Ramadan is an annual religious holiday in which Muslims observe and fast for 30 days from dawn to sunset across the globe. It’s a spiritual tradition that consists of fasting, prayer, community and worship, according to an March 4, Al Jazeera article.
During this time, Muslims abstain from food, drinking and sexual intercourse when the sun is up and increase acts of worship such as prayer, recitation of the Quran and charity, according to an webpage by Islamic Network Group.
The SJSU Muslim Student Association hosted its first event of the month on Wednesday in the Campus Village Building 2 Multi Purpose Room.
The event featured guest speaker, Ustadh Basil Farooq, an Arabic instructor who is a current student of the Islamic Sciences, according to a webpage by Kitaab Academy.
Farooq talked about how Muslims can remain disciplined and steadfast in their religion and build good habits beyond Ramadan.
After the talk, a congregation sunset prayer was held and then a large communal meal called an Iftar, was served and catered from El Halal Amigos.
An Iftar is the meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast after sunset every day during the month of Ramadan, according to Collins Dictionary.
It is most commonly eaten in the community among family and friends , according to an article by the Islamic Network Group.
Adnan Chatila, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student said that communal self-improvement is a favorite aspect of Ramadan for him.
“What I find most enjoyable is that everybody is in a community setting and everybody is trying to uplift everybody else to be a good person and fast from desires they normally would have,” Chatila said.
At the event, participants were engaging in community talks while enjoying a meal after the day of fasting.
Many also consider the Iftar to be a blessing, with the acts of serving food and consuming food to mark the end of the fasting period once the sun has set, according to an article by Muslim Hands UK.
Zoraiz Sabeel Syed, a third-year computer science student said that the prayers before eating the meal are the most important.
“The few minutes before Iftar, it’s when your du’as are accepted. You are really close to Allah. You strived all that time and the food before you so you are just waiting and you make your du’a at that time,” Sabeel Syed said.
A du’a is a supplication or prayer used by Muslims to engage in direct communication or prayer with Allah, according to an article by Islamic Relief UK.
Hibaq Shaie, a fourth-year psychology student said that she enjoys the communal aspect of Iftar.
“My favorite part about Iftar is the community, coming together completely. A lot of people grow up without a family or anything, a lot of times they break fast alone, so I feel like it's nice having a community,” Shaie said.
After the Iftar ends, the daily night prayer, Isha, is completed. Then a voluntary night prayer called Taraweeh is performed. Taraweeh is performed in sets of 2 rakats, or units, of prayer until completed at 8, 12, or 20, according to an article by Islamic Relief Canada.
The event ended with the communal dinner and a closing supplication. The SJSU Muslim Student Association plans to host community Iftars like these every Wednesday and Thursday during the holy month of Ramadan, according to the MSA’s social media.
“Iftar is a time where us Muslims, as brothers and sisters, related or not, we come together and break bread together, ” Shaie said.
