The Muslim Student Association invited a prominent Islamic scholar to UB Tuesday to explore the faith of Islam - an event Muslim SA members hoped would educate students on their religion.
Ibrahim Memon, a Quran scholar and principal of Darul-Uloom Al-Madania Inc., an Institution of Higher Islamic Education, lectured to a crowd of 30 students.
Muslim SA members said the lecture series is important because misconceptions about the faith of Islam are currently widespread.
"I just know that there is a lot of doubt at this time, and we need to do something," said Faisal Faroq, a computer science graduate student and Muslim SA member.
"I want people to come and see what is the face, what is the actual belief of Islam," Faroq added.
Memon's lecture, "Who is the Prophet Muhammad?" focused on the origins of Islam, as Memon spoke about the fundamentals and historical background of the Quran, Islam's sacred text.
"We find up to this date, in this country, Islam is the fastest growing religion," Memon said.
Memon addressed the issue of people who use religion to justify violence, and said that Islam should not be "spread by the sword," because the Quran calls for total faith that can only be voluntary.
Speaking out against Muslims who are not faithful adherents to Islam, Memon said they are worse than non-believers.
"Hypocrites are the ones who show to be Muslims ... but in their hearts they have not accepted Islam," said Memon.
"These are the worst people in the world, worse that those who don't believe," he said.
Muslim SA members said they were pleased with the turnout but hope there are more students at future Muslim SA events.
"I'm so sure that there are so many people on campus that have a lot of questions," said Muslim SA member Samiullah Sahi, a senior special major.
"We are trying to get people to try to know the background of Islam," Sahi added.
Sahi said he believes most Muslims view radicals such as Osama bin Laden as leaders of Islamic cults, rather than as valid Islamic leaders.
M. Samir Topiwala, a Muslim SA member and senior management information systems major, said there is fundamental error in connecting terrorism to the Islamic religion.
"In the Quran it is said that if you kill one innocent person, you kill all of humanity," Topiwala said.
Dennis Anidi, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, also said the Islamic faith, according to the Quran, does not support terrorism.
"It's definitely the people, it's not the religion per se," said Anidi. "I mean, I don't agree with some ideas in the Quran, but it's not like it says 'kill, kill, kill.'"
Anidi did, however, take issue with some other aspects of Islam discussed in the lecture.
"There is definitely gender inequality, and that's not something twisted by society," Anidi said.
Anidi noted that Memon seemed to avoid directly answering a few questions that could have portrayed Islam negatively.
"I guess when you're trying to sell a product, you've got to," he said.
Some students said they attended the lecture to gain perspective on a religion outside of their own beliefs.
"I think it's important that people understand different religions. They do play a big part in society," said Steve Thomas, a freshman physics major. "Because if you only know one or two, you end up being a crazy bigot."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
