NASHVILLE – Taking a step forward to reach out to their neighbors, leaders of the Muslim community in Nashville, in the southeastern America Tennessee state, hosted a seminar on Wednesday, August 10, to educate people about their religion.

“We feel like it’s important in this day and age when there is a lot of misinformation,” Rashed Fakhruddin, President of the Islamic Center of Nashville, told News Channel 5.

“It’s important for us to set the record straight.”

Fakhruddin is one of the Muslim leaders who hosted a seminar called “Islam 101” at the Islamic Center of Nashville Wednesday night.

The presentation was open to the public to clarify misconceptions about the religion.

Welcoming people of all ages from across the community, Fakhruddin explained the basic practices and beliefs of Islam.

He estimates there are about 30,000 Muslims living in the Nashville area, and said he hopes by hosting the educational seminars, more people can learn about the religion.

“It just takes more work on our part,” said Fakhruddin.

“It’s about getting to know who we are, and getting to know our community.”

At the Islamic center, many visitors praised the seminar as a great learning opportunity.

“I studied religion in undergraduate school, but never took any classes on Islam,” said Peyton Williams, a Nashville resident who attended the seminar.

“I want to learn more.  It is so important in our world right now to understand each other.”

The event is not the first in the Islamic center, which is widely accepted in the city of Nashville.

The Islamic Center of Nashville hosts presentations multiple times throughout the year, and participates in other community and city wide events in an effort to educate people about Islam.

Leaders also always welcome visitors to the center.

During the past months, Donald Trump has encouraged a wave of anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, from a complete ban of Muslims to “extreme vetting” in a CBS News interview last month.

In December, the New York business mogul proposed banning all Muslims from American territory “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”

“I think Islam hates us,” Trump told CNN in an interview in March.

Muslims make up 1% of America’s 322 million population, according to Pew Research center.

Facing growing attacks on Muslims, CAIR has launched a new website, Islamophobia.org, to monitor and challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry.