by Muslim students come together every weekday night to celebrate Ramadan.
University of Minnesota students gather at Al-Madinah Cultural Center after sunset to break their day-long fast.
AMCC is a student group that promotes a better understanding of Islam and Muslims through community events. The student group is a popular resource for hundreds of students looking for Iftar— evening meals are provided after a call to prayer.
Shahd Hagelsafy, a first-year student, said after a long day of fasting, she doesn’t want to eat dining hall food but instead attends AMCC Iftars to have a community around her.
“I’m going to take advantage of the resources because in high school, I didn’t really have many resources, so coming here is like a safe spot,” Hagelsafy said.
AMCC provides meals Monday through Friday for the whole month of Ramadan, hosting more than 150 people a day with the help of local restaurants and organizations.
Yasmin Abdurahman volunteers with AMCC to help organize and distribute food. She said providing Iftar and celebrating Ramadan was “unheard-of” in high school.
“To see it at my own college campus for the first time in my life is really exciting, and it also opens my eyes to how the world is changing,” Abdurahman said.
AMCC president Zayna Khandwalla said hosting Iftar brings the Muslim students together throughout the month-long holiday.
Many student groups also collaborate with AMCC during Ramadan, providing more opportunities for students to be involved in the Muslim community.
“They are always willing to help and provide us with a little bit of support to help our group on campus,” said Abdulgadir Eltigani, a member of the Sudanese Student Union.
