I am a student at Westminster University and we I haven't seen any posters for the Islam Awareness Week this year in my university? What universities do you usually target and how was the experience this year?
Answer
As-salaamu’alaykum dear Ihsan,
Thank you for your questions, Islam Awareness Week usually takes place on the third week in November and is taken up by schools, universities, mosques, local authorities and inter faith groups to name a few. University Islamic Societies usually organize their own Islam Awareness Weeks - some of them fall within our November dates others do not. The Islam Awareness Week on campus is an important item on the campus calendar and we help support them when requested. The Islam Awareness Weeks are organized locally, nationally we decide a theme through consultation but it’s really up to local organizers whether they wish to take it up. Next year the IAW team is looking to partner with the National Union of Students to organize Islam Awareness Weeks up and down the country during fresher's week. Please do look out for that.
Name
Mohanad
- Belgium
Profession
Student
Question
I know the target of this week is to correct the misunderstandings about Islam, what were the best ways to do that based on this year's experience?
Answer
As-salaamu’alaykum dear Mohaned,
Thank you for posting your question.
During Islam Awareness Week volunteers throughout the country will be organising a range of activities and events aimed at countering misconceptions around Islam, by providing accurate information, developing contacts with individuals and institutions to work towards the good for all members of society, promoting dialogue and celebrating shared values.
We support local activities and provide resources to supplement events. Our website highlights activities undertaken and provides useful resources.
Nationally we are able to pool resources enabling local groups to do activities that they may not have the resources to do on their own, for instance in 2006 we invited Professor John Esposito for a speakers tour.
This year too Dawud Wharnsby the Canadian singer–songwriter visited several cities playing at over 60 events as part of a combined schools and community tour. This is the third year Dawud Wharnsby joined us during IAW.
We also encourage schools to get involved by offering a range of available resources. These include a specialist webpage for schools, a teaching resource pack, leaflets and volunteers who are available on request to conduct specially commissioned classroom presentations.
Resources have included audio visuals, surveys, exhibitions and leaflets. Indeed this year you can see the New Schools Webpage launched at the Houses of Parliament on Monday 17 Nov which is the first interactive webpage on Islam and Muslims designed exclusively for schools. You can also see the film we commissioned this year on Shared Values, as well as the results of our on line survey looking for the good in British society and celebrating that.
Name
Qorashy Khan
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
The IAW Online Survey revealed that the most popular response by British Muslims on what they liked best about Britain was Freedom and Diversity. Well, I can agree with you about diversity as Britain is number one multi-cultural country, but concerning freedom, nowadays, Britain's government and the policemen as well are dealing with Britain's Muslims in a very strict way. Look at the terror-act for instance and tell me where you can find this freedom please. Kindly comment.
Answer
As-salaamu'alaykum Qorashy,
Thank you for the question.
As part of this year's theme:
Celebrating the Best of Britain, promoting shared values. We explored the Qur'anic direction ‘to come to common terms’ with others by asking:
What is best about the values of Britain? Which are the things that draw us together? The survey results are very interesting in that they reveal the top responses to be: Freedom (12.8%), Diversity (8.9%), Legal and Political Rights (8.3%), Education (7.4%), Environment (6.1%), Order (6.1%)
These results are heartening as they show that Muslims recognise the good within the community in which they live (interestingly the 'Muslim Community' came a lot further down the list).
The curtailment of some freedoms due to anti - terror law are opposed by many including Muslims. However we should bear in mind it is the value of Freedom as a concept in our society that ensures that Muslims like their fellow citizens are free to practise their faith and to also speak out against any injustices they see in society.
There may be concerns with this title, for instance some may think it absurd to be talking about the best of Britain when our British troops are occupying Muslim lands.
However we are confident it fits the IAW criteria as it promotes:
• What we as Muslims and Britons admire or aspire to such as tolerance and accepting diversity
• The theme helps counter the feelings that Muslims see themselves as apart from British society and helps increase a sense of mutual empathy between people
• It is an established principle of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) that whatever is good should be preserved and that we should look for the good in society
• IAW is not a vehicle for venting every criticism of what goes on in the world – it is a pro-active initiative that is looking at the positive aspects of society and where appropriate celebrating them
• Finally we believe this theme acts as ‘psychological therapy’ on a national scale – by finding the good, seeking mutual empathy and by emphasising the positive we will encourage communities to look more optimistically at our future together.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
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Answer
This session has come to an end.
We would like to thank Tahmina Saleem for speaking to IslamOnline.net viewers today and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue.
We apologize for not being able to accommodate any further questions. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
