Ramadan holiday concluding soon

Muslim students at the University have had that hungry look in their eyes lately. For the last month, many Muslims have been observing Ramadan, a period when Muslims fast each day from sunrise to sunset for the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan is also a time in which extra prayers called Taravee are added to the daily liturgy whereby a different part of the Koran is read every day for the 30 day period. Ramadan is one of the five pillars on which the Islamic religion is based. The other key aspects, outlined in the Koran, are: declaring oneself a Muslim, praying five times daily, giving charity money to the government for redistibution to the poor "Zakah" and a pilgrimage to Mecca. Today Muslims will be gathering at 1 p.m. in Houston Hall for special weekly prayers which take place every Friday. The weekly prayer, called Juma'a, is the most important Muslim prayer and several hundred people usually attend. Today's turnout is expected to be even higher because tonight is the "Night of Power," the day on which the Koran traditionally is supposed to have been completed. Engineering senior Adnan Choudhury said Ramadan is especially important because "it is the period of time when Muslims try to transcend the mundane aspects of life." "Ramadan is not really a holiday," he said. "It is a time of reflection which enhances the spirit." Choudhury also emphasized that Ramadan is a time for the Muslim community to come together. The Muslim Students Association has been very active for the entire month. Twice a week they have held open houses in one of the high rise rooftop lounges. Each one featured a different cultural theme which allowed students to break their fasts with foods of different countries from such regions as the Arabian Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. Ramadan is scheduled to last until either Sunday or Monday, depending on which day the New Moon is clearly visible. Each year, a member of the Philadelphia Islamic community must make the decision on which day will be the holiday's official conclusion. The final morning features a special prayer which is held at mosques throughout the world. The end of Ramadan is followed a day later by an intense period of celebration called Eid-Al-Fitr, in which Muslims try to visit as many different holiday gatherings as they can. The Eid lasts for three days, although many people only celebrate it for one day. Wharton junior Lein Rashid said she is looking foward to the end of Ramadan. "I am already working on having a big feast with all my friends," she said. Rashid said her private potluck dinner will also include friends from nearby schools such as Temple and Widener universities. Dining Services has kept the Law School dining hall open until 8 p.m. each night to allow students to break their fast once the sun has set. Students who are on meal plan for lunch were able to get box lunches which they could save for later in the day. In addition, students on meal plan were able to receive a refund for the meals which they missed. Memon said that she was glad Dining Services offered a larger refund this year, but she criticized Dining Services for requiring students to ask for a refund before Spring Break. Memon said it was not fair that students couldn't switch if they waited until after returning from Break. Engineering senior Rais Huda said the main reason for observing Ramadan is that "it is a time in which people can learn self-restraint and self-control." "It is a time for reflection of people who don't have enough to eat," he added. Engineering senior Khairol Yussof said he likes Ramadan because "it is a time for personal cleansing. It also makes you sympathize with those who are not as fortunate." "Fasting is worthless if you don't think about the people around you and try to get rid of bad habits," said Engineering sophomore Adil Khan, who has been fasting for Ramadan since he was 12 years old. Khan said that he too looks foward to the time "when I can pig out" at the Eid celebration. Ramadan is also a time when people look to the future. "The main purpose is to reflect on what you've been doing for the past year and plan to do the best for next year," said Wharton junior Raja Azmi.

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