February 26, 2026
Dr. Suha Dajani
Students break fast at on-campus Ramadan Iftar gathering
The crescent moon had just been sighted when the campus of Lake Forest College seemed to soften into something warmer and more intimate.
Last month, Arab Student Association (ASA) and Muslim Student Association (MSA) had gathered with an idea: to host an open iftar for the campus community. They wanted more than a meal. They wanted a moment of belonging.
By sunset on the second day of Ramadan, February 19, the tables were set. Dates were arranged on tables; food from Al Bawadi Grill and sweets from Selma’s Sweets were placed on the buffet. Board members and volunteers moved quickly but gently, checking labels, adjusting tablecloths, and greeting early arrivals. Some students came because they were fasting. Others came because they were curious about the event to experience good food and friendly company.
When the call to break the fast finally came, the room fell into a brief, meaningful quiet. Muslims and non-Muslims reached for dates and water, the simple ritual marking the end of a long day of discipline and reflection. Around them, some students are experiencing the moment for the first time. Soon the room was filled with conversation, laughter, and the clatter of plates. For the hosts, this was the true purpose of the evening.
Ramadan is often described as a month of fasting, but the students knew it was equally a month of generosity, patience, and community. Hosting their peers was an extension of those values. It was about opening a door—literally and figuratively—and saying: you are welcome here. Some students explained that fasting teaches us empathy, and sharing the iftar reminds us we’re not meant to do life alone.
By the time the evening wound down, the tables were messy, the food mostly gone, and the volunteers pleasantly tired. But the space felt fuller than before—not just with people, but with understanding. The hosts began stacking chairs, already talking about the next gathering. Because the purpose had never been only to feed people, it was to build a community that could sit at the same table, learn from one another, and leave just a little more connected than before.
Dr. Suha Dajani teaches mathematics and serves as the faculty advisor of ASA and SJP.
