Halfway through a 9 a.m. class, stomachs start to grumble. But this month, these stomachs will not be filled until the sun goes down. It's Ramadan — the holiest month in the Muslim calendar — and according to tradition, observant Muslims must fast all day and eat only between sunset and sunrise.
But tomorrow, non-Muslim students and faculty will have the opportunity to fast with Muslims, albeit just for one day.
The fourth annual Fast-a-thon, which will go from 5:50 a.m. to 6:21 p.m, is targeted toward non-Muslim students looking to get in touch with their own spiritualities by experiencing another culture. It also motivates students to take social action with a special fundraising campaign each year, according to the members of the Islamic Center at NYU. Over 250 universities and schools across the country have hosted similar events. This year, there are 23 organizations regiestered with Fast-a-thon.
"It doesn't have to be religious," said CAS freshman Noveen Ausat, a Pakistani from Virginia who has been fasting since she was nine. "It doesn't just have to be Muslims. It's great that other students want to participate because fasting motivates you to get out and help others."
At sunset, participants will gather at the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium in the Kimmel Center, where they will share a dinner to celebrate breaking fast, listen to guest speakers and voice their own reflections on fasting.
CAS senior Fatima Ali, the secretary of the Islamic Center and the organizer of the event, said it's interesting to listen to people's fasting experiences, particularly when they discuss "what they realized when they were really hungry or thirsty and couldn't do anything about it."
The Fast-a-thon also helps with charitable causes. T-shirt sales and personal donations from both non-participants and participants will go to the Darfur Peace & Development Organization, which helps provide relief for those affected by the genocide in Sudan. Last year, the Fast-a-thon raised $3,000 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
An additional $1 is raised for every student who fasts and attends the dinner on the evening of Oct. 12.
"There are a lot of people out there fasting because they have no choice," Ausat said. "Fasting is very humbling. You realize what other people are going through."
Mahnaz Yousefzadeh, a professor of Near Eastern cultures, said he is glad the money raised is going toward the Darfur cause.
"I feel there isn't enough light shed on the genocide," he said.
Ali is one of the members who participated in the event in its inaugural year four years ago.
"I was only a freshman, but it was a chance to get in touch with my spirituality again," Ali said. "Through fasting, you get to meditate on how fortunate you are, and you become more appreciative because you realize there are so many people out there who go without the things we're used to."
Students and faculty can sign up online at www.icnyu.org/fastathon or register at the Da'wah table on the first floor of Kimmel. Upon signing up, participants are asked to fill out a pledge asking each individual to abide to the honor system and be true to fasting for the entire day.
"I love this event, not only because it brings the culturally and religiously diverse NYU community together, but it also focuses on a great cause each year," said CAS junior Naoreen Chowdhury, a member of the Fast-a-thon committee. "As young adults, I think it is in our power to do everything we can to raise awareness of global and national issues and to help make some sort of difference."
RAMADAN Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim Calendar, when Muslims abstain from food, water and sexual activity from dawn to sunset every day for about 30 days. It is also a month of personal reflection during which people are encouraged to be more charitable. Sept. 23 marked the beginning of Ramadan, which will last until Oct. 23.
