DUNDEE,
Scotland, November 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - In an
effort to better promote the non-Muslims' knowledge of the religion
and its teachings, the Islam Awareness Day has been staged in this
city to the northeast of Scotland.
Members
of Parliament and church personalities attended the event, which
included a Ramadan iftar, in which Muslims break their dawn-to-dusk
fasting.
"The
idea struck our minds in Ramadan last year , when we noticed the
increase of non-Muslim students and other inhabitants visiting the
Central Mosque in the city to know more about Islam and its
principles," said Ali Al-Dadapagh, one of the organizers of the
event; "Discover Islam" group.
“This
pushed Muslims in Dundee to pick a day in the holy month of Ramadan,
during which the Iftar gathering is to be attended by non-Muslims for
"getting information about us first hand", said Al-Dapagh, a
physician of Iraqi origin.
He
further stressed the importance of the step, saying it would help
"halt the misunderstanding about Islam and Muslims long etched in
the minds of many non-Muslims, and encourage up Muslims to stick to
their own religion".
The
organizers extended invitations for 50 luminaries, including a member
of Parliament and two church bishops, he said.
It
is a clear sign "affirming to all Scots that Muslims are
effective and active part of the society's fabric," said Nadia
Al-Farid, the head of the student Islamic Society in Ebert University,
one of the organizers.
Al-Farid
is herself a new Muslim convert.
Prizes
& Booklets
With
the Maghreb Prayer (Sunset Prayer), the invitees began to flock to the
Central mosque, to be received by prizes and booklets about Islam.
The
program includes listening to Adhan (Call to prayer) and dhikr (remembrance
of God), with the Arabic words appearing on a large screen in the
front.
Dates,
a clear remarkable food usually eaten by Muslims, were also offered
for the attendees.
Then
a screening of the principles and features established in Islam were
also made.
Awareness
speeches about Muslims in Britain and Scotland were also given, with
all questions about the holy month of Ramadan answered.
Muslims
in Dundee reach 2,800, along with students hailed to the city - famous
within Scotland as the city of three J's Jute, Jam and Journalism -
for education courses.
