Rasha Sayet knelt and arched toward the sage green carpet of East Lansing's Islamic Center Tuesday afternoon.

Sayet was taking part in something millions of Muslims do five times every day.

She was praying.

That morning, Sayet and more than 1,000 area Muslims entered the Islamic Center, 920 S. Harrison Road, to ring in the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, said Abubacker Kulam, the center's general secretary.

A community gathering and prayer began at 9 a.m., followed by a sermon and greetings, Kulam said.

"We visit with each other," he said. "We hug each other — men hug men and women hug women. We greet each other. It's a great moment."

Sayet held her 10-month-old daughter, Rahmah, as she explained the holiday.

"It's a large celebration," she said. "There's a special prayer at 9:30 in the morning. We get together, give gifts to the children and greetings."

Eid al-Adha, commonly referred to as Eid, is a four-day festival of sacrifice that began Monday evening, during which each household is expected to donate a meal or money to the needy, said Mohammad Khalil, an instructor in MSU's religious studies department.

The holiday remembers a story in the Quran in which Abraham, a pious man, is ready to sacrifice his son to Allah. At the last moment, Allah stops Abraham and tells him to sacrifice a lamb instead.

"People will give food to other people," Khalil said. "The point is to sacrifice from their own wealth to give to others."

Eid al-Adha is one of two major holidays in Islam. Eid al-Fitr takes place at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Eid al-Adha occurs as the 10-day pilgrimage to Mecca — expected of every Muslim in his or her lifetime — winds down.

Eid al-Adha will occur twice in 2006 because the Muslim calendar is based on lunar cycles, Khalil said.

Keeping up traditions can be hard, especially during school, accounting junior Kashif Saleem said.

"It's a lot different from being in high school," said Saleem, a member of the Muslim Student Association.

Saleem went to services at the Islamic Center this morning and planned on joining his friends for dinner.

"It's about being together in the absence of family," he said.

Although customs for Eid vary throughout cultures, a traditional celebration will involve a sacrifice of an animal, part of which is donated to the needy and a portion of which is eaten by the family in a large dinner during the main day of Eid. Families and friends come together to celebrate, Sayet said.

"It looks like Thanksgiving in America," she said.

Eid brings a variety of individuals to the Islamic Center, Kulam said.

"It's a diverse community," he said. "We have people that come from many countries.

"Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, India, Somalia, a lot of different countries. We all have one thing in common — religion."