From: hra2@Lehigh.EDU (Hibatur Rahman Ahmad)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Good News From Knoxville
Date: 19 Aug 92 10:56:36 GMT
Reply-To: hra2@Lehigh.EDU
Originator: gwydion@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu

Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:34 EST

Assalamu 'alaikum warahmatullah.

A Muslim, brother Abdelkarim Abushaqra, will give prayer, invocation and
benediction at the University of Tennessee's commencement for 1,311 students.
That will be a historic event since this is the first time a Muslim is
recognized to give prayer at the UT commencement.

By the help of Allah, the UT grant approval for a Muslim to give prayer after
months of struggle by the Muslim Students' Association at UT. MSA has started
the request since Fall 1991. Alhamdulillah, now it is finally done.

Let's see what the local newspaper, Knoxville News Sentinel had to say about
this historic event:

MUSLIM TO GIVE PRAYER AT UT COMMENCEMENT.
By Marti Davis
News Sentinel staff writer.

        Five times a day, Abdelkarim "Abbot" Abushaqra faces the East, assumes
a position of prayer, and asks Allah for his blessings, guidance and mercy.
        Abushaqra's prayers are part of the daily life of 400 to 500
practicing Muslims in this area.
        Today, Abushaqra, a member of the Muslim Community of Knoxville, will
give the invocation and benediction at the University of Tennessee's
commencement for 1,311 students, starting at 9 this morning in Thompson-Boling
Arena.
        "I am honored the university is recognizing Muslims in Knoxville," he
said. "I never thought this would really happen."
        In compliance witth UT guidelines for all its invocations and
benedictions, Abushaqra will offer a non-sectarian prayer.
        "I will thank God for his bounties he has bestowed on us," he said. "I
also thank Him for the parents who have sense to guide their children to go to
college, because so many miss the opportunity."
        The invocation by a Muslim will put UT "in the vanguard" of
universities around the nation, says Dr. Rosalind Gwynne, a religious studies
professor and Muslim Student Association adviser.
        Only recently has the US Congress and one state legislature recognized
the growing Muslim population in the United States by inviting a Muslim to
offer prayers, Gwynne said.
        UT regularly rotates the invocation at its three commencements each
year among various religious groups, said Phill Scheurer, vice chancellor for
students affairs. When the Muslim Community's request was brought to his
attention, Scheurer said he didn't hesitate.
        Because Muslims have no clergymen, Abushaqra was asked by the students
to give the invocation because he is an active member of the Muslim Community.
        An immigrant from Palestine, he has lived in Knoxville almost 20 years
and is owner of the Pack and Ship, a private post office on Western Avenue.
        Abushaqra sometimes teaches or offers sermons at Knoxville's mosque at
100 13th Street near Western Avenue. Completed almost a year ago, it is the
most outward sign of a growing Muslim presence here.
        The main worship service is held at the mosque at 1:30 p.m. each
Friday that is the main day of worship for Muslims, who believe in one
God- Allah in Arabic- and who believe his final message to man and a
summation of all that had gone before was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad [Peace be upon Him] through the angel Gabriel.
        Most of the Muslims in Knoxville are from the Middle East and Africa,
Gwynne said. There are 1 billion Muslims throughout the world.
        "The person best-equipped to understand a witnessing Muslim is a
witnessing Baptist," she said.
        "I've had white students from East Tennessee convert to Muslim."
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