From dawn until sunset, Muslims in Ames and around the world have been fasting since Jan. 10.

They will continue without food until the sighting of the new moon, which should fall on Feb. 8 or 9.

After the sun sets, at about 5 p.m., Muslims break their fast for the day, either at home or at the mosque in Ames.

Single Muslims are encouraged to break their fasts at the mosque every evening during the month, while families only have to go to the mosque on Saturdays. Ibrahim Nassar, president of Iowa State’s Muslim Student Association, said breaking the day’s fast in a group is better preferred.

The fasting, part of the Holy Month of Ramadan, is one of the five pillars of the Islam religion.

The five pillars include belief in Allah as the only god and Muhammad as his messenger, praying five times a day, fasting, charity and visiting the holy places in Mecca.

During the month, fasting Muslims abstain from anything inhaled through the mouth — including food, drink and smoking, as well as sexual intercourse. Also, if someone who is fasting is insulted, they are required to simply tell the person: “I am fasting. I am fasting,” Nassar said.

“It is a beautiful month, a month of mercy, patience, forgiveness, prayers and Koran,” said Faramarz Rahbar, a graduate student in civil and construction engineering.

Rahbar, originally from Iran, did not start regularly fasting until he came to Ames in 1968. “I became more religiously involved here on campus,” he said.

“While I grew up, it was taken [for granted] and I didn’t think about it much. Here I see people from all over the world, Muslims from different backgrounds, all together.”

Rahbar’s 8-year-old son also began regularly fasting this year. His son is not yet required to fast, however.

Fasting is required of all Muslim men and women who have reached puberty, are physically and mentally able to fast and are not travelling too far from home.

A junior in management information systems from Ghana, West Africa, Mohammed Fawzi, started fasting regularly when he was 13.

“Everyone at home was fasting. I wanted to copy my parents. I was also encouraged to do it,” he said. “Fasting is a time period when a Muslim is supposed to abstain from everything that God says you should not do. You should have God consciousness in every aspect of your life … It is a time to see how well you fit in being a servant of God.”

Muslims, as well as other religious groups, argue that fasting teaches self-control and has practical benefits for those who want to lose weight or save money.

Also during the month, Muslims are encouraged to perform charity works, whether that is giving to the poor, being involved in the community or even smiling at someone, which Muhammad said is a form of charity.

“Because here we have a good community [of Muslims], it is not really hard,” to observe Ramadan, Nassar said.

He began fasting in Egypt when he was 12.

Local Muslim officials estimate that there are about 1,000 Muslims in the Ames area.

Fawzi said fasting is more challenging in the United States than areas with larger Muslim populations because Ramadan is not a recognized holiday.

Last year the Eid-ul-Fitr, the celebration at the end of the holy month, fell in the middle of the week, so it had to be postponed until the weekend.

This year MSA is planning to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the Memorial Union from 7-9 a.m. the day of the “new moon sighting.”

Eid-ul-Fitr is the Islamic version of Christmas, Rahbar said.

The celebration at the Union will include a short sermon and prayer and the rest of the day will be filled with family visits and gift exchanges.