The Johns Hopkins University Muslim Association (JHUMA) raised over $3,200 for Ramadan and have planned speakers, events and dinners throughout the month-long event.
"We started raising money near the end of September," said Nabil Rab, a senior and the president of JHUMA. "The money is and will be used to provide Iftars, dinners at sunset, and suhoors, pre-dawn meals, every day of the month of Ramadan for the Muslim community at Hopkins.
"Muslims fast all day from dawn to sunset everyday of month of Ramadan," Rab said. "We hope to provide a home away from home for the Muslim community at Hopkins."
"Except on a few occasions, every meal takes place at the Interfaith Center," said Ahmed, the vice president of JHUMA and a senior. "All Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome to join us for Suhoor and Iftar meals or attend any of our events."
JHUMA and Hillel held a joint fast Iftar meal at the Smokler Center on Oct. 20.
"We recently were invited by the Hillel community to end our fast with them," said Rab. "Hillel was hospitable and made us feel welcome in their new building."
"This event was a huge success as members of both religious faiths gained a better understanding of each other's faiths," said Ahmed.
JHUMA is also holding a Fast-a-thon today in which students fast for a day and donate the money they would have spent on food that day to Heart's Place, a local homeless shelter. The fast incorporates the tradition of Ramadan with a local charitable event.
"In this event, we encourage students at Hopkins, Muslims and non-Muslims, to fast" said Rab. "We are also providing dinner for all students who fasted in the Interfaith Center. Coupled with dinner, we will have a brief presentation on Islam."
On the first day of Ramadan, Oct. 15, JHUMA held a prayer in the upper quad in from on Gilman.
"It was an exciting event as this was the first time that Hopkins undergraduates held Jum'uah Prayer [Friday afternoon prayer] in the upper quad," said Ahmed.
"We are trying to build a library of Islamic books in our prayer room," said Rab. "Our goal is to pool everyone's books on Islam into one catalog in both undergraduate and graduate campuses so that it will be available for everyone to access."
Along with these other events, a new "Professor Potluck Iftar' during the last week of Ramadan is also a new event for JHUMA.
"Each student invites his or her professors to Iftar," said Ahmed. "This is a great way for students and faculty to get to know each other better and to show off their cooking skills."
Speakers include Tamara Soon, who spoke on Monday about the legacy of Islam on the Western world and Altaf Hussein, the former president of the MSA National on Nov. 5.
"The speech topic will be on the importance on Zakat," said Ahmed. "One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word Zakat means both purification and growth."
The Interfaith Center has helped significantly with the planning of Ramadan events.
"We hold Taraweeh prayers, [highly recommended prayers], every night at the IFC. Both brothers and sisters are encouraged to attend," said Ahmed. "The Interfaith Center is a "second home' for many members. The Campus Ministries group supports all of our events and helps in every way possible. We send at least one representative to each of the Interfaith Council meetings that take place approximately twice a month."
JHUMA also has a new Web site this year that helps keep members informed.
