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Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: Campus News

The Muslim Student Association along the Yemen Student Association recently celebrated the Month of Ramadan with The Month of Ramadan: "A Time for Inner Peace and Unity." The event featured keynote speaker Haj Hassan Sobh, as well as an Iftar Dinner. Many Muslim and non-Muslim students, as well as members of the local community, gathered to celebrate and gain more insight about the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is of the holiest months for Muslims. It is a celebration of when the Prophet Muhammad received the Qur'an from God. Ramadan is celebrated by fasting from sunrise to sundown. The fasting is meant to help strengthen a Muslim's relationship with God and to increase ones faith. The conclusion of the fasting for the day is known as Iftar. The Iftar traditionally begins with the eating of a date. After that a full meal is served. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims also provide more prayers to God and ask to be forgiven for previous sins, as well as pray for the guidance of God.

The Month of Ramadan: "A Time for Inner Peace and Unity" dinner featured Haj Hassan Sobh as the keynote speaker. Sobh has given lectures in the Metro Detroit area for over 15 years on numerous topics. He lectures in both English and Arabic so that all can understand and gain from his message. "We chose Haj Hassan Sobh because we felt that he really gets to the audience in a way that keeps them listening," says Halah Al-Fatlawi the Muslim Student Association President. "He breaks things down for you so it is easy to understand," she says. To keep with the theme of Inner Peace and Unity, Sobh talked about how fasting is not just unique to Islam. He explains that fasting is a common theme among religions and has been ordained upon all of us. Sobh also states that fasting is a way for God to keep watch over us and trains us to be good towards each other and God.

The dinner brought together the Muslim community with the college community. "The Dinner brings together other religions," says Al-fatlawi, "and shows that Islam is not against other religions." The Muslim Student Association hosts The Month of Ramadan: "A Time for Inner Peace and Unity" to create an awareness of Islam as well as the diversity of religious faiths. Al-fatlawi says that the dinner was a great success, and helped to not only spread awareness of Islam but to also promote tolerance, "We want to show that Islam is not against other faiths and that people of different faiths can all live together."

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