Article on Islamic Awareness Week

IMAN celebrated Islam Awareness Week from February 18th, 2002 to February 22nd, 2002, offering the NSU community, food, desserts, and lectures to help the community better understand Islam and what it means to be a Muslim, ideas which are often mysterious if not actually misrepresented in the West, especially after the horrible events of September 11 when the world focused on extremists who falsely claimed to represent Islam.

The week was chosen to coincide with Hajj, the time of year when millions of Muslims from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Islam, Mecca in Saudia Arabia. This pilgrimage is the most spiritual experience for any Muslim and all Muslims are expected to perform it at least once in their lifetime. Hajj commemorates Abraham's supreme sacrifice of his son. Hajj is followed by the Eid-Ul-Adha, when Muslims all over the world slaughter a lamb or other suitable animal, in commemoration of Abraham's act of obedience to God. Muslims keep one third of the meat from the sacrifice, distribute one third to the needy and share one third with their neighbors.

To share this celebration, IMAN served Indian and Arabic desserts on Feb 19 and had an Indian and Arabic dinner on Feb 20. At both events Samir Gerez, an Islamic Chaplain and Director of Development of 5-Pillar Foundation, provided information and answered questions about Islam and Hajj. In addition to the dessert and the dinner, the week's events also included information tables as well as movie nights. The turnout for the programs, especially the dessert and the dinner, was excellent with the people enjoying both the food and the conversation. IMAN's events are open to all who are interested in finding out more about Islam and we would like you to come to our future events.