At around 4:20 p.m., the participants congregate to eat dates, the traditional staple for breaking the fast in Islamic heritage, and to drink milk and apple juice, (neither of which have any religious or historical significance). After this brief snack, those in attendance stand in rows in their bare feet and pray for several minutes, although men and women pray in separate areas of the room.

Following the prayers, members chat and eat dinner. Then they recite their night prayers together. In many ways the event is as social as it is religious.

"It's community-building time. We try to strengthen ties," Rehman said of the society's Ramadan efforts.

"And it doesn't hurt that the food is catered," Imran S. Jamaid '00 said.

Just like any major religious holiday, spending time with family is important during Ramadan. But students say the atmosphere at school provides the same sense of togetherness they would have at home. Students said in many ways, HIS gatherings are closer than those at mosques because all of the participants have very similar lives and are peers.

"Its kind of a surrogate family here. For this month we're together and it's a lot of fun," Raqeeb M. Haque '00 said.

First-years experiencing their first Ramadan away from home said their introduction to college spirituality has been positive, even if living in the Yard means they do not have their parents to wake them before dawn every morning. Celebrating with other students instead of family may be new to them, but first-years said they enjoy the bonding.

"It's a different group context," Faiz P. Shakai '02 says. "We're all going through reading period here. We're all in the same boat," he said.

Although Syed said the lengthy, nightly event takes him away from his studies, especially when combined with the three other times he and fellow Muslims pray daily, he says that it helps him regulate the free time he does have.

"Three hours is quite a chunk of the day. It complicates a schedule but it helps organize. You learn to make use of time between any given priority," Syed said.

Others said they view the Ramadan gatherings as a break from more than just fasting.

"This is a form of a study break in a sense," Jamaid said.

Although dealing with the stress of exams may not be the best environment for religious celebration, students say that even when the holiday falls during exams, Ramadan helps them manage their time better. "Last year because I was fasting during the day, I didn't have anything to do but study. I would wake up and head for the library instead of the dining hall," Marshall M. Henshaw '01 said.

Shabazz agreed that he is thankful Ramadan is converging with reading period again.

"It adds extra discipline to my life. I have more things scheduled; I get more busy; I get more done," Shabazz said.

Some students said that it is not fasting that complicates studying, but the other way around. "This is my religion. This is my priority. My exams come second," Marwah Abdallah '00 said.

Whether praying, fasting, eating or studying, Syed said one of his friends explained to him why fasting and practicing Ramadan is not such a bad idea for students at exam time. "With all of the tests, it's all the more reason to remember God.