Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World

Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil

Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil is a Fulbright scholar visiting Mount Wachusett Community College from Malaysia. His visit is part of the Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World.

In Malaysia, Dr. Adil is a lecturer at the Centre for Islamic Thought and Understanding at Mara University of Technology. He earned a Bachelor of Shari’a in the field of Shari’a and Law from the University of Malaya and master’s and doctorate degrees in law from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. In his application to the Fulbright program, Dr. Adil said he wanted to come to the United States to dispel misconceptions about Islam. “Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. perception towards Islam is that it promotes terrorism,” he wrote. “The fanaticism taught by a few radical Muslim preachers has to some extent tarnished the image and beauty of the religion of Islam. The word ‘Islam’ means peace and tranquility.”

During his visit here, Dr. Adil is speaking about the fundamentals of Islam, Islam and gender issues, Muslims’ and non-Muslims’ rights, law and religion, Islam in Malaysia and the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Islam Hadhari Project. He is bringing his message to Mount Wachusett Community College students, faculty and staff as well as local schools and community organizations.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, February 20
• 8 a.m., welcome breakfast, Gardner campus, north cafeteria of the Gardner campus
• 9:30 a.m., tour of Gardner campus
• Afternoon, visit classes at Gardner campus

Wednesday, February 21
• 9 a.m., guest lecturer in two Art of Being Human classes; room 339 of the Gardner campus
• 11:30 a.m., Student Government Association hosts a meet-and-greet with students, north cafeteria

Thursday, February 22
• 9:30 a.m., discussion with students in Journalism and Business Ethics Honors Colloquium; room 310 of the Gardner campus
• 11:30 a.m., discussion with MWCC faculty during a Lunch and Learn session, boardroom
• 2:30 p.m., meet with MWCC staff, Gardner campus, north cafeteria

Friday, February 23
• 9:10 a.m., guest lecturer in a business law class, room W11 of the Gardner campus
• 12:45 p.m., attend services at the Islamic Society of Worcester

Sunday, February 25
• 12:30 p.m., lunch with the Leominster Interfaith Clergy, First Church Unitarian Universalist, Leominster
• 2 p.m., lecture entitled “Fundamentals of Islam and Religious Freedom,” open to the public, First Church Unitarian Universalist, Leominster

Monday, February 26
• 10:20 a.m., lecture to Art students entitled “Islamic Culture: Art and Architecture,” room 181 in the Art Studio
• 11:30 a.m., guest lecturer in combined section of Sociology and Marriage & Family, room 127 of the Gardner campus

Tuesday, February 27
• 9 a.m., lecture entitled “Introduction to Islam” at B.F. Brown Middle School, Fitchburg
• 12 p.m., lecture entitled “Fundamentals of Islam” and discussion with students on differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity, St. Bernard’s High School, Fitchburg
• 2 p.m., tour Fitchburg District Court with Judge Zide
• 5:30 p.m., guest lecturer in an American Ethnic History class, Leominster campus

Wednesday, February 28
• 7:30 a.m., lecture entitled “Gender Issues in the Islamic Religion” at Ayer High School
• 10:30 a.m., guest lecturer in an economics class, room 202 of the Gardner campus
• 11:30 a.m., attend a MWCC event (“Queen Elizabeth I: In Her Own Words” performance or the Art Club’s lunch with participants in the annual Walk for a New Spring)
• 6 p.m., lead a discussion that provides an “Overview of Islam” and participate in discussion of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” free and open to the public, Leo & Theresa LaChance Library

Thursday, March 1
• 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., guest lecture in several high school world history and civilization classes, Gardner High School

Friday, March 2
• 9 a.m., meet with MWCC history faculty, TBA
• 11:30 a.m., participate in a panel discussion entitled “Different Faces of Islam” featuring Muslim scholars from other countries, free and open to the public, room 127 of the Gardner campus

Saturday, March 3
• 9:30 a.m., guest speaker at Congregation Agudat Achim, Leominster

Monday, March 5
• 10:30 a.m., guest lecturer in a Women’s Literature class, room 303 of the Gardner campus
• 11:40 a.m., attend an all-faculty meeting, room 127 of the Gardner campus
• 2 p.m., guest lecturer for the Lifelong Learning Institute for Enrichment’s “Understanding Islam” course, room 127 of the Gardner campus

Tuesday, March 6
• 12 p.m., guest speaker at the Fitchburg Rotary Club meeting, Fay Club in Fitchburg
• 1:45 p.m., accompany Fitchburg Police Chief Ed Cronin on a tour of the Fitchburg Police Station

Wednesday, March 7
• 9:15 a.m., guest lecturer in two Criminal Justice classes, room 310 of the Gardner campus
• 11:30 a.m., guest speaker at an International Club meeting, room 71 in the Leo & Theresa LaChance Library

Thursday, March 8
• 9 a.m., guest lecturer in a Legal Research class, room 340 of the Gardner campus
• 12 p.m., guest speaker at the Gardner Rotary Club meeting, Colonial Hotel in Gardner

Friday, March 9
• open for guest lectures
• 11:30 a.m., attend lecture by Greensboro Four member Jibreel Khazan, auditorium
• open for guest lectures
• farewell dinner, TBA