These three simple letters recognize one of the newest yet productive club across the nation. MSA stands for Muslim Student Association. The definition according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, stated above refers to national origination of MSA. The focus of this research is on manily Purdue's MSA. The Muslim Student Association of Purdue University is a close-knit and friendly community which serves to assist Purdue Muslims in their practice of Islam. Unfortunately MSA of Purdue University's website is under construction at the moment. However, the Muslim Students Association at UNH has the same goals as the Muslim Association of Purdue University. Similar to the goals of MSA at Purdue University, MSA of UNH explains, "We endeavor to improve and augment the University's community awareness and knowledge of the global religion of Islam and of the culture of the Islamic nation." This research project is based on the interviews of MSA members, president, and vice president. This data also comes from the surveys taken by the nonmembers of MSA. Most of the research is through my own observations as a member. MSA seeks to make a positive multi-cultural contribution to Purdue. MSA is comprised of American and International students, graduates and undergraduates. Also, MSA members are most willing to assist students who are seeking information for a class research project or paper that pertains to Islam or Islamic countries. This particular MSA at Purdue University is very involved with the campus and with other groups such as Pakistan Student Association, Turkish Student Association, War on Hunger, Beta Chi Theta, Purdue University Hillel, Students for Justice in Palestine, Amnesty International, Purdue Malaysian Students Association, and Undergraduate Chinese Student Association to make this community a better place to live.
(MSA's latest event's flyer)
In order to find out what the outsider point of view is on MSA and what it stands for, I surveyed many nonmembers. I also interviewed members, the president of MSA and the vice president of MSA. I myself am proud to be a member of this community. As is explains on the Purdue MSA's website the MSA meets every week, for a total of 11 times in this Fall 2010 on Thursdays in Beering room 2275 at 7:30p.m. The members are sent reminders about the meetings weekly by Facebook events and emails. The most common way MSA communicates with each other is through Facebook and emails. The MSA also communicates with the Purdue student body about their events through posters, flyers, and Facebook events. If there is an event going on all the MSA members change their Facebook profile picture to that event's information flyer.
As stated above the meetings are essential in order to discuss what is the next step MSA will take in order to make this a better community. The meetings begin with an Aslam o'alikum which is translated as ‘Peace be upon you.” This is the phrase Muslims use instead of saying “hello, what’s up etc.” Some other words used in this community on regular bases are: Subhan'Allah which is uttered when something good has happened, Masha'Allah which is uttered when something pleases the eye, Insha'Allah which is uttered when one wants something to occur in the future etc.
One of the most important text used by MSA is the Holy Quran. Quran is the guide for all Muslims. It's the sacred book. The use of this text during the meetings show us how these students have chosen their religion as a guide to their daily life. As the meetings starts, the president usually greets all and then moves onto a Quranic verse from the Holy Book, Quran . He reads this verse in Arabic then translates it to English for the members who do not speak the holy language, Arabic. After reciting and translating the Quranic verse the president then shares a religious story behind that verse. This is so the Muslim students can enhance their knowledge in their religion, Islam. After this the president discuses the events going on campus and the involvement of MSA in those events. During these meetings female students sit on one side of the room as the male students sit on the opposite side. This is due to the fact that these students have embedded their religion in their lives. Islam tells Muslims to keep a distance with the opposite sex so flirting is not a problem. Muslims females are covered modestly due to the same fact. The girls wear their hijab, the head covering. During the meetings respect is given to all. These unspoken rules are hard to comprehend by an outsider.
As stated above the meetings are essential in order to discuss what is the next step MSA will take in order to make this a better community. The meetings begin with an Aslam o'alikum which is translated as ‘Peace be upon you.” This is the phrase Muslims use instead of saying “hello, what’s up etc.” Some other words used in this community on regular bases are: Subhan'Allah which is uttered when something good has happened, Masha'Allah which is uttered when something pleases the eye, Insha'Allah which is uttered when one wants something to occur in the future etc.
One of the most important text used by MSA is the Holy Quran. Quran is the guide for all Muslims. It's the sacred book. The use of this text during the meetings show us how these students have chosen their religion as a guide to their daily life. As the meetings starts, the president usually greets all and then moves onto a Quranic verse from the Holy Book, Quran . He reads this verse in Arabic then translates it to English for the members who do not speak the holy language, Arabic. After reciting and translating the Quranic verse the president then shares a religious story behind that verse. This is so the Muslim students can enhance their knowledge in their religion, Islam. After this the president discuses the events going on campus and the involvement of MSA in those events. During these meetings female students sit on one side of the room as the male students sit on the opposite side. This is due to the fact that these students have embedded their religion in their lives. Islam tells Muslims to keep a distance with the opposite sex so flirting is not a problem. Muslims females are covered modestly due to the same fact. The girls wear their hijab, the head covering. During the meetings respect is given to all. These unspoken rules are hard to comprehend by an outsider.
(The Holy Quran where the verses are read from during the meetings)
Muslim Student Association President Salah Issa says," The goal of MSA at Purdue University is to promote a proper understanding of Islam that is based on the Qur'aan and Sunnah to all residents and students in Greater Lafayette. It is our hope that insha'Allah (God-willing), this understanding will foster." Many people who are not familiar with this Student Association on the Purdue campus had many misconceptions about this MSA community. The most common misconception is that Muslims are terrorists or hate America. Due to Coyote Chronicles by Rachel Cannon many think this way because of the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. However, it is important to remember one extremist group does not represent the entire religion. Rachel Cannon explains in her article, "After all terrorist acts have been committed by people of many different religions and backgrounds, but this hasn't led to negative stereotypes against most of these other faiths. Islam seems to be the only exception to this rule." A lot of this may be the fault of the media. Some nonmembers also thought this was an organization where only Muslims can be members. MSA is open and welcomes all students with any faith. Purdue's MSA's goals are to spread knowledge about Islam, help out the community, and also other countries in need.
(Flyer from the MSA about a speaker)
The Flyer above was an event Islam 101' which was an an introductory lecture, followed by a Q&A session on the Islamic faith; offering the greater Purdue and Lafayette community a run-down on what is and what isn't Islam. The Muslim Student Association vice president, said people have a big misconception about the religion Islam and its followers, Muslims. So we try our best to spread knowledge about Islam. MSA has contributed a lot to not only to this country but other countries as well. MSA has created fund raisers for Katrina, Haiti, Pakistan flood, even down to homeless shelters in USA and many more. "Love for humanity is defined in the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," said Sumaya Bahram, the sister's coordinator. The picture on the right is couple donations for the homeless shelter the MSA received to deliver.
The picture on the left shows the MSA sisters wearing pink to increase awareness of Breast Cancer.
In order to increase awareness of the affects of breast cancer, MSA held an event where one designed and wore their own breast cancer ribbon for $1.
All proceeds went to the American Cancer Society's fund for breast cancer. MSA reached to the Purdue campus to help out and increase awareness in our community of this devastating disease.
As a result of the interviews, surveys, and observations; I found out how there are these unspoken rules followed by the MSA of Purdue Unviversity. There is way more to this community then what I have shared. The main text used is the Holy Quran by the MSA showing how these students have a strong faith in God. They use the Quran as a guide to better themselves and this community. As a member of MSA I realized after my research how the discourse practices are through unspoken rules which an outsider would not be able to understand. For example, when boys and girls sitting on opposite sides. This research also opened my eyes and showed me how faith gives us the direction in our lives. These students are not just part of the MSA together. They have a strong bond between them. The love they share together, the days they spent together, the respect they give each other is beyond my simple words. These students have created themselves a home away from home. Just normal students walking among us with so much more to offer. My research methods could have an affect on my data. I only surveyed ten nonmembers and received five feedbacks. However, the data I collected from the MSA members, President, and Vice President gave me enough information to write about the discourse of this community. The MSA's across the nation believe in the same goals however; some MSA's are not as productive as the one on Purdue Campus. This particular MSA loves to contribute as much as possible to our community ,however; other MSA's may have some different projects and events. Further research on the other Muslim Student Association across the nation is needed.
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