Every year on the ninth month of the lunar calendar, Muslims across the globe unite in honoring one of the central pillars of Islam, fasting during Ramadan. The Muslim Student Association at Loyola has invited students of all faiths to take part Sept. 29.

Muslim students at Loyola, Tulane and Louisiana State University Medical School will honor the last day of Ramadan by refraining from eating, drinking and other indulgences from sunup to sundown. Now in its third year, the annual Fast-a-Thon raises money for charity and bridges understandings between cultures on campus.

Muslims fast during the ninth month of the lunar year when it is believed that God revealed the Quran to Muhammad. Aside from fasting from food and drink, Muslims refrain from cursing, smoking or raising their temper.

According to http://www.submission.org, the fast serves three primary purposes: to assist development of self-control and will-power, to purify the body and soul of impurities and to develop compassion for those less fortunate.

“It’s to make you realize all that you have and be grateful in every aspect of your life,” MSA President Danish Siddiqui, biological studies senior, said. “Especially food and water because so many people in the world don’t have these things.”

During Fast-a-Thon local businesses pledge a dollar for each student who fasts for MSA to donate to a charity of their choosing. In the past they have raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims, shelters in Bangladesh and Fleur de Vie, and a Tulane student-run medical clinic for the New Orleans underprivileged.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville started the Fast-a-Thon after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 to build solidarity among the faiths.

Since Loyola adopted the Fast-a-Thon three years ago, MSA has attracted around 300 students each year to participate. In the past two Fast-a-Thons, Loyola raised more money than Tulane and Tulane Medical School. This year will be LSU Medical School’s first time to participate in unison with Loyola and Tulane.

This year donations will go to Charity: Water, a non-profit company that builds water
systems in underdeveloped countries, providing clean drinking water for the local populations. Siddiqui said that MSA does not stipulate that its donations go to Muslim charities – in fact, the majority of the charities MSA has donated to in the past have not been affiliated with Islam.

 “Charity is charity. It doesn’t have to be Muslim,” Siddiqui said. “Basically we’re just looking for people who need help locally and nationally.”

Steve Heath can be reached at [email protected].