The Muslim Student Association’s Islam Awareness Week kicks off today with the hope of spreading information about Islamic religion and culture. The week officially starts today and will last through next Monday.
The Islam Awareness Week is held every year to spread information about Islam, with the exception of last year when the organization was inactive, said Alaa Mubarak, an English freshman and a member of the MSA.
Today the MSA will sponsor a cultural exhibition in the Union from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition will include fashion displays from different parts of the Islamic world and demonstrations on the art of Henna, a form of Islamic art used on the hair and skin, said Khalid Alshamsi, the MSA secretary.
On Thursday, the MSA will hold a movie day and show five movies about Islamic culture and religion from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., open to all students, Alshamsi said.
The following Monday, Jihad Muhammed from the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge will lecture and host a discussion titled, “Jesus is Coming Back.”
“This should really shed some light on how the Muslims look at Jesus,” Alshamsi said. “It will show people the similarities between Christianity and Islam.”
Each day during Islam Awareness Week, MSA members will be available in the Union to answer questions and hand out information about Islam, Alshamsi said.
“This will also be a good opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world,” Alshamsi said.
The MSA is in the process of returning to campus this semester, said Michelle Lowry, assistant director of the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement.
The MSA has been inactive for over a year because most of their members graduated, Lowry said.
Each event is open to all students, Alshamsi said.
“This week is to let people know that we are back again,” Alshamsi said.