Muslim Students Association invites community to participate in annual Fast-A-Thon

The University of Arkansas Muslim Students Association (MSA) is holding their annual Fast-A-Thon Monday, March 11 --- the first day of Ramadan --- at 6:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Union Ballroom to challenge non-Muslim students to fast with them. They will then host iftar, the evening meal to break the fast, and an informational session about the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting is not required to attend the event. 

According to an MSA Fast-A-Thon information sheet, participants of the fast should wake up before sunrise on March 11, which is 6:21 a.m, and start the day with a filling meal and plenty of water. Participants should then abstain from food and water until the sun sets at 7:21 p.m. MSA also encourages participants to exhibit acts of worship, introspection and charity during the fast. 

Last year, Fast-A-Thon was an opportunity for MSA to open up their community to bring Muslim and non-Muslin students together and to provide a safe, welcoming space to learn about the religion and Ramadan, MSA Outreach Coordinator Leen Samman said.

“It's really fun to challenge others who don't normally fast during Ramadan to kind of experience what it feels like for us,” Samman said. “Even though it's hard, it's something that I’m proud of as a Muslim. And to be able to show it off to people is really awesome.”

UA graduate Josh Marvine said he attended Fast-A-Thon last year. He went to learn more about his Muslim friends’ religion. 

“I think it’s important to go to better understand different communities that make up the university and our area,” Marvine said. “Especially because this can end up being a pretty white, Christian-dominated part of the country.”

For Muslims, Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, MSA Vice President Abdullah Asif said. Muslims view Ramadan as a time of reflection to set new goals and start good habits. Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to increase their spirituality by spending more time praying, reading the Quran and completing acts of kindness, Asif said. 

Because the Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, Ramadan is about two and a half weeks earlier each year. When it occurs during the school year, some students observing Ramadan can either be distracted from the purpose of the month by their schoolwork or can have a harder time focusing on school while fasting, Asif said. 

“It was especially difficult for a lot of students two years ago when (Ramadan) overlapped with final exams,” Asif said. “Ramadan is a time where you try to increase your spirituality, and when your entire day is occupied with finals and classes, then it makes it a little bit harder to balance out those things.” 

Ramadan also strengthens Muslim communities, as mosques are full every day through the month, Asif said. Because most Muslims break their fast with their families each night during Ramadan, transitioning to observing Ramadan on a college campus is difficult for students, Samman said.

“There's just something so special about breaking your fast with people,” Samman said. “That's the reason why we have the Fast-A-Thon and MSA puts on iftars. We are aware that a lot of us are away from our families, so these events are like a home away from home where you can break your fast with your family on campus.”

Although Muslims look forward to Ramadan, this year looks different, Samman said. With the Israel-Hamas war, a certain bitterness is present as the month draws nearer. Because of this, Samman said Ramadan has a different meaning to her this year. 

“This month is like one of the months where God really listens and he wants people to turn back to him, and he wants people to ask for forgiveness, and to just ask for better outcomes for the world and for others,” Samman said. “I feel helpless right now and I’m using this month to pray for people and really reflect on what I'm grateful for.”