Sarah Oraby, outreach coordinator for the Muslim Student Association, said the idea for Islamic Awareness Week spawned from another religious week of events.

“It all started when I found out the Christian [organizations on Campus] were having Jesus week,” Oraby, a junior in biomedical engineering, said. “There are a lot of prophets in Islam, and I wanted to make people aware of them.”

Oraby said she hoped that the events during this week would help inform the student body about the Islamic community and its religious beliefs.

Ayesha Ali, secretary of MSA, said she was looking forward to the discussion of Jesus in particular.

“Tomorrow night’s event is the role of Jesus in Islam … I have a lot of Christian friends who ask me about Jesus in Islam and just knowing more about that, so when I tell people about my religion, I can know where I am coming from,” Ali, a senior in elementary education, said.

Oraby said she hoped the discussion on Jesus, which will be held Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. in Daniels 218, would draw a large crowd.

“The one about Jesus tomorrow will hopefully bring in a bigger crowd,” she said. “I guess there is a stigma that Muslims don’t like Christians. That’s not the goal at all. We’re trying to break down stereotypes.”

Other discussions the MSA scheduled for Islamic Awareness Week included topics such as the prophets Adam and Abraham earlier this week.

The discussion Wednesday evening regarded the prophet Moses, or Musa in Arabic, and Hisham Sarsour, a member of the Muslim community, led the discussion.

Sarsour said the Qur’an mentioned Musa 136 times, even more than the prophet Mohammed himself.

“Islam is a comprehensive way of life,” Sarsour said.

Ali contributed her thoughts on MSA and Islam.

“[People] recognize that I’m Muslim right off the bat,” Ali, in reference to her headscarf, said.

Ali said she has really enjoyed being involved in MSA.

“It is sad that it is my last year,” she said. “I’m passionate about my religion and telling people about my religion.”

Oraby said she hoped this week would accomplish one thing for Islam and the MSA.

Islamic Awareness Week will conclude with Friday prayer and the video “The Legacy of the Prophet,” according to Ali.

MSA will show the video, which displays the religion and culture of Islam through a non-Islam prospective, at 2:30 p.m. in the Erdahl-Cloyd Theater .

“Even if one person gains some knowledge about [Islam], it will be worth it,” Ali said.