Kicking off its annual Islam Awareness Week last night, the Muslim Students Association hosted a panel of two speakers who talked about the development of the Muslim community in America, as well as the recent struggles that have arisen from domestic and international sociopolitical events.
Howard University professor of African Studies Sulayman Nyang and Imam Abdul Malik, chaplain of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority, addressed students and members of the Philadelphia Muslim community in Houston Hall in a lecture entitled "Muslims in America: Finding a Place in Society."
University Chaplain William Gibson emceed the event, and told around 75 audience members they would be "informed, inspired and challenged" by these two speakers. The speakers focused on different subjects and employed different speaking styles, but together contributed to a greater insight of Muslims' role in society today.
Nyang took a scholarly approach and described from a historical perspective the five phases in the evolution of the Muslim community in America. He went on to project an image of the sixth phase -- which he labeled the "post-9/11 phase" -- as one in which Muslims need to become educated and fight for their rights.
Malik similarly emphasized the importance of education, stating that "the absence of intelligence is what has created so much confusion in the world today." He also commented that education is the means by which students could come to understand that the position of Muslims today is not unlike those of other minority religious groups in the past.
College senior Anjum Cheema, president of the MSA, said the event was "a great start to the week," and one he felt was important because it gave people within and outside of the Muslim community a chance to engage in conversation about the niche Muslims occupy in American society.
Other students present found the speakers to be inspirational.
College junior Amani Hassan said they gave her "a sense of drive towards truth, a drive that all humans have regardless of their religion."
Events for IAW will go on until next Thursday night, building "a momentum that will continue" into the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, College and Wharton junior Amir Memon said.
