Every year, Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting and taking time for reflection.

Muslims consider Ramadan, the first month of the Islamic new year, to be a month of purification. This year, the month began at sunset on Tuesday.

Fasting is the major focus for the holy month, said Atique Ahmed, adviser for the Muslim Student Association and mechanical engineer for NIU.

Fasting during Ramadan is a commandment in the Quran for all Muslims who are not pregnant, nursing, on their menstrual cycle or who are neither ill nor traveling, he said.

Fasting helps people understand what the underprivileged and starving must feel, said Saad Quadri, sophomore English major and president of the MSA.

“Even those who don’t follow Islamic teaching strictly recognize that fasting during this month is important,” he said. “Fasting brings us closer to God.”

Because he became accustomed to not eating as a high school wrestler, abstaining from food and drink is not difficult for Quadri, but he said many not used to fasting find it difficult.

“I’ve been fasting since I was a child, so it’s not that hard for me,” said Rasmieyh Abdelnabi, a freshman political science major and a member of MSA. “My cousins had to fast in the summer and couldn’t eat until about 9 p.m. I’m glad I haven’t had to do that yet.”

Ramadan lasts one lunar month, about 29 days. It starts on a new moon and lasts until the next one.

Practicing Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn until sunset every day of the month. They are encouraged to use good language and be more charitable toward others.

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the Quran more often and examine themselves. They also perform an extra prayer every day. In fact, the word Ramadan means to place iron in the fire, a metaphor for cleansing and renewal.

Every night during Ramadan, many DeKalb Muslims gather at the Islamic Society house, 721 Normal Road, to break their fasts with a free meal. The MSA is sponsoring one such meal after sunset tonight.

Ahmed estimated that more than 200 students on campus are Muslim. As many as 150 are involved in the MSA, he said. Quadri estimated there are about 200,000 Muslims in the Chicago area.