Community and connection offered during Ramadan

Unity, generosity and a deep sense of connection are what stand out for tauira Iqbal Mohammad when he reflects on the past month.

Iqbal – who is in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting – is the President of Otago’s Muslim University Student’s Association (MUSA), which recently celebrated the end of Ramadan.

“During Ramadan, our main focus was hosting daily iftars, which are communal meals where we break our fast at sunset,” Iqbal says.

“Fasting during Ramadan means abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk, so these meals are significant moments of spiritual and social connection.”

Observing Ramadan in Dunedin has its challenges, especially with the long daylight hours meaning the fasting period can stretch up to 14-15 hours, he says.

“However, the strong sense of community made it a rewarding experience. So many students gave their time and energy with sincerity and love. It was humbling to witness.”

The club also held an Eid celebration on 12 April at the Dental School to mark the end of Ramadan, which was a “beautiful, spiritually uplifting” event.

“Eid al-Fitr, which means Festival of Breaking the Fast, is one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar. It’s a time of gratitude, joy, and togetherness marked by special prayers, sharing food, giving charity, and spending time with loved ones.

“Our event included delicious food, festive decorations, photos, and fun games that brought smiles to everyone’s faces and proved to be a really successful get-together."

“The following morning, we also joined the wider community for the main Eid celebration at Woodhaugh Gardens. It was a lovely outdoor picnic attended by both students and non-students, families and friends, with more food, activities for children, and an uplifting sense of community spirit.”

Many of MUSA’s members are international students and one of the club’s main goals is to create a space where Muslim students, especially those far from home, feel a sense of belonging, Iqbal says.

“Our daily iftars during Ramadan are a great example. Students came together, shared a meal, and supported each other through the fasting period. It helped ease homesickness and made Ramadan feel just as special as it would back home.”

MUSA events are also open to non-Muslim students.

“We believe these shared experiences foster cultural understanding and build meaningful connections across different communities on campus.

“Importantly, all MUSA events are completely free of cost. This is made possible thanks to the generosity of our wider Muslim community.”

Next semester MUSA will celebrate Eid al-Adha, which is a major festival commemorating the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) devotion and faith, and in September will hold its annual Islamic Awareness Week, which is dedicated to sharing knowledge about Islam with both Muslims and non-Muslims.

“In addition to events, we are also planning to work closely with Dr Usman Afzali – a psychology researcher specialising in religion – and with Student Health Services, to better support the mental and physical wellbeing of our members.

“Many of our students have grown up in conflict-affected regions and arrived here carrying emotional wounds, cultural and language barriers, and identity challenges. This collaboration aims to create personalised wellbeing support rooted in both science and spirituality, making sure no one feels alone.”

MUSA is also planning to be more present in nature this year, as the natural world holds deep spiritual value in Islam, Iqbal says.

“We’re looking forward to hosting multi-day camps, scenic road trips, outdoor sports, and spiritual retreats – giving students time to reflect, recharge, and connect with both creation and Creator.”

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– Kōrero by Internal Communications Adviser Laura Hewson