The Islamic faith continues to grow around the world and OU's Muslim Student Association will focus on the reasons as part of its annual Islam Awareness Week. The week also aims to clear misunderstandings surrounding the religion.
In the United States, there are 8,400 Muslims, growing steadily since the 1970s, according to the Middle East Policy Council.
The Muslim Student Association will focus on reasons behind the religion's success in gaining new followers through various guest speakers, said Fareed Riazuddin, electrical engineering senior and MSA treasurer. Experts will spotlight causes at 7 p.m. every evening through Thursday in 201 Physical Sciences Center.
A food festival will be held Friday at 11 a.m. on Walker/Adams Mall, weather permitting, featuring typical food from countries like Egypt and Pakistan, Riazuddin said. The alternate site for the luncheon is the Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center.
In a post-Sept. 11 world, Muslims have increasingly become more exposed to misunderstanding from non-Muslims, Riazuddin said.
"It's not what everybody else says," he said. "We aren't terrorists. We want to practice our religion."
Muslims pray five times a day and celebrate their most sacred day on Fridays, Riazuddin said.
Students often learn about Islam through media coverage or non-Muslims, which often leads to misconceptions, said Essam Tawfik, civil engineering doctoral candidate and MSA president. Through Islam Awareness Week, people can accurately learn about the religion.
"It is important to learn Islam from the Muslims themselves," Tawfik said.
Learning from practicing Muslims will benefit people who are curious, Tawfik said. Contact with Muslims will provide students with accurate answers, he said.
The week's keynote speaker, Mamdouh Mohamed, an American Open University professor, will present a lecture Wednesday, Riazuddin said. AOU is a non-profit educational organization offering Islamic education.
The political landscape in predominately Muslim nations will be analyzed Thursday, said Josh Landis, MIddle Eastern history professor who will present the lecture. Understanding the basis of governments such as Egypt and Iraq has importance in the world today.
Islam Awareness Week
The Muslim Students Association is hosting a week of activities to educate the OU community.
*Role of Women in Islam: A lecture given by members of the MSA Sisters Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday in room 201 Physical Science Center.
*Islam, Growing for a Reason: A lecture given by Mamdouh Mohamed, American Open University Professor, at 7 p.m Wednesday in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
*Political Islam: A lecture given by professor Joshua Landis at 7 p.m. Thursday in room 201 Physical Science Center.
*Food Festival and Jummah Prayer: An open buffet will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Walker/Adams Mall.
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