To understand another’s custom, one must look at it from the perspective of the person practicing the custom. One must place themselves or attempt to place themselves in the shoes of the other. Sort of, look through the eyes of that person to feel what she feels. That is where understanding occurs. And that is why events such as the Sacramento Cultural Festival are so important. They allow for diverse expression of cultural values which keep the tree of community alive and vibrant in the fruitful production of ideas and its flowering creates beauty and attraction for all to enjoy.
—The Culture of Islam by IECRC
October 2, 2011
The Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center (IECRC) participated in the Annual Sacramento World Festival in Old Sacramento (California) on October 2, 2011. The IECRC booth represented artifacts, books, clothing, music, Islamic poetry and many other Islamic cultural items from the various cultures in the Muslim world including that of Pakistan, Morroco, Saudi Arabia (Mecca and Medina), Egypt, Syria, India, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey among other countries. Among the highlights at booth included free henna cultural designs on the hands of women, Arabic writing of the audience’s names, and an interactive poster of the text of the Holy Qur’an on one page viewed only by microscope.
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The goal of this exhibition and performance was to introduce to the American public a view of Islam through its beautiful and colorful cultural expression. The performance included a recital (dhikr) in Arabic by Lua Hightower and the IECRC Naat Group of Sacramento about the meanings of Allahu Akbar (God is Greater) Islamic Tawhid (Oneness of God), and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Farhad Yaqubi presented his own composition in Farsi on the Compassionate and Merciful attributes of God and a beautiful performance on harmonium of the famous Nami Daanam che manzil bood shab jaey ke man boodam a piece written by Amir Khusro (may God have mercy on him) about the spiritual state of Union with the One. All performances were translated in English along with the Roman transliteration so that the audience could experience some of the depth of the spiritual works being presented. Meher Faiq of Fusion Catering and Shemeem Khan offered free samoosas and pakoras (traditional Muslim food from the Subcontinent) prepared at location while the audience enjoyed the presentation.
Sharaaz Khan Qadri, Director of the Sacramento Chapter of IECRC presented two traditional stories from Kaleela Dimnah and Maulana Rumi’s Mathnawi (may God have mercy on him) to an audience of children and parents in Old Sacramento’s famous Eagle Theater.
This all-day event ended in a success as the event offered itself as a great opportunity to network with other cultures in an exchange of religious and cultural viewpoints within a friendly, open, and non-dogmatic atmosphere. A publication by IECRC named “The Culture of Islam” was published and handed out to the audience.
