By Staff Reporter
“ISLAM.”
Emblazoned across two gold hued billboards, this simple yet engaging word is what over 50,000 motorists will encounter as they drive through the Culver City and Torrance areas of Southern California over the next few weeks.
The Islamic Circle of North America, Southern California Chapter, is sponsoring the ad campaign as part of its Why Islam division. Yasir Shah, President of ICNA Southern California, hopes the ads will guide people towards learning “what Islam is and what it stands for.”
“With this ad [we’re] trying to show that Islam’s beliefs are not all that different from other faiths. We want to build on that common ground and give people a venue to understand [this religion].”
The ads are not cluttered, with very few words aimed at attracting those who feel they “deserve to know” more about Islam. Names of prophets respected and accepted by numerous faiths adorn one side of the board. The public is also directed to the 877-WHY-ISLAM hotline and www.WhyIslam.org for more information about the faith.
While the target audience may be those who do not have enough accurate information about Islam, the feedback from Muslim community members has provided ICNA with an indication of the project’s success. “The community is really positive about the [billboard ads],” says Shah, mentioning that many members have called to express their support.
ICNA Southern California hosts numerous events throughout the year, with most of their work being focused on outreach. Over the past year, they have distributed nearly 10,000 free Qurans, 4,000 of which were handed out at WhyIslam’s Dawah booth at the LA Times Festival of Books.
The billboard ad campaign began Wednesday, September 9 and will remain on display until mid-October. The ads are situated about 15 miles apart, with one gracing Venice Boulevard, between Overland Avenue and National Boulevard, and the other greeting drivers on Carson Street, between Normandie Avenue and Vermont Boulevard. Both areas are considered high traffic zones, and thousands are expected to see the ads on a daily basis.
For more information or to support visit www.whyislamsc.org
