Students open up about faith and life in Islam Awareness Week

A series of talks and social events begins today, to allow staff and students to get to know Imperial Islamic Society - News

Monday 8 March 2010
By John-Paul Jones

A programme of events kicks off today designed to allow staff and students to get to know members of Imperial’s student Islamic Society better, from a faith based version of the Weakest Link to a forum for any questions on Islam.

Islam Awareness Week has been organised by the society to allow other members of Imperial’s community to understand a little about more about Islam and the society, with the aim of challenging misconceptions and stereotypes.

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It begins today with an open forum this evening, for staff and students to raise any questions about Islam, followed by further insights into Muslim beliefs in talks on Tuesday and Thursday exploring the story of the Prophet Mohammed and an Islamic understanding of God.

The President of the Society, Salman Butt, said Islam Awareness Week is an annual occurrence, but has added significance this year: “Muslim student societies have been in the media a lot recently and it’s our hope that this week will be a good opportunity for staff and students at Imperial to come along and get to know us through a series of academic discussions and social events. We want to show how the Islamic Society fits into the huge diversity we have here at Imperial.”

Alongside the talks organisers have arranged for a series of social events. Wednesday afternoon sees an InterFaith version of the Weakest Link, with other faith societies taking part. Salman says: “We really hope to show everyone that we’re not a bunch of people hidden in a basement somewhere but that we really try to integrate well with other societies at Imperial, both interfaith and others.”

On Friday female staff and students are invited to P.A.R.A.N.O.R.M.A.L A.C.T.I.V.I.T.Y., a series of comedy sketches by women from the Islamic Society. The week then ends on a high with a pantomime open to everyone. Explaining the aims behind the social side of the week, Islamic Society member Salman Waqar says: “I hope we can deconstruct some of the false narratives that surround Muslim students and hopefully show people on campus that we’re normal happy go lucky students just like everyone else.”

For more details on the week’s events see the Islamic Society's timetable.

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