Islamic Center Eid celebration

In past Eid celebrations, worshipers have stepped into the Lawrence Islamic Center and suddenly found themselves engulfed in the excitement of the holiday season. The entire place has been swarming with people. Loud voices and the smell of homemade foods have been wafting through the air as family and friends gleefully greet one another with a hug and the traditional saying of “Eid Mubarak,” or “Happy Eid.”“It is like a rainbow of colors,” said Khatija Vaid, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. “That’s the best way to describe it because everybody’s wearing different colors. Everyone’s really happy.”

“The first day is very early in the morning starting at 7,” said Ibrahim Alanqar, a senior from the Gaza Strip, and president of the KU Student Muslim Association. “People gather in the mosque or Islamic center and start praising God. Then around 8 we pray and hear a speech about how we celebrate Eid.”

In keeping with the fourth pillar of Islam, Eid participants also give a Zakat, or monetary donation, for those less fortunate than themselves.

“It’s money we pay so that poor people can also have a good Eid day,” Vaid said.

The holiday provides all types of people with the opportunity to unite under a single religious belief.

“I see so much diversity,” said Asma Zaidi, an associate professor of biochemistry. “There’s so much unity with Eid in that we’re all experiencing joy for the same cause.”

With this year’s holiday coinciding with the anniversary of 9/11, members of the Lawrence Islamic Center are well aware that some people might have mixed feelings about the celebration.

“I think right now it’s actually a good thing that we have all of these mixed opinions or biases,” Zaidi said. “It means that people are paying attention and once you get that attention you can start to focus on solutions. It’s time for us to explain our side of things.”

(source:kansan.com)