Similar to Sushmita Rajan, who was featured in the last installment of the Continuation of Culture series, NASH senior Faiz Iqbal is always in search of ways to keep his culture alive. Iqbal hails from a Muslim Pakistani family. 

“My mom was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan,” he said. “My Dad was born in Lahore, Pakistan but was raised in London, England.”

His parents moved to Pittsburgh about 20 years ago, where he was born and raised.

“Family is very important in Pakistani culture,” he continued. “My mother is very passionate about sticking to our roots, and that has helped me maintain a connection with my culture. We have also been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by supportive friends and neighbors in America.”

Pakistan is a melting pot of different cultures, though almost 97% of its population is Muslim. Therefore, many Pakistanis often celebrate Islamic holidays together, even while not in Pakistan.

“We celebrate Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha,” Iqbal said. “Eid Al-Fitr is to celebrate the completion of the month of fasting, Ramadan. Eid Al-Adha is celebrated after the pilgrimage of Hajj.”

Even in Pittsburgh, which is thousands of miles away from Pakistan, there is a thriving Muslim community that still celebrates their traditions together.

“My mosque has a diverse community, and we all attend the mosque to celebrate holidays and prayers,” he said. 

There are approximately 10,000 people of Islamic faith living in Pittsburgh, and they make up less than one percent of the national population. Still, the community is very vibrant–just as Iqbal’s clothes are.

“The top is called a kameez, and the pants are called kara pajama. The waistcoat is there to add a touch of formality,” Iqbal described.

Kameezes are common throughout South Asia for both men and women. Traditional articles of clothing can vary from country to country, but in general, the clothing is representative of the modesty teachings in these countries. Both men and women dress modestly to follow Islamic culture.

There is much to discover about the rich history and culture of Islam, and Iqbal hopes to shed light on the issues that affect his people, including racism and Islamophobia.

“I wish people knew how loving our community is instead of giving in to stereotyped biases they learn about online and in the media,” Iqbal said.

Islamophobia has existed for many years, but it was heightened after 9/11. Many Americans believed that Islam itself was the cause of the terrorist attacks, but in reality the cause of the attacks were the terrorists. They just happened to also be Muslim. But people found what they thought was the simplest reason and ran with it.

Since then, certain media depictions of Islam have perpetuated false stereotypes of the religion and the people who identify as Muslim. Sometimes people fear what they cannot understand. But if they make an attempt to understand or at least learn something new, they will be more likely to appreciate and respect it. Unlearning societal norms is a long process, but it is necessary for the safety and wellbeing of others.

“I wish people knew how loving our community is instead of giving in to stereotyped biases they learn about online and in the media,” Iqbal said.

It is important to open your heart and mind to new ideas and experience cultures that are different from your own, especially if you live in an area surrounded by cultures that are similar to yours. That is the main goal of the “Continuation of Culture” series.