On Wednesday, Sept. 16, many students and staff at Gustavus Adolphus College will take part in the second annual “Gustavus Day of Fasting – A Ramadan Celebration” in honor of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan.
Participants will refrain from eating and drinking from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (sunrise to sunset), and then break the fast at the anticipated official sunset time of 7:22 p.m. at a banquet in the Heritage Room, located in the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center.
Dining Services will open 30 minutes earlier than normal (6:30 a.m.) to allow participants a chance to eat breakfast before starting the fast.
The breaking of the fast event will include a meal and two speakers. Steve Mellema, professor of physics at Gustavus will speak briefly about the significance of fasting within the Muslim faith. The keynote address will be given by Imani Jaafar-Mohammed from the Twin Cities legal firm Mohammad & Jaafar-Mohammad, LLC. Jaafar-Mohammed will speak about women and Islam.
Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is considered the holiest month and is believed to be the month when the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad from the angel Gabriel.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory to every adult and able Muslim. Fasting during Ramadan is intended to teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint, generosity, sacrifice, and humility.
The Gustavus Day of Fasting is being sponsored by the Crossroads Program, the Pan Afrikan Student Organization, and the Chaplains’ Office.
Leave a Reply