More than 250 people packed the Hughes-Trigg Ballrooms Fridayafternoon for the 5th Annual Ramadan Dinner, sponsored by theMuslim Student Association. The event concluded the MSA 2nd AnnualFast-a-Thon, the organization’s annual fundraiser that raisesmoney for the Dallas International Rescue Committee.
Ramadan Dinner celebrates the spirit of Ramadan and educatesnon-Muslims about Islamic faith. This year’s event was thelargest to date.
“The way the SMU community came together for this event istruly tremendous,” said MSA Vice-President Shakeeb Mir.”The selfless act of charity and kindness isamazing.”
Over 250 students signed up to participate in the Fast-A-Thon,which invited non-Muslim students to fast for one day duringRamadan in order to learn more about Ramadan and raise awarenessabout world hunger. The Fast-a-Thon pledges raised $1,500 for theDallas IRC.
“Participating in the Fast-a-Thon was an eye-openingexperience,” said first-year engineering major DrewWashington. “It was great that the Muslim students invited usto participate in order to raise awareness for such a charitablecause.”
The event began with an invitation to break fast with thetraditional water and dates, followed by a call to prayer and thena feast of both traditional and non-traditional foods. Throughoutthe event, MSA members explained and translated the prayers andcustoms of the Islamic faith.
“After a day of fasting, I really enjoyed learning themeaning of Ramadan It truly made me think about the sacrifice thatI made,” Washington said.
Ramadan Dinner was much more than an opportunity to break fast,as members of the Dallas Islamic community visited and sharedpersonal testimonies about their experiences with Islam.
Dallas Mavericks basketball player and keynote speaker TariqAbdul Wahad spoke of his experience as a college student.
“You have to find the people who are like you,” hesaid, but added he found comfort and strength in his religion,constantly struggling to make his faith a part of his daily life.”Islam is a way of life,” Wahad said. “It’ssomething that you live 24 hours a day.”
He also encouraged the attendees to make a constant effort toreach out to others, without making judgments. “Itdoesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from or whatyou wear,” he said. “We cannot afford to look atsomeone and judge them.”
After the testimonials and experiences of the fast, the eventcontinued its success over the years, but MSA President Asad Rahmannoted the evening’s true accomplishments.
“The program is much larger than tonight,” saidRahman.
