For CU students, the holy month of Ramadan is a chance to purify and cleanse.
Isra Korra, a 19-year-old sophomore biology major at Metro, said for her, Ramadan is about being aware of herself and purifying.
“It [Ramadan] is a spiritual cleansing as well as a body cleansing,” Korra said. “We abstain from lots, not just food. It cleanses our souls. You’re conscious of a lot of different things; you’re conscious of yourself, your behavior, your actions.”
The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) sponsored a Fast for Hunger on Sept. 2. They asked that Boulder residents donate the money they would usually spend on food that day to the MSA so the money could be distributed to the Boulder Homeless Shelter and the Voices of The Civil Society.
The evening of Sept. 3, the MSA and the South Asian Student Association (SASA) co-hosted a “break fast” where the movie “3 Idiots” was shown, and food was provided for students, ending their fast for the day.
Two other students attending the “break fast” along with Korra were Suraya Brohmer, a 20-year-old political science junior at CU Denver and Tasneem Khan, an 18-year-old open-option sophomore, said Ramadan is sacred because the prophet Muhammad revealed the Holy Quran during this month.
When asked how the CU campus responds to those fasting for Ramadan, most said they found their community very supportive and interested in learning more.
“As a whole, Boulder is very supportive of the practice,” said Saira Siraj, a 19-year-old sophomore integrated physiology major.
Rasheed Lawal, a 22-year-old fifth-year senior integrated physiology and international affairs double major with a certificate in leadership, is the president of the MSA.
“I’ve been Muslim my whole life, but I’ve also made that decision to be Muslim,” Lawal said. “I’ve read the Quran, and I chose it. There’s no compulsion in Islam.”
He said his friends usually show an interest in his practices.
“People are really interested,” Lawal said. “A lot of them say, ‘That’s cool.’ They’re really respectful, and they seem interested in learning more.”
Grayson Heppe, an 18-year-old freshman history major, said he learned about Ramadan from a friend of his who celebrates it.
“They eat lots and lots of good food, almost too much, usually lentils, when they break their fast,” Heppe said. “I felt guilty as hell eating food around him, but it [Ramadan] didn’t affect me.”
Another non-practicing student, Pranav Reddy, a 21-year-old MCD biology major, attended the “break fast” in support of SASA. He said he recognized Ramadan as a process of total cleansing, and that it is about more than just fasting.
“I think it’s about cleanliness, being pure,” Reddy said. “It’s not just about fasting. There’s also no smoking, no checking out girls.”
Khan said Ramadan is about abstaining from harmful things, such as gossip or anger.
“Satan is blocked off for the month of Ramadan, so every bad action comes from you,” Khan said. “It’s like a test.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Emma Franklin at Emma.franklin@colorado.edu.
