The Muslim Students Association will be educating students about the values and beliefs of Islam throughout the rest of week during Islamic Awareness Week in the Hughes-Trigg commons area.
“MSA is a national organization, and Islam Awareness Week is taking place at various schools across the nation,” senior and MSA President Aisha U-Kiu said.
The program’s theme for this week, “Unscramble Your Assumptions,” aims to break down incorrect preconceived notions of many aspects of the Islamic religion.
“Even if we only have one person change their perception on Islam from negative to positive, then we attained our goal,” U-Kiu said. “We aren’t trying to convert anyone, just promote Islam and show the students what it is really about.”
In light of many of the recent world events that have transpired over the past decade, Islam has been painted in a very negative shade. Sophomore Mohammad Khan hopes this week will show students “we are not trying to hide anything; we just want to be open about our religion and answer any questions people might have.”
Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, especially in the U.S., according to the 2005 census bureau data. As such a fast-growing religion, especially one that has taken a lot of bad press lately, “It is important to open people’s eyes to the peace of Islam and share our religion with our campus and community,” U-Kiu said.
MSA began Islamic awareness week last Friday with an open showing of prayer rituals. Friday is a holy day, just as Sunday is holy to Christians.
The program will continue with a presentation on Wednesday also speaking of prayer, talking about rituals in prayer and other aspects of worship. Dr. Annemarie Carr will speak on the significance of a mosque and how its architecture is different from a Christian church.
Thursday highlights the “Abrahamic tradition” part of the Islamic religion, citing similarities in the Islamic religion to other religions, such as the Islamic view on Jesus, as well as how the Islamic God is the same God to which many other religions pray.
Friday ends the week with a day of interaction. Many displays will be set up, and educational games will be available for students to play.
“We are not ‘Islamo-fascists,’ U-Kiu said. “We want people to see what our religion truly is.”
The MSA encourages all students regardless of creed to drop by the displays in the Hughes-Trigg commons area and experience a little enlightenment toward an unfamiliar religion.
The Muslim Students Association meets for prayer service at 2 p.m. Friday afternoons in Hughes-Trigg and has general meetings at 3 p.m. in the same location.
