Event raises awareness of Islam

Mahar is a third-year business economics student and a member of
Muslim Students Association.

By Yasir Mahar

Recently, the issue of diversity on this campus has been brought
to the forefront by the Affirmative Action Coalition’s
struggle to repeal SP-1 and SP-2. Among the core reasons for this
movement lies the idea that a true education is an education
obtained through the interaction of a diverse student body.

Only through dialogue with people of different backgrounds and
experiences can one truly gain a deep understanding of the world we
live in. With each background comes a new perspective on life and a
new way of looking at issues.

Many times we are sheltered, only having knowledge of our own
life and of our own culture. Our reality is the reality of the
place we have grown up in. Many times our eyes are opened to
another world through a simple conversation with an individual who
comes from a different culture than we do.

But sadly, on this campus, many of us are missing out on the
myriad opportunities to enlighten ourselves by simply getting to
know people outside our own social circles. Students at UCLA tend
to segregate into their own ethnic groups, religious or social
groups, destroying the social education which cannot be attained in
the classroom.

This week the Muslim Students Association provided an
opportunity for people to learn about a new group they may be
unacquainted with. MSA’s annual Islamic Awareness Week
attempts to deepen the general public’s understanding of a
religion often misunderstood and misrepresented.

  Illustration by HINGYI KHONG/Daily Bruin Often regarded
as a “foreign” or “Arabic” religion
completely different from anything existing in the West, Islam has
been the victim of numerous stereotypes, and Muslims have been
characterized, among other things, as terrorists and misogynists.
The group attempted to break these stereotypes through nightly
programs throughout the week, beginning Monday.

The first program, titled “Science, Evolution, and
Islam” featured Dr. Gasser Hathout explaining Islam’s
relationship with science. He laid down the Islamic belief that
science and Islam are allies, meant to complement each other rather
than contradict. In explaining how the early Muslims were leading
scholars in such areas as mathematics, astrology and physics, he
best summed up the Muslim approach to science as simply a way to
discover the mysteries of the universe in order to glorify God.

Tuesday’s program featured graduate student Hisham Mahmoud
expressing the Islamic stance on Jesus (peace be upon him). In the
program titled “Jesus (peace be upon him); The Red Letters: A
Qur’anic Perspective,” Mahmoud discussed one of the
many things Islam and Christianity share in common: the high level
of importance placed on this historical figure.

While the Christians believe Jesus (peace be upon him) is the
son of God, Muslims believe he was one of the many prophets of God,
and in fact Muslims, like the Christians, believe he is the Messiah
who will return to lead good against evil. Mahmoud provided an
interpretation of the words of Jesus (peace be upon him) as set
down in the Red Letters of the Bible to support the Islamic
ideology of his prophethood.

Wednesday’s program attempted to break down the stereotype
that Islam oppresses and represses women. A succession of graduate
and undergraduate students and guest speakers discussed such issues
as being Muslim in a western society, the head covering (or hijab)
many Muslim women wear, and the activism for women’s rights
many Muslim women push for.

One of the main points of the night was the Islamic belief that
women’s rights are God-given as set down in the holy book of
the Muslims, the Qur’an, and are not something to be attained
from men.

The last program consisted of a panel of Muslim converts,
including former UCLA football star and current NFL player Abdul
Kareem Al-Jabbar. The speakers told their stories of their journey
to Islam and discussed the aspects of the religion that attracted
them.

There was also a table set up on BruinWalk where students could
receive free henna tattoos, have their name written in Arabic, pick
up literature on Islam, take Qur’ans, and engage in
theological discussions with MSA members.

Pilipino musicians also performed Islamic music at Meyerhoff
Park on Wednesday. The week concludes today with the weekly
congregational Muslim prayer (called juma’h) being held
outside at the top of Janss steps. This will allow non-Muslims to
observe a Muslim congregation, where a sermon will be led followed
by a group prayer.

There are two major positive outcomes of a week like this. The
first is that the general public has the opportunity to become
familiar with a group they may not have been acquainted with
before. They are able to educate themselves with a pure
understanding of what Islam is, rather than limiting their
knowledge to what the often biased media portrays.

The second outcome is that a week like this sparks discussion,
specifically theological discussion, from which both sides gain
both knowledge and a deeper appreciation and understanding of the
other. While the intent of the week is for others to learn about
Islam, the resulting interaction actually exposed Muslims to the
ideas and perspectives of non-Muslims as well.

Weeks like this are when true education occurs. The exchange of
ideas is the epitome of the advantage and importance of diversity,
and this is what strengthens the community as a whole. Too long
have we been sitting inside our little bubbles, unfamiliar with
those in their own bubbles around campus.

Hopefully, Islamic Awareness Week can lead to more interaction
between the groups on campus so that we can truly benefit from the
diversity that so many of us are fighting hard to maintain.