Group plans campus events for Ramadan
Ramadan is the holiest month on the Islamic calendar.
Published Sept. 26, 2006
Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month on the Islamic calendar, began Saturday. Muslims believe the Quran was revealed during this month and they fast from sunup to sundown all month.
The Muslim Students Organization is scheduling many events to celebrate the holy month. MSO President Omar Waheed said Ramadan "provides an opportunity to reflect on life and be grateful for what you have."
Waheed said Ramadan also provides Muslims with an opportunity to get closer to each other and closer to their religion.
Khan said during Ramadan, MSO schedules most of its events at the Islamic Center of Central Missouri mosque, as opposed to other times of year when it often works in the community or with other organizations.
MSO is trying to schedule a Halaqa every Saturday afternoon during the month. A Halaqa is a discussion, most often held at a mosque, that covers fasting and other aspects of Ramadan.
MSO Brothers Social Chairman Furqaan Sadiq, who also writes for The Maneater, described a Halaqa as a "study circle."
Halaqas are often, though not exclusively, held during Ramadan so Muslims can get "a deeper understanding of their faith," Sadiq said.
Although plans are not yet final, these Halaqas will most likely be held at the mosque.
MSO spokeswoman Faeza Khan said it is possible that one or more Halaqas will be held at a campus site, such as Memorial Union.
MSO is also planning two Iftars for members on campus. An Iftar is a meal served at sundown that allows Muslims to break their fast together.
MSO scheduled an all-day fast-a-thon on Oct. 13 at a site to be determined. Similar fast-a-thons have been conducted by the national Muslim Students Association for the past 30-40 years, Khan said. MSO is a chapter of this organization.
The fast-a-thon is the only event open to the general public and serves as a way for non-Muslims to learn about Ramadan. All participants will break the fast together at sundown.
Various businesses and other organizations have been invited, but as of Sunday, no organization or business has committed to participate, Khan said.
MSO has also scheduled a Qiyam, which is a prayer session in the middle of the night at the mosque, on Sept. 30. Qiyams are also not exclusively held during Ramadan, but that is when they are held most often.
The Qiyams come in addition to the five daily prayers in Islam and would require sleeping at the mosque.
Also tentatively on schedule is a screening of the newly released documentary, "American Ramadan," and a dinner with Boone Tikkun, a group dedicated to fostering positive relationship between local Jewish and Muslim communities, in conjunction with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.