Iftar gatherings for Muslim community members are common at Northwestern during Ramadan, a month of fasting from dawn to sunset. But one often attracts the largest crowd.

The annual Wildcat Iftar Banquet, hosted by NU’s Muslim-cultural Students Association, drew over 250 students, faculty and local community members to Norris University Center’s Louis Room on Saturday.

Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This year, Ramadan began at sunset on Feb. 17 and is anticipated to end on March 19.

“It’s also about being more intentional in your ways, connecting with God more and being able to reflect on what you’re doing as a Muslim,” McSA Co-President and Weinberg senior Jannah Issa told attendees.

Iftar, which occurs at sunset, is Muslims’ first meal of the day after dawn during Ramadan. Muslim attendees at Wildcat Iftar broke their fast around 5:40 p.m. with dates and water. After saying a prayer, they lined up for dishes from local Persian and Mediterranean restaurant Kabobi Grill.

Guests also participated in “Ramadan Kahoot” and a “Miracle Minute,” in which they could donate to the humanitarian nonprofit Islamic Relief USA. The rapid fundraiser maxed out at $1,500.

For McSA Co-President and McCormick senior Umar Kamara, the event brought his McSA career full circle, as he organized Wildcat Iftar his freshman year as McSA’s Associated Student Government senator.

Around 200 people came to the Wildcat Iftar four years ago, Kamara said. This year, he said there was a waitlist in addition to the over 250 attendees.

Kamara said he’s also seen the Muslim community grow since coming to NU.

“Muslims are in classes. They’re TAs. They’re workers,” he said. “They’re integrated with the non-Muslim students on campus into friend groups, and they’re able to bring their upstanding character and their devotion to people who are non-Muslims.”

Kellogg Prof. Amine Bennouna is one recent addition to the Muslim community on campus. He joined NU’s faculty last year.

Bennouna said most Muslims break fast during Ramadan with their families. Many of his own family members are in Morocco, where he grew up. Having left his home country almost 12 years ago, Bennouna now tries to break fast with his local community wherever he is.

“It’s a bit of a piece of home, far from home,” he said.

Student groups, including the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association, have hosted iftars for their members, and McSA hosts regular community iftars throughout Ramadan geared toward Muslim attendees.

Still, Bennouna said seeing non-Muslim community members at the Wildcat Iftar and knowing they wanted to learn more about his culture helped him feel more welcome in a new environment.

Weinberg sophomore Vaunshika Bagalwadi, who identifies as Hindu, attended Wildcat Iftar with her roommate, who identifies as Muslim.

Bagalwadi said “one of the best parts” of being at NU is attending multicultural events across different affinity groups.

“I never really feel like I’m out of place,” she said.

And that dynamic encapsulates Kamara’s hopes for what gatherings like Wildcat Iftar accomplish.

“I hope it leaves a legacy where people who are interested in Islam or people who are Muslim, who want to reconnect with their faith during Ramadan, can come together,” he said.

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