Faisal said during a recent dissection session at school, he found himself being annoyed by a fellow student. Though tempted to join in vocal criticism along with other members of the group, "I kept thinking to myself, 'don't say anything.' I'm glad I didn't. That's the kind of small lesson you learn from it."

Sofia says older Muslims who keep the fast have become her mentors. "If they can go through it, so can I. The environment that you make yourself a part of makes a difference," she says. Unity of purpose in doing the will of Allah through the fast becomes a motivating force and draws the community together.

As a child, both she and Faisal said they were part of an extended family that nurtured a love of their faith and a desire to retain their cultural heritage. Yet Sofia sees the reality of challenges ahead with her family's determination to hold fast to Islam and its teachings. She began wearing a head scarf earlier this year. As she was waiting for a friend at the U. recently, a woman approached and asked if she spoke English, though both she and Faisal were born in America and are U.S. citizens. "People have never assumed I was Muslim before," she says.

Both welcome the chance to explain their reasons for the fast and to boost understanding of their faith in a culture in which they find themselves a religious minority. Faisal says any chance to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes opens the door for greater unity with the larger community.

"If we weren't raised in a place like this, maybe we wouldn't be as observant of our faith. But sometimes it's easier to practice my faith here because I am different."

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com