On Friday, Feb. 20, the Muslim Students Association (MSA), the African and Caribbean Association (ACA), the Middle Eastern and North African Association (MENA), Mosaic of South Asian Interests at Carleton (MOSAIC) and the Office of the Chaplain collaborated to host their annual Knightly Iftar. The event is the MSA’s largest program of the year and invites all members of the campus community to celebrate Ramadan together.

“Iftar is the evening meal where Muslims break their fast. The time coincides with the Maghrib prayer, which is prayed after the sun sets,” MSA President Adam Paul ’27 said.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims traditionally abstain from eating or drinking during the day, instead eating iftar in the evening after sunset and suhoor in the morning before sunrise.

The Associate Chaplain for Muslim and Interfaith Life, Fatima Basharat, said that 120 to 135 people attended the Knightly Iftar this year. The event was planned by a diverse set of campus groups coming from different backgrounds and religious traditions.

“Seeing people from all different backgrounds come together to share in this celebration was deeply moving,” Basharat said. She added that this diversity was also reflected in the adhan, or Islamic call to prayer. At this year’s Knightly Iftar, the adhan occurred twice: once in the Shia tradition and once in the Sunni tradition.

“In many spaces, one tradition tends to dominate the other, so to be able to honor both expressions of the faith was a truly meaningful moment,” Basharat said.

This year, Ramadan began on the evening of Feb. 17 and will end on March 19.

“Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows a lunar cycle, meaning it shifts approximately ten days earlier each year on the solar calendar,” Basharat said.

Over time, the season during which Ramadan falls changes, leading to different annual fasting experiences as the sunrise and sunset times shift with the seasons.

The observation of Ramadan intersects with different parts of the academic year as it shifts in accordance with the solar calendar. While school is not always in session during Ramadan, it often is, at least in part. This can cause challenges for Muslum students.

“Ramadan at Carleton can feel isolating, especially for students who come from places with large Muslim populations,” Paul said.

Basharat echoed a similar sentiment, noting that students might face difficulties in balancing their religious and academic commitments.

“Students may struggle to find time for Friday prayers as the times sometimes overlap with classes, or find themselves scheduled for exams during iftar,” she said.

According to Paul and Basharat, both the MSA and the Chapel seek to support students observing Ramadan. Paul said that the MSA helps schedule vans to the South Metro Islamic Center in Rosemount so students can attend certain prayers, and Basharat explained that the Chapel sends a letter to the campus community before Ramadan, encouraging individuals to offer grace and flexibility to students requesting accommodations. 

Practicing students also face challenges accessing appropriate food items during iftar and suhoor, as well as adapting the meal plan to fit their needs.

“Many times we end up breaking our fasts quietly or on our own,” Paul said. He added that the MSA and the Chapel are continuing to work with BonApp to offer students reduced meal-plan options, and the Chapel also stocks food items for students to take to eat during suhoor. Paul said that hosting the Knightly Iftar and other events helps to foster a sense of community.

“It is refreshing to come together in community to eat, pray, and celebrate the month at our larger events,” he said.

Both Paul and Basharat highlighted the importance of Ramadan for Muslims. Paul emphasized that many Muslims focus on the Qur’an during Ramadan, seeking to recite or listen to the entire text. The Chapel and MSA collaborate to host on-campus prayer services for students during the month.

“[Ramadan] is an invitation to reconnect with God, with others, and with the best version of oneself,” Basharat said.