By Abby Kozal, Culture Editor
Aquinas students enjoy Ramadan Dinner from Le Kabob – Photo by Joel Grimsley
The Aquinas International Office and Multicultural Club came together on Tuesday, Mar. 4 to host a Ramadan Dinner at the Moose.
Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims. The period is a time of prayer, reflection and building community. Practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. It is also a time to fast from sin, ignoring temptation in order to build discipline.
As Hannah Bechtold, Director of International Programs at Aquinas, explained at the start of the Ramadan Dinner, “There are about 1.9 billion Muslims in the world. Muslims aren’t just in the Middle East or in Palestine, but in Africa, Asia, Europe…and at Aquinas.”
A variety of dishes were served to the Aquinas community, catered by Le Kabob. Many attendees enjoyed hummus, kabobs, spinach fatayer and baklava.
Community enjoys meal while Aseel Jadallah answers questions about Ramadan – Photo by Joel Grimsley
Junior Aseel Jadallah, a practicing Muslim student at Aquinas, recited a prayer to break fast before the attendees indulged in the meal. During the dinner, Jadallah shared her own experience and answered questions about Ramadan.
“A lot of people think it’s just fasting from sunrise to sunset,” Jadallah said. “But it’s also to avoid distractions and temptations with your eyes and your ears.”
Jadallah also shared some of the complications she faces as being a diabetic participating in Ramadan. “There are exceptions for age, pregnancy, or if you’re on your period,” she said. “But I still try to do it.”
She also shared with the attendees what life during Ramadan looks like for her. Jadallah and her family attend mosque among members of their community. There are five different prayers said throughout the day at Ramadan from sunrise to sunset, from before breaking fast to after.
“Just knowing that others are fasting with me, and all around the globe, helps me through Ramadan,” she said. “It also shows that you’ve always had that discipline to get through the whole day. I apply it to other aspects of my life, like, okay if I can pause from my food and drink, I can pause from this.”
Jadallah answered many questions from the attendees as to what prayer looks like for her, how there are many different types of mosques and what it’s like being Muslim on campus.
“I think it’s so interesting how even regionally Muslims from Asia are different from Muslims from China,” Bechtold said. “But I mean, it’s also just like Christrianity. It’s all over the world, and we all do things differently.”
Building community is one of the most important aspects of Ramadan to Jadallah. She shared how she felt it was important to connect with those who are non-Muslim as well, and she was grateful to share this experience with the campus. Jadallah hopes another Ramadan dinner will be hosted next year and encourages the Aquinas community to attend.
For those participating in Ramadan, Campus Dining will be serving Halal meal boxes from Mar. 1 through Mar. 29. They will be available for pickup at the Corner on Mondays through Thursdays from 7p.m to 10p.m. and at the Moose on Fridays through Sundays from 7p.m. to 11p.m.
The Saint 