In the hustle and bustle that often accompanies this time of year, it’s important to remember that there are a plethora of holidays that make up the holiday season.
On Nov. 23, the Muslim Student Association, Saudi Arabian Student Associatiation, and Afghan Student Association hosted an open celebration for the Eid al-Adha at the New University Union.
Eid al-Adha means “festival of sacrifice” and along with Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, is one of the two most important holidays in the Islamic religion.
The festival highlights sacrifice, alluding to the Biblical story of Abraham and his son Ishmael. Traditionally, the day is marked with an animal sacrifice, which for participants means the holiday mainstay of eating delicious meats.
The sacrifice also has a deeper meaning. Asim Faruqui of the MSA explains how Abraham was in fact commanded to, “sacrifice his own will, his own ego.”
The holiday also celebrates the season of the Hajj, in which Muslims from every corner of the world make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Faruqui confirmed that he knows of a friend back Pakistan who is planning on making the pilgrimage.
Like all Muslim holidays, the celebration is counterbalanced by introspection and humility.
But that’s not to say that there wasn’t plenty of food and cheer. Before the traditional feast was served to all those in attendance, the three student clubs participated in a trivia game testing their knowledge of Islamic history.
The game served as a way to liven things up and educate those who might not have been all too knowledgeable of the Islamic religion.
For those who care to know, Islam is heavily influenced by Jewish and Christian traditions. In fact, Muslims view the Prophet Muhhamad as the final and definitive voice regarding scripture following Jesus, Abraham and Moses.
“They all had the same message,” said Anbdullah Maghazil, MSA member, referring to the three monotheist religions. “It’s all connected together.”
However, the celebration was not limited to CSUEB students who are religious.
“[The] purpose is to bring awareness of the holiday, get together the different clubs and students to bring more education,” said Michelle Shokoor, president of the Afghan Students Association.
In a time when one can be inundated with the mainstream consumerism of the holiday season, it’s nice to get a different perspective, one that can best be found right here at CSUEB.
