The Muslim Student Association hosted three guest Muslim convert speakers to help students learn about Islam on April 30 in Room 2603. Over 45 attendees listened to the personal experiences of these speakers’ journeys and challenges faced converting from Christianity to Islam.

“We thought it would be a great idea to bring in a couple of intelligent people from the community who were born non-Muslim and then found God in Islam to share their stories and answer questions that some students may have,” MSA president Yousef Salem said.

According to Salem, the goal was to help students better understand Islam and to support those who are curious about the religion.

“I was surprised that over 45 students showed up to the meeting,” Salem said. “Everybody said it was great and that they loved listening to the stories and asking questions. A couple of students took English Qurans and said that the meeting completely shifted their perspective on Islam.”

Samar Halabi, MSA club sponsor and Arabic teacher, said the meeting helped clarify stereotypes in Islam.

“Most of the time Islam is misrepresented as oppressed,” Halabi said. “I think it is better explained by people who were not born with it but rather chose [Islam] to be their life path.”

She also noted how thoughtful the speakers were in their spiritual journeys.

“I was amazed by the amount of research and studies the guest speakers did before choosing this religion,” Halabi said. “They had done a great deal of study to come to this conclusion, and what surprised me was that they all were young when they reverted to Islam.”

Halabi said she hopes meetings like this have a lasting impact.

“I am happy that my club officers succeeded in putting on this meeting with three speakers,” Halabi said. “I will always be happy to see that the students and the school at large have a better understanding and are not biased about Islam.”