Iftar dinner gives taste of understanding
November 2, 2009
Florida State University’s Muslim Student Association hosted a fast-a-thon dinner Friday, Sept. 18. The University Center’s Miller Hall was packed with people and buffet tables lined the room, but no one was allowed to eat until after sundown.
This fast-a-thon event was held to break the fast for Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sun up to sundown. They do not consume food or water until the sun goes down. They break their fast traditionally with water and dates after a bout of prayer.
“(Non-Muslims) can’t imagine giving up food and water,” said Kany Aziz, the public relations director of MSA. “You learn about willpower and how to withstand temptation.”
This year, like many years before, MSA invited FSU students, both Muslims and non Muslims, to celebrate the holiday and eat.
“(I) came to show support for my friends. I’m Christian, but my roommate is Muslim,” said Valerie Rodriguez, a sociology student at FSU.
Rodriguez said she was also searching for more information about Ramadan. That is exactly the question Kany Aziz wanted to provide answers to.
“We wanted to inform people and break stereotypes with the terms Muslim and Islam, while having fun with great food,” said Aziz.
Sabrina Islam, an MSA member, had a similar goal for the event. She wanted guests to receive “a better understanding for Islam, an appreciation for it, they can see that it’s really peaceful.”
MSA attempted to teach these lessons with a guest speaker, along with some familiar and cultural foods. The variety of the buffet ranged from traditional Middle Eastern dishes like hummus, to fried chicken.
This event may have focused on education and food, but it also promoted a charitable cause. MSA raffled off gift certificates to many familiar places in town for $2 each. Half of the money was heading over to the Harbor House foundation, which provides assistance and education to women in Indonesia.
“MSA was blessed this year to have many sponsors donate and help with a good cause,” said Avan Aziz, vice president of MSA and one of the main organizers of the event.
These prizes ranged from certificates for Firehouse Subs, the Loop Pizza, Dairy Queen and more. There were so many prizes that most who purchase a raffle ticket won a prize.
According to Avan Aziz, MSA had a hard time “convincing the public that the dinner was free with no strings attached.”
The event was not about converting attendees to other religions, but rather an open invitation to enjoy some food and see a side of Muslim culture.
“(I) wanted them to learn about Ramadan so they could teach somebody else the universal truth about humanity, patience, giving and tolerance,” said Kany Aziz.
