The UT Muslim Students Association invites non-Muslim students to participate in the Ramadan Fast-a-thon on Monday to help fight the ongoing problem of hunger in Knoxville. For each student who pledges to fast for one day, a participating business will donate $2 to the Love Kitchen.
Students can come together and break the fast at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom as they eat traditional dates, milk and other dishes prepared by some of Knoxville’s Muslim families and learn about Ramadan, the issue of hunger in Knoxville and students’ personal experiences from the fast.
Salmaan Toor, MSA president, said that participants who go hungry can experience and empathize with those who have to go hungry on a daily basis.
“We say this is just one day for a student, but a lot of people live this. This is their life,” he said.
Erum Shaukat, MSA secretary, said the event will contribute to the community.
“We’re trying to work with the campus community and just really trying to help out our own community because hunger is a problem in Knoxville,” Shaukat said.
TeamVOLS is helping with the Fast-a-thon, and MSA is trying to get the sororities and fraternities involved as well. Donating to the event are businesses on the strip such as Moe’s Southwest Grill and Falafel Hut, businesses in West Knoxville, doctor’s offices and local Muslim families.
“We thought that if we got some non-Muslims to fast, it might be a good way for them to kind of experience the faith and some of the traditions that we experience as Muslims. (Fasting) teaches you about self-discipline and awareness, because you’re not only supposed to not eat or to not drink but you’re also supposed to act in a proper manner. The rationale behind that is that you’re going hungry so you’re more aware of your faith … a lot of students get a little closer to whatever faith they are,” Toor said.
Last year, there were almost 900 participants at UT. Shaukat said that the MSA hopes to raise $2,000 this year for the Love Kitchen, though they currently have less than half the number of pledges needed to reach that goal. Students can help out and become involved by signing up at http://www.msaknoxville.org or at tables on the University Center Plaza or Humanities Plaza.
Ramadan is the holiest month of the year in the Muslim lunar calendar and celebrates when the holy book, the Quran, was revealed. Muslims fast from sun-up to sundown and along with refraining from eating and drinking, Muslims are expected to refrain from indulging in immoral acts such as violence, anger, envy, greed, lust and saying unkind remarks.
