Prayer, food fill Posvar

Students and faculty milling around Posvar Hall on Thursday night may have wondered what was… Students and faculty milling around Posvar Hall on Thursday night may have wondered what was happening inside room 2M56.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Coming from the room was an emotional song that most passers-by probably would not have recognized in a language that even fewer understand. Inside the room, people of many different races and religions sat around blue and white tables.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Upon peeking through the open door, someone would have seen women adorned in hijabs, the traditional headwear of Muslim women, and a Muslim man sitting in the corner, mouthing all the words that his companion was singing in the front of the room.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ On Thursday night, the Islamic Studies Group held a dinner celebrating the start of the holy month of Ramadan. To start the dinner, Majid Mohammad read from the Koran, the holy book of Islam. His reading came in the form of the song that was audible throughout the halls.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ This is the second year that the group has held a dinner, according to Cem Karaman, president of the Islamic Studies Group.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Throughout Ramadan, Muslims are not permitted to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. The purpose is not to starve followers of Islam, but to create a stronger connection with the religion.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘When people fast, they kill their carnal selves,’ Karaman said. ‘They gain spirituality and become more respectful.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The basis of this holy month is completely spiritual, as it recognizes the month when the Quran first began to be revealed.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Aisha Qureshi, a junior at Pitt, has been fasting for the month of Ramadan since she was 7 years old, even though Muslims do not have to officially begin practicing the tradition until they reach puberty. For her, as well as many other followers of Islam, this month presents an opportunity for family togetherness.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We eat dinner together,’ she said. ‘We wake up together usually before sunrise to eat breakfast. It is a time when we make it a point to get together.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ For Qureshi, the task of fasting is more difficult than it was at home. Since she cannot be with her family, she opts to attend Islamic Studies Group events.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Another female student who attends meetings regularly is Jessica Ehresman, a Catholic freshman. She has been part of Islamic Studies Group since the beginning of the year.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I have learned a lot through Islamic Studies Group,’ she said. ‘Not necessarily through the presentations, but from the people themselves. They are so willing to answer questions.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Answering questions and introducing non-Muslims to the tradition of Ramadan was the goal of this evening.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We want people to understand what [Ramadan] really is,’ Karaman said. ‘It is not an event done for our suffering. There is a reason for our hunger.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Qureshi agreed that it is necessary for non-Islamic people to recognize the value of this holiday.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s important for them to know why it’s so important to us,’ Qureshi said.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The holiday marks a very religious time. While some people were sitting down to dinner, some Muslims in the back of the room were performing the Maghrib. This is one of five daily prayers that Muslims complete throughout the day while facing the holy city of Mecca.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The prayer is performed on a prayer mat and incorporates different motions with the body.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The prayer exercises both the mind and the body,’ said Arif Jamal, who runs the social work library at Pitt. ‘The body is submitting. When someone is on their knees, it’s a very humble position.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ When praying, a person will recite passages from the Quran. The prayer is recited in a singing manner, and the actual contents of it depend completely on the person doing the praying, according to Jamal.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Events like this one serve to educate members of the general public about the religion of Islam, some attendants said.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘My mother was scared when I told her that I was learning about Islam, because she knew nothing about it,’ Ehresman said. ‘I had misconceptions, as well.’