• The event aimed to promote understanding and build bridges between Muslims and non-Muslims.
• The students had beautiful conversations with strangers who wanted to know more about Islam.

Giving flowers to strangers can spread love and compassion at a time when we need it the most.

Wearing their hijab, a group of Muslim students hit the ground in Charlottesville, Virginia, to hand out flowers to passersby, break barriers, and answer questions about their faith.

Amelle Chanda was one of the dozen young Muslim students who joined the effort in the Downtown Mall neighborhood.

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“We handed out flowers and answered questions and just honestly had just really amazing, beautiful conversations with strangers who just wanted to know more about Islam and what we kind of do as Muslims,” she told WVTF.

The ‘Meet a Muslim’ event was suggested after a Pew Research Center survey showed US adults who knew someone from a religious group were more likely to report favorable views.

“I feel like there are still a lot of misconceptions about us, and we just wanted to reach out – to let everyone know that we’re smiling faces, we’re good people,” Amira Radwan said.

“We just thought it was needed.”

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While some asked the Muslim ladies about their hijab, others were anxious to share their Christian beliefs and to learn about the fundamentals of Islam.

“People here were great, actually. I had some really good conversations with people,” student Ibrahim Ahmed, who joined the group, said.

“Meet a Muslim” events are community gatherings that promote understanding and build bridges between Muslims and non-Muslims.