STU celebrates the spirit of Ramadan with its annual Iftar party

Aleena Naveed is a second-year Muslim student at St. Thomas University from Pakistan. (Suzanne Shah/AQ)

At STU, the month of Ramadan was made into a powerful social activity, uniting the campus community across cultures and creeds.

STU’s second annual Iftar Party, organized by a small group of Muslim students, provided a platform for participants to come together, learn, and connect.

According to Aleena Naveed, one of the organizers of the event, the idea has always been to make it inclusive. 

The event consisted of an Iftar dinner and interactive activities like Kahoot, creating a casual and welcoming environment. 

Food was arranged in collaboration with the university’s catering and the student community. The event caused a lasting impression on the students.

“I guess people really enjoyed [the event], because I heard the comments and I was observing their faces, they were really engaged in all the  Kahoot activities and they liked all the dinner and Iftar,” said Naveed.

For Muslim international students, it wasn’t just a dinner experience but a substitute for home. 

For Saima Akter, who volunteered at the dinner, it was a responsibility as well as an opportunity. Being a Muslim and in her first year of university away from home during Ramadan, Saima found comfort in the support provided by people. 

“People are very respectful here … they are quite supportive,” said Akter. “Ramadan is a month of [perseverance] … we can learn [about] time management best in this month.”

This event also influenced future students who will join the STU community.

Sama Ouf, an incoming STU student who attended the Iftar, said that the event was “community-driven,” which emphasized its unifying nature, especially during a time when unity seems to be so important. 

“The gathering really showcased the importance of community … Ramadan is about gathering … breaking your fast with your friends and family and your peers as well,” said Ouf. 

She also emphasized the environment of inclusion that STU provides, stating that the university creates “beautiful events” that bring people together.

Iftar Party 2026 brought together the muslim student community from both STU and UNB campuses to celebrate Ramadan. (Credit: Ahmed Mamoon Faheem) 

Nauman Farooqi, president and vice-chancellor of St. Thomas University, said that the event was a good example of empathy, as well as shared values. 

“Bringing the community together, showing compassion, showing love, showing respect,” he said. 

Farooqi highlighted that students from different backgrounds came not only to observe, but to participate and learn from one another.

Moving forward,  students plan to increase the number of students involved in the celebration and make sure that the tradition is sustained even after students graduate.

“We are trying to improve year by year and we aim to do much better and much bigger than that, but we did what we could,” said Naveed.

When asked to define the experience in a single word, Naveed said: “amazing.” 

For many students at STU, the Iftar celebration was a reminder that support is not just about programs and services. It’s about creating a community for each other.