For 30 nights, as the sun sets, Muslim students and friends are gathering around the dinner table, creating a sense of home with every shared meal.
Queen’s University Muslim Student’s Association (QUMSA) runs its nightly Ramadan program at the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC), serving dates, water, and a rotating Iftar dinner featuring Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine. Each evening, the program welcomes approximately 200 Muslim and non-Muslim students to break their fast and share in the experience. By offering these dinners, QUMSA hopes to help students find a home away from their homes and relieve financial stress and difficulty in finding Halal meals during Ramadan.
This year, Ramadan takes place from Feb. 28 to March 29, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They break their fast at Iftar, the evening meal marking the end of each day’s fast, according to Islamic Relief Canada.
“The program ensures that students, many of whom are far from home, have access to a nourishing meal and a sense of belonging during this sacred month,” QUMSA Presidents Sanaya Jivani, MPH ’25 and Raif Rizwan Karkal, CompSci ’25 wrote in a statement to The Journal.
A team of 10 to 15 volunteers set up the Iftars every night, helping to pick up the food, set up the dining area, and provide meals to those participating. Food is provided nightly by Muslim community , local businesses, University grants and sponsors such as local restaurant Manoosheh, the Queen’s Inclusive Community Fund, and the AMS.
“Over the last two years, there has been a massive increase in student participation, driven by the growing Muslim student population and a heightened demand for accessible Ramadan services on campus,” Jivani and Rizwan Karkal added.
Through past QUMSA programs, Jivani and Rizwan Karkal have seen firsthand how Iftar foster community among students. They remain committed to making these dinners a priority.
“Past experiences have shown us that providing Iftar is more than just offering food, it’s about fostering connections, easing the burden of fasting while managing academic commitments, and ensuring that no student breaks their fast alone,” Jivani and Rizwan Karkal said.
During a period of fasting and academic stress, QUMSA executives and volunteers continue to find motivation by seeing the tangible impact they see every night. Jivani and Rizwan Karkal cited “the gratitude in students’ eyes, the laughter shared over meals, and the deep sense of community that continues to grow,” as reasons for continued efforts.
“In Islamic teaching, feeding those who are fasting is seen as an act of immense reward, and that spiritual fulfillment keeps us energized despite the challenges,” Jivani and Rizwan Karkal said.
In an interview with The Journal, Rector Niki Boytchuk-Hale, MEd ’26, shared her firsthand experience when she helped serve food one night. She was struck by the high number of students participating in the program—far more than she had seen before at QUIC. The crowd was so large that many students ended up eating their dinner in the halls of Mitchell.
“I think it really says a lot about our community here at Queen’s and in Kingston, stepping up and helping students who are […] away from home and maybe don’t have access to food in the same way,” Boytchuk-Hale said.
All students can access Iftar dinner every night at the QUIC until Eid, marking the end of Ramadan.
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