Almost a month after the United States began bombing raids on Afghanistan, Penn State students continue to react to the conflict.

Within the next three weeks, Ramadan, the Muslim fasting and restraining month, will begin, and some Muslim Penn State students want the bombing to end during this sacred time.

"I'd say if the U.S. continues to bomb Afghanistan during Ramadan, it would be utterly irresponsible," said Ramy Nasr, Muslim Student Association director of public relations. "The bombing is one thing Muslims, regardless of their nationality, wouldn't stand for."

MSA President Zubair Malik said that because of the hardships of Ramadan, which include the fasting and the mental and physical restraint that goes along with the month, plus the continual bombing of Afghanistan, Muslims would face a great adversity.

"I think it would be nice if (the U.S. government) would stop," Malik said. "To fast all day without a peaceful setting, I think it would be very hard. Having to deal with the difficulty of fasting and prayer whether or not they are involved in the war, I think personally, it would be a very difficult time."

Nasr said Ramadan is considered by Muslims to be the holiest month. This month in the Muslim calendar is dedicated to sacrifice. It is a time in which Muslims give up some of a human being's most innate instincts, he added.

Some of the challenges Muslims must endure include long days without food or drink.

"Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for the 27 to 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle," Nasr said. "Ramadan is restraint, patience and virtue."

Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar cycle during which the Quran, the religious book of Islam, was revealed.

Members of other groups on campus have agreed that the United States should stop bombing during Ramadan.

"It think it is necessary to stop," said Martin Austermuhle, co-founder of Students for Accountability and Reform. "They're already aggravating countries surrounding Afghanistan. Bombing during Ramadan will only make it worse."

Ameer Ali, vice president of MSA, said he does not believe continuing bombing Afghanistan would be a wise decision.

"I think one major problem with the whole coalition is that it includes seeking the support of Muslim countries," Ali said. "I'm speaking for myself, but I believe most of us agree, we absolutely do not support any form of aggression against a Muslim person, especially in the month of Ramadan."

The United States is trying to seek support from all countries and give off a reflection of only targeting the countries and not specifically the people, Ali said.

"Sometimes, the government of the country does not always reflect what the people want," Ali said. "The people are not really happy. Those countries are not really democratic.

"I don't think it's very wise if the U.S. wants everyone to support this campaign," Ali said. "It's very clear how the U.S. is trying to get to the people."

Other groups believe the opposite.

"I think the U.S. needs to look at this as a military standpoint, not a public relations standpoint," said Rick Smith, treasurer of the Penn State Objectivist Club.

The United States began bombing to fight terrorism, and stopping will negate the progress that the United States has made, Smith said.

"It gives them (terrorist groups) the chance to rebuild and reconstruct," he said.

T.J. Kokolis, a member of the Penn State College Republicans, said the United States needs to look at both sides of the bombings.

"The U.S. has to respect other religions, but at the same time, they have to take into account what the repercussions would be to stopping," Kokolis said. "We need to continue our efforts in Afghanistan to make sure that the same tragedy doesn't happen again.

"We need to keep in mind this isn't an attack on Muslim people — we're going after a few select individuals," he added.