![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
On the evening of March 29, Muslims around the world gathered on rooftops in search of the bright crescent moon to mark an end to the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar; it’s the month of fasting and practicing thankfulness for all that’s given. During the month, Muslims work to better themselves spiritually and bring themselves closer to God.
Senior Musa Shareef is a devout believer and an active member of the Muslim community at Rock Ridge. “[Ramadan] means a month of change: a month of improvement, for me,” Shareef said. “So a lot of us muslims have this concept that when we enter Ramadan, we want to exit better than we entered, because this month is a time for change, a time of change for all of us. We believe that Allah, our Lord, his mercy, comes down during this month, and so, this is the month to seek forgiveness and to change ourselves as Muslims.”
Eid-al-Fitr begins when the crescent moon is sighted. Also known as the “Shawwal moon,” as it marks the start of the 10th month: “Shawwal.”
On the morning of Eid, Muslims gather in the Mosque and pray the Eid prayer, taking place after Fajr, the first prayer of the day. Unlike the normal five prayers that Muslims perform, where there is a set time for each, there are multiple Eid prayers available during the day. This way, families can find a time that best fits their schedule on a busy day.
The diversity of Rock Ridge results in a multitude of traditions and celebrations for the holiday. Junior Mimtaaha Kader’s drinks a special beverage every Eid morning and makes traditional South Asian food. “We woke up for Fajr and drank this type of sherbet (it’s milk mixed with rose water, pistachios and dates). I don’t know the name. I just call it Eid Sherbet,” Kader said.
Throughout the day, Kader and her family call their extended family in Bangladesh to celebrate Eid together.
“I know a lot of people go out with friends and stuff,” Shareef said. “I usually focus Eid on just family time. I get together with family, you know, strengthen your bond with family, meet up with cousins, meet up with aunts, uncles, grandparents. [It’s a time to] get together, maybe [have] a meal or something.
Freshman Myra Abdulrehman makes it a point to cherish family at the start of the new month. “We’re gonna go to [my mom’s] cousin’s house, like [usual], and there’s just a huge gathering of people from my mom’s side, and we all meet up,” Abdulrehman said. “We all have fun. I remember one year, my aunt, bless her soul, she got us a whole snow cone truck, and everybody ate way too many. It was really fun.”
Families decorate homes to get into the spirit of the holiday and wear nice clothes. In the West, Muslims take this opportunity to celebrate their own culture as well. With ethnic clothing and cultural foods, Muslims feel a strong connection to their background as well as their religion on this special day.
