Ramadan Mubarak: thriving spiritually and academically as a student

Ramadan Mubarak! 

This year, we’re delighted to collaborate with Muslimah’s of Academia to bring you supportive and inspiring content throughout the month of Ramadan. They have created resources to uplift your studies, nurture your spirituality, and help you stay connected to friends and family during this special time.

Muslimah’s of Academia are a group of female Muslim academics who are building an inclusive community to support each other through the challenges of academia and beyond

Ramadan is a beautiful time of year, a period not bound by seasons or calendar months but grounded in reflection, mercy, and remembrance. We remember Ramadan as the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the month we observe fasting as a means to renew our practice, gain God‑consciousness, and seek Allah’s mercy.

This article is not here to explain what fasting is, why we do it, or how to have the “not even water” discussion. Rather, we’ll explore how we can best embrace the physical and spiritual benefits of Ramadan alongside your learning.

Ramadan as a student

Being a student is a unique and challenging experience, and in today’s world — with the added stresses of family and work — it can feel even more demanding. Ramadan, if approached with the right perspective, can provide clarity and calm during an otherwise stressful time.

When I was studying at university and working alongside my degree, there were many moments where I felt overwhelmed, like everything was piling on at once. But Ramadan often arrived as a reset: a chance to renew my intentions for both my studies and my work, offering a structure centred on ibadah (worship) rather than stress.

As Muslims, we’re given a “cheat code”: salah — the second pillar of our faith and a built‑in framework for structuring our days. And what better time to truly embrace this than during Ramadan? This added rhythm can help reduce the chaos of the day, especially in the lead‑up to assessments.

Fasting in Ramadan and assessment stress doesn’t sound like a match made in heaven — but trust me, it absolutely can be. There’s one Ramadan I’ll never forget from my university days, especially during my Master’s exam season. Ramadan always seemed to fall right in the middle of summer exams and coursework deadlines, and that year was the first time I fasted throughout the entire assessment period. Before then, I worried about sitting exams without food or water and felt guilty on the days I didn’t fast. But… that Ramadan taught me something profound. I was reminded that Allah is Al‑Qayyum (ٱلْقَيُّومُ) — The Sustainer — and the Most Merciful.

So I entered that exam season with a renewed intention: I would fast, but I would also come prepared and take care of myself if I ever felt unwell. That mindset changed everything. Despite the usual exam anxiety and even the heat that summer, I fasted through the entire exam period (I even gave my “just in case” water bottle to another student!). Placing my stress and anxiety in the hands of Al‑Qayyum brought me ease.

But things become far more complicated when you add children or extended family into the mix. Caring for others while fasting and studying can leave your emotional state vulnerable. You may find yourself irritable or short‑fused — hanger (hunger + anger) will do that. But simply being aware of this helps you manage it. After all, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Fasting is a shield as long as you do not damage it.”
When asked what could damage it, he ﷺ replied:
“By dishonesty or backbiting.”

We can interpret this to include rudeness, aggression, or losing control of our character.

It’s important — as Muslims and as students — to be kind to ourselves, to come into each day with the right intentions, with an understanding of the immense rewards of fasting, and with trust that any falters will fall upon the ears of Al‑Rahim and Al‑Rahman, the Most Kind and the Most Merciful.

As a student during Ramadan, you are more likely to experience:

Lower energy levels, especially in the afternoon

• A stronger need to leave teaching sessions for prayer
• The need to leave earlier in the evening to break your fast or take an extra break
• A greater need to use recorded or additional learning materials

As a student with dependents, you may experience all of the above twice over (at least). Rather than allowing this to limit your Ramadan, we’ll explore practical ways to embrace the beauty of this month by putting Allah first, while also caring for your spiritual and physical wellbeing.

Practical Actions

1. Don’t skip suhoor/breakfast.
   Wake up before Fajr and eat something that will sustain you. Preparing the night before helps — overnight oats are easy to customise and great for those with children. Nabeez water (dates soaked in water) is another Sunnah option to make your morning hydrating and nourishing.
2. Bring dates and water to campus.
   If iftar lands during class, you’ll be prepared.
3. Let your lecturers know you’re fasting.
   Tell them you may need to leave briefly to pray — don’t just walk out without explanation.
4. Use audio tools.
   Microsoft’s Immersive Reader on Word can help you access reading material in a different way when your energy dips.
5. Prep your iftars in advance.
   Easier said than done, but batch‑cooking once a week can ease the daily rush. Marinated chicken, cooked chickpeas — anything your future self will thank you for! (Shoutout to mums who do this for us — Allahumma barik!)
6. Involve your dependents.
   Let children help set the table or prepare simple dishes; play child‑friendly Islamic reminders or stories to set the tone and lighten your load.

Spiritual Actions:

1. This is the month of Qur’an.
   Try reading even a single line a day (or one more than usual). The Nūr extension from fajrlabs.com shows a verse every time you open a new browser tab — a tiny but meaningful way to stay connected.
2. Dhikr, dhikr, dhikr.
   Small acts of remembrance add to your scale and bring calm to your day.

A few simple ones:

• Alhamdulillah — Thank God
• Allahu Akbar — God is the Greatest
• SubhanAllah — Glory be to God
• A‘ūdhu billāh… — I seek refuge in Allah
• Astaghfirullah — I seek forgiveness

If you’d like structured guidance, the Yaqeen Institute’s Deeper in Dhikr guide and video series are great starting points. I’ve linked this below

3. Let go of perfection.
   Your Ramadan may not look like it once did — and that’s okay. Worship takes many forms: parenting is worship, seeking knowledge is worship, and your intention carries weight even when your capacity fluctuates.

As a final note: practise mercy with others and with yourself. Ramadan is as much a month of giving and gentleness as it is a month of restraint.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Here are some of my personal favourite articles and series to watch during Ramadan:

https://www.amaliah.com/post/64562/how-to-use-allahs-names-when-making-duas

https://www.amaliah.com/post/61921/how-to-read-the-quran-listen-to-the-quran

https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/blog/deeper-into-dhikr-a-companion-guide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfDb8isHUtk&list=PLQ02IYL5pmhH0KWBrGxxR-lCCwlTFIVbm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA4PNsxxPyk&list=PL1ABUur57Rl7kHwXKVkxGpU3bWOU-orSm