As the sun set Tuesday night, the smell of falafel and humus floated out of HUB Alumni Hall as 300 members of the Penn State community broke their fast and gathered to celebrate their holiest month with Ramadan-A-Thon.

The Muslim Student Association's public relations officer Syed Fakhri said Ramadan is a month-long celebration in the Muslim community.

For thirty days, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking or participating in any kind of vice that would distract them from the purification of their bodies and souls, said Fakhri (graduate-mechanical engineering).

President of MSA Ahmed Hamed said Ramadan-A-Thon has been held at Penn State for over 10 years, with the goal of spreading the message of peace in the Islamic community and to promote the understanding of faith.

"We get a lot of bad representation from the media," said Hamed (junior-industrial engineering). "Tonight is to clarify what Islam is and is not, and to build tolerance to live harmoniously."

Before the meal could begin, the fourth prayer out of five daily prayers in the Islamic faith was said, and fast was broken.

Many guests at the meal were members of MSA, but were glad to see people not of the Muslim faith take part in the evening.

Some said they invited their friends so they could learn more about Islam.

Eijazahmed Mulla (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he was glad to see so many members of the Penn State community come together for the event.

"I want them to understand why we fast for 30 days," said Mulla.

Some non-Muslim students were at the event for the first time, and enjoyed the new experience.

"They're all very welcoming," said Colleen Pisciotta (sophomore-bio-behavioral health). "It's really nice to learn about all the different cultures."

After everyone sat down to eat their first meal since before sunrise, the MSA presented a former Penn State student and former president of MSA as their guest speaker, Ramy Nasr.

Nasr opened the event by asking his audience if they knew what Islam meant.

The word "peace" echoed around the room.

Nasr said he was there not to preach or make Alumni Hall feel like a classroom by giving a long speech.

He said he wanted to talk openly about Islam and allow for more assimilation within the Penn State community.

He added that while he attended Penn State, he devoted his time to promoting Islam's message of peace to his peers.

"It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice," said Nasr. "It's a way of life."