In a time when world politics have caused the Islamic religion to come under public scrutiny, Penn's Muslim Students Association has aimed to do their part in promoting awareness.
And for the next week in particular, the MSA will be doing just that.
Today marks the beginning of the MSA's annual Islam Awareness Week, with events including three lectures, an open prayer service and a community service day.
According to IAW Co-Chairman and College junior Anjum Cheema, the week has "taken a more important role since 9/11."
"Islam was kind of put into the forefront and is in focus" since Sept. 11, 2001, Cheema said. "Most of the images that you see in the media are somehow related to Islam, directly or indirectly. A lot of things have been said about Islam and Muslims.... It seems as if our religion isn't being represented as it truly is."
Cheema added that, for this reason, IAW is intended to serve as an educator for non-Muslims.
"The main purpose is to get a big non-Muslim audience to come out and hear what Islam is all about," he said.
One such event is the open prayer today at 1 p.m., which will offer non-Muslim students a look at the weekly Islamic religious service.
"The prayer will go on as usual, but several individuals will be explaining prior to the start what will happen," MSA President and College junior Muhammed Mekki said. "Then, once the prayer is over, we'll be available to answer questions and explain a little about what happened."
This year, Mekki said he hopes "to take Islamic Awareness Week to another level" by also concentrating on strengthening the MSA's ties with other Penn groups.
"One of the main focuses of IAW this year is coalition-building with other campus groups," he said. "We're working hard to build links with other religious and cultural groups on campus."
This goal is apparent in the three lectures that the MSA has planned.
"The first lecture is a more general discussion about religion, the place of religion in one's life and where Islam fits in," Mekki said.
New York City Metro Transit Authority Chaplain Imam Abdul Malik's lecture -- entitled "Muslims and Jews: Is there any hope?" -- will examine the similarities between Judaism and Islam, focusing on the common prophetic figure of Moses.
"It's very important to find that link between Islam and Judaism given all the conflict that's going on between Muslims and Jews right now," Cheema said. "Muslims have just as much an attachment to Moses as Jews do. That's a point that we share."
Hillel Interfaith Chairwoman and College sophomore Amanda Ring said that, though Hillel was unable to co-sponsor this particular event, she looks forward to attending it, and to planning discussion groups and forums with the MSA in the future.
"We're trying our best to have these programs between the different religious groups on campus," she said. "We just have so many issues to talk about."
Mekki said he is especially excited to hear Christians and Muslims for Peace founder Bill Baker's lecture -- which will focus on common ground between Islam and Christianity -- since it is the first speech delivered by a non-Muslim during an IAW at Penn.
Between the cost of the large banner on Locust Walk, renting space and paying lecturers, Mekki said that the bill for this year's IAW was close to $5,000.
But with support from co-sponsors such as the Office of the Chaplain and the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, the MSA was able to foot the bill, and Mekki said he is hoping IAW will be well worth the money.
"We're really trying to get the message out there to each and every Penn student so that anyone who is interested can either attend one of our events or contact us to find out more information," he said.
"To ensure that each Penn student will have the opportunity to learn more about Islam, even if they're not able to make it to the lectures, we're going to be posting the audio on our Web site after the events."
Islam awareness event schedule
Open prayer: Today, 1-2 p.m., ARCH Auditorium Lecture on altruism: Today, 7:30 p.m., Terrace Room of Logan Hall Community service: Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Clark Park at 44th Street and Baltimore Avenue Lecture on Moses: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Ben Franklin Room of Houston Hall Lecture on Islam and Christianity: Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Terrace Room of Logan Hall
