Mujib Sardar rose well before sunrise today to perform a morning prayer and eat a small breakfast.
He will spend the rest of the day praying another four times, kneeling east, toward the Muslim holy city of Mecca.
He will not eat again until after sundown.
Sardar, a freshman and president of the UNM Muslim Student Association, is among the estimated six million Muslim Americans observing the month-long fast of Ramadan, which began Oct. 26 and ends Dec. 6.
"It is a chance for the individual to get closer to God," Sardar said. "We do what he asks of us, we pray and fast, and through that we prove our worth to him."
There are more than one billion Muslims in the world. They come from a vast range of nationalities and cultures.
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During Ramadan, Muslims cannot swallow a thing, including water, from sunrise to sunset.
The fasting does not only include food - sensual acts such as sex are also prohibited.
Muslims enjoy a communal meal after sunset each day, in celebration of their sacrifices and their attempts to be better people in the community.
"It is also a time that we try to increase our good deeds," Sardar said, adding that a common act during Ramadan is donating money to the poor. "Ramadan is much more than praying and fasting. It is trying to do your best to give the most you can."
Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Muslim faith.
"Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint," according to the Quran, the Islamic holy book.
The Arabic word Islam means "submission," and in a religious context means complete submission to the will of God.
UNM's Muslim Student Association, with more than 50 members, is the only Muslim student group on campus.
Many of the group's members said adhering to Ramadan's strict rules is difficult, but they understand it is in their best interest.
"It gets really tempting to break the fast, seeing everybody eating in the SUB every day," said Mirvat Abdelhaq, a UNM junior and member of the association. "But the rewards are worth the costs. We gain a spiritual connection with God and help renew a sense of community among Muslim Americans."
She said she feels a great sense of pride during Ramadan, knowing that every Muslim throughout the world is praying at the same time and making the same sacrifices.
Other members of the group said they enjoy the month-long fast because it helps them get closer to their friends and family.
Naseem Dalloul, a UNM junior, said he enjoys the fast-breaking Iftar meal with his family every evening.
"I become closer to my family because we eat together every night," Dalloul said, adding that other members of the association choose to eat at the Islamic Center of New Mexico, in Albuquerque. "It is encouraging to know that other people share your faith and your commitment to these beliefs."
