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	Photo by Terry Simmons
	Michele Marion (center), director of International Education at PVCC, brought Dalara Hafiz (left) and Azra Hussain of the Islamic Bureau of Arizona to PVCC.
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Two speakers from the Islamic Bureau of Arizona held a conference in the KSC building on Nov. 9 to discuss Islamic culture and dispel negative stereotypes and media misrepresentation about the Muslim religion.

The conference took place during the final week of Ramadan, a month-long Muslim fasting period. According to speaker Dilara Hafiz, fasting is seen as a test in Islam, not a penance.

“Ramadan is meant to increase spirituality,” says Hafiz. “It’s a time to pray, read the Koran and make peace with yourself.”

Azra Hussain, co-speaker of the conference, adds that fasting is not only abstaining from food, but also from TV and video games.

“People abstain to appreciate what they have,” says Hussain. “We learn to have compassion for people who have less than we do.”

As the period of fasting draws to a close, Arizona Muslims congregate at either the state fairgrounds or the Civic Center for a group prayer and festival. Both speakers view the period as a time of peace and unity between members of the Muslim community.

The speakers also stood up against some common misconceptions and wide-spread stereotypes about Islamic Culture. Hussain dismissed the claim that the terrorist group Al Quaeda speaks for all Muslims.

“That would be the same as believing that the Klu Klux Klan speaks for all of Christianity,” says Hussain.

Both Hussain and Hafiz agree that an overwhelming majority of Muslims believe suicide to be an absolute sin and suicide bombers are acting as fanatics who misuse and misrepresent the teachings of the Koran.

“We see the taking of one life equivalent to killing all of humanity,” Hafiz noted.

The term “jihad,” portrayed in the media as a terrorist’s battle cry is used out of context by both news organizations and terrorist groups.

According to Hafiz, the word “jihad” represents a personal struggle to better oneself. She says it can also be used in reference to defensive action in a struggle toward an aggressor.

“Only God can judge us,” says Hafiz. “We’re not meant to judge each other.”