Fidaa Bazzi: "I know that I did something good in life."

Fidaa Bazzi is a college student and tae kwon do instructor. She talks about how the weeks of fasting work on one’s will to discover that faith is about sacrifice. This is a powerful theme among many Muslims, especially those engaged in physical activity during the fasting hours.

    (Ramadan) is challenging with two jobs, college, and tae kwon do. But I look at it as if I’m getting some good out of it; good deeds. This is what God asks for. If, someday, something bad happens to me, I know that I did something good in life.
    But I try to get the bad feelings about the food and water out of my mind and convince myself that I could do this because I honor and respect my religion.
    The hardest part of fasting to me is the physical part because it feels like your body is tired and you want to give up on yourself. At work, I have to talk all day. I feel so tired. At the same time, if you do that, you feel thirsty and hungry.
    So, I think about it like, “Come on! You got a couple more hours to go!”
    I remember my senior year in high school, we had to run the mile. I was fasting that day. I told my teacher I was fasting and that i was tired. She said, “Try to do as much as you can.” So, I ran two laps and gave up.
    But the whole time, my friend said,”You can do it.”
    I tried another three laps, and then I felt the thirst. But I felt like I was able to keep going. I said a little prayer to myself and said, “God, please help me finish this.” I finished in eight minutes.
    When I did, I thanked God. I felt like it was the best for me, and it’s what God wanted.

    Come back each day for more inspiring profiles of our Muslim neighbors in America.