Community Corner
1st Ramadan Fast-A-Thon Planned By Oswego High School Students
After fasting from sunrise to sunset for one day, participants — both Muslim and non-Muslim — are invited to attend a group dinner.
OSWEGO, IL — Ramadan is Islam’s most sacred month, and to commemorate it, Oswego High School's Muslim Student Association is planning its first-ever Fast-A-Thon.
The Fast-A-Thon, organized in collaboration with Oswego East High School, will entail fasting from sunrise to sunset — from about 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., organizers said — for one day and indulging in a group dinner afterward in celebration of Islam's Holy Month.
Ramadan celebrates the month in A.D. 610 when it is believed the initial chapters of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, were revealed to Prophet Mohammad by Allah, or God. The holiday is a time of fasting, introspection and prayer observed by many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, 7 million of whom live in the United States, Patch reported.
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Laila Abouhaiba, a senior at Oswego High and communications manager of the MSA, said the event is meant for both Muslim and non-Muslim students.
"This is a great opportunity for all curious non-Muslims to gain knowledge about Ramadan, as well as practice self-discipline, self-control, and empathy when fasting," she told Patch in an email.
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After fasting, participants are invited to visit the cafeteria at Oswego High, 4250 Route 71, from 6-8 p.m. April 5 to enjoy a meal. A $5 admission fee will be collected. Guests should enter through Door 11, organizers said.
Although final details for the dinner are still being ironed out, the group is hoping to cater from a local Mediterranean restaurant. Some families might even cook their own cultural cuisines to bring, Abouhaiba said.
Throughout the evening, organizers are inviting Muslim speakers to share the importance of Ramadan and host a question-and-answer session.
RELATED: When Is Ramadan 2023: 5 Things To Know About Islam Holy Month
In the future, Abouhaiba said MSA "absolutely" plans to make the Fast-A-Thon an annual event in Oswego.
"Ramadan season is the peak for MSAs and we're definitely hoping to have it become an annual event for future years," she said.
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