Ramadan, a Muslim religious season, is underway and the Arab Student Association is inviting students of all backgrounds to learn more about this cultural celebration.
Ramadan is observed in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar calendar. Because the lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar, the Ramadan celebration month moves every year.
"This is when the holy book, The Quran, was brought down," said Suha Dweik, ASA vice president.
Hussam Elqudsi, ASA president, elaborated that this is when God sent the angel Gabriel to Muhammad, who then memorized all of the words of God delivered through Gabriel.
The ASA held a breakfast at sunset last Friday. The breakfast, also called an Iftar, follows the Ramadan tradition of fasting from sunrise to sunset.
"Some people eat breakfast before sunrise and dinner after sunset," Dweik said.
According to the ASA Web site, fasting is done to exemplify self-control over one's body and appetite, to focus on God and to sacrifice for God.
Elqudsi said followers can fast on more than food or drink. They can also fast on certain behaviors and activities.
"You stop doing bad things," he said.
Followers can choose to stop gossiping or cursing, Elqudsi said. Sex during the daytime is also forbidden during Ramadan.
The daytime is very significant because it shows sympathy for the suffering of others.
"We feel what hungry people feel, those who work during the day and can't eat or those who can't afford to eat," Elqudsi said.
Ramadan has a lot of meaning, Dweik said.
"It's very holy, very pure," she said.
Elqudsi said this is the time of year when good works count times ten.
"God opened heaven's doors and closed hell's," he said. "God will be watching, so you do as much good as you can."
This season also has many traditions including the closing three-day festival, called Eid. It begins with a special prayer in the morning and includes a lot of eating, Dweik said.
"It's like Thanksgiving in a way," she said. "Everyone eats, there are a lot of dinner invitations and it's very family-orientated."
The Ramadan season is a period of rest for the spirit as well as the body, but comes with many joys, Elqudsi said.
"I love Ramadan," he said. "Family gets together, we forget about all of the bad things that have happened and I even forgive my friends during this time."
Praying, along with fasting, is the center of Ramadan.
Nightly prayers can run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and by the end of Ramadan, followers would have read the whole Quran.
Saad Kidwai is involved with the Muslim Student Union and regularly attends Mosque. Kidwai said that the MSU sponsors the daily breaking of the fast and special prayers around 6:30 p.m.
"During Ramadan, there is more prayer than normal," he said. "We have special evening prayers after regular day prayers called the Taraweeh prayers."
The 2005 Ramadan season began on Oct. 4 and will end in early November, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
The ASA will hold another Iftar breakfast potluck on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
Visit asamemphis.org for more information.
