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A trip through the Hajj: Islamic awareness week celebrated
Tony Rogers
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Islam Awareness Week kicked off Monday, Nov. 16 in the SUB with a presentation and fair involving many aspects of Islam. The event, which showcased discussion on pilgrimage and architecture, was just the start of a week long celebration of Islam.
NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER Hosy Nasimi, president of the muslim student association, gives Kazuko Mihara a Henna tattoo during the start of Islamic awareness week.
The central theme of the night was the focus on the Hajj, a pilgrimage required of Muslims, and is considered the last of the five pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are laws that guide followers in worship. The other four are Shahadah (the profession of faith), Salat (Prayers recited five times daily), Zakah (giving to the poor) and Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan).
The Pilgrimage eventually convenes on Mecca, the holiest city in all of Islam. In Mecca is the Ka’Bah, a building thought to be built by Abraham, the man who contributed with the founding of Islam.
Although Muslims can take part in a pilgrimage to Mecca, anytime of the year, the Hajj only happens between the seventh and 13th days during the 12th month of the Islamic year. The Islamic Year follows the lunar calendar, unlike most religions that follow the solar calendar. The Hajj falls on different days every year as a result.
Ahmed Oteafy, a member of the Muslim Student Association, used a presentation to show the message that Hajj brings to believers of Islam, as well as including facts about the religion of Islam.
Islam is the second largest religion, just behind Christianity, with more than 1.57 Billion people professing faith, and is arguably the fastest growing religion in the world, according to the Web site, Adherents.com
As Christianity follows the teachings of Jesus, Islam follows the words of the Prophet Muhammed. Of the top five countries with Muslim populations, only one, fifth ranked Egypt, is located in the Middle East. The other most populous Muslim countries, ranked one through four, are Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, respectively.
The night also featured interactive booths where guests could visit and learn about many different aspects of Islam. Topics covered ranged from classical architecture, to the cuisine of the Islamic world, to Henna tattoos for women.
According to Oteafy, for the approximately 40 people in attendance, the reactions were very positive.
“I’ve found a lot of appreciation for the amount of work that the students have done to make this event happen,” Oteafy said. “Especially the amount of research they have put into it.”
Why is Islam so oppressive to women?
In some places Islam is oppressive to women because that is how people there interpret the scriptures. Similarly, The Bible was used for many years (and still is) to justify oppression of women. I'm hoping to see the progressive Islamic scholars gain more popularity. It's hard, though, because progressive scholars can be associated with western thought, and the west does lots of very bad things to people in the Muslim world, leading to a reactionary movement to expunge all western ideas.
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