While reading The Nanyang Chronicle today, I noticed an article that covered on the Islamic Awareness Week (Lessons in Islam by Ng Yee Theng) which happened two weeks ago. In it, a fellow NTU student that was interviewed expressed that the exhibition had not introduced anything new to him because, I quote, "Most of us Singaporeans have Muslim friends and already know a lot about their culture from them."

On the bright side, it's good that Muslims are sharing with their non-Muslim friends about Islam. However, I could not help but feel slightly stung by the words. Even as I poured through the research done by the fellow exhibition members, edited the work and sent it for vetting, there were so many new things that I learnt about Muhammad PBUH that I had not known previously. How then can this student say that there was nothing new to him? 

My first thought was that he either did not look closely at the readings or perhaps the exhibition had failed in clarifying its true intent. As much as understanding the Islamic culture is important, I think what's even more important is the lesson and message behind every aspect of that culture. And this is where, perhaps, the exhibition team had failed to make people understand.

I should not take criticisms so personally but the exhibition had been a project very close to my heart. Perhaps in my pride over the work and achievement  of the team, I had forgotten that the message was for Non-Muslims ultimately. Still, as Brother Amran said during the befrienders' training workshop, in order to do da'wah, we must constantly upgrade our own knowledge. Now, this is a constant work in progress.

Ultimately, how successful was the exhibition, only Allah swt will know. I should not let arrogance goad me to foolish pride.