Through Friday, the SMU Muslim Students’ Association willbe sponsoring “Islam Awareness Week 2004,” a time tointroduce the Hilltop community to the values, beliefs andlifestyle of this growing religion.
“Islam Awareness Week takes place at various schoolsacross the country,” senior Yasmeen Tadia said.
Drawing attention to the diversity of Islam will show,”that Islam is prominent not only in the Middle East, but itis growing in America as well,” sophomore Mahnaz Rahmansaid.
America alone is home to over six million Muslims, and thisnumber is growing.
Islam continues to draw followers at an estimated rate of135,000 converts per year.
“[Islam] is the fastest growing religion in theworld,” Tadia said, “and we hope to increase awarenessabout the religion.”
According to the Islam Guide Web site (www.islam-guide.com), theIslamic religion is founded upon five pillars — the testimonyof faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fastingduring the month of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
In addition to bringing an understanding of the religion to theSMU campus, the Muslim Students’ Association also sees thisweek as an opportunity to break down preconceived notions aboutIslam.
“Many people are under the impression that we areviolent,” Tadia said. “Actually, the word‘Islam’ means peace.”
Islam Awareness Week will continue with a movie screening ofThe Message at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Hughes-TriggTheatre.
On Thursday, a debate entitled “Accurate IslamicGovernance or Extremism?” will take place at 4:30 p.m. in theHughes-Trigg Commons in which a panel will discuss the governingbodies in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.”
The week will conclude on Friday evening with a Halaqa in theHughes-Trigg Portico C/D at 8 p.m.
“It will be sort of like a Bible study, with peoplespeaking their minds about different issues and sharing theiropinions,” first-year Omair Khan said. “This particularHalaqa will be centered around gender relations inIslam.”
Other events this week included Monday’s exhibit onscientific achievements in Islam and Tuesday’s culturalmosaic titled “Faces of Islam.”
The mosaic highlighted the Islamic culture in various parts ofthe world, including South Africa, Asia, North America andEurope.
The Muslin Students’ Association encourages all students,regardless of religious orientation, to take a few minutes and opentheir ears to the voices of the Islamic future.
“We want to give our side of the story,” Tadiasaid.
For more information, contact the Muslin Students’Association at (214) 768-9828.
