Source: www.nature.com
So in three days insyaAllah (God willing), we Muslims will be welcoming the holy month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan is generally known as the month where Muslims fast during the day time. This idea is not wrong but it is not everything. Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and fasting during Ramadhan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Ramadhan gives you the blessings, challenges and everything you need to improve physically, mentally and spiritually. Muslims anticipate this month as we get to feel much closer to our Creator with all the added benefits of doing good deeds in this month.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887)
I don’t really think there is much difference between fasting as a medical student or a student of any other course. If you’re a student studying in Malaysia, it’ll be the same no eating and drinking from 5.40am to 7.00pm (roughly).
Firstly, comes the spiritual aspect of Ramadhan – we all want to grab the chance God opens up for us during this special month. My Ramadhan last year was better in some ways and probably not so much in other aspects. As I’ve become more mature in dealing with fast and the real meaning of Ramadhan, I think I did achieve some of my goals for the month. Some of which I manage to be consistent with even after that month.
The sad truth, however, is that my taraweehs were not always in congregation. Lectures to cover (and memorize), preps for clinical sessions or PBLs (problem based learning) research that were due the next day became my lame excuses to perform taraweehs alone in my room.
The physical demands might be a little bit more exhausting for medical students (I can’t say for sure you see, I’m not studying any other courses to make a legit comparison.) – juggling between classes and notes after notes to cover and memorize with no water and food. But that’s what makes it more meaningful and sweet, isn’t it? Sometimes, I end up sleeping with my books anyway in the evening.
Usually by the time I’d come back from my taraweeh prayers at the surau, I’d be super exhausted and tired. But I have to press on and stay up to study. Then wake up back an hour or less before Subuh (around 5 am usually) for suhoor. Actually, it’s not as hard as it sounds. We’ve all been through this even during high school, although, probably the stress and the amount of things to memorize was not as much.
It must be more challenging having to fast at a foreign place with different time frames during Ramadhan. So let’s hear what some of my friends have to say!
“Last Ramadhan was my first Ramadhan overseas. No Ramadhan Bazaars here, haha! So we cook ourselves for iftar! Truthfully speaking, I survived the month only because of what’s left of my imaan. Told myself over and over again that I’m fasting because of Allah and to gain His blessings. Those were the only things that helped me survive fasting from 2.30am to 10.00pm every day.”
– Syarena Hilda binti Rosli. University College Dublin, Ireland.
“Basically, it’s just the same – fasting in Malaysia or overseas (not Ramadhan fasts). The only obvious difference is the time. If it’s summer, then the day will be longer and if it’s winter, the day will be shorter. Fasting during summer means proper sahur is a must, because the days are longer so you need more energy to keep you going and also to help you to concentrate in class. And if it’s winter, fasting becomes easier as the days are shorter. It’s not as hot as it can be in Malaysia, so it’s an added point. The one thing that I will always remember is the coldness that you feel due to such a low temperature, especially when you wake up early for sahur. You sometimes even shiver in front of your meal!”
– Raihan Marini Ramli, Ireland.
There’ll always be the plus and minus points in every situations. Those studying overseas and celebrating your Ramadhan there, all the best and may Allah bless you guys with strength and all you need to keep strong!
Now, as medical students, we all have that commitment to our studies but I think it’ll be much more precious if we set our intentions straight that we’re studying because of Allah, make duas that it would be accepted as a form of ‘ibadah (prayer). So even though we are trying to memorize the blood supply to our empty stomachs, it is still Ramadhan time well spent.
As far as I’m concern, setting goals for Ramadhan is very beneficial as it puts everything in perspective and makes it easier to assess our progression as we go through the month. The key is consistency. Medical student or not, doing something consistently is an achievement in itself even if it’s just a little bit more than what you’ve been doing all this while.
Something is always better than nothing. So with that, good luck and Ramadhan Mubarak!
What’s your Ramadhan in medical school experience? Care to share? Feel free to drop some stories in our comments section below!
Aziza Aini is a medical student who recently graduated from International Medical University for completing her phase 1 there. Know more about the Young Columnists Program under The Team tab.