Ramadan at Gordonstoun

by Shamoon, Year 13

Ramadan at Gordonstoun has been a very interesting time for Emil and me. Our House has been a great support in this rather testing month for Muslims. During Ramadan Muslim’s fast, that is, refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. Ramadan itself is one of the lunar months and is considered a holy month by Muslims, its purpose is to teach people patience and empathy. During this month Muslims make a special effort to be kind to other people and make special prayers.

Fasting in school has been a completely new experience; it has been my first time ever doing it away from home. Around school people are quite surprised at the prospect of not eating and drinking for the day but, in all honesty, it is not very difficult and Emil and I both managed to do all our school activities without any hassle. The refectory staff were very understanding during the course of the month, providing food for our breakfast (Sehri) and food for opening the fast (Iftar). The boys in the House have been great, they gave us moral support and made a genuine effort to save food for us, and for this I am very thankful. We even had people outside the House try fasting for a day which is very respect-worthy as they had no obligation to do so.

All-in-all Ramadan was a great experience at Gordonstoun. We celebrate Eid at the end of Ramadan and Emil, Habib and I joined other Muslims in the school to say our Eid prayers in Elgin and have a celebratory meal in the daylight hours.