MSA Marks New Year With Music, Comedy

The tone was distinctively light at Friday night’s Muslim Students Association dinner, where music and comedy were the main entertainment of an evening meant to ring in
the Islamic New Year.

“Last semester, I was talking about hate crimes,” MSA President Adil Ahmed, CC ’09, said. “But tonight is all about having fun.”

The dinner, held in Low Library, marked the celebration of the Islamic New Year and of Eid ul-Adha, a Muslim holiday that celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God, as told in the Quran. The dinner was the first MSA event to be held in Low Library, and it featured musical performances by Zafer Tawil, a Palestinian musician who played the lute-like oud, and the musical group Anasheed, a New Jersey-based group that specializes in Nasheed, or Islamic-based, music.

“Our culture is full of joy and happiness and gathering together,” Ahmed said.

The dinner also featured Azhar Usman, an Indian comedian who poked fun at Muslim culture as part of his “Allah Made Me Funny” comedy tour.

While the event held religious significance, students said that dinners like this also gave them a unique social outlet.

“It provides a social environment for all the Muslims on campus, and we just have a good time,” Aanam Aslam, BC ’11, said.

Chaplain of Muslim Life Imam Sayeed rounded off the event by commending its lightheartedness at a serious time for Muslims living in America.

“I have been here for 37 years,” Sayeed said. “This is the first evening that was really funny.”

alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com