As the cost-of-living crisis continues, many Muslim students are struggling to observe Ramadan effectively. However, community members are helping students by providing resources and online support.

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, celebrating the revelation of the first verses of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, to the Prophet Mohammed.

During Ramadan, many Muslim people partake in a fast, or Sewn in Arabic, where they do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. 

Once the sun sets, people celebrate with a meal known as Iftar, which includes a variety of foods eaten with family members.

The 2025 Youth Barometer found 85 per cent of Australians aged 18-24 experienced financial insecurity in the past year, with one in four reporting it happens often. 

Dental nurse and student Mya Abdulrazzaq says financial security is a major struggle for students during Ramadan.

“I think that cost of living has definitely impacted Iftar celebrations. I mean, ingredients you’re getting now are two times the price you would pay a couple of years ago,” she says.

“I think that it depends on the student’s workload, their study schedules and their sleeping schedules. There is a lot that impacts how challenging it is for a student; Some people have early mornings, early starts for work and early classes for university, so that might make it more challenging.”

Many community groups and businesses are providing support and resources to help those in need.

Online sites such as Aussie Muslims share time and dates of when fasting begins and ends, and highlight services such as counselling and an online directory of businesses that cater for Muslims in Perth.

Commercial manager and spokesperson for Aussie Muslims Haroon Cajee says taking part in Iftar is a struggle for international students who are away from their families.

“Typically at Iftar families would have special meals, but for students who live here, and their families are overseas, maybe they don’t have access to an elaborate meal,” he says.

“When students come here and they are alone, they don’t have access to that table that I have access to at home in Perth.”

While groups such as Aussie Muslims are helping to support Muslims in Perth, Mr Cajee says awareness from universities can greatly benefit students.

“In here, we live in a different environment, so I think it’s a mixture of being sensitive and sensitised to the needs of the Muslim students but also understanding that we all have to still do our work; the world can’t stop.”

“In the modern world, we struggle to get everyone around the same table. In the month of fasting, everyone sits around the same table at the same time sharing the same food.”

Haroon Cajee