The Pascack Hills Muslim Student Association (MSA) highlighted Ramadan from Feb. 17 to March 19 by sharing Islamic traditions with the school community.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. The fasting period typically lasts 29 to 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

A central practice of the month is fasting. Observers fast daily from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. To maintain health, participants eat a pre-dawn meal, known as suhur, and break their fast at sunset with a meal called iftar. Those who are ill, traveling, elderly, pregnant or menstruating are typically exempt from fasting.

The tradition also emphasizes nightly prayers called Tarawih, the avoidance of negative actions, and the giving of charity, or zakat. The end of the month is marked by Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival where Muslims gather to pray, share meals and give gifts. The holiday serves as a celebration of spiritual accomplishment and community gratitude.

What is the MSA?

The Muslim Student Association is a group of Muslim and non-Muslim students at Pascack Hills who gather to learn about Islam and observe holidays such as Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.

This year, the MSA held events including a Fast-A-Thon and a Grand Iftar, hosted both independently and in coordination with other schools in northern New Jersey.

How the MSA celebrated

The MSA organized two primary events to recognize the month: a local Fast-A-Thon and a collaborative Grand Iftar.

Fast-A-Thon

The second annual Fast-A-Thon was held March 5. Students were encouraged to fast from sunrise at 6:24 a.m. to sunset at 5:52 p.m. Participants gathered in the school cafeteria from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a dinner, guest speakers, and games to end the fast.

For every student who committed to fasting, the Muslim community of Montvale donated $5 to the Triboro Pantry, a local organization addressing food insecurity.

Pascack Hills junior Zahraa Islam said the event was designed to encourage the sharing of Islamic traditions.“The main focus of the event was serving as a fundraiser for charity because for every person that signed up, the Muslim community of Montvale donated $5 in their name to the cause,” Islam said.

Grand Iftar

The fourth annual Grand Iftar took place Sunday, March 8, at Darul Islah in Teaneck. Students from Pascack Hills, Bergen County Academies, Bergen County Technical High School, Academies at Englewood, Paramus High School and Ridgewood High School attended.

The joint event allowed MSA members and non-members from across the region to celebrate the holiday through communal dining and guest presentations.

Community Impact

Each year, students bring different traditions to Pascack Hills to promote cultural awareness. School officials said the community values its diversity and the opportunity for students to experience the meaning of Ramadan.