Pizza, milkshakes, music and conversation filled O’Brien 150 on April 18, when Marquette’s Muslim Student Association celebrated Eid Mubarak.
Eid is a celebration for the end of Ramadan, a 30-day period of fasting. This year Eid al-Fitr fell on April 10.
Yazeed Abushanab, a junior in the College of Health Sciences and president of MSA, said that many people were busy celebrating Eid with their families, but it was still important to have a belated celebration with the student community at Marquette.
Abushanab said that the Eid celebration was a social event that catered pizzas from Milwaukee Classic Pizza and featured a homemade milkshake stand. He said that the event didn’t necessarily go as planned because it started a bit later than was scheduled and they did not get around to participating in the Islamic trivia he had arranged for.
“We saw that people were just having fun together talking, so we’re like you know we don’t want to force the trivia, it looks like you’re already having enough fun right now,” Abushanab said.
Abushanab said he also helps coordinate brothers and sisters events to bond the community as well. He said it is important that the brothers have a strong sense of brotherhood and the sisters have a strong sense of sisterhood.
Nooreen Ahmed, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences and events coordinator of MSA, said that Ramadan is about more than just fasting from food. She said it is a period of time for Muslims to give up their bad habits and grow one’s character in a way that will go beyond the 30 days.
“For me specifically, I was trying to make sure I prayed my five daily prayers on time and read more from our Holy Book called the ‘Quran,’” Ahmed said.
Ahmed said that after the 30 days are over, Muslims have a 3-day celebration, with the main celebration on the first day.
“It’s kind of like a reward from God because he knows how hard it is for us in those 30 days and he wants us to celebrate. It’s actually forbidden to fast on that day,” Ahmed said.
Abushanab said celebrating Eid at college is a lot different than at home and MSA provides a great sense of community, especially for those who are unable to celebrate Eid with their families.
“We make sure that if there’s someone new that they’re interacting with more people, that we’re talking to them and bringing them in,” Abushanab said.
Ahmed said that many people celebrate Eid by going to the mosque early in the morning to pray as a community and listen to a lecture before having a meal with their family.
Yusra Khaja, a junior in the College of Health Sciences and vice president of MSA, said that celebrating Eid looks different for her at Marquette, but MSA provides a great sense of community.
“I went to an Islamic High School, so in my high school we had days off for Eid,” Khaja said.
Khaja said that Campus Ministry has also been helpful with organizing events for MSA and obtaining things like decorations, space, and food.
Khaja said that every Ramadan Muslims focus on praying for the poor and those who are suffering.
Khaja said that this Ramadan changed the way she prayed to God, she said she now focuses her prayers on the needs of others rather than her personal needs.
“I feel like before when we would pray to God, we were sort of like make my life better, make my education better, give me A’s or like help me with whatever difficulties I am going through,” Khaja said.
Khaja said much of the Muslim community came together and shared this realization that it is important to pray for others over yourself as well.
“But then this Ramadan, with what’s happening in Palestine, we just sort of came together as a community and pray for Palestine instead of ourselves,” Khaja said.
Ahmed said that MSA is a community that is supportive and loves each other.
“Even though it’s Muslim Student Association, it’s not just Muslims who are invited. Anyone is welcome,” Ahmed said.
This story was written by Ellie Golko. She can be reached at [email protected]
