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The Muslim Students Association hosted guest speaker Adel Syed, government relations coordinator of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for a presentation called “Muslims in America, Liberty and Justice for All.” on Nov. 16.
The presentation was to help Cerritos College students be aware of the social problems that modern day Muslims are facing in America.
According to Syed, CAIR, is Americas largest Muslim-American civil rights organization.
Primarily deals with discrimination, school bullying, immigration issues, and other issues that affect the Muslim-American community.
MSA Club President and criminal justice major Syeda Iftekhar said, “Islam is the name of the religion and Muslims are the ones who follow it.
“Islam in a Monotheistic religion that only believes in one God.”
Iftekhar said that MSA wanted to host an event to spread information for students to have a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.
In the presentation, Syed said that 26 percent of Muslims living in America have graduated from college other 26 percent is currently enrolled in college or university.
U.S Muslims are about as likely to report to gain household income of $100,000 or more.
“Anyone can become Muslim, there is specific race that one has to be to become one,” Syed said.
Syed also said that the Five Pillars of Islam are Shahadah, Salah, Sawm, Zakāh, and Hajj was explained.
The declaration of faith, Shahada, according to meaning, “there is no God but God and Muhammad is the last and final messenger of God,” Syed said. “Muslims also believe in Moses, Jesus, and other prophesies as well.”
During the presentation, Syed talked about islamophobia.
He said that Islamophobia may be a label that has defined many Americans as close-mined prejudice against or hated of Islam and Muslims that is common after the attacks on September 9, 2001.
With islamophobia, it is a felony for a Muslim to attend Mosque to pray.
“Six months ago, people didn’t know what Sharia Law was,” he said.
Sharia Law is an essence a code of conduct for a Muslim on how to pray, give honor, how to fast, a code on how to live, and contains many other elements.
The second pillar Salah, or prayer. Muslims perform five daily prayers throughout the day, one starting in dawn and all the way through the sun set.
“I pray during school, many other Muslims do it as well,” Iftekhar confirmed. Muslims pray five times a day towards northeast to the city of Mecca.
Undecided major Besty O. Castillo said that the presentation was interesting.
“I learned many things from the presentation. I think it’s sad how Muslims are treated and how people look at them as terriorists since September 11.”
