"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it..." Quran 2:185
Ramadan Mubarak- Happy Ramadan!
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month! Over the course of the Month, Muslims fast. This entails avoiding food and drink from dawn until dusk. (Yes, not even water.) Fasting also entails striving for more ethical behavior- fasting from 'anger', for example- but of course that is a challenge when ‘hangry’.
Ramadan is based on the Islamic lunar calendar; the start and end dates shift each year. This year it will start on the evening of February 28 (first fast on Saturday March 1st) and it will end around March 30.
Ramadan is a lively time on campus! It is a time of community, and individual devotion. Many students say it is their favorite time of the year. We invite you to join the al-Nur Muslim community for this sacred month of programming and prayers.
Ramadan Programming on Campus
Its tough to do Ramadan away from family, in a new, cold environment. But know that at Dartmouth, you won't be doing it alone!
There will be iftars- fast-breaking meals- on campus every day of the Month. Many campus partners, including the house communities, wellness, OPAL, GLASS, the graduate schools, and more, make this possible, not to mention our friends at the Upper Valley Muslim society.
Night prayers- taraweeh- will take place after Isha prayer in the North Fairbanks prayer room. For the past two years we have recited the entire Qur'an during these prayers.
Suhoor (fast-start meals) will be available in a fridge outside the prayer room, courtesy of Dartmouth Dining.
On the last ten nights of Ramadan, we will have Qiyam, night prayers and programming in the North Fairbanks prayer room. Over the break, we'll have occasional trips to Dennys and other communal gatherings for Suhoor.
To find out more about where iftars are on campus, see: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LmCb1z5mdKQAIsjhNXgauWPcQe90KfaFZUhXiqeNUD0/edit?usp=sharing
To join a list serv with further information on iftars, and the community whatsapp group, email abdul.r.latif@dartmouth.edu
We hope that by the end of the month, you feel this community is a home away from home.
An Iftar with SWC in 2023
Students eating Suhoor at Denny's in West Leb.
Fasting Time Table in Hanover NH
Note: We will pray Isha in the prayer room at 8pm until March 8.
March 9 onwards, we will prayer isha at 9pm.
| February | Ramadan | Day | Fajr | Maghrib |
| 28 | 1 | Fri | 05:07 AM | 05:37 PM |
| March | Ramadan | Day | ||
| 01 | 2 | Sat | 05:05 AM | 05:38 PM |
| 02 | 3 | Sun | 05:04 AM | 05:39 PM |
| 03 | 4 | Mon | 05:02 AM | 05:41 PM |
| 04 | 5 | Tue | 05:00 AM | 05:42 PM |
| 05 | 6 | Wed | 04:59 AM | 05:43 PM |
| 06 | 7 | Thu | 04:57 AM | 05:44 PM |
| 07 | 8 | Fri | 04:55 AM | 05:46 PM |
| 08 | 9 | Sat | 04:53 AM | 05:47 PM |
| 09 | 10 | Sun | 05:53 AM | 06:47 PM |
| 10 | 11 | Mon | 05:52 AM | 06:48 PM |
| 11 | 12 | Tue | 05:50 AM | 06:49 PM |
| 12 | 13 | Wed | 05:48 AM | 06:51 PM |
| 13 | 14 | Thu | 05:46 AM | 06:52 PM |
| 14 | 15 | Fri | 05:44 AM | 06:53 PM |
| 15 | 16 | Sat | 05:42 AM | 06:54 PM |
| 16 | 17 | Sun | 05:41 AM | 06:56 PM |
| 17 | 18 | Mon | 05:39 AM | 06:57 PM |
| 18 | 19 | Tue | 05:37 AM | 06:58 PM |
| 19 | 20 | Wed | 05:35 AM | 06:59 PM |
| 20 | 21 | Thu | 05:33 AM | 07:01 PM |
| 21 | 22 | Fri | 05:31 AM | 07:02 PM |
| 22 | 23 | Sat | 05:29 AM | 07:03 PM |
| 23 | 24 | Sun | 05:27 AM | 07:04 PM |
| 24 | 25 | Mon | 05:25 AM | 07:05 PM |
| 25 | 26 | Tue | 05:23 AM | 07:07 PM |
| 26 | 27 | Wed | 05:21 AM | 07:08 PM |
| 27 | 28 | Thu | 05:19 AM | 07:09 PM |
| 28 | 29 | Fri | 05:17 AM | 07:10 PM |
Shi'i students break the fast 15 min after the listed times.
Eid on campus!
Eid will be March 30th (the day before Spring term begins) or March 31st (the first day of classes). We will have Eid prayer at 9am in Collis common ground!
Eid al-Fitr prayer 2024
Community members eating a meal after Eid prayer.
Eid Gala
In the first weekend after Eid prayer, the al-Nur Muslim student association puts together an a celebratory Gala for the entire Dartmouth Community! This year the Gala will tentatively be on Saturday April 5 in the evening. Stay tuned for more information.
Eid Gala 2023
Important Locations
The Muslim prayer room in North Fairbanks on the first 1st floor
South Fairbanks Room 105 (Tucker center)- The site of a large number of our iftars
Collis Common Ground/ Collis Room 107- The site of Eid prayer and usually the Eid Gala
Ramadan Accommodations Information
If you are campus staff or faculty wondering about what the affect of Ramadan on students and staff is, the following information will useful.
Muslim students and staff will be waking rather early to eat before the fast begins and will be quite groggy by the time it ends ( 6pm or later for most of the month). Many Muslim students and staff will likely spend a significant portion of each night of the month engaged in extra worship and devotional practices.
This year, the last week of classes and all of finals will be during Ramadan. Please be mindful of scheduling meetings and exams near sunset when students have to break the fast, and be aware that students may need accommodations or extensions when there are conflicts. Eid, the holiday at the end of Ramadan, will be at the very beginning of the Spring term or end of the break, so some students may need to return to campus late.
If Muslim students or staff have less energy than usual, it's probably because the fast isn’t always easy! Many Muslim staff and students will have days where they may not fast due to ritual or health reasons- lunch time will still be important, as will time to pray at various intervals throughout the day.
Get Involved!
If you are interested in sponsoring an iftar or are already sponsoring an iftar and need help, email abdul.r.latif@dartmouth.edu The following document explains what sponsoring an iftar entails, and lists helpful vendors https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rr28JCBjbHygRsDPDx9iLsV-Q4U9tcr5P7u-qfwWlsc/edit?usp=sharing
If you would like to volunteer setting up or cleaning up after an iftar, fill out this document! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fw6z-yuNncQrjkaoyD3YHepmS6R4ArNuDF_40BUa0lE/edit?usp=sharing
And if you'd like to attend any Ramadan events and aren't already looped into the community, again email abdul.r.latif@dartmouth.edu We are an open and accepting community, and we want you to be a part of it.
May Allah accept our prayers and fasts, may our voice in this wilderness be a call to prayer and success.