CAIRO,
April 3, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – MAS Youth, the division of the
Muslim American Society (MAS), has launched an awareness campaign to
educate their non-Muslim peers about the characteristics and merits of
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
"Amid
misconceptions… this is a much-needed effort to show the public who
Muhammad was through creative public education," Amr Ahmed, a
campaign organizer, said in a press release, a copy of which was
mailed to IslamOnline.net on Monday, April 3.
Muhammad,
the Orphan Who Adopted the World has
been launched to equip young Muslims with necessary tools to raise
public awareness about the Prophet.
The
campaign includes articles, posters, T-shirts, books, multimedia,
display ideas and other resources to acquaint non-Muslims with the
Prophet.
"The
campaign will mobilize the youth in a productive way," said Ayman
Khafagi, another campaign organizer.
The
drive is envisioned as a realistic, practical response to the national
discussion of the Danish cartoon controversy, that triggered massive
and sometimes violent demonstrations across the Muslim world.
The
controversy has also motivated Muslim minorities in many Western
countries to champion local campaigns to raise awareness about the
Prophet.
In
March, Muslim scholars decided to establish an international
organization and a fund to defend the Prophet against defamatory
attacks in the West.
IslamOnline.net
has also launched a multi-lingual website to acquaint non-Muslims with
the prophet.
Role
Model
Organizers
say the campaign encourages youths to take the initiatives instead of
reacting to negativity in the media.
"It
trains American Muslim youth to love Muhammad through working to
present him," Ahmed said.
Khafagi
agreed that the campaign aims to sidestep defensiveness.
"The
Prophet is an amazing role model who influenced so many people for the
better, and through his teachings, people will continue to be
influenced," added Saja Hindi, a campaign organizer.
She
stressed that youth have an obligation to spread the Prophet's
message, and that this campaign can help them do so.
The
drive, serving young professionals and youth in high schools and
colleges, seeks to encourage and support young Muslims organize local
awareness campaigns in their schools and workplaces.
The
campaign’s website combines practical suggestions for local
campaigns with multimedia, discounts for film showings, and online
discussion forums.
MAS
is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational,
not-for-profit organization.
It
aims to present the message of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims,
promote understanding between them, and encourage the participation of
Muslims in building a virtuous and moral society.
