They say the event is comparable to Christmas, but members follow a different pattern for celebration.

Wednesday marked the final day of Ramadan, a holy month during which the Muslim community participates in fasting, prayers and other special occasions.

But commemorations of Ramadan, which began Dec. 31, do not end there.

Eid ul-Fitr, which means “Festival of Fast-Breaking,” is a prayer that takes place at the end of Ramadan. The prayer, which begins today at 7:45 a.m., lasts three days. It occurs on the first day of Shawwal, the month after Ramadan on the Islamic lunar calendar.

Amadu Fawzi, member of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Iowa State, said MSA expects between 300 to 500 members at Eid ul-Fitr. He said being a part of MSA and Ramadan is a special way of fulfilling his duty as a Muslim.

“I think it’s a duty to serve God, and any time you have that opportunity, you jump at it,” he said. “For me, working for the organization is an opportunity to serve God and the community.”

According to information provided by Fawzi, fasting during Ramadan includes abstaining from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from dawn to sunset. The fast aims to teach not only discipline, generosity and self-restraint, but unity between family and friends within the Muslim community.

Non-Muslim co-workers and friends also have shown support by learning the significance of Ramadan, and by showing and making minor allowances for its physical demands.

Other duties Muslims perform during Ramadan include “taraweeh,” or daily nighttime prayers, and readings of the entire Quran, the Muslim book of worship.

Ramadan became a religious obligation in the year 624.

Demographers say Islam has become one of the fastest growing religions around the world, and by the year 2000 it could be the second largest in the United States.