The Muslim Student Association drew a crowd of about 40 students to celebrate the end of Ramadan with a feast and a talk about the significance of the 30-day holiday.

Students from many different cultures gathered Wednesday to hear the call for prayer, followed by a meal in the Trophy Room of grilled chicken, stuffed eggplant, flavored rice, lamb, salad, bread and beverages.

Representative Farass Abu- Ghaban and Abdullah Shoghazi, both DVC students, talked about Ramadan, which requires believers to fast from food and drink for 30 days from dawn to sunset.

 “What if I told you that you cannot eat for eight to 10 hours?” Abu-Ghaban asked. “What if I told you that you couldn’t drink either?”

He later concluded: “If you fast from the heart, not only from the tongue, you will find that the rest is very easy to do. It teaches you about the hardships of life, and that we cannot take things for granted.”

During this month, Muslims must remember God as they find a purpose to their daily tasks.

The second speaker, Shoghazi, reminded the audience religion plays a role in modern life.

“Science even backs up that, if humans do a routine for 21 days or more, it will become a habit,” he said. “Fasting helps lower high blood pressure and increases white and red blood cells in the body.”

Several students commented on the evening’s success.

“The event was inspiring, and I give extra credit to Farass,” said Abdullah Taleb. “I think he did an outstanding job by explaining the whole Ramadan event.”

Sally El-Sayed said, “The celebration allowed everyone, especially non-Muslims, to get to know more about Ramadan, and they now have more knowledge to take with them.”