Saudi students in US do Ramadan American style

For Saudi students studying in the United States the holy month of Ramadan is a unique blend of their Islamic values and American culture as everybody peacefully goes about their daily life.

In George Mason University in Virginia, American students eat and drink oblivious of the holy month while Saudi students respectfully decline food, waiting for sundown to break their fast.

 We got used to fasting in non-Islamic countries 

Saudi student

During the holy month Saudi students make sure not to engage in political or religious debates with their American counterparts as everyone maintains respect for the others beliefs.

For the students coming from Saudi, where eating and drinking in public is forbidden in Ramadan, it is not that hard to fast while everyone else is eating and drinking in front of you.

"I don't find it hard to fast here," Amal al-Mowais told Al Arabiya. "We got used to fasting in non-Islamic countries."

Due to the increasing numbers of Muslim students, the university has allocated a prayer space for Muslims, demonstrating a growing tolerance of Islam in the U.S.

And Saudi students at George Mason have even formed their own society of more than 500 members.

Changing image of Islam

 They are no longer surprised when they see us performing Islamic rituals like fasting and praying 

Saudi student

Most Saudi students interviewed by Al Arabiya said they believed Americans are starting to change their negative perception of Islam, which they adopted following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

As perceptions change the general attitude towards the practice of Islamic rituals has become more tolerant.

"They started to know more about us," Reem al-Hussein told Al Arabiya. "And they are no longer surprised when they see us performing Islamic rituals like fasting and praying."

When the sun sets and it is time to break fast, Saudi students head to a hall specially allocated by the university for Muslims to gather for iftar, or break fast.

As Muslim students gather to pray after iftar, American students go about their normal life, none disturbing the other.

"The sound of the adhan (call for prayer) mixes with signing," said Hadeel Ahmed. "This is the United States."



(Translated from the Arabic by Sonia Farid)