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Ayah Terabishi, 2, mimicks her mother Noora as she prays Maghrib, the fourth obligatory prayer, after breaking fast at the Thwing Hall at Case.

Fast-a-thon raises money, awareness

By Arooj Ashraf

She found herself struggling and preoccupied with food all day. The day she had pledged to stand with her Muslim peers and abstain from food, obscenity, and sexual pleasures.

Linda Annette joined 250 non-Muslim Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve students by pledging to go hungry for a day to learn more about Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

Fasting is one of the five pillars of faith in Islam. Muslims abstain from food, drinks, obscenity and sex from dawn to dusk for 30 days.

Revelation of the holy book Quran was completed during this month. Fasting is obligatory to all Muslims in good health. Pregnant or menstruating women, travelers and those otherwise unable to fast are obliged to feed the hungry, poor and fast when they are able.

“Biologically it makes no sense,” said Annette, and she wondered why God would request fasting from his followers. To find out, the CSU student pledged to participate in the Fast-a-thon sponsored by Case and Cleveland State chapters of the Muslim Student Association. It did not take her long to find the answer. “When your stomach is grumbling and you can not eat then you turn your attention to God,” she said

This years’ Fast-a-thon was held at Thwing Hall at Case on Oct. 8. More than 300 guests participated in the fast-breaking ceremony, Iftar, and enjoyed an ethic dinner of rice, hummus, sheesh kabobs, fried chicken, pasta, greens and salad.

“The purpose of Fast-a-thon is to raise money for the needy in such a blessed month, and at the same time explain to the non-Muslims about Ramadan,” said CSU MSA President Ahmad Muhieddine. The Fast-a-thon raised money for America’s Second Harvest: The Nations Food Bank Network by collecting pledges and asking 10 local businesses to donate a dollar for each non-Muslim who fasted.

“In Cleveland alone, there are 360 calls for emergency food in a single day,” said Gausia Chowdury, Case MSA public relations chair. She said 100 percent of the donations will benefit victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“My family knew not to bother me about food today,” Annette joked after she finished her dinner. She learned of the Fast-a-thon through information tables hosted in the University Center. She decided to participate because she wanted to learn more about Islam and meet, “real live Muslims.”

“I was hoping to help promote understanding,” she said. Annette was surprised her 11-year-old son had never heard of Ramadan and she said she seized the opportunity to explain it to him.

She found fasting very challenging. “It made me mindful of all the people who do fast,” she said. As time went on she found herself looking at the clock more often.

To calm herself she allowed herself a sip of water and two sips of tea. Although Muslims abstain from drinking water and smoking, those who pledged were not forced to follow strict guidelines.

“We only ask of their attempt, it is impractical to enforce any kind of rules,” said Abrahim Farraj, vice-president of Cleveland State MSA. Krystle Suszter a nursing student at Case was approached by her sorority sister to fast. She said she loves participating in philanthropy and although she was skeptical at first decided to fast to see if she could do it. “It was good to know that I could do it and I am more disciplined than I thought,” she said.

Suszter said she is proud she can step out of her comfort zone to experience something millions of people do every day, by religious expression or necessity.

She says there is a lack of education that divides people. “I am standing up and saying we are connected,” she said. Suszter took the opportunity to educate her friends and said the domino effect of knowledge is interesting.

She is Lutheran but she says she occasionally fasts with her Catholic father. “I have a great more deal of respect for you guys,” she said. Guest speakers at the event spoke of the importance of Ramadan to Muslims. Burheem Bakr, CSU alumni, said it is impossible to tell if a person is fasting unless they approach you and announce the fact. “Muslims fast solely for the pleasure of God,” he said.

Self -discipline Bakr said fasting increases self discipline and self-control and consciousness of the bounties we enjoy daily. He said fasting requires people to ignore Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, “Basic needs of food, shelter, sex must be met before a person can reach the next level of self-actualization,” Bakar said. He explained when a person can control these lower desires they are closer to understanding and reaching God.

Annette joined the fast-a-thon in hopes of gaining insight and clarification on Islam. The top question on her list, “I saw on television that Allah was not the same God of Christians?” The answer was simple and clear, “Allah is simply Arabic word for God,” said a Muslim guest sitting with Annette. She explained that Islam is an Abrahimic religion and traces its roots back to Ishmael, the son of Abrahim and brother of Issac. Muhieddine said the number of pledges gives him hope that people are open minded and willing to learn more about Islam.

Pledges to fast Although 102 pledged to fast from Cleveland State only two students were present at the dinner. Muhieddine was disappointed by the turnout and said next year’s event will be at CSU. Farraj said Fast-a-thon is more than a dinner to celebrate Ramadan and raise money for the hungry. “For the MSA officers it’s like a harmony of hard work and dedication that leads up to this example of how interconnected the Muslim community is,” he said.

Ramadan ends on Nov. 2, or Nov. 3, depending on sighting of the moon and will be celebrated with Eid-ul-Fitar, which lasts three days. “It was so nice to see Muslims and non-Muslims together educating themselves about Islam and helping the victims of Katrina” said Tayeh, a junior at Cleveland State who just got back from Louisiana with the Army National Guard. Tayeh said victims of Katrina and Rita could barely walk on their own feet, all their property is either gone or damaged by the floods. Ahmed F. Hamed Contributed to this report.

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