CHRIS BACKLEY/Daily Bruin Hatem Bazian
speaks at a Muslim Students Association conference Sunday evening
about religion and culture.
By Todd Belie
Daily Bruin Contributor
Several prominent Islamic figures advocated greater activism in
the Muslim community during the “Shaping Our
Perspective” conference at UCLA Sunday evening.
Islamic knowledge, maintaining proper perspective and
spirituality were among topics discussed at the event, which was
sponsored by the Muslim Students Association.
“People need to understand a concept of what Islamic
activism is,” said Ghaith Mohamood, president of MSA.
“Islam is not just a one-day-a-week religion. It’s a
constant movement, a constant action and a constant
striving,” he continued.
Islamic activism, according to Mohamood, is similar to activism
in other areas, with the added dimension of a higher spiritual
goal.
“Activism is done not just because we believe in human
rights and civil liberties, but it is also done in an effort to
gain a closeness to God,” he said.
Speaking to a crowd of nearly 100 Los Angeles area Muslims in
Moore Hall, Hatem Bazian, a doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley,
discussed the relationship between activism and the Muslim
faith.
“You can’t be a Muslim without being an
activist,” Bazian said, “and you can’t be an
activist without an education.”
According to Bazian, God was the first teacher and Adam the
first student. What separates man from the angels and animals is
the knowledge God imparted to man. This relationship between God
and man is based on knowledge, and therefore, man has a
responsibility and a bond to not stray from that knowledge, Bazian
said.
“When knowledge confronts ignorance, knowledge will win;
there is no other way,” Bazian said.
Understanding the role and proper perspective of man was one of
the many themes participants discussed.
Ameer Erfan, a fourth-year mathematics and applied science
student and member of MSA, said the conference was unique since
speakers focused on the role of Muslims in American society.
Past events, according to Erfan, have centered on international
dilemmas and political situations.
One of the problems Muslims face today, according to Bazian, is
a failure to fully live up to what their faith calls them to
do.
“Muslims fail, but not Islam,” he said.
The environment is one area cited by Bazian that needs greater
involvement from Muslims.
According to Bazian, many Islamic cities in the Middle East are
built on hills or mountain sides to avoid misusing land that Allah
has set aside for food production.
Yet today many in the Islamic community aren’t concerned
with how land is used unless it is their property or affects them
financially.
“You’ll never find a Muslim involved in land issues
unless he wants to build something,” Bazian said.
“Muslims should not be engaged because of selfish reasons,
but because of responsibility,” he continued.
Other distinguished guests included Shaykh Zaid Shakir, a
nationally known Muslim author and speaker, and Imam Abdul Alim
Musa, a leader of the Washington D.C.-based Masjid Al-Islam.
The conference is a precursor to Islamic awareness week that
will take place eighth week winter quarter.
The MSA will also host a nationwide conference early next
quarter.