MSO celebrates breaking of fast for Ramadan

Students emphasized the growth of self-discipline during Ramadan.

By Catherine Newhouse

Published Sept. 4, 2009

An iftar, the Muslim breaking of a day's fast during Ramadan, was held Thursday night by the Muslim Student Organization in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center.

The gathering was MSO's first meeting of the academic year. MSO spokeswoman Bushra Naz said the iftar gives new students the opportunity to meet everyone in MSO.

"It's the same reason you have dinner together as a family," Naz said. "It's a bonding experience."

About 50 students attended the iftar, catered by the International Café.

Thursday's meeting started with a recitation of the Qur'an and community news, followed by icebreaker activities. Students then broke fast with dates and water, prayed and started their dinner.

Naz said Muslim students at MU generally eat breakfast at about 4:30 a.m. during Ramadan, followed by the first prayer of the day. They abstain from eating until dusk, at about 7:40 p.m., she said.

Ramadan celebrates the month when Allah revealed the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad.

By fasting, Muslims learn to empathize with people who are less fortunate by understanding a lack of food and eating only what they need to feel satisfied, Naz said.

"It definitely makes you appreciate food," freshman Maria Cheema said. "It helps discipline my body. I have more control over my body, and fasting helps me have more control over other behaviors."

To develop self-discipline during Ramadan, Cheema said she concentrates on praying five times a day, reading the Qur'an more often and doing good deeds. She takes naps in between classes in order to save her energy for studying after dinner. With these strategies, Cheema said she feels fasting has become easier.

"It's the 14th day I'm fasting, and it doesn't even feel like it," Cheema said. "It feels like just the other day we started."

Muslim students said fasting also means being a better person who refrains from lying, cheating and gossiping.

"It's also about abstaining from everything that's wrong," freshman Zahra Rasool said. "You prevent yourself from doing anything wrong so you can become a stronger person."

MSO spokesman Ismail Hameduddin said a person's behavior is the most important part of Ramadan fasting.

"It's an extra sense of responsibility," Hameduddin said. "Fasting is not all about food and drink. It's also about controlling ourselves and to have good character and to be righteous in this month. If you're fasting, you want to make sure it means something."