Story by Courtney Pedersen
Photos by Corinne Konarska
*Disclaimer: The student's full name was not used to protect her and her faith
Instead of hearing the Adhan prayer reminders from mosques on every corner five times a day, Kuwait international student Amthal relies on an app to prompt her.
“I have to depend on an app, I feel like because I grew up listening to the mosque,” Amthal said. “I kind of miss it because it's different.”
Since Amthal, 29, moved to Mount Pleasant on August 23, 2021 and started as a sophomore at Central Michigan University, she has noticed several differences in how she practices her Islamic faith.
“God is really loving and caring for everyone,” Amthal said. “It doesn't matter what bad you do because he knows deep down like what you are as a person, if you're good or bad. Whatever happens to you, it's from God, whether it's good or bad.”
For example, Amthal said she only practices her faith in her bedroom and with her blinds closed.
“I don't want anybody to see me,” Amthal said. “I know how people perceive people who are Muslim, so I don't want to have that stigma around me.”
In addition to only praying in her room, Amthal celebrates holidays in Mount Pleasant much differently than she did when at home in Kuwait.
“I'm not really into religious celebrations,” Amthal said. “The only one (my family and I) prepare for is Ramadan because it's really important and you need to fast. It’s a really religious month.”
Ramadan is an Islamic holiday that occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is celebrated by a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
“The idea behind fasting for a month is to make you (think) about those that are less fortunate, those that don't proper food or water, or what you have,” Amthal said. “To make you feel more thankful and fortunate that you have what others don't.”
When it comes to Ramadan, Amthal had only every celebrated in Kuwait with her family until this year. She said she misses celebrating with her family.
“I know like whatever you ask for, whatever your pray for (during Ramadan), it happens because it happened to me a couple of times,” Amthal said. “I prayed to be here and it happened. I did face a lot of challenges from my parents and everybody but I'm here and I thank God.”
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