Harbus

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Zainab Wasti (OH) Mansoor passes around dates with which to "break fast"

The sun finally set in the skies. It was 6:24 p.m. EC Toufik Khadir stood in front of more than 100 HBS colleagues gathered in 1 Western Common Room, turned his head toward Mecca and gave the azan - the Muslim call to prayer. Everyone gathered close as Islamic Society co-President, Mansoor Panawala, passed around delectable Medjool dates (the large chewy variety from California considered by many, including myself, as the Mercedes Benz of dry fruit). "This is how Muslims around the world traditionally break their fasts, so please join us as we break ours here tonight", he said. And so each person in the room proceeded to "break their fasts", as Mansoor continued to welcome everyone to the annual HBS-wide Ramadan Iftaar held on Wednesday, October 3rd. The Islamic Society hosts the event each year, both to celebrate Ramadan among friends as well as educate the HBS community on the virtues of observing the month of fasts along with the holiday that marks its culmination, Eid ul-Fitr.

During the month of Ramadan, all physically able Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Ramadan is particularly special to the Muslim community because it was within this holy month that the Qur'an was revealed, as related by the excerpt: "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…" (Quran 2:185).

The fast is regarded principally as a method of self-purification as is noted by the verse "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint," (Quran 2:183). The aforementioned verse highlights the fact that fasting is not a new concept, nor one unique to the Muslim community; indeed, fasting is part of a long tradition practiced for centuries by Jewish and Christian communities, among others. Through cutting oneself off from worldly comforts - even for a short time - a fasting person gains true sympathy for those who do not have access to food and drink whenever they desire. In addition, through fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature which becomes a means of coming closer to God. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five "pillars" of Islam, accompanied by the declaration of faith, the five daily prayers, almsgiving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

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