By: JuliaInes Esparza
As Ramadan, the holiest month of the of the year for Muslims continues, the Muslim-cultural Student Association (McSA) shared its plans to host nightly meals and community events.
Students who are fasting during Holy Month are invited to Foster-Walker East after sundown for Iftar, food, community and prayer. The invitation is extended to all community members regardless if they have a meal plan.
McSA president Abdur Qureshi added that anyone interested in learning about Ramadan and Muslim culture is welcome to attend the meals. These meals will be held in Plex from Sunday to Friday with Saturday meals being hosted at Parkes Hall.
“We’re going to be able to host catered dinners in Parkes Hall, which is where we usually pray, it’s just kind of like a spiritual area,” Qureshi said. “It will be nice to have a more community focused sort of event as opposed to doing all the meals in the dining hall.”
Qureshi said the group has been working with MSA, the office of Religious & Spiritual Life and Compass to prepare for programming throughout the Holy Month.
While Muslim students utilize prayer rooms located throughout campus during the rest of the year, Qureshi said during Ramadan the group will be coordinating times so Muslim students can pray together.
“In our religion there really is this like large focus on community and community building and whether that be you know, just like hanging out with like people or praying together, which is the most important thing.”
In addition to this programming, after students break their fast, community members will read a portion of the Quran together each night in an attempt to read through the entire Holy Book before Ramadan is over.
The group has also planned and Eid banquet at the end of the month for family, friends and members of the community to come together and celebrate.
Because Ramadan falls in the middle of spring quarter this year, Qureshi said Muslim students don’t get to observe the holiday with their communities at home. Because the month is largely centered around family, he said said students often feel anxious about how they will be able to maintain their traditions.
“I think that’s something that we try to bridge a little bit by providing this meal plan at Foster-Walker East and these prayers,” Qureshi said.