With a drink of water and a few dates, Stacy Hettmansperger ended her first successful day of fasting for Ramadan.
"I tried last year, but I didn't make it," said Hettmansperger, a political science sophomore. "I only lasted until 3 [p.m.]."
Hettmansperger was one of 114 non-Muslim people who pledged to fast Friday as part of the annual Fast-a-thon, put on by ASU Muslim Students Association and Muslim Law Student Association.
MSA and MLSA provided a dinner of Indian food for about 60 of the participants in the Memorial Union Friday.
Muslims fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan -- the Islamic Holy month -- during which they do not drink or eat anything, including water.
For the past three years, Muslim students have invited non-Muslims to participate in Ramadan, said Basima Latif, a business junior and member of MSA.
The event is meant to raise awareness for Ramadan and Islam, she added.
Hettmansperger said a friend, who was a member of MSA, encouraged her to try fasting, and other friends participated in the fast-a-thon, as well.
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day during the month of Ramadan in order to practice self-control, said Bara Awad, president of MSA and a microbiology senior.
"Ramadan is basically a month in which we recharge our faith," Awad said. "We have food and drink, but we are choosing to go without it."
Muslims also focus on doing good deeds and living honestly during Ramadan, Awad said.
"If you don't stop your bad behavior, you're not getting anything out of this but hunger and thirst," he said.
Ramadan is also a time when family and friends come together, Awad said.
"Once you break your fast, you go to people's houses and eat together," he added. "It builds a community, and it brings people together."
The MLSA is also sponsoring a pork-free food drive during Ramadan, said Zarinah Nadir, a third-year law student and president of the organization.
A commandment in the Quran tells Muslims to avoid consuming pork and pork by-products, Nadir said. The commandment is based on the health risks from eating pork.
The food drive, which begins today and lasts until the end of October, will be for canned goods for the Cultural Cup Food Bank in Phoenix, she added.
The food bank collects food for people with religious dietary restrictions, Nadir said.
Donations can be left in a box in the College of Law rotunda, Nadir added.
Members of MSA and MLSA said they were pleased to see so many non-Muslims getting involved in the event.
"We're so happy to have everyone here to learn about Ramadan," Awad said.
For Muslims, going without food or water during Ramadan is not hard, Awad said.
"Usually you've been doing this since you were a little kid," he said.
Hettmansperger said fasting was a good experience overall.
"It made me appreciate food, and showed me I had more self-control than I thought," she said.
As she ate her dinner, Hettmansperger said she did not feel sick or dehydrated.
"I'm just really tired," she added. "It helps when you stay busy and try not to think about food."
Reach the reporter at emilia.arnold@asu.edu.
