Sabeena Rahman, the Muslim Students’ Associationpresident, starts her day at 4:30 a.m. and eats breakfast with herfamily before sunrise. Shortly after breakfast, she prays andfasting begins. During the holy month of Ramadan, Rahman and otherMuslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

“We fast to remember the people who are hungry in thisworld,” she said.

In the spirit of Ramadan, members of the association hope thatstudents will endure their hunger to help raise money for the NorthTexas Food Bank by participating in a Fast-a-thon. Students canpledge to fast on Friday. Local businesses donate $1 to the foodbank for every student that participates.

Students can break the fast at MSA’s fourth annual RamadanIftaar and Dinner on Friday night.

At the free event, scheduled for 5:20 p.m. in the Hughes-Triggballroom, students can share their fasting experiences with eachother and MSA members.

MSA organized this event to clear up misconceptions about thereligion and to bring awareness to the SMU community.

“For a month, our lives change,” Rahman said.”[Islam] is more of a way of life — dietary, dresscode, the way a person acts or carries themselves.”

During this time, Muslims abstain from food, drink and othersensual pleasures as a way to observe the Prophet Muhammad’srevelation of the holy book, the Koran. For most Muslims, it is atime of worship, reflection and strengthening of family andcommunity ties. The young, disabled, sick or elderly do notfast.

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, which also includesthe declaration of faith, praying five times a day, charity andpilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

There are between 7 and 10 million Muslims in the United Statesand more than 1.2 billion worldwide.

To participate in the Fast-a-thon, contact Rahman at (469)644-4256.