The scent of beef curry, chicken curry and vegetables rose from the tables of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Sunday night as Ball State University's Muslim Student Association helped wrap up Islamic Awareness Week, which began Thursday.
Sunday's Friendship Dinner, held at the Center for International Programs, allowed students and local residents to come together and enjoy food from more than 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan, the United States, Iraq, Palestine, Indonesia and Malaysia. The food was provided primarily by the Muncie Muslim community.
"People get to know each other, have food, fun," Khalid Sajjad, president of MSA, said.
Creating dialogue and harmony beyond the campus community was a key goal, Mahfuza Khatun, faculty advisor of MSA, said. Islamic Awareness Week featured panel discussions and other events, including those that focused on "Understanding Islam," "Jesus in Islam and Christianity" and "The Conception about Muslims."
Sunday's Friendship Dinner, purposely held on Sept. 11, was a good way to wrap up the week, Sajjad said.
He said MSA served as sponsor and worked with the Islamic Center of Muncie, also inviting the Muncie Interfaith group. Celebrating Islamic Awareness Week was a chance to give back to the community and to raise awareness about Islam, he said.
"The main reason is to get rid of misconceptions of Islam and Muslims and define ourselves from the Muslim point of view," Sajjad said. "Mostly the media usually twists it sometimes."
Saber Bahrami, a member of the Ball Memorial Hospital staff, who said he belongs to the American Health Network, read verses from the Koran in Arabic, further emphasizing to attendees the importance of human life and how important it is to end the suffering.
"This is the biggest problem of the world - poverty, illiteracy and being suspicious of each other," Bahrami said.
Contrary to popular perception, Islam does not recognize collateral damages, he said.
"In Islam, every life is precious," he said. "Taking life of innocent people - it is not permitted by Islam ... I will ask you to join me and ponder in your own heart, in your own soul, in your own way that you connect with God +â-¡- let's ponder on the lives that were lost in 9/11, that were lost in the tsunami, that were lost in Katrina, that were lost in Afghanistan ... that continue to be lost in Iraq [and elsewhere]."
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