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Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. One out of every five people on Earth is Muslim. Yet, many people around the world and on campus don't understand the religion.

This week was the first Islamic Culture Awareness Week sponsored by the Muslim Student Association. It was designed to "get people interested and have them learn," Saman Asheer, president of the MSA, said.

From the way the Qur'an is read to the different clothing styles, interpretations of the religion differs depending on the region where it is being practiced. "We wanted to make sure that people didn't think that every Muslim is the same," Asheer said.

All week, the group had a table in the University Center highlighting different regions where Islam is practiced. The United States will be highlighted today. The table features quizzes on the different regions to see how much people already know about Islam. According to Asheer, the person who does the best each day will be invited to the MSA end-of-year dinner.

Another event was a discussion on politics, religion and spirituality, co-sponsored by the MSA, Islamic Culture Theme House and Spirituality House, held on Wednesday night. About 20 students attended, according to Asheer.

The most popular event was Hookah Night, also on Wednesday. The hookah is an eastern smoking pipe that uses water to cool smoke as it is pulled through. The flavored tobacco and instruments were from Caf� Arabica in Morristown, which offered the group a discount Asheer explained.

Asheer plans on more hookah nights next year and will be planning another Islamic Culture Awareness Week, as well. "We didn't get to do as much as I hoped, but I think that people at least are getting interested in Islamic Culture," she said.

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