EMU’s new Muslim Student Alliance (MSA) and the Center for Interfaith Engagement (CIE) partnered with the Valley Muslim Community Foundation for an iftar celebration on Friday, March 13. Muslim and non-Muslim EMU students attended, with members of the Harrisonburg community making up a large part of the group. The event was MSA’s first, and its co-president, Zainab Kamran, relayed that there are more events to come.
Iftar refers to the breaking of the fast that Muslims hold from dawn to dusk each day during the holy month of Ramadan. The fast is broken at sunset, followed by a prayer, then a larger meal.
Before the start of the event, Trina Trotter Nussbaum, Director of the CIE, emphasized the hospitality of the Muslim community in opening the celebration up to non-Muslim students, faculty, and staff. She said that the Muslim students were “very gracious in inviting us into their event.”
Sara Kennel and Miriam Rhodes were two non-Muslim students in attendance. Kennel said that she came to learn more about Islamic practices, stating that “interreligious education is very important.” Rhodes added, “We’re both very passionate about food.”
Miranda Beidler, the student chaplain involved with interfaith engagement, helped plan the event. “It was a lot of learning from Zainab,” she said.
After guests had arrived and sat down at the tables lining Campus Center’s greeting hall, Trotter Nussbaum, Beidler, and Kamran stood in front of the tables and introduced themselves. Kamran shared the story of the Prophet Muhammad, and the beginning of Islam. Trotter Nussbaum then acknowledged the Muslims around the world who are currently experiencing violence. A moment of silence was held, and Trotter Nussbaum concluded, “Our prayer is for an end to violence all over the world, especially during the holiest of months.”
A few minutes later, at 7:21 p.m., the sun set and guests broke their fasts with dates and water. (Kamran noted that not all cultures use these items.) Hothaifa Abusamra, a graduate student in the biomedicine program, recited a call to prayer before the dates were consumed. Most guests participated, including those who had not been fasting.
Many community members arrived around this time. Muslim guests moved to the back of the room to pray together before gathering back for the meal. Food from Taj of India was provided by the organizers, and some guests also brought food from their cultures.
Adama Ndoye, a grad student in the biomedicine program, was one of the Muslim students attending the iftar. Originally from Senegal, she said she has good memories of iftar when she was younger because she was with her family.
Taylor Davis, also a biomedicine grad student, said she decided to come to the event as a “support friend” for both Ndoye and Kamran. She had participated in fasting with Ndoye in prior weeks, but they only had iftar together about once a week.
In total, over 30 people attended the iftar, including undergrad and graduate students, faculty and staff, and many community members.
Kamran said that the experience of organizing the event “was lovely.” Kamran moved to the U.S. from Pakistan last fall to come to EMU, and said that she especially appreciates Islamic traditions such as iftar now. “Coming to the U.S., you kind of start valuing your old culture more.”
