Muslims must create a society in which people can live together, Howard University professor Sulayman Nyang said in a speech to an audience of 200 at Dunster House last night.

Nyang, an African studies scholar who has also worked in the foreign service, gave an hour-long lecture entitled "Islam and Modern Man."

Nyang stressed the ability of Islam to unite different peoples.

"Islam doesn't say that the other human being isn't important," Nyang said. "Rather, he is intrinsically important because he has a human face."

As he talked about unity, Nyang also emphasized the need for Muslims to retain Islamic values in contemporary life.

"Although we live with every development, the mental furniture must be Islamic," he said.

Modern society is too often troubled with nationalisms, ideologies and psychology which places physical pleasure over spiritual needs, Nyang said.

"We go back to the old Roman notion: 'Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die," Nyang said.

Muslims must separate themselves from this contemporary view.

"In Islam we have to take ourselves seriously," he said. "Everything we do here is being recorded by a divine video tape."

According to Nyang, Muslims must also learn to focus lesson them selves. Nyang presented the analogy of a soda can to describe how modern people treat each other.

"I want Coke...when I am tired of it I will throw it away," he said. "Human relations are thus based on the disposability of others."

Nyang's speech addressed many of the concerns of Muslim audience members, who were looking for ways to reconcile their beliefs with their lives.

Audience member Agnigszha M. Katergi, an Arlington resident, has been a Muslim for eight months. Though she said her experience has been "wonderful, clean and pure," she said she wanted to learn how to live more like a Muslim.

"Society is not easy to put Islam in it and be strict about it," Katergi said. "I'm thinking about the future, especially about the children. They need to stand on their feet and know where they're going."

Nyang's speech was preceded by a multi-ethnic dinner. Muslim audience members commented on the importance of the complete event.

"We must bring Muslims together, so that they can strengthen each others' faith and advance the cause of Islam," said Mohsen Tehrani, a leader in the Boston-area Muslim community.

While Nyang focused on how Islam and modern society relate, non-Muslim audience members said the evening still informed them.

"The purpose is to educate the student body--people who are already interested and people less knowledgeable--and [have them] learn about culture," said Reena R. Lawande '96.

A coordinator of Harvard's Islamic Week said she was pleased with the results of the dinner and discussion.

"I was impressed by Harvard's response," and Uzma Ahmad '96. "We really want to have the Harvard community come with their questions and find that...Muslims are concerned with all people.