Muslim Students open doors to all students

By Marina Rangel |Staff Writer|

The CSUSB Muslim Student Association (MSA) gives students a chance to connect through discussion, prayer and sharing.

MSA opens their meetings and events to all students no matter their religious affiliation.

Created in 1963, the National MSA supports chapters throughout universities to meet the needs of Muslim students and bring education to those who are interested.

“Come check us out. It will do away with any misconceptions about Muslims,” said MSA secretary Stephen El-Khatib.

I was not familiar with MSA and I had the opportunity to discuss this campus club with El-Khatib.

It was fascinating finding out about students who participate in a club that have the purpose of reaching out to each other and the community.

They look out for the needs of Muslim students, but offer a place to share ideas and become educated for all. At MSA meetings, students can discuss the Quran and the prophet Muhammad but are also encouraged to bring in a hadith for discussion.

Hadith, which I consider almost the equivalent to Christians’ scriptures, are eyewitness accounts about Muhammad. Members of the MSA use these to lead discussion and education during their meetings.

“Some don’t know how much is culture and how much is religion,” said El-Khatib.

He joined MSA to meet other Muslim students and participate in the education that joining different clubs around campus can offer.

Coming up for the MSA is Islamic Awareness Week which will feature several guest speakers and a video offering knowledge on Islam. In April the MSA will be hosting a

Palestinian Awareness Week educating students on the treatment of Palestinians.

The MSA also take members on hiking trips to serve as a fun way for students to connect.

Besides the effort to aid the homeless almost every weekend, the MSA continues to be very active in community protests and events.

My interpretation of the MSA has brought me to believe that it is clubs like these that help shape the people we become outside of college.

I believe education dominates a large portion of our lives but how much does it actually contribute to the person we become when we only choose to learn what we already know we like?

Getting the chance to discover different subjects or, in this case, different religions is an eye-opening experience.

Details on MSA can be found at MSAcoyotes.com or their Facebook page CSUSB MSA.