‘Ramadan is something that gives me hope’: Muslim students come together for Ramadan at STU

Aleena Naveed, a second-year Muslim student from Pakistan, presented the significance of Ramadan at STU. (Credit: Brianna Lyttle/AQ)

On Feb. 6, St. Thomas University hosted an event in the International Office to dispel common misconceptions about Ramadan, a month observed by Muslims that includes fasting and prayer. 

The event was initiated by Saa Andrew Gbongbor, the international office coordinator and STU cultural diversity coordinator, which featured a presentation from Muslim students, including Aleena Naveed, a second-year Muslim student from Pakistan.

“Ramadan is something that gives me hope,” she said.

Naveed explained how the fasting that takes place from dawn to dusk not only includes abstaining from all food and beverages but also gossip and negativity. Also, she said that the practice of Islam is largely guided by intention, meaning that those fasting do not break their fast by accidentally eating or drinking.

She said that the act of fasting is done during Ramadan to increase self-discipline, as well as empathy for those underprivileged who may be unable to access regular meals. 

Ramadan is a time in which Muslims are encouraged to come together in community, practice charity and support each other.

Naveed was one of the Muslim students who presented at the event.

“To me, I think [Ramadan] means more than just abstaining from food and water. It means I focus on my personal growth,” she said.

Naveed wants to spend more time this Ramadan attending mosque and meeting Fredericton Muslims. She said she has appreciated being able to make Muslim friends at STU.

Balancing academics during Ramadan can be difficult, but Naveed is “used to it.” However, performing physical work at her Sobeys job remains a challenge.

“[Fasting] really encourages me to focus on empathy … I do feel for people who are not that privileged.”

Lima Samim echoed Naveed’s sentiments, adding that she has been on the other side of privilege in the past.

“Because I'm from Afghanistan, a country that is not a developed country, I really had those times too,” she said. “But fasting is something that makes you patient. If you don't have a meal, you can have that tolerance in your life … Ramadan is something that gives me hope every month.”

For Samim, Ramadan is a time when she can exercise and improve her self-discipline.

“I can make myself more disciplined with my work, study_, fasting and praying, because in Ramadan, we have to do more praying and then reading the Quran and not eating. It's not easy to manage all those things and it just gives us this teaching that we can manage our life with so many things at the same time.”

Samim finds it challenging to make time to prepare food to break her fast with, as well as finding public prayer spots, while maintaining full-time study and two jobs.

“It’s really challenging, not only for me, but for all Muslim students.”

Samim has been able to find a supportive community at STU. 

She mentioned that Ggongbor has worked towards finding prayer spots on campus for Muslim students.

Naveed hopes for non-Muslim students to lead with patience and understanding as their Muslim peers experience mood swings and irritability when fasting begins.

Ramadan in 2026 is expected to take place from Feb. 17 to March 19, with dates varying based on moon sighting.