BOSTON, MA (April 9, 2024) – On April 9, 2024, Muslims all around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, a holiday which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. For Nour Chouiki, a Muslim student-athlete at UMass Boston, that meant the conclusion of a particularly challenging 30 days of balancing Ramadan's fasting requirements with her commitments as a student-athlete.

The month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it requires a strict daily fast from sun-up until sun-down as a way to show spiritual discipline and increased religious devotion.

When asked about the significance of Ramadan in her life, Chouiki, a senior forward on the women's soccer team and of Syrian descent commented, "Ramadan is a month where we become more God-conscious and spend time with loved ones, I tend to sleep less since I stay up late eating or praying."

In addition to sleeping less, Chouiki also fasts during the month. "Fasting is beneficial for you considering that it resets your digestive system and helps control your insulin levels. A lot of people explain that it 'has to be bad for you', but it's actually the opposite, it is very healthy."

Regardless of its health benefits, fasting can still prove challenging for Chouiki, especially when it comes to practices and training with her team. She notes, "It can be very difficult since we might have more than one training session a day. By the afternoon I feel drained mentally, and physically, which can be difficult considering I still have classes and exams to keep up with."

Eid al-Fitr translates to "the festival of breaking the fast." When asked how she celebrated Eid this year, Chouiki said she spent time with family and friends. Chouiki also understands how fortunate she and her family are to be able to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr in the manner they do. "A lot of people in third world countries don't even have food to break their fast, they've been breaking their fast with cooked grass. So, my family and I are extremely fortunate to be together."

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We'd like to thank Nour Chouiki for sharing her experience. Even if you do not observe Ramadan, we encourage you to challenge yourself to be more considerate of the relationship with your loved ones, your faith, and with the world around you. Be a Beacon, and light the way for others around you.

--BEACONS--