“We miss home more during Ramadan.”

Ramadan, a time of reflection, spiritual growth, and community, often reminds us of the warmth of home: shared meals, bustling kitchens, and the joy of breaking fast with loved ones. But for me and many other Muslim students at Fuqua, this year’s Ramadan meant observing traditions thousands of miles away from family and balancing fasting with the intensity of the MBA grind.

As the newly appointed co-presidents of the Muslims in Business (MIB) Club, Audrey Surya Prameswari Kharisma and I felt a personal calling to create a space where we could reconnect with that sense of belonging. That’s what led us to host MIB’s annual Iftar in collaboration with the Duke MBA South Asian Student Association (INDUS) and Business in Africa Club.

Some of the more than 150 guests who joined us for Iftar this year

Here are three moments that stood out and made the night especially meaningful:

1. A Truly Diverse Community Gathering

We were honored to welcome more than 150 attendees from across the greater Fuqua community, including Steve Misuraca, associate dean of the Daytime MBA and MMS programs, as well as students, faculty, and other staff members. We even hosted the UNC Muslims Club and other students from the Duke Muslim Students Association (Duke MSA). Seeing members of the MBA Association, which is Fuqua’s student government, and other groups create a true sense of solidarity and celebration across cultures and backgrounds.

The buffet line featuring some of the options from our diverse menu

2. Sharing a Meal That Nourishes More Than Just Hunger

We served delicious Mediterranean food, warm coffee, and traditional desserts like baklava, for both those observing the fast and those joining in solidarity. For many, it was their first time experiencing an Iftar, and sharing that moment together over food made it even more special.

Students participating in a sharing session held before the closing ceremony

3. Storytelling and Conversation Across Culture

One unique moment of the evening was the informal sharing of personal reflections on Iftar and Ramadan. We exchanged stories about how fasting is observed around the world, how traditions vary across regions, and what this month means to us.

For example, in some countries, women celebrate Ramadan by applying henna designs on their hands and feet as a beautiful part of Islamic culture and tradition. In Indonesia, my home country, Ramadan is one of the busiest times socially, with people often juggling daily fasts with a packed schedule of Iftar invitations from friends and family.

We were also honored to invite Muhammed S. Bah from Duke MSA to speak and share his perspective on the spiritual and communal significance of Ramadan, sparking meaningful dialogue among attendees from all backgrounds.

A closer shot of Muhammed S. Bah from the Duke Muslim Student Association speaks at the front of Kirby Reading Room at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. The room is filled with crowded circular tables, and the projector screen at the front of the room reads "Ramadan Traditions"
Bah delivering his introductory remarks before Iftar.

This Iftar was more than just a meal. It was a reminder that even in the busiest seasons of our lives, we can carve out space for meaning, for culture, and for one another. Ramadan may still bring moments of homesickness, but events like this remind us that community travels with us, wherever we go.