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Islam Fair on Plaza kicks off awareness month
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| (Harrison Diamond / Alligator Staff) Volunteers from Islam On Campus serve food to students during a Wednesday showcase of Middle Eastern culture on the Plaza of the Americas. |
By SARAH JONES, Alligator Contributing Writer
Krishna Lunch wasn't the only tasty food served on the Plaza of the Americas Wednesday.
The scent of Arabic food wafted through the plaza, where UF student groups Islam On Campus and Arabic Cultural Association held their annual Islam Fair to kick off Islam Awareness Month.
Members of the two organizations and the Pakistani Student Association sat behind tables and answered students' questions about Islamic religion and culture.
The scent of Arabic food wafted through the plaza, where UF student groups Islam On Campus and Arabic Cultural Association held their annual Islam Fair to kick off Islam Awareness Month.
Members of the two organizations and the Pakistani Student Association sat behind tables and answered students' questions about Islamic religion and culture.
"We just wanted to expose people to different Islamic cultures," said Derrick Peat, vice president of Islam On Campus. "We wanted to start off with a blast."
Free hummus, grape leaves, pitas and sweet rice were served to attract passers-by. Also, informational pamphlets and CDs, clothing, prayer rugs, hookahs and copies of the Quran were spread out on tables next to Library West.
"This is personal to us. This is music, this is fun," freshman Charissa Scott said.
Members conducting the fair took a break at 1:43 p.m. to observe Dhuhr, one of the five prayer times throughout the day. More than 40 students knelt facing east to pray, practicing one of the five pillars of faith upon which Islam is based.
The fair's goal was to combat misunderstandings related to Islam and to educate students with questions about the religion, which is currently the second largest religion in the world.
"Misconception is worse than ignorance," Scott said.
Free hummus, grape leaves, pitas and sweet rice were served to attract passers-by. Also, informational pamphlets and CDs, clothing, prayer rugs, hookahs and copies of the Quran were spread out on tables next to Library West.
"This is personal to us. This is music, this is fun," freshman Charissa Scott said.
Members conducting the fair took a break at 1:43 p.m. to observe Dhuhr, one of the five prayer times throughout the day. More than 40 students knelt facing east to pray, practicing one of the five pillars of faith upon which Islam is based.
The fair's goal was to combat misunderstandings related to Islam and to educate students with questions about the religion, which is currently the second largest religion in the world.
"Misconception is worse than ignorance," Scott said.
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July 2nd, 2009 CorrectionThe UF-Georgia football game is held annually at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The contract for the game is between UF and the city of Jacksonville. An article in Tuesday’s paper stated otherwise. |
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