As Ramadan approaches, all Muslims become joyful. Muslims at Penn State are no exception.

What is Ramadan, a non-Muslim may ask. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar year and in this month all able Muslim men and women observe fasting.

Why do they fast? For several reasons. Firstly, because it is a commandment from Allah, the One and Only God that Muslims believe in. Secondly, because of many material and spiritual benefits.

Human beings have in them both animalistic and angelic tendencies. Since the excess of animality hinders the emergence of angelic aspects, it is necessary that one should try to dominate one's animality.

Since the excess of animality and the accumulation and abundance of its strata have their origin in food and indulgence in carnal pleasures, a fast accomplishes what food cannot. Therefore the method of dominating the animality is the diminishing of the causes of excess animality. For this reason fasting has been prescribed in Islam.

Fasting is as natural as eating. Fasting rejuvenates and invigorates our bodies, a fact from the medical experts. Biologists agree with them after observing plants. Plants too "fast" in winter, losing completely their foliage, neither "eating" or "drinking" for long months; and spring brings them flowers, fruits, new leaves and astonishingly youthful appearance.

The same is true for wild beasts and birds. They hibernate in winter and this fasting makes them youthful and more vigorous.

All civilizations, old or new, and all religions have enjoined on their adherents fast in some form or the other. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Sabaism and Hinduism have prescribed fasting; however, only Muslims have been observing fasting devotedly every year for the past 14 centuries.

What is fasting like in Ramadan? Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn (an hour and a half before sunrise) to sunset. It is not only abstaining from food, but also from many sinful acts.

Observance of worship is more intense in this month. They take a pre-dawn meal called sahur and they break their fast at sunset with another meal which is called iftar. Between sunset and sunrise there is no restriction on normal needs.

During Ramadan, Muslims become extremely happy -- they attain a state of bliss; they invite their friends and relatives to share the evening meal. They devote a substantial amount of time to recitation of the Holy Qur'an and offering special prayers called tarawih.

At the end of Ramadan, all Muslims celebrate and the celebration is called Eid. The Eid is celebrated out of joy that they got a chance to observe fasting in one more Ramadan. They also pay the poor-due, which is 2.5 percent of their holdings in the previous year, as ordained by Islam.

Ramadan is a month of mercy and forgiveness. Allah's mercy descends on his creatures. Ramadan is important and holy not only because it is the month of fasting, but also because it is the month in which the first revelation was sent to the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).

For that reason, Muslims lay extra emphasis on studying the Qur'an in this month. Usually they try to finish reading it once in this month.

As for Ramadan at Penn State, the Muslim Students' Association and Islamic Society of Central Pennsylvania are arranging several activities both on-campus and in the Islamic center.

Please see the Ramadan announcement ad in the Collegian on Wednesday (March 21) or on Thursday (March 22) for more details.