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Students from throughout the campus are joining Muslim students who are observing Ramadan and fast from sunrise to sunset today in an all-day Fast-a-thon, put on by the Muslim Student Association.

Ramadan, a religious holiday that calls for fasting, inner reflection and religious devotion, began last week and will continue for a month.

The Fast-a-thon was designed to bring together non-Muslim students of multiple religions and backgrounds to highlight the fundamentals of Ramadan, said MSA President Miriam Jukaku.

The Fast-a-thon will raise money to feed the homeless, challenging each participant with the question, “Will you go hungry for one day so someone else won’t have to?” according to an MSA flyer.

MSA expects to raise about $2,000 that it will donate to the hot meals program for the Health Fair for the Homeless, which will take place on Nov. 16. More than 13 businesses are sponsoring the event and have pledged to donate one dollar for each individual who participates in the Fast-a-thon.

“It is an opportunity for non-Muslims to learn the beauty of fasting. There is no better way to understand it than to experience it,” said Hassan Siddiqi, president of Innov8v.com, a sponsor of the Fast-a-thon.

More than 150 students are expected to participate in the Fast-a-thon and will break their fast together when the sun sets tonight in the Kerckhoff Grand Salon.

“Through exposing people to what Ramadan is all about, we are bringing people together,” Jukaku said.

Jukaku believes an objective of Ramadan is to experience the hunger many people face on a daily basis. She added that MSA would like to share this with other students who do not usually take part in Ramadan.

“The opportunity to help people who don’t have food was presented, and I feel (the event) is an obligation,” said Sam Soleimany, a fourth-year psychology student and a member of the Progressive Jewish Students’ Association.

Soleimany is one of many non-Muslim students who are participating in the event to help people who do not have the luxury of eating everyday.

Students belonging to different organizations are participating in the Fast-a-thon in some way. The student group MEChA cancelled a food sale scheduled for today when they were notified of the Fast-a-thon.