The Muslim Student Association (MSA), will hold a public prayer ceremony in Hughes Trigg Commons at 2 p.m. today to educate Muslim and non-Muslim students about the culture, fasting, and Muslim prayer.

The ceremony will also signify the beginning of the holy month, Ramadan, which starts this Saturday. The hour-long Ramadan kickoff will demonstrate the very synchronized and visible way Muslims conduct prayer.

During the holy month the MSA fasts from sunrise to sunset and then eat a meal together and pray. On Oct. 12, the MSA will host their fifth annual fast-a-thon.

The fast-a-thon will have business sponsors and every person who pledges to fast for the day will assist in raising money for charity.

This year all money raised will be donated to the Red Cross. MSA will first acquire pledges for the fast-a-thon starting Oct. 3, and on Oct. 12 they will ask the entire SMU community to fast.

The MSA welcomes the community to join them for prayer today and their fast later this semester.