This is an email response to the Fair and its success:
Assalamualaikum Brothers and Sisters,
Alhamdulillah, ICNA-WhyIslam completed 19 days of Dawah Booth at the California State Fair which ran from July 14th to August 1st 2010.
We had approximately 950 visitors, distributed 450 English translations of Qur'an and gave 2000 brochures during the 19 days of the fair, which averages to almost 50 visitors, 24 Qur'ans and 105 brochures a day.
The mission of the project was to encourage people to search for unbiased information on Islam and to promote understanding and dialogue between people of different faiths. WhyIslam volunteers answered questions regarding Islam, its teachings and helped clear up any misconceptions. WhyIslam also highlighted the cultural diversity of Muslims.
Alhamdulillah, we had visitors who re-visited the booth after reading the Quran and Brochures. We received multiple requests for mosque visits and many people left contact information so that we can follow up with them and continue the conversation about Islam.
One person had read first 120 pages of the English translation of Quran in 3 days and came back to our booth and requested us to arrange a mosque visit. Another Spanish speaking woman who was very interested in converting took a Spanish translation of the Qur'an, brochures and we're arranging a mosque visit and a sister to follow up with her. *
We were able to make an impact with the dawah booth at the California State Fair because of the one on one conversations that educated people about Islam and Muslims, correcting many misconceptions and breaking down the barriers of fear and ignorance, showing that we are their neighbors, co-workers and community members and not something to be afraid of. The dawah work is helping to make a difference in our community, building bridges of mutual understanding and tolerance, making it a better place for all of us to live, Insha'allah.
And finally we thank all the Brothers and Sisters who volunteered at the Dawah booth and also those Brothers and sisters whose donations and contributions make this event happen. May Allah reward all of us.
Wassalam,
ICNA - (WhyIslam Team)
* My masjid's shaykh is fluent in English and Spanish as well as his native Arabic. We have a very large number of Spanish-speaking converts; our sister's table during our dawah meetings is full of Spanish-speaking women, alhamdulillah.
