Tuesday evening saw the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long period of fasting, prayer and reflection. It also marks the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for over two billion Muslims across the globe. This time is used to strengthen their relationship with God and their religion.
Muslims around the world have been fasting from all food and water from dawn to sunset for the past month, and at Eid they return to their regular lifestyles. Eid Al-Fitr and Laylat al–Qadr are the two Islamic festivals celebrated.
Eid Al-Fitr is also known as the “festival of breaking fast.” The festival occurs the day after seeing the new moon. Muslims celebrate Eid by dressing up, eating food and spending time with friends and family.
As many USC students are far away from home, Muslim students said they have found a community and home away from home on campus. Student Penda Ba said that in a poll conducted by the Muslim Student Union, 75% of Muslim students would choose to be on campus during Eid.
Early Tuesday morning, students gathered for the Eid prayer at Masjid Omar. In the afternoon, the students celebrated with a potluck.
Penda Ba, a junior studying global health, started the Eid potluck her freshman year because there wasn’t anything on campus.
“I knew a lot of my friends and I wanted to be able to do something,” said Ba.
The event was particularly special for Hisham Anwar, the Muslim Student Union vice president.
“It means a lot. I grew up in Doha, Qatar, so I don’t have family here. So it’s just the MSU that’s my family here,” said Anwar. “I literally pray with them, spend time with them, go to classes with them, study with them … So it’s A to Z MSU.”
“I had that experience freshman year of being worried whether or not I would have people to celebrate with,” Ba said. “I want to provide that for the freshmen this year, a lot of whom are out of state, and just create that environment.”
Pareesa Fawad, a freshman studying biotechnology, said, “It’s so cool because you’re so used to celebrating with your family, and then when you get to celebrate with people, it makes you feel less homesick,” said Fawad. “Even during the month of fasting, getting to break fast with people that you know and care about, it’s a nice feeling. It’s like home away from home.”
“Just seeing the community come out today has been so heartwarming, and I can’t wait for more of this and better in the future,” said Ba.