Ramadan Iftar

Here's something that ran in the Sept. 18 issue of the Daily Titan newspaper.

The news section found itself scraping for content in order to fill space. In response, I was asked to run down to the Titan Student Union and snap photos of the Muslim Student Association praying before they ate dinner.

The project should have produced a couple pictures accompanied with long captions - similar to a photo essay. I figured long captions would be great with quotes so I asked to interview the first person I saw.


As you can see, the project didn't really turn out as planned. This sort of situation is essentially normal with newspapers - the more we have the better since we can always cut cut cut. Although, when it comes to exceeding your maximum word count the "more is better" idea gets hurled out the window.

When I returned to the newsroom I was asked to simply write a couple one line captions.

I thought I would share the interview here since the newspaper had no place for it.

"This is a great way for people to come together," said Sumanah Mithani, the public relations and event coordinator for the Muslim Student Association. "It causes unity to come into order."

I sat down with the 21-year old after seeing her, donned in a colorful hijab, rush around a corner to secure the room they scheduled to meet in. I introduced my self and she seemed happy to participate in a brief interview, but I could tell she was in a hurry.

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month when believers fast from dawn to dusk, but for non-believers it's just September.

After the sun sets there is a call to prayer. After prayer comes the Iftar.

"Iftar means the breaking of the fast," Mithani said. "Translated in English it means dinner."

Mithani said the MSA has held prayer on campus for 6 years and is one of few schools that do. On average, 40 to 50 students will arrive and participate, but some nights are bigger than others, Mithani said.

The brief prayer begins around sunset and is directed toward Mecca - from the Ontiveros room in the TSU that direction is NE, Mithani said. The men pray in front and the women in back, but when the feast begins the women are first in line.

After dinner they pray again.

To go a full day while fasting seems a bit harsh especially when you're a student forced to walk the campus and attend classes, but Mithani said she doesn't see it that way.

"It gets difficult walking in the sun, but it's a test of self will and it humbles you," Mithani said. "It's a struggle, but in the end it's worth it."

The experience proved awkward at times, only because I felt like I was intruding on something sacred. I'm not happy with the photos, but considering the set up of the room and my desire not to accidentally disrespect the ritual, I think that's the best I could have done.

I was asked not to walk in front of them while they prayed and that request caused me to remain in one area - stuck behind two tables.

I noticed not everyone participated in the prayer and afterward I noticed the women didn't receive food first. So, by the end of the experience I felt the ritual seemed a bit more relaxed than I had imagined.

Still, I'm glad I witnessed it.