Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims around the world. It is a month dedicated to fasting, prayers, community, and self-reflection.
Fasting from dusk until dawn is believed to be the fourth pillar of Islam. During this time, fasting means abstaining from food, drink, and any physical needs for a month. This year, Ramadan begins on March 1.
At St. Olaf, the Muslim community will come together for community building on several occasions throughout the month. In an interview with The Olaf Messenger, President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) Wiwin Suryani ’25 shared how Ramadan is conducted on campus and how the community at St. Olaf welcomes other religious and spiritual practices.
According to Suryani, more than 30 students have shown interest and will be fasting the entire month. She further described what the first meal for breaking the fast is going to look like.
“For the first Iftar on Saturday [March 1], it is a potluck style where six people will be cooking together in New Hall,” Suryani said.
Iftar is the first meal for breaking the fast at dawn. Along with the meal, there is Taraweeh.
“It is Sunnah — the recommended prayers — which is on Fridays and [with] plans to have every week,” Suryani said.
Students from Carleton College were also invited to participate in the first Iftar, which was hosted by MSA.
Additionally, during the last ten days of the month, Suryani plans to take members of the Muslim student body to the closest mosque, which is in Roseville.
The college ministry has worked alongside the MSA to organize Ramadan programming. Together, they have worked to coordinate a Bon Appetit meal plan for students observing the fast.
For these students, there will be tokens at the entrance of Stav which can be collected from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for Iftar. That token can be used to purchase an additional meal from the Cage. Additionally, during dinner hours at Stav, students can also swipe their meal card twice, in order to get a Useful container for Suhoor in the morning, the meal eaten by Muslims before the sun comes up during Ramadan. Unlike last year’s meal plan during Ramadan, Suryani said that “this mechanism is more convenient.”
For the first Suhoor, kits were provided at Boe Chapel.
Suryani also shared her experience interacting with non-Muslim students on campus, particularly in her religion class. She was not surprised “that most of the people [in the class] are not aware of Ramadan.”
Suryani commented on the College’s plans to address this knowledge gap.
“The college ministry sends emails with Ramadan greetings, professors also know that [students are fasting], and there are posters all around the campus,” Suryani said.
At the end of the month-long Ramadan celebration, Eid-al-Fitr honors the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting ritual.
