ONTARIO – Many Muslim students at Frank W. Begley Public School of Ontario in east-central Canada are experiencing Ramadan fasting for the first time in their life, a practice shared by many non-Muslim colleagues and teachers.

“Basically it’s all about the patience, technically how people feel with no food, no hunger, no safety and shelter,” Mujtaba Albazaz, a grade 4 Muslim student, told CBC News on Tuesday, June 6.

The 10-year-old is experiencing fasting for the first time.

“The dehydration is increasing, the energy source of your body is actually decreasing, making you weak,” Albazaz said.

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, started on Saturday, May 27.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint and good deeds.

According to the holy Qur’an, if fasting would be dangerous to an individual’s health such as those with a medical condition or the aged, they are excused. Prophetic hadith also forbids menstruating women from fasting.

According to Islamic scholars a child can be trained to fast but only till dhuhr prayer around 12pm which is a normal time of snack meals between breakfast and lunch time. So practically there is no thirst or hunger.

Many Muslim children choose to fast Ramadan to share the religious experience.

“The biggest challenge is when you run you get really tired and thirsty,” Asraa Asheti, another Grade 4 student, added.

Begley Vice Principal Mohamad Ayoub said of the roughly 550 students a the school about 50-60 per cent follow the Muslim religion. (Tony Doucette/CBC)

Sharing Ramadan

With a large percentage of Muslim students at the school, Ramadan is a special time for Frank W. Begley Public School.

Begley Vice Principal Mohamad Ayoub said of the roughly 550 students at the school, about 50-60 per cent, follow the Muslim religion.

“I would say half of those students are fasting,” he said. “So we have about 150-200 students who are observing Ramadan.”

About 10 staff members at the school are fasting too.

“We find that even the non-Muslim staff will occasionally participate just to understand where students are – with thirst or hunger – and then be culturally responsive with our education practices as we move forward,” explained Principal Robert Savage, who is not a Muslim, but has learned about Ramadan first hand.