Lecture discusses virtues of altruism and Islam

Being a good person is important, but is it enough without organized religion?

In a lecture Friday, Aminah Assilmi, director of the International Union of Muslim Women, tackled this question with regard to Islam and the importance it attaches to altruism.

The talk was part of Islam Awareness Week and was organized by the Muslim Students Association.

"What is the purpose of being good? As a Muslim, I believe that there is a God, Creator of the universe," said Assilmi, a convert to Islam.

"We should judge what is good by what the Creator has said."

Assilmi discussed the evolving definition of "good."

"Good is something that changes with time. Islam goes through the relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters and so on, and these guidelines will never change. They will never be outdated," she said. "However, the understanding of Islam by different people may change."

Assilmi noted the importance of the basic value structure of Islam.

"If we could just learn more about these guidelines, we could make the world a better place," Assilmi said.

Assilmi also discussed why, in her opinion, the concept of altruism in Islam is different from other religions.

"Every religion requires you to be kind, but Islam goes down to the minutest details," she said. "For example, Muslims are supposed to know their neighbors well enough to be able to help them out with their problems."

She also talked about the role of women in Islam.

"It was the norm in Islam for women to be in high places. For example, the Caliph Omar appointed a woman to be administrator of the marketplace," she said.

"To me, good means that I am an asset," she said, stressing the importance of intention by adding that "a good deed is not a good deed if it is done with a cold heart."

About 60 students and community members attended the Logan Hall event.

Some who listened to Assilmi's presentation said they found it interesting.

"Today's lecture was exciting because sister Aminah Assilmi talked about faith in a broad sense," MSA President Muhammed Mekki said. "She was able to take a discussion that everyone can connect to, and to that framework she applied the teachings of Islam," added the Wharton and College junior.

"It was insightful hearing a person who wasn't born into Islam talk about the religion and her conversion," said Temple University senior Yamile Perez, who added that he himself is a Catholic.

"Her spirit and her heart was what most touched me. This is because of the revolutionary changes that Islam has made in her life," Wharton and Engineering senior Amin Venjara said, adding, "Islam transformed her spirit and has given her an aura of genuine compassion and love for others."

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