[Focus] Jeûner pour la première fois : des élèves racontent l’épreuve du Ramadan
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the first day of Ramadan in Senegal, the midday heat already weighed heavily on the courtyard of the Ouakam Yaay Ndjira middle school. It was just after noon. In the almost sleepy corridors of the private school, the atmosphere contrasted sharply with the usual bustle: footsteps were slow, voices lower, and faces etched with effort. Here, some students were experiencing a pivotal moment in their lives: their very first fast.
In a classroom half-shrouded in silence, 15-year-old Binetou Ndiaye, a ninth-grade student, has isolated herself while her classmates enjoy their break outside. Lying on the table, her head resting on her notebooks, she tries to find some respite. Her dry lips and tired eyes betray the ordeal. For her, this first experience feels like a battle against her own body.
"I observed the fast. It's the first time in my life, but it's very difficult. I've never done it before. Right now, I don't feel well, I'm dizzy, I feel like everything is spinning. My stomach is empty, my throat is dry, and I can barely see anything. I think I'd better go home and rest, otherwise I might faint," she confides in a weak voice. Not really ready to take this step, she explains that she started after her first period, a sign of entering into religious obligation within her family.
Between cunning and determination
A few meters away, in the shade of a wall, a group is sharing sandwiches and cold drinks. Among them, Arame Fall, a 5th-grade student, readily admits that she can't yet manage it. "I'm still young, I can't fast. It's very difficult to deprive yourself of food and drink all day. At home I say I've fasted, but here at school I eat. I prefer to wait a little longer, maybe two years, because I'm not ready to endure that," she admits.
In contrast, 13-year-old Mouhamed Diallo, in 6th grade, displays a proud determination: "This is my first experience and I'm trying to manage. I'm a little sleepy but it's okay. I decided to start young to get used to it. I want to fast for the whole month, God willing. Classes finish earlier, which helps us. I encourage my classmates to try it because the earlier you start, the easier it is later."
Religious illumination: the age of maturity
Faced with these diverse experiences, preacher Oustaz Mass Dieye provides a doctrinal answer regarding the required age. "In Islam, fasting during Ramadan is only obligatory for Muslims who have reached puberty, are of sound mind, and are in good health. For a girl, the obligation begins with the onset of menstruation. For a boy, religious maturity is reached from the moment of ejaculatory dreaming or the appearance of physical signs," he explains.
He clarifies, however, that initiation remains a key step: "A prepubescent minor is not obliged to fast. However, a gradual initiation is encouraged: allowing children to try fasting without forcing them can prepare them and facilitate the practice once they are adults." Behind the obligation thus emerges a human experience made up of learning, effort, and respect for physical limits.
Commentaires (3)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.