Fasting is undeniably a strenuous process and combining it with the physical and mental rigours of medical school makes it even tougher. From the requirements of waking up for sahur (pre-dawn meal), the intense dehydration, and the long hours of standing during ward rounds, UIMSAites certainly had a very peculiar experience.
The UIMSA Press spoke with a number of UIMSAites, asking them to talk about their Ramadan experiences, especially with regards to how they were able to combine their school activities with the demands of the month.
What was your fasting experience on campus generally like? especially in comparison with Ramadan at home.
Abdulbasit: I believe fasting in school is better than fasting at home. This is because with fasting in school you’re motivated to spend your days more productively because of the people you see around , especially with regards to the acts of worship which characterise the month of Ramadan. There is also more opportunity to bond with other students as well as consultants who organize iftar dinners at their houses, all of which are not present at home.
Sidiq: There’s a better sense of community while fasting in school, which is an important aspect of the month, although fasting in school is more stressful and is more demanding due to the requirements of school duty.
Abdulsamad: On campus, I already knew Ramadan wouldn’t feel the same as at home, and it didn’t. It was more stressful, with tighter schedules and less time to properly rest or engage in acts of worship. At home, there’s a certain structure and comfort that makes acts of worship easier to settle into. On campus, you’re constantly balancing academics and extracurriculars with fasting. That said, there were upsides. With fewer household responsibilities, time felt like it moved faster. And being around friends made a huge difference — you’re not alone, and there’s this shared energy that keeps you going. That sense of community brought a kind of motivation and made the experience genuinely enjoyable despite the stress.
Abdulqayum: It wasn’t really a matter of choice since both are important. I just had to find a balance. Going to school while fasting isn’t entirely new to me, and most school activities fall within hours when I still have some energy, so I try to make the most of that period.
Aminat: In comparison to Ramadan at home, fasting on campus was a bit more draining. Coupled with the fact that I didn’t have stable accommodation throughout the month, it was more stressful. However, being surrounded by my friends and classmates made it easier, especially since we could perform our acts of ibaadah together.
Romlah: My experience with fasting on campus was somewhat unfulfilling. I started Ramadan at home with the kind of spiritual momentum I had wanted, but upon resumption, the momentum declined significantly due to the early resumption activities and the general adjustment to campus life.
How did you combine the fasting and your school work?
Abdulbasit: There is no balance, for instance, I was the Deputy-Amir as well as the head of all the Imams which meant a lot of duties such as leading the prayers as well as leading a lot of committees during the month. I am practically just resuming my reading this week after Ramadan, so yes, the school work is really affected.
Sidiq: It’s not only school work , once fasting comes every other part of my life is basically latent.
This year was even more hectic because I had to take up some more responsibilities, although I still tried my best to show up for school work such as classes and other activities.
Abdulsamad: Balancing fasting with school work was really about being intentional. I had to selective attend what was necessary, and sometimes step back from what wasn’t. The goal was to avoid unnecessary stress as much as possible. I tried to stay organized, pace myself, and not overload my schedule. Fasting already takes a lot physically, so I knew I couldn’t afford to burn out. It was more about working smart, conserving energy, and focusing on what truly mattered, as I hope everything will realign after Ramadan.
Abdulqayum: Compared to being at home, fasting on campus was a bit more challenging. At home, basic needs like sahur and iftar are already sorted (MSSN- UCH really came through in this regard. May Allah bless everyone involved), and there’s usually less strenuous work. On campus, however, you still have academic activities that can be quite demanding, which makes fasting more tasking.
Aminat: I created a new schedule for myself. Since we didn’t really have classes or practicals at the time, my main focus was reading in preparation for tests. I dedicated most of my day, from around 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schoolwork, while the rest of my time went into ibaadah and other activities.
Romlah: There was not much schoolwork per se since we had just resumed. However, the physical demands were intense. The long hours of queuing under the sun for registration and the different activities required of us as a fresher were quite exhausting. But the fact that I was aware of my obligations to fast coupled with the last ten nights that were of immense significance, fasting became more like a need and less like a choice.
How were you able to combine fasting with reading and preparation for tests?
Abdulbasit: I had no test during Ramadan, however, as I mentioned earlier there is no balance. My test is this week which is after Ramadan, so during the period I had to make do with what I learnt during ward rounds and clinics while actual reading suffered due to lack of time, especially due to my various responsibilities within MSSN.
Sidiq: To be honest, my personal reading was very affected, at some point I had to resort to reading on the go since I knew I would probably not have the luxury of time. So I had to make do with reading on the go, such as while waiting for someone or while in transit, also things I heard during ward rounds. For tests, I only started proper reading for them after the fast ended since I have a test coming up very soon.
Abdulsamad: To be very honest, it was quite difficult to keep up with reading or proper test preparation during the fasting period. At some point, I even found myself wishing a few assessments could be postponed. My schedule was already tight, and a lot of my time went into supporting communal efforts around iftar, helping with food preparation and running errands. It was meaningful, but it also meant there was very little time left for personal study. Balancing everything wasn’t easy, and academics definitely took a hit during that period.
Abdulqayum: I shifted most of my study periods to early mornings (after sahur) and late nights. Sometimes, I also studied during free periods between lectures. If I studied in the evening, It is usually focused on lighter, less intense material.
Aminat: I wouldn’t say I was able to combine fasting and studying perfectly. While I tried to stick to my schedule, on days when I felt too tired for traditional studying, I switched to lighter methods like flashcards and videos. Towards the last few days, I slowed down on studying altogether since my tests were postponed, and I shifted my focus more to other aspects of Ramadan, hoping to regain momentum afterwards.
Romlah: We had no test in view at that point.
The fast generally requires waking up very early for sahur (pre-dawn meal); how were you able to deal with this?
Abdulbasit: I usually pray Tahajud (night prayer) on most days, so it wasn’t a very big deal. Also the food wasn’t much of an issue since I was able to get food from the mosque courtesy of the iftar by the Ramadan planning committee.
Sideeq: My brain was already preprogrammed to wake up on time, I also set alarms that wake me up on most occasions. On the few occasions when I don’t wake up, I have some of my guys who wake me up.
Abdulsamad: For the last ten days, it was a bit easier to manage sahur because I spent more time in the mosque for i‘tikāf, where meals were provided. That structure really helped. For the first twenty days, I had to be more strategic. I knew waking up with alarms wasn’t always reliable for me, so I adjusted by sleeping more in the afternoon and staying up through the night to avoid missing sahur. It wasn’t the most comfortable routine, and at some point, it started to feel like I was barely sleeping properly. Many times, I dozed (slept) off in the clinic, but it was the system that worked for me at the time. I also relied on friends to wake me up through calls or even come to my room…
Abdulqayum: It wasn’t too difficult for me because waking up early is already part of my normal routine. So adjusting to sahur time came quite naturally.
Aminat: Waking up for sahur wasn’t too difficult because I stayed in the mosque throughout the period, and my friends were always around to wake me up on days I couldn’t do so myself.
Romlah: Waking up for Tahajjud actually. I did not find it difficult to wake up at night coupled with the heightened awareness the last ten nights created. Allah eased it and thus waking up for sahur too.
Were there days you missed sahur? How did that day go for you?
Abdulbasit: Unlike last year’s when I missed a couple (which I regretted greatly), I didn’t miss any sahur this year.
Sideeq: I didn’t miss any sahur throughout the fast because my friends woke me up on the occasion when I don’t wake up myself.
Abdulsamad: There were a couple of really close calls, but Alhamdulillah, I didn’t miss any sahur. Some days were definitely tougher than others — like one day I only had oats, and it turned out to be a very long one. I had to deal with discomfort, including ulcer pain, and everything just felt overwhelming physically. I had to take a step back from school that day to rest and recover. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me a lot about patience and listening to my body.
Abdulqayum: Yes, I missed sahur about two or three times. Surprisingly, I didn’t really feel extreme hunger on those days. The main challenge was usually dehydration rather than hunger. And yeah, this is another thing that almost never happens when fasting at home.
Aminat: I didn’t really miss sahur, although there were times I didn’t feel up to eating. Those days weren’t particularly difficult, probably because I’m already used to fasting without eating from previous years.
Romlah: There was a day I missed Sahur, but I had already made my intention the night before lest I couldn’t wake up. The day? Surprisingly, the day wasn’t as exhausting as i anticipated. I believe what sustained me still was the consciousness and the fact that I was accustomed to going long hours without eating. So it felt like a normal day.
Apart from the generic significance of Ramadan, what does it mean for you as a person?
Abdulbasit: Ramadan is more of a recalibration for me personally, especially as there are many activities. With Ramadan, I’m able to revive these cultures, especially with regards to acts of worship like fasting and night prayers. Also, it’s an opportunity for me to revise the Qur’an that I’ve memorized, it also grants me the opportunity to be of service to the Muslim community at large instead of to myself alone.
Sideeq: Personally, it’s a solemn period and a period for me to retrack and reconnect with God.
It’s also a period for reflection and reset. Usually after Ramadan, I feel better mentally, so it’s a sort of therapy for me.
Abdulsamad: Ramadan is the time I feel most alive. It’s a period where I get to push my limits – physically, mentally, and spiritually. More importantly, it’s a chance to grow in my ibadah, one day at a time, and consciously draw closer to Allah. It resets me, recenters me, and reminds me of what truly matters.
Abdulqayum: For me, Ramadan is a period of reflection, self-discipline, and spiritual reset. It helps me become more conscious of my actions, improve my patience, and build consistency in acts of worship.
Aminat: By the end of the month, it felt like I had subjected myself to a level of discipline that helped me keep returning to my tasks, and I hope it translates into better productivity in the months after Ramadan too.
Romlah: Ramadan, to me, is a personal opportunity to strengthen my relationship with Allah and Qur’aan and most importantly, it is a time to seek the acceptance of a lot of my prayers, as well as seek forgiveness for my shortcomings. Beyond this, I love how it brings out the best in everyone and the tranquillity it brings.
Ramadan for most, is a period of religious and moral recalibration, and despite the intense physical requirement it provides a much-needed check and balance. This was no different for UIMSAites, who despite their curricular requirements, tried their best to maximise the activities of the month.
