Islamic Awareness Day dispels stereotypes

Ashley Smith

The Signal

When someone speaks the word Muslim, it can cause a wide range of emotions and reactions to different people.

The Muslim Student Association hosted Islamic Awareness Day to educate the UHCL campus, April 7, on what it is to be a Muslim and to combat stereotypes people may have.

Even though the event has been held in the past, the idea to host it this year began with a video.

“We did a video, asked six basic questions about Islam and went around campus and asked different people,” said Wardah Ajaz, president of Muslim Student Association and communication major. “Not many people knew the correct answers or what Islam was.”

This lack of knowledge along with the negative aspects the media focuses on caused MSA to want to clear misconceptions about Islam. The event, held in Atrium I, has been promoted for weeks with MSA’s “High Five” campaign. The idea for the ad campaign came from the religion itself.

“There are five pillars of Islam and our idea to promote the event was high five,” Ajaz said. “Along with randomly telling people to say high five and make them curious about what ‘High Five’ is.”

Brown and light blue sheer fabric decorated Atrium I where tables displaying different aspects of the Islam faith lined the perimeter.

Students asked questions as members of MSA discussed their faith. Several of the tables created interactivity with visitors able to receive Henna tattoos and try on Muslim attire.

The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also attended and offered information about their organization.

Along with the informational tables, MSA brought in several speakers to discuss Islam. Imam, or prayer leader, Tyerre Boyd spoke about the “High Five’s” of Islam, known as the five pillars.

“We call them pillars because pillars are that which hold something up,” Boyd said. “It is the physical acts of worship. The five pillars we all must perform or do as a duty to Allah or God.”

Boyd, who is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in kinesology at UHCL, speaks frequently in public forums such as interfaith dialogues and community outreach about his faith.

“We build better relationships when we understand one another’s faith,” Boyd said.

MSA hopes the event creates awareness about Islam.

“I didn’t know much about Islam or any of this, so it’s just interesting to see,” said Meghan Ewald, math major.

Muslim Student Association is open to all people who want to learn about Islam and they plan make Islam Awareness Day an annual event.




Videographer & Broadcast Reporter: Roman Rama III for The Signal




Video of MSA’s performance at Cultural Extravaganza courtesy of MSA.

Click here to view more of MSA’s videos on their YouTube channel.