Students fast during holy month of Ramadan
Mahmood Rahi, visiting associate professor in aerospace enginnering, and Jibril Gilani, freshman in open-option engineering laugh during their after-sundown meal Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009 a the Darul Aqum Islamic Center. The two were part of a group of, mostly single, men who met after sundown to enjoy a meal prepared by families who also attend the Mosque. The Muslim holiday Ramadan, in which members of the religion abstain from food and water from sunup to sundown for spiritual purposes, ends on Saturday. Members of the group said the idea was to bring males together for food prepared by others to encourage a sense of brotherhood and community. Photo: Rashah McChesney/Iowa State Daily
September 16, 2009
For Muslims all over the world, Sunday signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from dawn to dusk.
“It is very difficult,” said Syed Ali, president of the Muslim Student Association and junior in aerospace engineering. “You have to get up before the sun rises to eat something and then wait until night to eat again.”
Ali said it is particularly difficult to adhere to Ramadan as a student.
“It requires a great deal of discipline with the walking and classes; it is tiresome and exhausting,” he said.
But Ali noted fasting is an important part of his Muslim culture.
“The main point of fasting is that God has ordered us to. But also, when we are hungry and tired we can feel for the less fortunate around the world,” he said. “It also builds self control. You feel hungry, but you don’t eat. You feel thirsty, but you don’t drink.”
There is also a nightly prayer during Ramadan, adding to the regular five daily prayers.
