For Christians and Muslims, Lent and Ramadan are not just religious traditions, but tests of discipline, patience, and faith. While both practices are not similar, they both require sacrifice and offer the believer a chance to study their values and relationship with God.
Lent, the 40-day period that leads up to Easter, is a time for Christians to focus on prayer, repentance, and self-denial. It mirrors the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert, resisting temptation. While fasting is not required of all Christians during Lent, many people sacrifice something important to them, and on Fridays, as well as Ash Wednesday, they abstain from eating meat.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is also centered on devotion and self-control. Muslims fast daily from dawn to dusk, giving up food and drink. Each evening, the fast is broken with iftar, a meal shared with family and friends. Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food, it is a time of increased prayer, charity, and reflection.
Both sacrifices of the observances are personal. Lent observer Emily Thomas gave up her hair straightener this year.
“At first, it was a really hard thing for me to do because it was something that I was so used to, but as Lent has gone on, it’s gotten a lot easier,” Thomas said.
Thomas found that, in giving up the habit, she’d also let go of how much she worries about appearances.
For Nesim Iljazi, Ramadan fasting is a reminder that everything is temporary.
“Not having food sort of makes it difficult to get through the day and do homework,” Iljazi shared, but he added that at the same time, the challenge makes him appreciate what he has. “Every year when Ramadan comes around, you try to be a better person, which makes you realize how important God and faith is.”
The challenge is the reason. For Christians and Muslims, the act of abstaining from something, whether food or a personal vice, makes them stronger in their faith. Nicole Dicello, who gave up fast food for Lent, conceded that sometimes she finds it difficult but reminds herself of the reason she did so.
“Occasionally I think it’s hard, but I just think back on my religion and I stay strong,” Dicello shared.
Although Ramadan is typically a very religious experience, it can also be a cultural tradition.
“Our family isn’t heavily religious, but it adds up to a point where we look forward to celebrations at the end,” said Mumtahina Alam, who observes the fast with her family.
Even without a strict religious focus, the fasting itself encourages gratitude.
Though Lent and Ramadan have distinct religious origins, they share one basic goal: to challenge the faithful to enhance their faith, step outside their comfort zones, and to be grateful for the blessings in their lives.
