Gustavus Adolphus College

During the month of Ramadan (Oct. 4 to Nov. 3), each Wednesday brings a speaker to the Gustavus Adolphus College campus to share experiences of Islam during the evening breaking of the fast. Each event will start at 6:45 p.m.

On Oct. 26, students and faculty will break the fast in the basement of Uhler Hall while listening to a lecture by Dr. Mohammed Solaiman, a physician at the St. Peter Clinic. In his lecture, “Medical practice by a Muslim and how he balances it,” Solaiman will tell the story of how he works with science and his religion.

On Nov. 2, Hamed Sallam, professor of computer science at Minnesota State University Mankato, will give a lecture, “How Islam has contributed to enlightenment, science and civilization at large.” Sallam, who has lived in America for 20 years, will speak about the contributions to science that resulted from the Islamic faith. This lecture will be held in the Heritage Banquet Room of the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center at Gustavus.

Previous speakers in this year’s series include Gustavus Professor of Physics Steve Mellema, student Josh Bryant, and Gustavus Professor of Religion Steven Haggmark. Mellema spoke about his six-year experience in Malaysia, meeting his wife, encountering Islam, and his eventual adoption of the Muslim faith. He also explained the Five Pillars of Islam, and his personal meaning of being a Muslim. Bryant, a Gustavus senior, also shared his experience of adopting the Islamic faith after a life-changing experience in Morocco. Haggmark spoke about Islam in Asia and his personal experience with Islam in Indonesia.

The lectures and meals are sponsored by the Pan Afrikan Student Organization (PASO), the Crossroads Program, the Diversity Center, the Gustavus Religion Department, and the Office of the Chaplains.