Muslim Students’ Association Fast-A-Thon fosters interfaith unity at UMD, celebrating food and prayer
The Muslim Students’ Association held their annual Fast-A-thon in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union Atrium, bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims alike to share the experience of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
This year’s Fast-A-thon comes on the 24th day of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, emphasizing spiritual reflection. Monday’s “iftar,” the Arabic name for the meal that breaks the fast, sought to bring together people of all faiths.
“One of the key objectives of the fast is to let go of the gifts that we’ve taken for granted,” Imam Tarif Shraim, the University of Maryland’s Muslim chaplain, said. “As human beings, we’re all in the same situation and the same struggle, in the same level of dependence on the gifts that we have in our lives.”
Before the fast is broken, Maghrib, the fourth of Islam’s five daily prayers, is prayed. Rows of students lined up behind Shraim as he led the prayer.
The event was co-sponsored by the School of Public Health and STAMP.
Connecting the intersection of public health and spirituality, Erin McCllure, assistant dean for diversity and chief of staff at the School of Public Health, said, “I think we’d be remiss if we did not make sure we created space…and then to support our students collectively with [contributing to a spiritual community] on campus.”
Dozens of students formed lines to receive catered meals that included salads and pita bread among other options. Students talked about their days and experiences fasting while waiting to receive their meal.
Reflecting on the UMD MSA’s iftar events, senior information science major and recent convert, Favour Fatusin, said, “it definitely feels more impactful than doing it by yourself because you’re around fellow brothers and sisters who have the same goal as you.”
Non-Muslim attendees took the event as an opportunity to learn more about Islam. Anna Lee, a sophomore music performance major, attended the event along with members of the Asian American InterVarsity Christian fellowship. She was introduced to a few lines from the Quran and drew parallels between it and the Bible.
“We want to learn about the UMD Muslim Community,” and, “learn about Islam, too, because they’re our neighbors,” she said.
Leena Davis, UMD MSA’s president, values the sense of community during events like the Fast-A-thon and Ramadan as a whole.
“During Ramadan, I usually see people that I’ve never seen before…and they are coming now to our iftars,” the senior agriculture and resource economics major said. “You find the value of your religion; you find the value of good community when you are small in numbers.”