USA-KANSAS: KANSAS UNIVERSITY NON-MOSLEM STUDENTS FAST ALONG MOSLEM STUDENTS

KU students fast in support of Muslims
Participants show compassion as charity for communities in need
A five-day Fast-a-thon has been getting KU students involved in the Muslim culture all week. The charity event is meant to show support of the hungry and homeless in different communities.

Some students bowed their heads while others watched the translated words appear on the screen as Usama Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabia graduate student, recited the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, in the lyrical tones of traditional Arabic.

Al-Ghamdi later lead members of the Lawrence Islamic community through the Maghrib, the sunset prayer, the fourth of five daily prayers to Allah.

About 400 non-Muslim KU Students and Lawrence residents who volunteered to abstain from food, drink, tobacco and sex as part of the Muslim Student Association’s third annual Fast-a-thon observed respectfully as the men and women removed their shoes and recited their prayers from memory. About 75 practicing Muslims participated in the prayer.

The Fast-a-thon is a charitable event originally conceived at the University of Tennessee in 2001. The Islamic communities that participate at 250 college campuses across the country do so as a way to demonstrate the values of compassion and charity by making an effort to reduce hunger and homelessness in their various communities.

The event raised $1,500 in donations from area sponsors to support the Lawrence Community Shelter, 214 West 10th Street.

Chris Steele, Lawrence senior, sat quietly listening with others seated at his table in Building 21 of the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Wednesday to break their fasts with members of the Muslim Student Association..

Steele has been a participant in the Fast-a-thon for the three years it has been in practice at Kansas University.

“It is a good thing to do for charity,” Steele said. “It’s also interesting and fun.”

Dr. Moussa Elbayoumy, director of the Islamic Society of Lawrence, gave a small introduction to the group explaining the importance of Ramadan and its emphasis on the third and fourth pillars of Islam, which are fasting and charity, respectfully.

The event included several presentations and explanations of certain Islamic religious practices and sayings. For instance, the meaning of the Muslim greeting “As-Salamu Alaykum,” was explained. It means “may peace and blessings be upon you,” and the traditional reply is “Lakum Salam.”

Saad Aldwayan, Saudi Arabia graduate student, is not an official member of the MSA but he said he thought that the Fast-a-thon was a good idea.

“It lets a lot of people from other cultures experience for one day what the month-long practice of Ramadan is like,” Aldwayan said.

Mark Crist, McPherson senior, participated in the Fast-a-thon last year. This year his sister Rachel, McPherson junior, joined him.

“I was an RA last year when they passed out fliers for it,” Mark said. “I thought it was for a good cause and would be fun. And the food at the breakfast is amazing.”

Rachel agreed that the experience was a good one.

“The hardest part was not drinking,” she said.

Mark chuckled.

“Yeah, my throat is definitely dry,” he said.

What I would like to know from these students, that want to 'experience' other cultures, is if their moslem counterparts participate in their Christian or Jewish traditions in order to experience a Christian or Jewish culture?!?!? Or is it just a one way street because moslems are way too good for the ways of the infidels and this entire event is nothing more then da'wa on the moslems behalf?!?!?

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