By Adila Sebastian//
More than 80 people attended the Iftar dinner hosted by the Graduate School on April 11 in Whitaker Commons.
Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Attendees feasted on kebabs, rice, salad, and soup, all catered by Hood College’s food supplier, Aramark.
“Every year, Muslims usually fast the month of Ramadan,” said Amani Al-Dajane, the director of International Student Services. “This is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, where we don’t eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset,” she added.
“It’s a time to strengthen our special discipline and increase prayer. We read more Quran during this month, which is the holy book of Islam. We are more encouraged during this month to do good deeds and good things and to give more, to be more generous and to give charity more for people,” Al-Dajane said.
At 7:43 p.m., the Maghrib (sunset) prayer was led by Imam Saad Abbasi. The event was open to anyone regardless of religious affiliation.
Attendees were also invited to receive temporary body art called henna or mehndi applied to their hands by Marcela Gauto, a local henna tattoo artist. Henna is usually applied on days of celebration, such as weddings or Eid, the last day of Ramadan.
“I would say the most important thing is after this month, when you go through this fasting phase, you tend to appreciate things more,” Al-Dajane said. “Waking up and having something as small as a cup or water or coffee is a simple and joyful act that is taken for granted every day.”
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