[DEOC] Sharing message and resources- Ramadan Mubarak!

Thu Mar 23 08:00:44 PDT 2023

Sharing message to OUR community from our beloved faculty member Zahra at South Seattle College:

Salaam Everyone,

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 re-share a resource<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teachingwhilemuslim.org%2Fteacher-blog%2F2020%2F4%2F18%2Framadan-considerations-for-teachers-during-distance-learning%3Frq%3Dramadan&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9nhD4hk%2FXLcIWpJGJQEybzRrIhPXYf1p6UUA3TDPFDs%3D&reserved=0> that might be helpful. Some takeaways that I found especially helpful are:

  *   "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<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicfinder.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Zpoq6Qopu%2Bc3u65FB3l3%2BE2qs%2B3bSvX%2ByMwhiD3Qd5k%3D&reserved=0> 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 that revolved 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. Personally, my daughter is excited to try fasting for a full day again for her this year. My son is excited for the end of Ramadan celebration of Eid (April 21-23) and the gift$ that come with it. I always find this a time to re-center.
Thank you in advance for helping your students 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<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalramadan.com%2Fresources&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sDeim6OlCKkv570SN%2BCnsG6SYOMW283N6Txh%2BqVF%2B6U%3D&reserved=0>

How Teachers Can Support Students During Ramadan: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/column-teachers-can-support-students-ramadan<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fnewshour%2Feducation%2Fcolumn-teachers-can-support-students-ramadan&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2aZUGk83ouO58B4qHYpeJF2Mimlq928Gd54u4aUB5Js%3D&reserved=0>

Ramadan's history in America: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/06/ramadan-american-tradition-201462714534443176.html<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Findepth%2Fopinion%2F2014%2F06%2Framadan-american-tradition-201462714534443176.html&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2X35Xn3HcaqnkaLp2EgHSVa3RpY7SOZEe6Ql6KKL%2FGs%3D&reserved=0>

History of Ramadan: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/ramadan<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Ftopics%2Fholidays%2Framadan&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fuWiJauDcnxSU5uzW%2FzEDHUK4y8hoxR2KBdXN0fA9sI%3D&reserved=0>

Testing and Fasting: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/14/colleges-try-accommodate-muslim-students-fasting-ramadan<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidehighered.com%2Fnews%2F2019%2F05%2F14%2Fcolleges-try-accommodate-muslim-students-fasting-ramadan&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce192ab3e84ef4f99888708db2a4eb9f6%7C02d8ff38d7114e31a9156cb5cff788df%7C0%7C0%7C638150289955477184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PwmU5kKaGzqDc3hBtf3W9NKrtm5AsuRdQfsMGdIZ6m0%3D&reserved=0>

Ramadan Mubarak!

Warm regards,

Zahra

Shan-e-Zahra Alavi(she/her)
Faculty, Transitional Studies
South Seattle College
6000 16th Ave SW.
Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 934-6964
zahra.alavi at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:zahra.alavi at seattlecolleges.edu>

"Some people only ask others to do something. I believe that, why should I wait for someone else? Why don't I take a step and move forward?" - Malala Yousafzai

D'Andre Fisher, (he, him, beloved community)
Seattle Colleges associate vice chancellor
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Community
Seattle Colleges senior equity officer

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