UK Muslim students fasting and exams during Ramadan

[Anthea]

Muslim students in UK brace fasting and exams during ‘longest Ramadan’

Muslim students in the UK are fasting while taking exams during the longest Ramadan in 33 years.

As the holy month is set by a lunar calendar, its date changes by 11 days every year. This year, it falls between June 6 and July 5, overlapping with the traditional exam season in May and June.

Ramadan will continue to fall during peak periods in the exam season for the next two years, as it is forecast to begin on May 27 in 2017 and May 16 in 2018.

“Exams in Ramadan were something that inevitably would happen, given the way the month moves backward each year,” Aishah Muhammad, a London-based Muslim blogger and medical doctor, told Al Arabiya English.

“It’s a new challenge many have never faced before. The last time Ramadan fell during the summer, there were less Muslims in the UK and not many pursuing further education.”

There are 329,694 full-time Muslim students in the UK, according to the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), with the overall Muslim population exceeding 3 million people for the first time last year.

Clashes over schedule

There were efforts by board exam officials earlier in the year to accommodate Muslim students.

However, the heads of England’s two most powerful education bodies, the exam regulator Ofqual and the schools regulator Ofsted, have clashed over reshaping the summer exam timetable.

Ofqual’s chief executive Glenys Stacey sent a public letter to her Ofsted counterpart Sir Michael Wilshaw at the beginning of the year, following the latter’s warning that any changes to the GCSE and A-level timetable could lead to other religious groups “piling in.”

Infographic: Fasting during exams?

Wilshaw told London radio station LBC: “Other groups might say we’ve got a festival here, a holy day there, we want you to change. Schools would find it very difficult to manage that.”

Naka Alkhzraji, Arab media manager at London-based charity and research group Integrity, told Al Arabiya English: “We’re not the first religious group to ask for accommodation.

“It isn’t wrong to shift the exams… but a fair and just policy that has been welcomed and appreciated by Muslims.”

Muhammad, who has just received her medical qualifications, said fasting while taking exams may not necessarily be a challenge.

“I honestly believe with careful planning, attention to food consumption and a strong hold on faith that exams are doable in Ramadan,” she said.

Unlike many other Muslim students, her medical school exams were later in the year than many schools and colleges, so she has had two years' worth of exams fall during Ramadan.

She says it was never as hard as she had imagined: “The biggest challenge was balancing time between studying and performing the acts of worship I wanted to do.

“I was unrealistic to begin within that I couldn’t do all the things family and friends were doing, because I had to give a large portion of my time to studying.”

Controversy

Advice published in April by the Associations of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said teachers should tell children that extra devotion is “voluntary” whereas “exams are obligatory,” and advised not to stay up “all night praying” to avoid being too tired.

The advice angered Muslim leaders, with Dr Sheik Howjat Ramzy, director of Iqra Institute in Oxford, telling the Daily Telegraph: “It’s not up to the schools to decide the advice they give around Ramadan, and I find some of it very aggressive because you cannot break the child’s fast except in special situations. If you offer aggressive advice, then the parents will be very aggressive towards you.”

It’s not up to the schools to decide the advice they give around Ramadan, and I find some of it very aggressive because you cannot break the child’s fast except in special situations. If you offer aggressive advice, then the parents will be very aggressive towards you.

Sheik Howjat Ramzy, director of Iqra Institute in Oxford

However, as the debate goes on and British Muslim students take the last of the exams while fasting, some say Muslim organizations have their work cut out for them in coming years.

“Muslim organizations should mount more pressure to see the schedule moved or changed to avoid the clash,” said Alkhzraji.

“Head teachers have voiced concerns about the clash of Ramadan and exams, believing it may have a negative effect on exam performance. [Based on the last census], one in 12 pupils will be fasting and taking exams [in the coming years].”

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspec ... adan-.html

[Piling]

It is also exam time in Kurdistan. Some Muslim students do it, some not, though it is quite hot now. Beside the hunger and the thirst, the lack of sleeping can be a problem. Here the fast is broken at 7 pm until 3 am. Then most of people sleep late, cook in the night, etc. Not easy to study and to rest.

These Islamic scholars seem always to forget that you can delay the Fast if you have very good reasons, and to fast another month. It is not a such big deal…

The same for Euro Cup : many players are Muslim, and concerning the French team, they don't fast. They did not ask to change Euro time.

Wilshaw told London radio station LBC: “Other groups might say we’ve got a festival here, a holy day there, we want you to change. Schools would find it very difficult to manage that.”

That's the problem with religious groups : they have ALL their exigences, and never in the same time

I hope that Peshmergas don't fast too hard. I saw pictures on twitter praising them to fast but I find it stupid : they need all their energy against ISIS (not sure Daesh respect the Fast, btw, they are all junkies, and they are never ashamed to KILL in Ramadan). Moreover, this war is a true Jihad (necessity to defend against Evil) and during Jihad you don't fast (according to Ulema).

[Anthea]

BOVINE EXCREMENT

Muslims are NOT supposed to fast during Ramadan if doing so with damage a persons health and well being

A student is NOT supposed to fast especially one who is sitting exams

In fact anyone who fasts during extremely hot weather goes against the Quran that tells Muslims

IT IS WRONG TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL DAMAGE ONE'S HEALTH

(Do not remember the exact wording but refers to the body being a temple. Also reason why Muslims most not smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, become a suicide bomber)

1) Reduced hydration and increased levels of stress is dangerous to both mind and body

2) Students would not be able to comply with the other rules of Ramadan especially the obligation to study the Quran

3) There are a great many options open to those who are not able to fast during Ramadan

4) I know of young people whose kidneys have been permanently damaged by fasting

5) Many lazy Muslims in UK actually take time off work during Ramadan to live a nocturnal lifestyle during, whereby the sleep all day and remain awake celebrating at night. How could this possibly be classified as fasting and giving up something for Ramadan

If people want to practise Islam they should remain in a Muslim country

The majority of my Muslim friends came to UK to escape from oppressive Islamic regimes and are NOT happy the way Islam is now encroaching on the British way of life

The other side being more Muslims wives than ever before, are being suppressed by the introduction of Sharia Law in parts of UK. Many Muslim ladies with limited English are totally unaware of their rights under UK law

The above is the main reason Muslim males buy wives from their countries of origin, so that they have total control over them

[Benny]

The timing of the Ramadan causes problems this year for Scandinavian muslims, as the sun almost never sets here during the summer! I believe thew solution is to go by Mecka time?

Here´s an article from last year:

http://europe.newsweek.com/new-ramadan- ... ing-328669

Have a nice Saturday all,
Benny

[Anthea]

The timing of the Ramadan causes problems this year for Scandinavian muslims, as the sun almost never sets here during the summer! I believe thew solution is to go by Mecka time?

Here´s an article from last year:

http://europe.newsweek.com/new-ramadan- ... ing-328669

Have a nice Saturday all,
Benny

Muslims living in the Arctic Circle, who would usually be expected to fast from dawn until sunset during the holy month of Ramadan, may be following new guidelines this year in an attempt to combat the issue of the region's long daylight hours.

This year's holy month of Ramadan begins on 18 June, three days before the longest day of the year on 21 June when, in some parts of the region receive 24-hours of sunlight, raising a significant problem for observant Muslims who are fasting.

Excellent article shows exactly how stupid the fasting is in the northern hemisphere

Hope you have a lovely weekend - I will be going out to watch the fighting - I mean football

[Piling]

Hope you have a lovely weekend - I will be going out to watch the fighting - I mean football

seem that English supporters have decided to burn Marseille

I am so happy to be far from France this summer

[Benny]

"Hope you have a lovely weekend - I will be going out to watch the fighting - I mean football "

You too!

(I think the French Police are in for a long weekend - they have a date with the hooligans! )

/B

[Anthea]

It is also exam time in Kurdistan. Some Muslim students do it, some not, though it is quite hot now. Beside the hunger and the thirst, the lack of sleeping can be a problem. Here the fast is broken at 7 pm until 3 am. Then most of people sleep late, cook in the night, etc. Not easy to study and to rest.

These Islamic scholars seem always to forget that you can delay the Fast if you have very good reasons, and to fast another month. It is not a such big deal…

The same for Euro Cup : many players are Muslim, and concerning the French team, they don't fast. They did not ask to change Euro time.

Wilshaw told London radio station LBC: “Other groups might say we’ve got a festival here, a holy day there, we want you to change. Schools would find it very difficult to manage that.”

That's the problem with religious groups : they have ALL their exigences, and never in the same time

I hope that Peshmergas don't fast too hard. I saw pictures on twitter praising them to fast but I find it stupid : they need all their energy against ISIS (not sure Daesh respect the Fast, btw, they are all junkies, and they are never ashamed to KILL in Ramadan). Moreover, this war is a true Jihad (necessity to defend against Evil) and during Jihad you don't fast (according to Ulema).

Sometimes I think that Islamic scholars use their power to control the population

Most Muslims read the Quran parrot fashion without actually knowing what the words mean - the same way as Roman Catholics used to read their services in Latin

Instead of fasting, Muslims are allowed to donate money or provide a charitable service to someone in need

HELLO PEOPLE MY WEEDS NEED CUTTING DOWN

[Benny]

"seem that English supporters have decided to burn Marseille"

Rule, Britannia!

Perhaps they´re celebrating the Queens 90´th birthday!

/B

[Anthea]

"seem that English supporters have decided to burn Marseille"

Rule, Britannia!

Perhaps they´re celebrating the Queens 90´th birthday! /B

Much more exciting action watching the fighting than there ever is watching the football

[Anthea]

Hope you have a lovely weekend - I will be going out to watch the fighting - I mean football

seem that English supporters have decided to burn Marseille

I am so happy to be far from France this summer

No worries about ISIS attacks, they do not stand a chance against an army of drunken English football fans

[Benny]

By the way, GO SWEDEN!

In Zlatan we trust!

/B