In celebration of the Islamic holiday Ramadan, about 280 students and community members gathered last night in the HUB Heritage Hall to break their daylong fast with an iftar feast.

The second annual dinner, sponsored by the Penn State Muslim Student Association with support from the Pakistan Student Association, celebrated the month-long holiday. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset.

"Ramadan is a very holy month for Muslims," said Sameer Kokan, publicity director for the Muslim Student Association.

The fasting goes beyond food and drink. Muslims concentrate on trying to be more holy in every aspect of their lives, Kokan (senior-biology) said.

The most challenging aspect of fasting is not drinking, said Atif Ghauri (senior-management science and information systems). He added that the fasting is not meant to be a hindrance to Muslims; rather it's an act of discipline.

"It is the ultimate sacrifice to God," Ghauri said.

Muslims must also try to keep what they see, hear and do pure during the fast, Ghauri said.

"In a way, you have a fast on your hands, on your eyes," he said. "The food is the easy part."

Because the Islam religion follows the lunar calendar, Ramadan starts at a different time every year, beginning about 10 days earlier each year. This year the holiday began Nov. 27 and continues through Dec. 26. Muslims rise early each day during Ramadan to eat a sahur meal before sunrise. After sunset, they break the fast with dates and water before feasting on an iftar dinner.

Muslim Student Association President Sobia Chaudhry (senior-business logistics) said her organization sponsored the dinner to promote unity within the community.

"We wanted to pull together Muslims as well as people from other places," she said.

Talib Jafri (freshman-business) said the fasting also brings Muslims closer to Allah, or God.

"You are supposed to rise spiritually, and food is just a distraction," he said.

Following the meal of traditional Indian food, Timothy Gianotti, assistant professor of history and religious studies, spoke on the importance of fasting.

"Islam is not just a belief system . . . it is an active thing," he said.

Fasting returns Muslims' focus to Allah and keeps them mindful and vigilant, Gianotti said. Fasting makes someone "consciously aware of what one is doing at all times," he said.

Fasting goes deeper than being hungry or thirsty, Gianotti said.

"It's also about what we do with the gifts that have been given to us," he said.

Muslims must be aware of what they see, hear, speak and think.

"This is a comprehensive journey that we are on, and it's not just our stomachs," he said.