various schools of legal thought, philosophy, and spiritual traditions. The West often oversimplifies, misunderstands, and misrepresents its beliefs and practices as antagonistic to a Judeo-Christian tradition.

Originally established by Marshal Hodgson at the University of Chicago and most recently revisited by Shahab Ahmed at Harvard University, the academic term seeks to define Islam in its broadest sense, encompassing aspects beyond the narrow confines of Muslim theology, law, and practice. Additionally, it acknowledges that the Islamicate encompasses all of Islam’s multilingual, multiethnic, multireligious, and multidimensional realms and contributions, as well as their shared and nuanced customs, traditions, and histories.

It is the month in the Islamic lunar calendar when the Qur'an was first revealed. It is honored with intermittent fasting from sunup to sundown throughout the month. The Islamic world uses both lunar and solar calendars simultaneously for different contexts. Imagine a whole month of the Christmas spirit mixed with Thanksgiving gatherings. Each region and family has their own particular dishes, desserts, customs, and traditions. Another popular feature is prime-time Ramadan television serials and satellite broadcasts.

Two main reasons. First, the Quran says that fasting is prescribed for today's monotheists, as it was for earlier monotheists, with details found throughout Islamic literature. Second, you feed the soul and develop empathy for the less fortunate by denying the body.

No. Islam offers exceptions to those for whom it is too difficult or if it poses a health risk. Also, some Muslims don’t fast for personal or philosophical denominational reasons. People who are not fasting, co-religionists, and those from other faiths show respect for those who are fasting by refraining from eating or drinking in their presence when possible.

On various media platforms, in mosques, and in observant homes, the Quran is recited, one section per night, in thirty sections, about twenty pages a day, over the course of the month, until it is completed, culminating in a commemoration similar to Simchat Torah in Judaism.

The Qur’an is the sacred book of Islam. Muslims believe that the entire Qur’an is the direct word of God delivered to the Prophet Muhammad through the Archangel Gabriel. The Qur’an itself is all in rhyme, either direct rhyme or assonance, with much repetition of sounds due to Semitic word formation by roots and patterns, and when chanted to musical melodic modes known as maqaamaat, it has a trance-like spiritual effect on the reciter and listener alike. YouTube search for Abdulbaset Abdulsamad: one of the world's most famous reciters of the Egyptian recitation tradition.

No. Actually, speaking of Egypt, Coptic Christians, one of the earliest Christian churches, fast more days of the year than Muslims.

Ramadan ends with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr. It usually begins with breakfast at home, followed by a morning communal prayer, then visiting family and friends, gift-giving, fun, entertainment, and tons more food.

‘Ramadan Mubarak’ is used during the month as a way to say ‘Blessed Ramadan,’ and the response is the same: ‘Ramadan Mubarak.’

'Eid Mubarak!' is used during the holiday commemorating the end of Ramadan to say 'Happy Eid,' and the response is the same: 'Eid Mubarak.'

There are 500 million other greetings as well. These are the basics.

Students and colleagues may need additional breaks, deadline extensions, safe spaces, and exemptions from overexertion.

The university provides multiple dedicated and temporary prayer spaces for Ramadan, with main locations at the Illini Union (south end of CLASS, lower level) (7 AM–11 PM) and Student Org Complex (Room 254). Additional spaces include LAR Room 155, SDRP (Rooms 2011C, 2025AB), Main Library (Room 438), and the Salaam MENA Cultural Center.

Key Ramadan & Regular Prayer Spaces:

• Illini Union: Dedicated space in the lower level (CLASS) open 7 AM–11 PM and the Eternal Flame Conference Room within the Center of Student Engagement (CSE).
• SDRP (Ikenberry): Room 2011C and 2025AB.
• Residence Halls: LAR Room 155, ISR Room 66, and PAR 111B (often available with adjusted hours).
• Libraries: Main Library Room 438 (includes a key-access reflection room), and Grainger Engineering Library (Room 229).
• Other Locations: Bevier Hall (122B), Activities & Recreation Center (ARC) reflection room, and Education Building (372A).
• Off-Campus: Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center (CIMIC) on 106 S Lincoln Ave.

Ramadan Accommodations:

• Taraweeh: Student-led Taraweeh prayers are typically held nightly at 9:00 PM in the Illini Union, often in the Colonial Room 104 during past Ramadans.
• Dining: University Housing offers Halal options, and to-go boxes are available for Suhoor/Iftar.
• Access: Many spaces are first-come, first-served, with some requiring key checkout from front desks (e.g., ISR, SDRP).