UCLA students participated in the Muslim Student
Association’s Fast-a-Thon Thursday to benefit the hot meals
program for Humanitarian Day.
MSA organized the Fast-a-Thon, an event in which Muslim students
encourage peers of all faiths to fast for one day in an effort to
raise money for a local homeless persons food provider.
Participating students broke the fast Thursday evening in the
Kerckhoff Grand Salon.
About 100 students gathered at the entrance to the Grand Salon
in anticipation of breaking their fast. Students waited in line to
be served a variety of food including chicken, salad, vegetables
and refreshments and then sat among friends as they enjoyed their
first meal of the day.
“Keeping with tradition, our food was late again. But
everyone was patient and that’s what fasting helps us to work
on,” said MSA President Sami Hasan.
During the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic
lunar calendar, Muslims eat and drink nothing while the sun shines.
Once the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal called iftar.
The fasting is intended to simulate the suffering of the less
fortunate and encourage students to learn patience.
First-time participant Yolanda Leon said fasting wasn’t
too difficult but that it was hard without water. She said the good
cause made it worth being thirsty for a day.
“It was worth it to give up a day to help others,”
Leon said.
Typically, the fast is broken with the drinking of water and the
eating of the traditional food of dates ““ the same food item
that the prophet Mohammed ate to break his fast, Hasan said.
“It’s more than just (abstaining) from food and
drink. It’s about developing your spiritual self,” said
Muizz Rafique, a fourth-year business-economics student.
Ramadan is a time for family as well as an opportunity to invite
those of other faiths to learn about the religion, Rafique
said.
Approximately 250 to 300 students participated in the
MSA’s second annual Fast-a-Thon and for every pledging
faster, local businesses pledged to donate $1. Approximately 10
businesses are donating to the cause, Hasan said.
All proceeds from the event are going to the hot meals program
for Humanitarian Day on Sunday to benefit the homeless of downtown
Los Angeles.
Every year during the month of Ramadan, the hot meals program is
a part of Humanitarian Day, during which the homeless receive
necessary services such as food and health care free of charge.
“It’s not hard because I can’t eat, It’s
hard because of the discipline,” said Noor Kurdi, a
third-year psychology and political science student.
In addition to raising funds for the hot meals program, Hasan
hopes to organize a group of students to go downtown this Sunday to
help out at Humanitarian Day.