A traditional Muslim iftar dinner is being held Friday night at the Christian Campus House to bring together people of both faiths in a cultural experience.
"We are working on breaking down barriers that we sometimes build between Christian and Muslim communities," Bonnie Atkins, associate campus pastor, said.
All community members are invited, and a free dinner is provided by the Islamic Center of Muncie. Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish, containing no pork, or a non-alcoholic beverage.
During the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, Muslims attempt to get closer to God by fasting from dawn until sunset, said professor Muhammad Maqbool, the Muslim Students Association adviser. The iftar is a meal that is held at sunset to break this fast and is a chance to celebrate with family and community members.
A buffet-style table will be set up with traditional iftar foods such as dates, naan bread, halal meats, lintels and rice. There will also be dishes such as pasta, fish and kebabs.
The dinner will be held in the auditorium of the CCH, and a prayer room for Muslims attendees will be set up for after the meal.
Before the dinner, there will be a presentation given by the Saudi Students Club about the flooding in Pakistan. The Islamic Center will be collecting donations for the relief fund.
The flood has affected as many as 25 million Pakistanis. Food, water and shelter are hard to come by for 10 million misplaced citizens. They are suffering too much, Maqbool said.
The Muslim Student Association will be giving a presentation about the history of Ramadan and sharing pictures and videos to explain the tradition in detail.
The CCH held an iftar dinner two years ago, but it was moved to a room in the Rinker Center last year. They were contacted again this year due to the limited space as interest in the event grows.
"It was quite an interesting experience and a learning experience for all of us," Atkins said. "I'm glad we can do it again."
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink during the day to experience the daily lives of the poor. It makes them realize the importance of giving to the poor and helping humanity, which is also expressed in other religions as well.
"We are not only here to talk about [Islam]. We are here to help humanity in the community," Maqbool said.
What: Iftar Dinner
Where: Christian Campus House, 1411 W. Riverside Ave.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Cost: Free
Note: Donations for Pakistan and food items accepted
For students that can't attend the dinner but want to help, Maqbool asked for them to bring donations to his office, Cooper Science 101-L, or to The Islamic Center of Muncie (http://msa.iweb.bsu.edu/Indexup.htm). Checks should be made to the Islamic Center of Muncie. Memo: Pakistan Affectees.
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