Members of the Muslim Student Association congregated around a table covered with pizzas, soda, dates and water in the EMU’s Skylight Room on Thursday evening. The followers of Islam had fasted all day, but they continued to sit patiently around the food and drink, waiting for sundown.
A bowl full of dates was passed around at 5:05 p.m., and people began eating and drinking. A call for prayer called the Adhan followed the snack. The group moved to sit on the large white cloth on the floor. More people arrived and were greeted with “salam,” which means “peace.” Soon after, the Maghrib prayer began.
October 27 was the first day of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims around the world. Thursday’s gathering was the first of four held by the MSA in which they plan to break their fasts — where they abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk — and pray together.
For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to connect with Allah, the Arabic word for God, explained Ozgur Pala, a native of Turkey who has lived in Eugene for about two months.
It is also a time for fasting, an important practice for Muslims during the holy month. Not only does fasting help replenish and cleanse the body, but it helps cleanse the soul as well, Pala said.
“I become more aware of what I put into my mouth,” said Theresa Rutgers, who recently converted to Islam. “But I also become aware of what I put into my eyes and my ears.”
Fasting can be difficult outside of a Muslim community, MSA council member Kalizya Hutchinson said. In Muslim communities everybody stops working and eating and supports the fast, she said. Here, it’s not so simple. Others will often offer Muslims food and drink during Ramadan, completely unaware of their fast.
“You just have to be patient and know this is your way of communicating your belief,” she said.
Another important element of the month is giving to those less fortunate.
Ghazi Kaddouh, a native of Turkey who now works at the University Counseling and Testing Center, said giving to others during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is like getting extra hugs from Allah. The other four pillars are declaring that Allah is the only god, praying five times per day, fasting during Ramadan and making the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Year-round, Muslims are called upon to pray at a nearby mosque, with men going five times a day and women going when possible. During the holy month they also have evening group prayers, called Tarawih.
MSA members pray at the Abubakr Islamic Center in Eugene.
There is a set of prayers Muslims are supposed to recite, Hutchinson said, but at the end of the prayer they can also speak to Allah from their own heart.
Pala estimated there are probably around 50 Muslims at the University.
“I think there’s a great number of Muslims here,” he said. “Especially compared to the population.”
Hutchinson added that it’s difficult to tell exactly how many there are because college students live very nomadic lives. She said that when Muslim students get together she always meets somebody new.
MSA will be meeting every Thursday evening until Ramadan ends on Nov. 24, when Muslims will break their fasts and pray together. The month is a very important time for Muslims around the world, Pala explained, adding that it’s their most blessed month.
“Heaven’s doors are open for prayer much more than usual,” he said.