By Kate Dempsey
Dazzling moon and star lights illuminated the Student Center as sounds of excited laughter filled the air. As the sun began to set, a warm glow was cast onto the group of people gathered to celebrate Ramadan, marked by a feast known as an iftar.
Brooklyn College held its second-ever Grand Iftar on Monday, Mar. 27, hosted by Muslims Giving Back, Islamic Society and Muslim Women’s Educational Initiative (ISOMWEI), and the Undergraduate Student Government. The iftar saw over 400 people in attendance, all being of different ages, races, and religions.
“My goal was to unite as many people at Brooklyn College in honor of Ramadan so we can all celebrate together. I wanted to celebrate the diversity of our campus and bring together the different communities at ‘one’ table,” said Showda Shahid, president of Muslims Giving Back. “I wanted everyone to get involved in our Ramadan traditions, to participate in an iftar, which isn’t just a meal but an experience.”
Muslims who celebrate Ramadan abstain from eating and drinking, including drinking water, from dawn to sunset in addition to praying five times during the day. The month is also a time for many to do charitable work and to think about those who are less fortunate.
Iftar signals the moment when Muslims can break their fast at sundown. Since the beginning and end of Ramadan is dependent on the lunar cycle, this year it began on Mar. 22 and will likely end on Apr. 20.
The event began with a welcome address from Shahid, followed by a speech by Imam Bilal Khan, president of Islamic Society, who emphasized that Ramadan is more than just fasting.
“For us as Muslims, fasting is not only to abstain from food or drink, but rather fasting is a means of us being more mindful,” said Khan. “Islam for us is not only worship. Islam is coming together. This month is the month of the Quran, the month in which Muslims reconnect themselves through their holy book where they recite it, but not only recite it, but act upon the Quranic principles that bring them closer to community and bring them closer to themselves.”
Hafiz Ahmed Aziz then led the Maghrib Adhan, a prayer offered to Allah (Islamic word for God) at sunset, signaling the end of the fast.
Guests were given gift boxes that included a sticker commemorating the iftar, as well as a tiny light-up Ramadan lantern. Each table included a centerpiece of various fruits and vegetables, and were decorated with flowers by Snack Shack and Co., a local halal catering company. The iftar served a variety of different foods to be inclusive: halal, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan.
With an increase of 200 people from last year’s iftar, the dinner required an additional floor to seat the 300 people who RSVP’d, but many more showed up leaving no empty seats.
“The main thing I wanted to change from last year was to add additional seating as we ran out of room,” said Shahid. “This year after adding an additional floor for seating and another for prayer, astonishingly, we were still unable to seat everyone.”
For many in attendance, being a part of the iftar was a way to connect with others and come together. Muslim or not, BC students united as one to enjoy and celebrate Ramadan.
“Ramadan means to me is more than worship,” said Sabera Chowdhur, a graduate student at BC. “It’s coming together, being together with the Brooklyn College community.”