For the first time in a decade, Muslim students at Indiana University are celebrating Ramadan in their campus, planning iftar events and daily taraweeh prayers.

“It’s just a great chance for all of us to be together,” IU junior and MSA President Miriam Haque told Indiana Daily Student.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us to not only build on our religion but also build on our relationships with our friends.”

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Hijri Islamic calendar. It commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad.

📚 Read Also:  9 Big Things College Students Worry About

From dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations).

Ramadan usually begins 10-12 days earlier each year since years in the Islamic lunar Hijri calendar are shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

Since 2011, Ramadan has not coincided with a school term, except for last year which students missed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

📚 Read Also: Remembrances of My First Ramadan

Special Events

Haque said the MSA has planned regular prayers throughout the holy month, including the weekly Jumu’ah and taraweeh prayers in the Indiana Memorial Union Solarium.

Sufyan Zackariya, Muslim Student Association vice president believes that Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to educate themselves and others about Islam.

“If they got to know someone who was Muslim, or if they got to understand Islam, they would understand that it’s not a scary thing, it’s not a threat, it’s more of a peaceful thing,” he said.

“It’s meant to better society.”

Muslims students in different universities are marking this Ramadan with several events while maintaining COVID-19 health restrictions.

Earlier this week, a newly-formed Muslim Students Association in Trine University, Indiana, marked the start of Ramadan by hosting an iftar dinner for students and faculty members.