The Muslim Student Association will host events every day this week as part of its annual awareness campaign.

Islam Awareness Week, hosted by the Muslim Students Association, aims to inform students about Islam. Merrill Jones/The Daily

Islam Awareness Week is aimed to help students better understand the religion, something that isn’t always portrayed correctly in the media, said Sara Ali, MSA public relations manager.

“The purpose of Islam Awareness Week is to help students understand Islam is a welcoming and peaceful religion,” said Ali, international and area studies senior.

Islam is the world’s second largest religion, and the fastest growing, said Anum Syed, MSA president.

“We really encourage individuals to attend and gain our perspective on the religion,” said Syed, zoology and psychology junior.

Syed said the week’s events are also intended to promote interfaith dialogue.

“The week is not only meant to educate students about Islam,” Syed said. “We’re really hoping Islam Awareness Week will encourage students to discuss with us and with others all the various religions represented on campus.”

There also will be a table located in front of Bizzell Memorial Library on the South Oval from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

The week’s theme is “The Five Pillars of Islam,” and the group will host events each day that represent a different pillar of Islam:

Today: Shahadah, the declaration of faith in one God

A discussion about the importance of Shahadah with Muslims, who will share their stories of the faith, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Frontier Room.

Tuesday: Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca

The group will host a showing of the PBS documentary “Inside Mecca” at 5 p.m. in the union’s Beaird Lounge.

Wednesday: Sawm, the month-long fast during Ramadan

The MSA will ask members of the OU community to skip lunch and donate their lunch money to Pennies for Peace, a charity organization that funds impoverished schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There also will be a free, multi-cultural food fair that will exhibit cuisine from different Muslim cultures at 7 p.m. in the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center.

Thursday: Zakat, alms giving

The MSA will collect final donations for Pennies for Peace. The Tulsa Peace Academy will host a discussion about the importance of Zakat at 7:30 p.m. in Dale Hall 218.

Friday: Salat, the ritual daily prayers Muslims observe

There will be a lecture about the importance of the daily prayers at 1:30 p.m. on the South Oval.