IOWA
CITY, October 10, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Muslim minority in
Iowa City, the United States, are to launch a "Discover
Islam" campaign in a bid to build a bridge of understanding
between Muslims and non-Muslims, an American Web site reported Monday,
October 10.
Iowa
Muslim Students Association (IMSA) and the Iowa City Mosque have
organized the three-part lecture series beginning Thursday, October
13, Press-Citizen.com said.
The
Lectures include: "Islam 101: Beliefs & Practices," a
question and answer discussion about Islam, and "Being a Muslim
Woman."
"There
are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings, and it's really
incumbent upon Muslims to stand up and tell people who they are and
what Islam is," IMSA spokesman Mohamad Elmasry told
Press-Citizen.
"If
we don't do that, what will happen inevitably is people who are
hostile toward Muslims will tell our story for us," he said.
One
of the misconceptions about the Islamic community includes the
perception of Ramadan itself, Elmasry said.
"We
don't dread it, as some people think. Fasting is the best time for
Muslims. You feel really close to God during Ramadan, and it's a very
spiritual time," he said.
Curious
to Know
Ahmed
Souaiaia, an assistant professor in Religious Studies at the
University of Iowa, said the public has become more willing to learn
about the Muslim minority.
He
said interest has increased since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and
the invasion of Iraq.
"A
lot of people are resigned to the fact that America will be engaged in
the Muslim world for a while," said Souaiaia, who teaches an
introductory course on Islam.
Souaiaia
added he heard that in previous years the class barely had 15
students. Now, about 300 students are registered for the spring
course, he said.
"This
shows an awareness and desire to learn," he said.
A
recent poll has shown that the percentage of Americans having a
favorable opinion of Muslim Americans is on the rise, while the number
of Americans believing that Islam was a violent religion is declining.
