Ramadan at University of Maryland

• Campus Dining Halls will be open past sunset every day of Ramadan which provides an opportunity for iftar meals.  
• Students living on campus who fast for Ramadan can collect carryout suhoor meals February 17 - March 12. Suhoor must be reserved by Sunday at 9pm each week for the following week here.
• For more details and up-to-date information see dining.umd.edu/ramadan-2026

STAMP is honored to host a series of free Iftars for Ramadan. UMD community members of all faith traditions are invited to come break fast in community! Each event will have a different focus and opportunity for engagement, prizes, good food, and more. Keep an eye on social media for updates @chapelumd and @thestampumd

• Monday, February 23 - Colony Ballroom
  Doors Open 5:20 PM 
• Wednesday, February 25 - Prince George’s Room
  Doors Open 5:20 PM
• Monday, March 2 - Colony Ballroom
  Doors Open 5:30 PM
• Wednesday, March 11 - Grand Ballroom Lounge
  Doors Open 6:30 PM
   

All provided food will be halal.

• Tarif Shraim serves as the muslim chaplain at UMD. Imam Tarif provides mentorship, care, and coaching to Muslim college students, all are welcome to reach out to him.
  Office: 2118 Memorial Chapel | Email: tshraim@gmail.com
• The Muslim Student Association hosts iftars, taraweeh and jummah regularly - see their social media for details @umdmsa
  • Other muslim and interfaith student organizations can be found on terplink.
• Prayer Spaces at UMD
  • The Musallah is located in the Cole Field House: Room 0204. It is directly across the southwest entrance of Stamp Student Union, next to the Union Lane Garage.
  • The Stamp Student Union ablution room is located on the Ground floor across from the Hoff Theater. This space is available for use anytime the Stamp is open to the public.
  • The 3214 alcove serves as McKeldin Library’s designated reflection space. 
  • The Memorial Chapel is an interfaith space and offers a serene space for all students during the day.

According to University of Maryland Policy, "Students shall be given reasonable accommodation, including excused absences, to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities. If a student’s request for a specific accommodation is denied, the institution should consider alternate accommodations that the student may request consistent with institutional policy and procedures” (full policy).

Belonging & Community at UMD provides expertise and support for anyone who needs help establishing a sense of belonging and finding a nurturing community. 

See the Office of Civil Rights and Misconduct for further details and support. If you need help requesting an accomodation for class or work, please reach out to them for help navigating the process. 

Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic faith tradition, which follows the lunar calendar. This year, it is anticipated to fall between February 17 and March 19, 2026. During this time observing muslims abide by a number of practices for the purpose of deepening faith and connecting with community. 

During ramadan many muslims are expected to fast - abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset. A combination of prayer, fasting, and other deeds undertaken in observation of this sacred month serves to instill values such as generosity, sacrifice, forgiveness, and self-reflection.

• Be mindful of the physical impact of fasting. This might mean that people are less energized or focused while participating in meetings and classes.
• Acknowledge conflicts. People may need to step away from or miss parts of meetings or classes due to prayer time, or breaking fast. Communicate what expectations are in as far advance as possible.
• Understand the law and UMD policy. Students and staff with sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs have the right to request accommodations, when reasonable. See OCRSM for more details.
• Be proactive! Make space for observers of ramadan whether or not people have self-identified themselves as muslim. Relying on clothing or looks to tell you who is celebrating is a quick way to miss the full breadth and diversity of our campus muslim community.