UMaine, community invited to learn about Islamic faith and culture during week of events
Members of the University of Maine and surrounding communities are invited to learn about Islamic faith and culture during a week of activities, March 28–April 2.
Islamic Awareness Week events will be held on the UMaine campus, as well as at the Islamic Center of Maine, 151 Park St. in Orono.
Activities including henna tattoos, Arabic name writing and hijab wrapping will take place Monday through Friday at the UMaine Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) table in the Memorial Union.
The “Faith, Fear, & Freedom” themed week will end with two free keynote presentations.
Jonathan Brown, the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., will speak 5–7 p.m. Friday, April 1. Brown’s presentation, “The Message of Peace: Spread by the Sword?” will be held in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union. Refreshments will be served.
Nouman Ali Khan, a Muslim American speaker and world renowned Qur’anic scholar, will present “Cooperate in Matters of Goodness” from 5–7 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at the Islamic Center of Maine. Khan also is founder and CEO of Bayyinah, an organization that aims to make Arabic and Qur’anic studies accessible to the world.
Khan’s talk also will be part of the seventh annual Islamic Center of Maine Open House. Refreshments featuring foods from around the world will be served. Limited seats are available and preference will be given to Greater Bangor area residents.
Islamic Awareness Week is organized by the MSA, Islamic Center of Maine and the Honors College, with support from several UMaine programs.