MSA fasts to open students’ eyes

How do you feel when you don’t eat or drink for a day?

For Harith Balala, it’s a mental aspect that food is available, but you can’t eat it.

For Bilal Aslam, it’s a challenge to strengthen your will.

What do these two students have in common?

They’re both members of VCU’s Muslim Student Association who want to encourage students, faculty, staff and others to fast Friday, Nov. 5, so they can help other people have food to eat. They’re doing this to celebrate VCU’s third Fast-a-Thon for Ramadan, a 30-day holiday that began Oct.15 where Muslims fast during daytime hours.

“What I’ve really tried to emphasize is the educational aspect of this service program,” said Ali Khan, chair of the Fast-a-Thon. “The goal for Friday’s event is opening the university’s eyes to the growing problem of hunger in both Richmond and the world.”

Each person who pledges to fast will earn $2 that goes to help the Central Virginia Food Bank and Richmond’s homeless population. Local businesses donated the money for the fast.

“The Central Virginia Food Bank is totally running low on food supply,” said Bilal Mannan, a first-year student biology major and MSA member. “They have never been in this position yet, so we’re hoping to get a lot of people fasting and lots to participate in giving donations.”

Those who pledged can attend a dinner Friday at 5 p.m. in the University Student Commons where they can share their experiences while listening to guest speakers, including representatives from the food bank.

“The former president of MSA (Sohaib Mohiuddin) reflected on the day and how fasting is important and how we need to be aware of hunger in our society,” said Farrukh Hussain, a junior biology major and MSA member, describing the past two fast-a-thons. “He came in and put into words on how we were all feeling that day.”

One of Friday’s speakers, Marcus Johnson, a first- year political science major and MSA member, said he wants to give insight on why they’re fasting.

“With the basis of where we are coming from we can explain why you are fasting and that general understanding is what you should know,” he said.

Khan said that more than 500 pledged to fast in 2002 when the group raised $1,000 for their first event. In 2003, the numbers increased as 700-plus people pledged to help raise $1,400.

Nishaat Ismail, a senior psychology major and MSA member, said Oct. 29 that 250 people had pledged to participate in this year’s Fast-a-Thon, and she expected hundreds more to pledge by Friday.

“All the people I have talked to who pledged stressed that they will do their best,” she said. “It’s pretty surprising, because sometimes you don’t know whether people are really going to go through with it or if they are just leaving the donation.”

Metkel Russom, a junior psychology major who pledged, said the fast will be a challenge for him.

“I have never skipped one whole day without eating,” Russom said. “But I’m willing to discipline myself for a good cause.”

Balala, a junior business major and MSA member, said people should think about how the poor people feel.

” They see the restaurants and food, but they can’t get it, and this is just a test for us to see how the homeless feel,” he said. “Whenever I see anyone who pledges, I say, ‘Look at me, I’m fat, and if I can do it, you can do it too.’ ”

Aslam, a sophomore engineering major and MSA member, describes fasting somewhat differently.

“If you think about it, every single day of your life you never remember a whole day without eating,” he said. “It is a test to see how strong you really are.”

Students can pledge from noon to 4 p.m. Friday in the Student Commons. Besides pledging, the MSA also encourages those who pledge to donate canned goods at Shafer Court Dining Center.

Furthermore, MSA members want people of all cultures to participate in the Fast-a-Thon.

Sarwar Nassiry, a first-year prepharmacy major and member of the MSA, expressed his thoughts about his first Fast-a Thon.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m anxious to see non-Muslims participating in an event like this, and I hope to see people get a deeper understanding about Muslim culture.”