Muslim students find sympathetic ears

A group of Muslim students at the University of Utah is finding that some Utahns are making an effort to understand what they feel is a misunderstood faith.

When a few dozen students with the University of Utah Muslim Students Association decided to throw a Ramadan dinner in the hope of spreading awareness to non-Muslims, they were shocked by the response.

"We set up a table at the union building last Monday and we sold out," said Anwar Arafat. All 230 seats.

"We have people on a waiting list," said Hiba Al-Zahawi.

The dinner is part of other activities students have prepared in recognition of Islam Awareness Week, which starts Monday. Al-Zahawi said given the violence in Iraq and in other parts of the world, the week is more important than ever to let people know that most Muslims exist outside the realm of politics and terrorism.

"This helps break stereotypes. Islam is always combined with terrorism, and people don't get a full picture," Al-Zahawi said.

Organizers said this week's activities will be the largest Islam Awareness Week the group has put on since it started two years ago. It will include a discussion about Jesus in Islam.

"A lot of people don't know that we recognize Jesus" as a prophet, Arafat said.

Wednesday, a discussion about Women in Islam will be held in the union theater, followed by a display of Islamic art Thursday, complete with learning how to write in Arabic, and concluding with a PBS documentary on the prophet Muhammad on Friday evening.

Al-Zahawi said the group hopes next week's events will help people better understand that many see Islam as a peaceful way of life. "We want to show them that there are common grounds," she said.

E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com