2008 Woodie Awards
Carroll shares true meaning of Ramadan
Adam Asmar
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
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As Ramadan starts, Brookhaven College students had a chance to learn more about Islam. "Understanding Islam" was the theme of one Brookhaven class, as Mustafaa Carroll, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, shared information on the world's second largest and fastest growing religion.
Carroll said in Arabic the word Islam means, "peace and submission to one God."
Carroll said Islam is based on beginning texts of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible.
Islam recognizes many of the same prophets including Noah, Abraham and Moses. Carroll said Islam believes a heaven will consist of multiple faiths.
Carroll said God in Islam is unique. He said Muslims do not believe God is able to manifest into other forms.
Declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage are the Five Pillars of Islam, Carroll said. Muslims are expected to complete all of these before the end of their lives.
According to www.cair.com, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
They cite 1.2 billion Muslims world-wide, with only 18 percent of them being Arab. The largest Muslim country is Indonesia.
The Web site cites more than 7 million Muslims in the United States.
Carroll said the U.S. is suffering from a severe case of "Islamophobia," that reached a peak after the attacks of Sept. 11.
He said this is because people do not know enough about Islam and education about Islam is the best way to help people understand.
Carroll said he was born a Christian and converted to Islam when he was in college at the age of 19.
"I just kept reading my Bible and just kept questioning everything," Carroll said. "When I would ask a question no one would answer it or they would tell me not to question God, so I just started reading it for myself."
This month Muslims are observing Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat from sunrise to sunset.
They are also encouraged to take the time and find ways to help other people. They believe, through this, it gives them a better chance to try and feel what the world's hungry and poor feel everyday. It also brings them closer with their families.
Ramadan will end at the spotting of the first full moon, which will bring about Eid al-Fitr.
This day is marked with prayer and celebrations.
As Ramadan starts, Brookhaven College students had a chance to learn more about Islam. "Understanding Islam" was the theme of one Brookhaven class, as Mustafaa Carroll, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, shared information on the world's second largest and fastest growing religion.
Carroll said in Arabic the word Islam means, "peace and submission to one God."
Carroll said Islam is based on beginning texts of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible.
Islam recognizes many of the same prophets including Noah, Abraham and Moses. Carroll said Islam believes a heaven will consist of multiple faiths.
Carroll said God in Islam is unique. He said Muslims do not believe God is able to manifest into other forms.
Declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage are the Five Pillars of Islam, Carroll said. Muslims are expected to complete all of these before the end of their lives.
According to www.cair.com, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
They cite 1.2 billion Muslims world-wide, with only 18 percent of them being Arab. The largest Muslim country is Indonesia.
The Web site cites more than 7 million Muslims in the United States.
Carroll said the U.S. is suffering from a severe case of "Islamophobia," that reached a peak after the attacks of Sept. 11.
He said this is because people do not know enough about Islam and education about Islam is the best way to help people understand.
Carroll said he was born a Christian and converted to Islam when he was in college at the age of 19.
"I just kept reading my Bible and just kept questioning everything," Carroll said. "When I would ask a question no one would answer it or they would tell me not to question God, so I just started reading it for myself."
This month Muslims are observing Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat from sunrise to sunset.
They are also encouraged to take the time and find ways to help other people. They believe, through this, it gives them a better chance to try and feel what the world's hungry and poor feel everyday. It also brings them closer with their families.
Ramadan will end at the spotting of the first full moon, which will bring about Eid al-Fitr.
This day is marked with prayer and celebrations.
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