Dear Esteemed Deans, Faculty, and Staff,

As the spring semester begins, I write to share information about Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. My hope is to support clear communication, foster understanding, and ensure that our Muslim students, faculty, and staff are able to observe their faith traditions while continuing to succeed academically and professionally. I invite you to share this information with your faculty, department chairs, and colleagues as early as possible so everyone can plan accordingly.

Understanding Ramadan: More Than Abstaining from Food

According to Islamic standards, Ramadan is not a holiday; it is a holy month of worship. Therefore, Muslims observe the month. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and while fasting from dawn to sunset is its most visible practice, Ramadan encompasses much more than abstaining from food and drink.

For Muslims, Ramadan is a time that exemplifies Islamic values of religiosity and spirituality: additional prayers, increased Qur’anic reading, gratitude, strengthening bonds of kinship, maximizing acts of charity, seeking a higher level of righteousness, and personal improvement. Muslims believe that the Qur’an, the Islamic scripture, was revealed during Ramadan, making it an especially sacred time. There are desired higher objectives beyond the physical discipline of fasting.

It is worth noting that Islam is a way of life, and Muslims come from various ethnic and racial backgrounds. Please do not automatically assume that someone of Arab or South Asian descent is Muslim – sometimes those identities intersect, but that is not always the case. Muslims are wonderfully diverse.

Key Dates for Ramadan 2026

Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with the first day of fasting on Wednesday, February 18. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, these dates are contingent upon the sighting of the crescent moon and may shift by a day. Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the moon’s cycle, meaning Eid al-Fitr is expected to fall around Friday, March 20, but the exact date will depend on the moon sighting.

The Fasting Experience

During Ramadan, observant Muslim students, faculty, and staff will fast from dawn to sunset. They cannot consume anything – water, food, or oral medications – during daylight hours. At the beginning of Ramadan this year, Muslims will begin fasting around 5:22 AM and break their fast at Maghrib (sunset) around 5:40 PM. Please note that Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8, which will shift these times forward by one hour. As Ramadan progresses, daylight hours will also naturally increase, extending the length of the daily fast.

Students may experience lower energy levels, particularly during the first week as their bodies adjust to the new rhythm, and throughout the month due to the combined effects of fasting and nightly prayers. These prayers, called Taraweeh in Arabic, are special prayers that Muslims perform during Ramadan after the final obligatory night prayer. As a result, some community members will attend prayers until late hours – as late as 11 PM or later.

The Final Ten Nights: A Time of Intensified Worship

The final ten nights of Ramadan (approximately March 10-19, 2026) are especially sacred. Islamic teachings indicate these to be the holiest nights within the Muslim calendar, as Muslims believe the Qur’an was revealed during this period. Many Muslims will engage in extended overnight worship during these nights.

Some will perform Qiyam, an optional practice of spending the night in devotional worship until the early hours of the mandatory dawn prayer. Many mosques have Qiyam programs enabling communities to worship together through the night. During this time, students, staff, and faculty may be especially tired and may need additional flexibility.

Who Does and Does Not Fast

Some individuals are exempt from fasting: travelers, pre-pubescent children, menstruating and pregnant women, the elderly who do not have the physical endurance to fast, and those who are sick or require medication throughout the day. As a recommended alternative, some of these individuals may feed a poor person each day instead. Some members of our community may fall into one of these categories – please be mindful that not everyone who identifies as Muslim will be fasting, and that is in accordance with Islamic law.

Etiquette and Supportive Practices

What to Say: If you would like to offer a kind greeting to your Muslim colleagues and students, you may say Ramadan Mubarak (which means Blessed Ramadan) or simply say that you hope they have a blessed Ramadan. When Eid arrives, you may say Eid Mubarak (meaning Blessed Eid). Do not be shy to give your Muslim community members an Eid card or gift – it is a thoughtful gesture that will be appreciated.

What to Avoid: Because Ramadan is a time of great spiritual discipline and growth, I encourage you to be thoughtful in how you respond. Please consider refraining from statements like I bet it is hard or I could never do that, as these may come across as dismissive of a deeply meaningful practice. The manner in which we say something profoundly affects listeners.

Regarding Meals and Meetings: If you had planned a lunch meeting and a Muslim colleague is attending, you may simply ask if they mind if you eat. This shows respect and consideration. If a Muslim colleague comes by your office while you are eating, you do not have to stop – enjoy your meal! However, if you choose to wait, that is a praiseworthy act of consideration.

A Note on Representation: Please do not ask students, staff, or faculty to teach others about fasting or to serve as the official spokesperson for Ramadan. Instead, I invite you to reach out to me at the Fish Interfaith Center, where I am happy to provide education and resources.

Our Requests for Accommodation

Excused Absences: I respectfully ask that absences on Eid al-Fitr (expected around Friday, March 20, 2026, depending on moon sighting) be excused. Eid al-Fitr is one of the two major Islamic holidays, and on this day Muslims gather for a special morning prayer followed by celebrations with family and community. It is a vast celebration – Muslims will be wearing their finest clothing, eating, congratulating each other, and wishing success for one another. Some community members may wish to observe additional days of celebration, as it has become traditional in many parts of the world and in some American Muslim communities. Please consider having a conversation with your Muslim students, staff, and faculty to see if they would like these additional days.

Reasonable Religious Accommodations: I ask that reasonable religious accommodations be provided so students can complete missed coursework, exams, or labs without being asked to compromise their religious observance. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include offering a makeup exam, extending a deadline, or providing an alternative assignment. I trust faculty to work directly with students to find solutions that maintain academic integrity while honoring religious commitments.

A Note on Accountability: I understand that faculty may have concerns about students requesting excessive time off or accommodations. Please know that students are expected to work with me to ensure their requests are reasonable and appropriate. If you have any concerns about a particular request, I encourage you to reach out to me directly so we can work together. At the same time, I ask that faculty approach students in good faith and work with them to find reasonable solutions. This is a collaborative effort, and mutual communication is essential.

Encouraging Early Communication

I encourage professors to mention Ramadan during the first week of classes and to invite students to speak with them if they anticipate any conflicts with course requirements. A simple acknowledgment – such as noting that you know Ramadan falls during this semester and inviting students to let you know if they will need accommodations – can make a significant difference in helping students feel supported and comfortable coming forward.

If you are an educator, you might also ask if there are Muslims present in your class that you may not have been aware of. Students requesting accommodations should communicate with their professors in advance whenever possible. Formal verification of religious observance is not required; I ask that you extend the same trust you would for other student needs. As with all religious communities, levels of observance vary, and individual students will make their own choices about participation.

For faculty and staff who observe Ramadan, I encourage supervisors and department chairs to engage in similar conversations about scheduling flexibility and coverage during religious observances.

Community Iftar Meals

We will be hosting community Iftar meals (the meal for breaking the fast at sunset) for the entire campus community. All are warmly invited to attend – these are wonderful opportunities to share in community and learn more about this sacred time. The scheduled dates and times are:

  • February 24 and February 26: 6:00-8:30 PM
  • March 3 and March 5: 6:00-8:30 PM
  • March 10 and March 12: 7:00-9:00 PM

A Note on Diversity Within the Muslim Community

Because Muslims are not monolithic, Ramadan observances and Eid celebrations look different for each individual, family, community, and cultural background. Levels of observance vary, and individual community members will make their own choices about participation. I encourage you to approach each person with curiosity and respect, understanding that their experience of Ramadan may differ from what you might expect or have heard.

Closing

This writing aims to remind and encourage all of us of the beauty of religious diversity. The guidance I have offered is a suggestion for practicing global citizenship within our community. I am deeply grateful for your partnership in supporting our Muslim students, faculty, and staff during this sacred time.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at the Fish Interfaith Center if you have questions or would like to consult about specific situations. I am happy to assist with any questions or individual circumstances that may arise. I appreciate your care, flexibility, and collaboration as we work together to serve our community.

With warm regards and gratitude,

Shaykh Jibreel Speight

Director of Muslim Life

Fish Interfaith Center