In the mind of Muslim Student Association Social Co-Chairman Zaid Mohiuddin, the holiest practice of Islam can be likened to the Super Bowl.
"During the Super Bowl, fans were cheering and ecstatic as the player caught the football to score a touchdown. That was just 70,000 people. Imagine two million, just as ecstatic, gathered together all for the sake of God."
Friday night, approximately 70 students and local residents gathered at MSA's first Eid-ul-Adha potluck dinner in Houston Hall to explain the ritual of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
The night began with the fifth prayer of the day, Isha. Students joined other community members in this expression of their faith.
The core of the night consisted of a presentation about Hajj that laid out the different steps of the journey to Saudi Arabia. Through hilarious sketches, members of MSA explained the obligations of Hajj with special emphasis on Ihram, the sacred dress of pilgrims.
Mohiuddin went deeper into the history of the Hajj in a PowerPoint presentation.
He explained that there are various steps to the pilgrimage and that accompanying each is a different prayer to Allah.
Skit participants wore clothing that pilgrims would traditionally wear. In order to create a sense of unity, men all wear the same seamless garments, as do all women. Also, women are prohibited from wearing perfume or showing any part of their hair to further express the idea of unity, said MSA Social Chairman Mokerrum Malik.
For Mohiuddin, the concept of unity has influenced him to build a bridge between Penn Muslims and those in the local community.
He said that MSA is "trying to build unity within the Penn community and those of West Philadelphia."
Students of other faiths attended the event as well.
"I am involved with MSA because I'm exploring Islam," College sophomore Travis Donselman said. "I thought this would be a good opportunity to get to know the faith better, and the food doesn't hurt."
