Muslims around campus celebrate Ramadan

With the sound of Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, Halima Ahmad breaks a long day of fasting at a campus Iftar.

"I feel calm and at peace when I open my fast, like I've accomplished something," said Ahmad.

Like Ahmad, hundreds of Muslims both on campus and around the world, are doing their Islamic duty of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The month of Ramadan, which began on Aug. 11this year, is a time when Muslims fast from dawn until dusk and concentrate on how to become better people. For Muslims, a big part of Ramadan is to keep in mind the less fortunate.

"Fasting helps you to feel for those less fortunate than you because we eat in the morning and eat after the fast is over but some people in the world don't even get to do that," said Ahmad.

Keeping this spirit of Ramadan alive, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) is sponsoring a National Eid Toy Drive. The toys collected from this drive will go to children of low-income families across the country.

The MSA is also collecting money and non-perishable items for the flood victims of Pakistan. Some of the items being collected are medical supplies, canned foods and toiletries.

"We want people to be aware of what's going on in Pakistan and donate since the media isn't portraying it as much," said MSA President Safia Ansari.

Several other religious organizations have joined the MSA's effort in collecting items for the people of Pakistan.

Besides charitable activities during Ramadan, the MSA is also sponsoring Iftar, the meal Muslims eat after breaking their fast, on campus daily Monday to Thursday. At Iftar, the Muslim students break their fast with a traditional plate of dates and then pray together in the Muslim Prayer room located in the University Center. After prayer, the students go to the Panther Dining together, where the eat dinner provided by different volunteers. The dinners range from Indian and Arab fare to traditional American foods.

The MSA's annual Fastathon was postponed this year due to an insufficient time to prepare. The event will now be held on Oct. 26.

"We fast and ask other non-Muslims to join in with us to fast. It gives us a chance to explain why Muslims fast," said Ansari.

Ramadan not only allows Muslims to self-reflect and improve moral standards, but also has social benefits.

"Ramadan has a social aspect as well because you see people from the whole community at the Masjid [Mosque] and you pray together," said Ahmad.

After Ramadan, Muslims will be celebrating Eid, which signifies the end of Ramadan.  Most Muslims, like Ahmad, celebrate Eid by dressing up and visiting family and friends. To celebrate Eid on campus, the MSA will be holding a picnic at the Centennial Olympic Park on Sept. 17.

Before the celebrations of Eid begin, though, Muslims are still concentrating on reaping the benefits of Ramadan.

"It helps you to become a better person. I'm more conscious of what I do and more focused," said Ahmad.