Members of the campus community broke bread with members of the Burlington Masjid on PBK Commons on March 31
About 250 students, faculty, staff, and community members in colorful, festive attire gathered on March 31 for Elon University’s Eid al-Fitr celebration, the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.
The celebration began with an educational program in the McBride Gathering space before moving outdoors to Phi Beta Kappa Commons for an evening of food, music, and henna. Elon’s Eid celebration is part of the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life’s festival series, religious programs that create space not only to mark holidays, but to deepen understanding of culture, meaning, traditions, and values.
Eid al-Fitr marks the conclusion of Ramadan, a month during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and gather for nightly meals known as iftars. Throughout the month, the Elon community participated in a range of Ramadan-related programs that offered opportunities to learn, build relationships, and share in these practices together.
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
Eid al-Fitr 2026 at Elon University
This year’s Eid celebration reflected both growth and connection within the campus Muslim community.
“Here at Elon, this Ramadan has been especially meaningful,” said Elon Muslim Society President Adil Qadeer. “The Elon Muslim Society has grown so much over the years, and this year we saw that growth not just in numbers, but in connection. From on- and off-campus iftars to early Waffle House suhoors, to all of our events with friends from all kinds of backgrounds, this Ramadan truly felt like a community effort, and that’s what makes today even more special. Eid reminds us to be grateful for our faith, our families, and the communities we’re part of. It reminds us to celebrate, but also to reflect on who we’ve become and who we still want to be.”
The program opened with a welcome from Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, and an educational presentation from Truitt Center multifaith interns Omar Khamis and Bella Kuperman, who shared the history and traditions of Eid. Remarks followed from Associate Chaplain for Muslim Life Imam Shane Atkinson, and students Adil Qadeer and Huria Tahiry.
For many students, the event provided a sense of belonging that extended beyond campus.
“Working on Eid al-Fitr as a Muslim multifaith intern was an amazing opportunity to learn how my fellow Muslim colleagues celebrate,” said Multifaith Intern Omar Khamis, who helped plan the program. “Meeting with students and faculty and learning about their traditions to get a pulse on how to plan for this event meant more than a job, but an opportunity for growth and reflection. Seeing what is unique and familiar allowed me to feel more connected with them as a fellow Muslim. And the ability to see it all come together was very heartwarming. Having a very large crowd come together from the Elon community, especially with members from the local mosque in Burlington, allowed me to feel like I was back home in Jordan, celebrating with friends and family again.”
That sense of connection across difference was echoed by the other student planner, Multifaith Intern Bella Kuperman.
“Working on Eid al-Fitr was a vibrant journey that connected us with diverse stories and traditions,” shared Kuperman. “It enriched our understanding and allowed us to celebrate the holiday’s spirit from both inside and outside the Muslim community.”
The wide attendance of the event highlighted the continued growth of Muslim Life at Elon, as well as the university’s broader commitment to religious and cultural engagement – this year’s program was co-sponsored by the Center for Religion Culture and Society and the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center. The celebration also welcomed around 100 guests from the Burlington Masjid, strengthening ties between campus and the local community. As dinner was served, families, students, and children filled the space with joy, laughter, and shared belonging.
For many, that sense of shared belonging reflects a core value of Eid itself.
Eid celebrations center on joy, gratitude, and community. At Elon, those values take shape through partnerships, relationships, and intentional spaces for connection, ensuring that students can celebrate not in isolation, but as part of a broader, supportive community.
“Programs such as Eid exemplifies how Elon makes space for students to stay rooted in their own traditions and celebrations, while allowing them to expand their perspectives and learn about where their peers find meaning and purpose,” said Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement Hillary Zaken. “Our festivals are both authentic celebrations and also learning spaces that prepare students to move through our diverse and interconnected world with awareness and respect.”
The Eid festival is one of several major religious celebrations hosted each year by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Planned by the Zaken and the multifaith interns, these events are designed to build religious literacy, foster meaningful relationships, create opportunities for students to engage traditions beyond their own, and learn about the common threads that bind members of the campus community together, regardless of identity.
As Huria Tahiry shared, “Being here, far from home, Eid feels different. I miss the sounds, the gatherings, and the familiar traditions. But today, I am grateful to share a piece of my culture with you. Eid teaches us values that go beyond any one country, which are community, forgiveness, and generosity.”