Fasting for an entire month, all month, from sunrise to sunset does not seem easy and for many Muslim and non-Muslim students at Sacramento State; it is not. Students are taking it upon themselves to hold Iftar dinners to break fast for the holy month of Ramadan in the University Union.

According to the website History.com, Ramadan is the most holy time of the year for Islam. It is the ninth month of the Islamic year when all Muslims over the age of 13 years old fast for the entire month. During Ramadan, Muslims fast beginning from the rising of the sun and breaking fast at sunset.

Iftar dinners, which are daily rituals to break one’s fast for the day, will be held Monday through Thursday until the end of Ramadan near Burger King in the University Union.

Sabil Khan, senior business marketing major, said he is like most Muslims and enjoys having meals with family and friends. Potlucks and dinner parties are in abundance during Ramadan, he said.

Saman Tariq, junior biology major, said students hold these dinners every night to break fast with the company of other students observing the holiday on their own accord and non-Muslims are welcome to observe and join in.

“I find (Ramadan) a time to test my own self,” said Sonum Saeed, a Cosumnes River College student and president of the Muslim Student Association for the Los Rios Community College District. “It is also a time for self-discovery, we spend most of our time praying and reading the Quran… A time to test one’s self-control as well.”

IslamiCity is an educational organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of humanitarian and social justice issues. According to the organization’s website, the month of Ramadan is when Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, to the prophet Muhammad.

In honor of this revelation, one-thirtieth of the Quran is read each night of Ramadan, so by the end of the month, the whole Quran has been read, according to the organization.

Before the first fast, Muslims look for the new moon. If it is sighted, Tariq said it marks the beginning of Ramadan. She said Muslims who participate in Ramadan begin fasting the next day for 30 days.

Ramadan ends by looking for the new moon in the last couple days of the holy month, Tariq said.

“In my opinion, Ramadan is when Muslims prove to God that we are not selfish and understand how it feels to not be able to afford food or water for long periods of time,” Tariq said.

Khan said the holy month is more than just a time for abstaining from food.

“Muslims refrain not only from foods but also from all the bad habits they may have,” Khan said. “Instead, they perform good deeds in abundance for the blessings that are multiplied for this month. That is what I try to do as well.”

According to IslamiCity, bad habits include vices like smoking, or simple things such as gossip. Muslims also try to perform good deeds like donating money as a means of giving back and growing spiritually.

There are some mental and physical struggles with fasting for Ramadan. However, Saeed said, through the struggles the outcome is worth facing the challenges.

“I am always running around so (it) can become a challenge,” Saeed said. “It is always worth it to know I didn’t give up or give in to my temptations.”

Khan said he likes getting the opportunity to see relatives he does not see often

“Ramadan is a time where family is your best friend,” Saeed said. “Usually everyone is busy, but Ramadan lets us break fast together everyday at the same time.”

Jamie Ramirez can be reached at [email protected]