Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Muslims spread awareness at Rutgers
By Ashley Garrison
Daily Targum (Rutgers)
04/20/2006

(U-WIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Islam Awareness Week is an event that takes place at universities nationwide, as well as inside a tent on Rutgers University's Brower Commons.

The goal is to foster an understanding about Islam.

"Students can hear from people who actually follow Islam. They come in with misconceptions and come out discovering that we have some common ground," said Rania Younes, Islamic Society of Rutgers University member and Ernest Mario School Of Pharmacy graduate student.

Fifty students from various organizations built the tent, which is designed to look like a mosque, complete with glowing minarets. Inside, there are tables set up, which are devoted to aspects of Islam: women in Islam, the afterlife, worship, Jesus and the Islamic conception of God.

"Our theme is experience because with the different themes of Islam, you go to a different table. This is an experience in Islam which helps to build understanding," said Nasreen Badat, co-secretary of ISRU and Douglass College junior.

University College sophomore Manny Comas said he found the experience informative.

"I really didn't know much about Islam but I learned that it has connections with Christianity and Judaism. Overall, it was very educational," Comas said.

In Islam, there is a basic belief in one God without partners, but prophets bring his message to the people. Muslims believe Moses and Jesus are prophets, but Muhammad is the last prophet.

"Islam isn't a noun. It's named after an actual act: to submit peacefully to God on God's terms. It literally means 'one who submits,'" said co-vice president Eman Younes, co-vice president of ISRU and an Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy graduate student,

But for University College junior and President of the Religion Students Association Regina Navickas, the event is also a chance to counter negative portrayals of Muslims in the media.

Human life is viewed as sacred in Islam and the act of killing one innocent person is viewed as killing all humanity. However, Islam does advocate fighting in the name of justice, but non-combatants, such as women, children, and the elderly, should be spared.

Jihad comes from the word "jahada," which means to struggle, and Rania Younes referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a struggle.

"It's not solely about religion. There is a land issue leading to the struggle between the two people," Rania Younes said.

Women's roles in Islam is also an issue that has been addressed during the week.

Women are required to wear headscarves as a symbol of modesty. However, they do have an independent identity and equal rights with men, such as education, owning property and the ability to reject or accept marriage proposals.

Rania Younes said, about wearing the head scarf, "It's great that I can be known as a Muslim. Covering is universal in most religions such as the Virgin Mary, Catholic nuns and some Jewish women. All women can be basically equal with closeness to God."

[ Back to Student Voices ]