Last Wednesday marked the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, an Islamic lunar holiday when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for the entire month.

Throughout the month, Muslims maintain their normal daily activities and break the fast, or have an "iftar," when the sun goes down, according to Irfan Omar, an Islam theology professor. They also have extra prayer called "tarawih" to find personal strength and bond with family and friends.

According to Omar, the Prophet Muhammad received a revelation when "God opened himself to humanity" during the month of Ramadan.

Muslims fast during Ramadan to "balance personal time with God (and be) with other people," Omar said. "It's a call for moral reflection."

By fasting, Muslims also "gain thankfulness to God and develop empathy toward the less fortunate," he said.

The Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, includes an excerpt in Ch. 2, Verse 183, that calls for fasting during Ramadan: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may achieve piety."

The Qur'an also calls for Muslims to pay alms, or "zakat," Omar said.

During Ramadan, Muslims go to local mosques to recite and listen to the Qur'an, and also participate in festivals. The entire Qur'an is fully read by the end of Ramadan, Omar said.

Hammam Hasan, a senior of the College of Engineering and president of the Muslim Student Association, has participated in Ramadan since age 7.

Despite fasting all day, Hasan said his school performance during Ramadan is unaffected. He feels more refreshed, lighter and "not tired at all."

Fasting during Ramadan "should not hold you back from your daily activities," said Hasan, who said he has strong beliefs in his faith and that "God is always looking over you."

The absence of family while at college, however, makes Ramadan harder to follow because the experience is not the same or as enjoyable, he said.

Unlike Hasan, MSA Vice President Hiba Jaber, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, commutes from her home in Brookfield, Wis.

"It's my favorite month of the Muslim calendar," Jaber said. It's "easier to observe with family and more enjoyable… a time to really get close with family and community in general."

Jaber has also been taking part in Ramadan since age 7, and said refraining from snacking doesn't harm her school performance.

MSA member Hira Siddiqui, a sophomore of the College of Arts & Sciences, said she has taken part in all the festivities since she was born. She began fasting at age 9.

Siddiqui said fasting helps her because Ramadan is supposed to curb desires, and it is also a way to discipline oneself.

Freshman year of college was difficult for Siddiqui, but she said joining MSA this year gives her more support and a sense of unity and makes Ramadan more fun, especially when members break fasts together.

All the students agreed that fatigue is not an issue while fasting.

MSA hosts traditional iftars every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday during Ramadan in the International Center in the Alumni Memorial Union at 6 p.m., to which the Marquette community is invited. On Tuesdays MSA sponsors speakers, and on Thursdays it hosts themed meals of different countries.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 11, 2005.