The Muslim Student Association (MSA) will be hosting their annual Islam Awareness Week on the week of September 28th-October 2nd. Islam Awareness Week (IAW) is a series of week long events geared towards helping students on campus gain a better understanding of Islam and dispelling misconceptions about Islam. This year, the theme is “Hyphenating the Gap Between Muslim and American.” Following is a list of the week's events followed with a brief description:
Monday (9/28)
Title: Wear a Hijab Challenge (https://www.facebook.com/events/1623873404548382/)
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m:
Where: Main Quad
Description: The Wear a Hijab Challenge is dedicated to exploring the roles and beliefs of Muslim women and what it means to wear the hijab (head scarf). Women of all backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the challenge by wearing a headscarf for 3 days, completing daily challenges, and sharing their experiences.
Monday (9/28)
Title: Shariah Then and Now
Description: Shariah, or Islamic Law, is often misconstrued in today's media and is associated with words/phrases like radicalism and “a threat to America.” Edina Lekovic will be dispelling these misconceptions, discussing what Shariah is, how it has been implemented in the past, and what it means in the daily life of an American Muslim.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Hall 1000
Tuesday (9/29)
Title: Islam Around the World: The Framework, Appeal, and Growth of Islam
Description: Islam is a rapidly growing religion. Kaiser Aslam will be discussing what dictated the sociology of the Ummah (the Muslim community), and how the “Islamic culture” is not rigid but rather manifested in a natural progression through its early and contemporary history.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center
Wednesday (9/30)
Title: Wear a Hijab Challenge - Discussion
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Women's Resource Center
Description: Join the participants of Monday’s Wear a Hijab Challenge for a discussion about everyone’s experiences while wearing the hijab as well as a short history about the hijab and what it means to Muslim women.
Thursday (10/1)
Title: Interfaith Dinner (https://www.facebook.com/events/172199766448382/)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: YMCA
Description: Generosity is a key principle in Islam and sharing a meal with someone is one manifestation of generosity. People of all faiths are invited to share a meal near the end of Islam Awareness Week.
Friday (10/2)
Title: Visit a Mosque Day
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: CIMIC, 106 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: (217) 344-0022
Description: The Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center (CIMIC) has been supporting Muslims in Central Illinois since 1983. Muslims of all nationalities and cultures come to CIMIC to pray every Friday during the congregational sermon and prayer. Please join us for a tour.
For more information about the week's events, please visit the MSA website at http://www.msauiuc.org/#!islam-awareness-week/c1p1r!
Thanks to Chancellor’s Scholar Muzammil Ali for this information item.
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