Fasting means more than abstaining from food.

For Muslims celebrating Ramadan, the month of fasting, also means trying to avoid actions that cause tension, such as lying or backbiting, said Yassir Mahmoud, liberal arts and sciences student.

“I wait the entire year for Ramadan,” Mahmoud said. “I feel peaceful.”

Ramadan is a monthlong holiday during which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking — even water — between dawn and sundown. The celebration began Friday and continues through the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which is when Muslims believe the Quran, the Muslim holy book, was revealed.

Islamic holidays move every year because Muslims use the lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar.

“During the month, the gates of heaven are open, and the gates of hell are closed,” Mahmoud said. “Satan is in shackles.”

Mahmoud, whose father leads Masjed Darul-Argum, the Islamic center of Ames, 1212 Iowa Ave., said the mosque is open for a feast at sundown each evening for singles in the Muslim community, including Muslim students living in residence halls.

Fasting is one of five pillars of the Islamic faith. The others are prayer, confession of faith, almsgiving and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

“Fasting is a deed for god,” Mahmoud said. “Every other deed is for self. Allah rewards you for fasting.”

Mahmoud said nearly 200 ISU students practice Islam, and Muslims in Ames total nearly 800.

“[Ramadan] is like a spiritual training for a whole month,” said Saleh Tamim, senior in computer engineering. “You have to refrain yourself from all the forbidden things, and you have a feeling of those who don’t have food or are too poor.”

Tamim said abiding by the tenets of Ramadan can be challenging because of the diverse U.S. culture. Muslims are to avoid sexual temptation during Ramadan, often difficult in American culture. He said the fall weather that brings more modest clothes is helpful.

“To me, there is nothing hard, because I have been fasting since I was 8,” Tamim said. “The only thing different is when I came to United States it is hard being in this environment.”

Tamim came to the United States in 2000 from west Africa, where he said 64 percent of the population is Muslim. In Ames, he said, 25 or 30 people may attend the daily prayers.

Mahmoud said 350 Muslims will come to the mosque for the Friday prayer at 1:20 p.m. He said the congregational prayer is to Muslims what Saturdays are to Jews and Sundays to Christians.

“Ramadan is a very blessed month for the Quran to be revealed,” Tamim said. “During the last 10 days is Laylat-al-Qadr, the Night of Power. On that night, most [Muslims] engage in prayers.”

Tamim said he believes Laylat-al-Qadr is better than 1,000 months. He said praying on that night will result in blessings from Allah as if he had done good things for 1,000 months.

Islam Awareness Week, held Nov. 8-12 is another highlight .

“We encourage a number of Muslims to fast with us,” Tamim said. “Normally for every person who pledges to fast — grocery stores donate money for each pledge. When we break fast at sunset, we eat together.”