Islam Awareness Week addresses common misconceptions

Science, history and diplomacy are some daily themes.

By Shannon Montanez

Published April 14, 2009

The Muslim Student Organization sponsored its annual Islam Awareness Week last week with events to create appreciation for the Muslim religion.

The group started the week off by setting up a "Taste of Islam" on Monday on Lowry Mall. The group passed out samples from the International Café and publicized the week's upcoming events.

On April 6, religious studies department Chairman Robert Baum gave a presentation called "The Roots of Islam" in Memorial Union.

"'The Roots of Islam' was Dr. Baum talking about the situation among which Islam arose and its political implications and the culture at the time," MSO spokeswoman Nabihah Maqbool said.

On Tuesday, the group held a presentation titled "Women in Islam."

"It was a presentation about what Islam says about the status and roles regarding women," Maqbool said. "Like, why they wear the hijab and equality among genders. Hend el Buri gave the presentation and there were henna tattoos after."

Lily Tinker Fortel, the community outreach coordinator for Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, gave a presentation Wednesday about her peace advocacy mission trip to Iran, entitled "Diplomacy in the Islamic World," explaining how American visitors were treated in Iran.

Tinker Fortel was also part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the oldest interfaith peace organization in the US.

"While in Iran, our group visited Qom, the religious center for study for Shiite Islam," Tinker Fortel said. "We met with the director of the Center for Inter-religious Dialogue."

This peace advocacy mission allowed Tinker Fortel to meet many civilians on her trip, gaining knowledge of the general attitude of the Iranian people, she said.

"When I would meet people, they would say that they loved Americans. American policy, not so much," Tinker Fortel said. "I did not encounter anyone chanting 'death to America' or anything like that."

On Thursday, MSO sponsored Columbia University professor George Saliba, who lectured on "Islamic Science and the European Renaissance."

Saliba wrote several books, including "Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance." Rihab Sawah of KOPN/85.9 FM recruited him to speak on campus. MSO agreed to sponsor the event.

On Friday, MSO planned a visit to the mosque, the final event of Islam Awareness Week.

"Muslims pray five times a day and on Friday there is a special prayer instead of noon prayer," MSO member Arwa Mohammad said. "It is called Jumu'ah, which means Friday in Arabic. Men are required to come to Jumu'ah every Friday, but for women it is optional."

Upon entering a mosque, one must remove their shoes. Before prayers can begin, Muslims must cleanse themselves in a process called ablution. This involves washing the hands, feet, face and head.

This religious experience culminated Islam Awareness Week.

"It is important as a campus to understand one another and this is a great way for that to happen," Mohammad said.

Students who attend the events for this year's Islam Awareness Week learned about many different aspects of the religion including history, diplomacy and the status of women, Maqbool said.

"Each year I'm shocked with the number of people who walk in who are grossly misinformed or have very little awareness about the actual religion," Maqbool said.