At school, Senior Nazir Ferha is everywhere. Whether he’s captaining the volleyball team, organizing events in the student council room, or balancing his eight advanced IB classes, Ferha is never at rest. But what some may not see, in addition to his involvement at school, is how much time he dedicates to religious responsibilities as a practicing Muslim. Whether it be praying five times a day, or fasting for Ramadan, Ferha said balancing his religious obligations and modern culture has always been difficult.
“Ramadan has always been a struggle for me, not because I’m hungry or thirsty but because others see me avoiding food and asking why,” Ferha said. “The question never bothers me, but that motivates me to further spread awareness to circumstances that may affect Muslims.”
One topic that comes up often is fasting, as Ramadan has fallen during the school year for all of Ferha’s high school years. Ramadan is a month-long obligation for Muslims that requires believers to fast during daylight hours in an effort to be closer to God and become more aware of the less fortunate’s struggles.
“Nazir has taught me alot about Islam,” said Varsity Volleyball player Yahir Pin Torres. “He comes to practice daily and partakes in all the drills and exercises, even when he can’t drink water and has no energy. When I asked him, he gave me a thorough explanation and helped me understand his circumstances.”
Muslims in America are often balancing a dual identity; one shaped by religious obligations and the other by the standards of modern society. Key Responsibilities such as daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan and following strict Dietary practices, require time and routine. Unfortunately, these practices clash with the fast-paced unpredictable and diverse experiences of American life.
The balancing act is nothing new for Ferha, who likes to stay busy in school, but also places a high priority on his beliefs.
“America is an amazing country which has supplied me with all the opportunities I could ever want, but religion has always been my number one priority,” Ferha said. “Missing out on things like relationships and meals isn’t a big deal when put into the perspective all that I gain. I’m grateful for all the people who never allowed my religion to put a barrier in between the two of us.”
In Islam—the basis for Muslims, relationships between opposite genders are set by principles of modesty. For many Muslims like Ferha , it is considered inappropriate for men and women who are not closely related to form close friendships, regardless of whether their interactions are friendly or romantic. This guideline is based on the desire to maintain respectful boundaries and to avoid situations that may negatively affect one’s morals foundation.
“At first, when I was in elementary and middle school my parents were really strict, not even letting me be friends with girls,” Ferha said. “As I have grown and matured I’ve come to realize I can’t avoid it, so allowing myself to be friends with everyone was the most natural option. My parents have also come to terms with it, even allowing me to coach girls Volleyball; I think it’s just something that you have to come to terms with within America.”
Senior volleyball player Dureti Emiru, said she appreciates and respects Ferha’s interactions with the team.
“He always maintains a safe, respectable and professional distance from me,” said Dureti Emiru. “It shows that he respects me, but never fails to help me when I need it. In greeting it’s always no more than a handshake. Over the years we have become good friends; I really value him as an important person and truly respect how he treats me and the other girls.”
At the end of the day, the challenge lies in maintaining and sustaining religious integrity while adapting to the modern world. Muslim men and women take strides on a daily basis to navigate and improve this balance, Ferha and many others at Spring Valley and the United States try to make the most of their situations.
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