A special thanks to all of the ISPhD AHSS cohort and other students for their wonderful contributions to the newsletter below and to Aine Proudfoot (UL Global) for putting this all together.
Enjoy this video from a celebratory video chat for Eid al-Fitr with UL staff and PhD candidates.
 It is Eid al-Fitr, but what is it? UL student, Naima Manaa has put together a PowerPoint in which she tells us how the Muslim community all over the world celebrates Eid al-Fitr from traditions, to recipes, to music and more!  By UL student, Ghalia Arid Ramadan in Ireland during Covid19 By UL student Aman Niyaz Ramadan is very special for me. I have been observing (keep fasting) it since the age of 10. Ramadan gives the message of unity and humility towards every individual. We not only keep the stomach away from food, we abstain from ill-will, telling lies and while also praying to Allah (swt) for the prosperity of entire humankind. This year, our prayers include speedy relief from the global pandemic and courage to all those families who have lost loved ones. I am very happy to see the kind of intercultural inclusion UL has. I want to thank UL for having a Prayer Room inside the campus. I was fortunate to offer my prayer there during the few times I visited campus.  Ramadan in Limerick By UL students, Khalil Khair, Sidi Ahmed Berrabah, Islam Ben Adel, Mohammed Moussaoui, Mohamed Larbi Boumidouna, Youmne Mazouri. Ramadan at the University of Limerick: A time for celebration and coming together with our Algerian friends. What we eat can tell a lot about our identity and where we come from. There is more of a connection between food and culture than you think. Many of our dishes in Ramadan are associated with our beliefs, religion, and civilizations. First of all, we break our fast by saying “Thirst is gone, veins are moist, and the reward is certain, Allah willing”; then we break the fast by eating dates and drinking water or milk. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying” (Abu Dawood: 975). After breaking fast, Muslims pray Salat Al-Maghrib. The Soup is called Harrirah/Freekah, it is made in all the Islamic countries of the Mediterranean Basin. The bread is called “Bread of Ramadan”, a Turkish bread from the Ottoman Empire. The rolls “Burak” are taken as an appetizer with the soup, they are called so to remind us of the “Night Journey of the Prophet (PBUH)” as this story was told when they created them for the first time in the era of the Ottomans. The main dishes in the photograph below are the salty broth of peas and zucchini; and the sweet broth that contains apricots, plums and almonds (One of the Andalusian dishes in Ramadan). It is true that this is an Algerian table, but it is ancient as our roots, our heritage, and our Islamic affiliation.   The photographs are about the best moments in Ramadan when we all gather together waiting for the exact moment of the sunset. By UL students, Sabrine Bouhamed, Hana Djelloul, Yasmine Touati, Warda Arbaoui, Nadjet Kellal, Khadidja Bebba Some Traditional Eid al-Fitr Music  It is to the rhythm of his song Mezzyanou nhar el youm Saha Aidekoum that Algerians celebrate Eid el-Kébir and Eid al-Fitr. Some Traditional Eid al-Fitr Foods  By UL student, Fatiha Mamin And finally… UL Global and the UL community would like to wish everyone a very happy, blessed, and safe Eid al-Fitr.     |