Students invited to celebrate Ramadan
Tiara Stout
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: News
PUC is a melting pot. Representing a variety of different cultures, backgrounds, religions and countries, PUC now educates over 500 international students.
A large part of culture is religion.
The International Programs Office and the Muslim Student Association are inviting PUC students to honor Ramadan this week by recognizing the holiday with a one-day fast followed by a dinner Sept. 24. The fast is meant to educate students on this important holiday.
Ramadan, the Muslim holiday which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is the most prominent and regarded holiday in the Islam religion. Most Muslims fast during the month from sunrise to sunset as a way to learn patience and humility.
Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was delivered to the prophet Muhammad from God through the angel Gabriel. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, causing Ramadan to occur several days earlier each year.
In Indiana, fasting often takes place from 5 a.m. to about 7 p.m. At the end of each day, the fast is broken. Fasting requires Muslims to abstain from drinking, eating and prohibits improper thoughts. During the month, they are encouraged to give to charity, be more generous, help others in need and pray more.
The end of Ramadan is called Eid al-Fitr. It is a day in which Muslims pray at local Mosques and spend the day celebrating with family and friends. As part of the celebration they wear their best clothes and usually buy a new outfit for the event.
Eid al-Fitr is the first day of the next month. This year it happens to be Oct. 1 but it depends on the lunar cycle. Rasha Abed, coordinator of international programs, remembered as a child when Ramadan was in Dec. It was easier to predict because the sunset earlier and the fasting ended sooner.
The event was the idea of Abdulaziz Barakat, a senior majoring in electrical engineering technology and an International Program Office employee and mentor.
Abed says if we are all to exist we must learn about each other, especially the important aspects like religion that make us who we are.
The fast will be broken with a dinner in Alumni Hall on Sept. 24 at 6:30 pm. At the event there will be a speaker from a local mosque to speak about the holiday before dinner. All students, staff, and faculty are invited but must RSVP at (219) 989-2502.
A large part of culture is religion.
The International Programs Office and the Muslim Student Association are inviting PUC students to honor Ramadan this week by recognizing the holiday with a one-day fast followed by a dinner Sept. 24. The fast is meant to educate students on this important holiday.
Ramadan, the Muslim holiday which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is the most prominent and regarded holiday in the Islam religion. Most Muslims fast during the month from sunrise to sunset as a way to learn patience and humility.
Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was delivered to the prophet Muhammad from God through the angel Gabriel. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, causing Ramadan to occur several days earlier each year.
In Indiana, fasting often takes place from 5 a.m. to about 7 p.m. At the end of each day, the fast is broken. Fasting requires Muslims to abstain from drinking, eating and prohibits improper thoughts. During the month, they are encouraged to give to charity, be more generous, help others in need and pray more.
The end of Ramadan is called Eid al-Fitr. It is a day in which Muslims pray at local Mosques and spend the day celebrating with family and friends. As part of the celebration they wear their best clothes and usually buy a new outfit for the event.
Eid al-Fitr is the first day of the next month. This year it happens to be Oct. 1 but it depends on the lunar cycle. Rasha Abed, coordinator of international programs, remembered as a child when Ramadan was in Dec. It was easier to predict because the sunset earlier and the fasting ended sooner.
The event was the idea of Abdulaziz Barakat, a senior majoring in electrical engineering technology and an International Program Office employee and mentor.
Abed says if we are all to exist we must learn about each other, especially the important aspects like religion that make us who we are.
The fast will be broken with a dinner in Alumni Hall on Sept. 24 at 6:30 pm. At the event there will be a speaker from a local mosque to speak about the holiday before dinner. All students, staff, and faculty are invited but must RSVP at (219) 989-2502.
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