Muslim and non-Muslim students joined at the Indiana Memorial Union on March 25 to eat dates and break fast together in observance of Ramadan.

The Muslim Student Association and Union Board co-sponsored the “Interfaith Iftar” event.

“As a Muslim student, this event is very special to me,” said junior Rezwana Habib, the Social Impact Director for Union Board. “My vision behind the event was making it open for all students who are willing to come and learn about the religion, willing to come and be a part of the IU community.”

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. For Muslims, it is a month of fasting, introspection, communal prayer and charity. They fast every day from dawn to sunset, which makes Iftar land at a slightly different time each evening.

“Muslims all over the world fast as a form of worship,” Habib said. “It’s all about giving back to the community and experiencing fasting with our community.”

Iftar is the evening meal that breaks the fast each day of Ramadan. At sunset, people who observe Ramadan end their day of fasting with high-protein, nourishing foods. Dates are customary because they were believed to be the fast-breaking meal of the prophet Muhammad.

In addition to dates, students received Ramadan gift bags and ate a meal catered by “Taste of India.” Throughout the evening, they prayed together and heard speeches from their peers on the significance of Ramadan.

“Fasting gives you control over yourself, your desires,” one speaker said. “When you can control not to eat or drink the whole day, you can have control over your desires as well.”

Junior Hira Chaudhry, Vice President of the Muslim Student Association, said Interfaith Iftar is an entry point for people to learn more about Islam in a familiar environment, the IMU. Ramadan events that take place in mosques, she said, can feel out of their comfort zones.

“Having an event like this on campus really nice,” Chaudhry said. “It made people really excited because they don’t understand it.”

She invited Muslim and non-Muslim friends to Iftar. She said the event was designed to be educational, even for people who practice the faith, and correct misconceptions people have about Islam.

“Even for me, there’s stuff I don’t understand,” Chaudhry said. “I just think always keeping an open mind is really important.”