For the third year in a row, Camosun’s Muslim Student Alliance (MSA) will be hosting an iftar celebration for the Muslim student body. All students, Muslim and non-Muslim, are, however, welcomed and encouraged to take part in the event.
The MSA is a group of students working together to broaden the Muslim community at Camosun by holding group functions for people already part of the Muslim faith, as well as anyone curious to learn more. Toward that aim, their upcoming event is surrounding the practice of iftar, an integral part of Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month where fasting is implicit from dawn until dusk; at dusk a meal is undertaken, and this breaking of the daily fast is known as iftar. While iftar is indeed the evening meal, it’s also a way for Muslims to come together and celebrate their faith and remember what that faith is really all about.
“But [Ramadan] is not just about not eating—it’s also about controlling your actions, your attitude, being more patient and being more empathetic,” says MSA acting president Yousef Al-odotallah. “A lot of people use it to bond, as a time to reconnect with their faith, focus on prayer, reflect on their habits; it’s meant to be a month of personal improvement. And not just physical sacrifice.”
During Ramadan, Muslims begin their day with suhoor, a small breakfast before fajr, the dawn prayer, and then begins a full day of fasting until the fast is broken at sundown, with iftar.
“It’s just going to be like a really great way for all the Muslims who, maybe they are studying from abroad, maybe they don’t have family,” says Al-odotallah. “So, feel at home and really experience… and even non-Muslims can come.”
The MSA has been making strides for the Muslim community for a few years now, with the addition of a prayer space in the CBA building at Camosun’s Interurban campus, which holds weekly jummah prayers on Friday. The prayer space is equipped with prayer mats as well as dividers for men and women. There’s also a prayer room at the Lansdowne campus, on the third floor of Richmond House.
Al-odotallah says that this is sure to be a great event and registration is now at capacity.
“So yeah, we encourage everybody to come… experience the culture… It’s definitely a great vibe,” he says. “We love to bring any non-Muslims, we love to show them our culture, we love to show them our hospitality. I encourage many non-Muslims to come. It is not scary at all. You know, you are not going to be singled [out].”
The iftar event takes place at 5 pm on Friday, February 27 in Sherri Bell Hall, located on the second floor of the Wilna Thomas Building at the Lansdowne campus.