The executive director of a California-based council on American and Islamic relations told hundreds of people gathered at Montana State University Wednesday night that Muslims are a very diverse group of people and simply cannot be categorized in any one way.

Muslims are "as diverse as America," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Southern California. "Day to day, American Muslims are no different than any other person in America," he later added.

With 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide, which is about one-fourth of the world's population, it's important for other groups of people, such as Christians, to learn about Muslims, Ayloush said.

"We can't afford to be at odds with one another," Ayloush said.

Ayloush visited MSU along with Aminah Assilmi, director of the International Union of Muslim Women, as lecturers at a free, one-day symposium geared to local understanding of Islam. The symposium, which was sponsored by MSU's Diversity Awareness Office and the Muslim Student Association, included the evening lectures, an afternoon panel discussion and film screenings. (MORE)