Rituals unite Muslim students

Daily prayers, pilgrimage to Mecca two of Islam's Five Pillars

By Hong Lin
For the Daily

As the bells of Burton Tower toll at noon, many students rush to class or head for a quick bite to eat. But for Muslim students on campus, the hour calls them to a different type of daily ritual.

For students such as LSA first-year student Khuram Siddiqi the coming of noon means it is almost time for one of his five daily prayers.

Siddiqi, a devout Muslim, has been participating in these prayers ever since he was 9 years old.

"Our religion requires that we perform these prayers five times a day, every day of the year, with very few exceptions" Siddiqi said.

Indeed, Muslim students work to balance the rigors of academic life with the responsibilities of their religion, including daily prayers and religious pilgrimages.

Daily prayer is one part of the Five Pillars of Islam, which also include a pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, giving alms to the poor and believing in one God.

Many Muslims regard the pilgrimage as one of life's high points.

"As Muslims, we are also to embark on a pilgrimage to Mecca along with performing the five daily prayers, as is ordained by our religion," said Public Health graduate student Saadia Mian.

LSA senior Umbrin Ateequi said the pilgrimage is an integral part of the lives of most Muslims.

"There are two kinds of pilgrimages to Mecca - the Hajj and Umrah," Mian said. "The Umrah can be done any time during the year, whereas the time for the Hajj had already been set. The Hajj symbolizes peace with God, people and even animals around us."

Ateequi said her pilgrimage experience was beyond description.

"Mecca had always been a holy site to me," Ateequi said. "There are just not descriptions for the peaceful and tranquil feeling that I had once I was around the Kaaba, the holiest mosque in the world."

Siddiqi said his trip to Mecca was the culmination of his religious life.

"What I knew about Mecca was not enough to prepare me for what I saw once I got there," said Siddiqi. "I never expected to see so many people pray at midnight."

Mian said rituals such as the prayers and the pilgrimage help unite Muslims around the world.

"It is a very spiritual journey in which connections to the material aspect of life are abandoned," Mian said. "It is very rewarding to see people from all over the world come together with no distinctions between different races."

The times of monthly prayers vary from month to month, according to Muslim tradition. Students said prayer times are adaptable enough that balancing classes and religious responsibilities is not difficult.

"The times and places for these prayers are actually quite flexible. The prophet of our religion had told us that nothing in this religion should become a burden to any one of us," said Law student Nizam Arain. "As long as one prays around that set time, it will be okay."

Arain said he even prays on the Liberty Street sidewalk to ensure he is able to pray at the correct daily times.

When performing a prayer, Muslims must be facing in the direction of Mecca.

"It is divinely ordained that we face Mecca," Mian said. "It serves as a unifying factor for us all to be facing the same direction when we pray."

11-10-97