International Club celebrates Eid al-Adha festivities

By Ryan, October 7, 2015

By Eric Wallace, Staff Writer//

High Point University students turned out in large crowds on a rainy Friday afternoon in order to attend the Eid al-Adha celebration.
Eid al-Adha, a holy day on the Muslim calendar, was celebrated in the ballroom of the Wilson School of Commerce. It was a chance for students and faculty both Muslim and non-Muslim to interact, listen to prayers and enjoy food and Henna tattoos.
“It is like Christmas for Muslims,” said senior Ibrahim Shtayyeh, a Muslim student from Palestine.
“The day before Al-Adha, we fast,” said sophomore Abdul Al-amoudi, a Muslim student from Saudi Arabia, as he explained more about the holiday. “The next day we eat a family breakfast before prayers at 6 a.m. It is a time to visit family and friends.”
The festivities included remarks by High Point faculty and students on the importance of the holiday and what it means for Muslims everywhere. It included the reading of the Ayyat, a chapter of the Quran in both English and Arabic.
Many of the students who attended were non-Muslims who simply wanted to know more about other cultures.
“I visited Morocco a few years ago and thought that this would be interesting,” said freshman Olivia Beaner.
“I think this opportunity is fantastic,” said junior Andrew Tell. “I’m always excited to learn about new things.”
The holiday is a celebration of the prophet Abraham, who according to Islamic belief was willing to sacrifice his only son to God. Before Abraham made the sacrifice, however, God revelead to him that his sacrifice was already paid in full, and Abraham sacrificed a ram instead. The holiday includes a mirroring of that tradition by sacrificing a goat or lamb.
According to a pamphlet distributed at the event, “the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: 1/3 for family, 1/3 for relatives, friends and neighbors and 1/3 for those in need.”
The holiday’s customs vary from country to country.
“It is important that in Saudi Arabia you give at least half the meat to the poor,” Al-amoudi said. “It’s important that you remember that this is a day of service to others.”
“It is all about sacrifice like how Abraham sacrificed for his son,” said sophomore Khaled Al-Yunbwi.
“Muslims share food and money with the poor so that they are not left out of the celebration,” according to the pamphlet given at the ceremony.
Dr. Marjorie Church, director of International Student Affairs, and Mina Ouakrim, instructor of Arabic and French, organized the event. While they originally expected a turnout of about 60 students, they ended up with around 150, making it a success.
“We’re excited about this event,” said sophomore Ninaru Shtayyeh, a member of the International club. “We did a really good job and we’re glad everyone likes it. Eid is a very important day for Muslims, and more people came than expected. We believe it’s very important to share moments like this with other cultures.”