This week, the Muslim University Students’ Association (MUSA) invites you to attend the 2015 Islam Awareness Week. The week will involve movie nights, lectures and a networking with Muslims evening. MUSA hopes to clear up the many misconceptions about the Islamic faith and to highlight areas of common belief and understanding between their and others’ religions. They hope to promote inter-faith dialogue by strengthening relationships between Muslims and everyone else on campus. All are welcome!
“Islam is not just a religion; it’s a way of life, culture, interaction, love, peace and unity. By definition, Islam means peace, and I wish people to know that there’s a massive difference between what media portray Islam as and what Islam really is. Please come and meet Muslims, ask questions, clarify things and enjoy new experience … See you at Islamic Awareness Week.”
Mohamud Osman
“I aspire to be a successful lawyer and most importantly a good person. I share the same life aspirations and ambitions as anybody else in campus. I have a dream that one day the world would think of Islam and not simultaneously think of terror, prejudice and inequality. Islam is just a religion. It’s malleable. You can bring goodness to it if you are a good person, and at the same time can bring evil if you are.”
Hadi Alkhwaildi,
Law
“My wish is for people to be open to asking questions so they can get the real idea of what Islam is, what I believe, and how it relates to my spiritual life rather than just basing their ideas on misconceptions.”
Hamza,
Computer Science
“In Islam, we believe that the unity of Muslims with each other is like the bricks of a building. Each strengthens the other.”
Imad Al Lawati,
Dentistry
“That Islam isn’t always what you see or hear on the TV or the internet. Though the lives of Muslims do differ to lives in many other societies, most of us still live with the same morals and carry the same humane views that are considered normal to everybody. It would be cool to see people really trying to learn about the Islam that actually surrounds them and realising that we really aren’t that different from the rest of society.”
Ali Johnston
“Converting to Islam was a big decision, and what has surprised me is the reactions of people to my decision. To me I see the links between Islam and the other religions as they all have the same route … this fact I think is often forgotten.”
Bronwyn,
Foundation Studies
“I don’t ever remember being in a place where I had no rights or was treated differently because I am a woman. Islam is my protection in life, without it I would feel insecure.”
Fatemeh Ghanbari
“Islam teaches tolerance, not hatred; universal brotherhood, not enmity; peace, and not violence.”
Almoatasam Alsiyabi,
Dentistry
“Have you ever wondered where the culture of wearing a regalia during graduation came from? It is a muslim culture whereby our scholars used to wear it during their everyday life.”
Nor Asyikin Mohd Tahir,
Pharmacy
“I wish people would look past the inhumane actions of many heartless individuals around the world and discover what Islam is really about. I urge those with these misunderstandings to find out more about Islam when you have the opportunity. Enter a mosque or open a page of the Quran. Islam beautifully preaches love, devotion and peace.
I’m so proud to be a Muslim.”
Zahra Ditta,
Psychology
“What I want the non-Muslim community to understand is the role of a woman in Islam. We, unfortunately, have been misrepresented in the media and press. We are not oppressed and the male in our family does not control our life. As a Muslim woman, we are able to have our own opinion, make decisions and pave our own path. The most physical evidence in this thinking of “oppression” would be by our Hijab or headscarf. To a Muslim woman, this does not represent being oppressed but more of our freedom, and this is our choice! Personally, I started wearing my Hijab two years ago because I felt more pressured to be accepted in society when I was not wearing a Hijab, or as we call it being ‘Free Hair’. I had to keep up with the latest trends, fashion, what was in and what was out. But since wearing a Hijab, I felt more empowered and knew that I could do anything I set my mind to and pave my own way.”
Siti Hajar Anurddin,
Commerce
“We are human beings with hopes, passions and goals in life just like any other person.”
Ebba Ourfali
“God and religion are not a burden but guidance to a successful life. People may assume that we are burdened by the prayers and other Islamic ways, just because it may not be the norm; it is the uniqueness that makes us who we are.”
Suhail Toubat,
Accounting
“Islam has taught us the difference between wrong and right. It has simplified life for me. However, as not everyone is perfect, it does not mean that all Muslims are to be blamed. I wish for people to know we are normal.”
Abdalla Abdi
“Knowledge is one of the cores of Islam and I once compared knowledge as a backpack, full of required textbooks and lecture notes or maybe your laptop and all those pen drives. What use is carrying all that weight if you aren’t going to make full use of it?”
Iffah Abdul Kahar,
Medicine
We are a people of diverse cultures and traditions. We exist in societies spanning the world over that have existed and integrated with their localities for centuries. A Chinese Muslim is Chinese, a Somalian Muslim is Somali and a Fijian Muslim is Fijian. We may have certain characteristics that bind us with people thousands of kilometers away, but in actuality, we are part of the here and now. We are “Kiwi” Muslims.
Hashmat Lafraie
Islam Awareness Week 2015 Event Schedule
Monday, September 7th
Exhibition: Union Hall, 9am-4pm
Opening: Union Hall, 12.10pm
Interfaith Dialogue: Union Hall, 12.30-1.30pm
Tuesday, September 8th
Exhibition: Union Hall, 9am - 4pm
Movie Night: Seven Wonders of the Muslim World
Burns 1, 7.00pm
Wednesday, September 9th
Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group Annual Peace Lecture: “Pursuing Peace in a Time of Peace and a Time of War”
St. David Lecture Theatre, 5.30-7.00pm
Chocolate & Chit Chat (ladies only): Alhambra Hall, 7.30-9.00pm
Thursday, September 10th
Lecture and a Q&A Session
“Mercy to all the Worlds”
Speaker: Arif Rasheed
Burns 1, 7.00-9.00pm
Friday, September 11th
Meet a Muslim Evening
Alhambra Hall, 7.00-9.00pm
Saturday, September 12th & Sunday, September 13th
Open Day
9.00am-3.00pm
All welcome