More than 150 students, faculty and staff attended the 6th annual Ramadan dinner Oct. 2, hosted by the Atlas Interfaith Foundation.
AIF intended the dinner, which featured free Turkish food for everyone, to be an opportunity for Loyola to better understand the celebration of Ramadan and what it means to Muslims all over the world.
Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the lunar calendar. For 30 days, Muslims must refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. The 30 days signify the 30 nights that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.
Each night, Muslims visit the mosque to hear the Quran read aloud. In addition to celebrating the time of Ramadan, AIF hosted the dinner in hopes of encouraging people from different cultures to talk about their different ideas and experiences.
“With events like these, (we) can have interfaith dialogue,” said Cathie Eustis, AIF president. “We can emphasize and celebrate the things we have in common.”
Mass communication sophomore Kayla August said, “I like to experience other cultures and religions as a way of expanding my understanding of the world around me. This was a great experience for anyone at Loyola, because it’s right there.”
According to AIF and the Muslim Students Association, Ramadan isn’t just about fasting. During this time, most Muslims also refrain from using profanity, listening to derogatory music or spending excess amounts of time watching television or using the Internet.
“Ramadan is about spiritual cleansing,” said Shaawn B. Ali, psychology senior and MSA president. “It’s an opportunity to reevaluate your life and goals.”
Another focus of Ramadan is toward those who are less fortunate. “You ask yourself, ‘Why am I hungry?’ and it helps you keep in mind those who live in poverty,” Ali said.
MSA also scheduled a Ramadan Fast-A-Thon for students from both Loyola and Tulane. During the Fast-A-Thon, scheduled for Oct. 4, participants fasted from sunrise to sunset and had a large dinner at the end of the day.
In addition, students are encouraged to get their teachers, parents and friends to sponsor their fasting efforts in order to raise money for the poor in New Orleans.
Ali said that he was very pleased with the results of the last Fast-A-Thon. “Last year, we were able to raise $5,200 with 240 participants. This year, we have about 300 people signed up and our goal is $7,000,” Ali said.
Kathryn Elise Madere can be reached at [email protected].
