The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosted an Oct. 16 celebration that helped Elon University students learn more from local Muslims about their beliefs.
By Kaitlin Dunn ’16
Students, faculty and community members on Oct. 16 celebrated the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, a festival to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God, with a program and feast hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual LIfe.
Traditional Middle Eastern food was served, and students were invited to get Henna tattoos and participate in a traditional prayer service.
Members of the Islamic Center of Gibsonville attended the festivities with the students, sharing information about Eid and about their culture and customs. The celebration took place in the McBride Gathering Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion.
Community member Shylon Smith spoke to the crowd about her experience as a Muslim. Smith grew up in a Christian family and then converted to Islam when she was in college. She said it’s difficult for her, especially as a mother, to see people commit atrocities on television but tries to remember there are many good people in the world.
“It’s hard to look at people doing bad things and hearing them say they are doing it in the name of your religion,” Smith said. “But as Muslims it’s all about love. We care about everyone. We care about you guys and I’m so glad that you all came tonight because it shows that you care about us, too.”
Sophomore Carolyn Rauch attended the event in the hopes of gaining cultural perspective.
“I think it’s important to understand the cultural differences and similarities we share,” Rauch said. “We are all different, but deep down there are more similarities than differences, and it’s important that we remember that.”
After the meal, students were invited to join in a traditional evening prayer, one of five compulsory daily prayers for Muslims. Those who partook in the worship removed their shoes and women covered their heads.
Shahad Haswa, president of the Muslim Student Association, said she was surprised at how many people attended the celebration.
“MSA is really small this year, so it’s nice to see all the students and professors that came tonight,” Haswa said. “It’s educational more than anything and it’s good to see so many people here. I think having the community members coming really helped.
Eid al-Adha began this year on Saturday, Oct. 4, and ended Sunday, Oct. 5. This dinner was a delayed celebration.
Families usually spend Eid together, sharing a feast and enjoying each other’s company. One third of the food is shared between the family members, one third of the food is shared with friends and neighbors, and the remaining third is given to the poor.
Eid Al-Adha is one of two holidays, the other being Eid Al-Fitr, that Muslims celebrate at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting.