Wheaton Blog

On the evening of Thursday, October 29th, 50 Wheaton students joined together in the Cole Memorial Chapel Basement to celebrate the Muslim holy day, Eid Al-Adha. The celebration was not exclusive to Muslim students. Students from a diverse range of religious backgrounds were invited to attend the celebration with their peers and learn more about the special Muslim holiday. The event was organized by Muslim student groups, the Office of SSSR, Middle East Club, and Better Together Club.

Wheaton’s celebration of Eid Al-Adha began with a Wheaton student providing an introduction to Islam, providing some background information about the religion and its practices. Shortly after, another student talked to the crowd about Eid Al-Adha, which can be literally translated to “the celebration of sacrifice.” Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adah to honor the story of Abraham and his son Ishmael. Muslims believe that god has asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael, testing Abraham’s obedience to god’s order. Abraham and Ishmael both agreed to the sacrifice. However, the moment Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, god sent a sheep from the sky to replace Ishmael.

Wheaton Muslim students from around the U.S. and all over the world shared how they typically celebrate Eid Al-Adha in their particular region. The presentations of Muslim student stories highlight just how diverse Islam truly is; their habits and traditions are diverse from one place to another. Finally, before moving on to eat a delicious Middle Eastern meal, a verse of the Quran, Muslims holy book, was read followed by a short prayer.

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• Center for Social Justice and Community Impact