[basejumper56]

What do you believe an MSA (college/university) should primarily represent; Islam or Muslims?

**Background info**
Like so many universities, there is a very clear divide b/w the muslims on my campus. There are those muslims who are at a high level of eeman/taqwa and those whose eeman is not as strong. And therefore some of the "weaker" muslims choose to engage in activities such as hookah or other such "dodgy" activites. And consequently, the muslims at a "higher" level, have made the MSA into a completely polarized organization. To the point where the "liberal" muslims far out number the "conservative" muslims. Keeping in mind that the "liberal" muslims, do infact want to be actively involved with the MSA and by no means want to corrupt the Islamic core of MSA, but at the same time don't get involved because of constantly being judged.

So the question is what should MSA primarily represent. If it is indeed the student body, then through democracy, should they be allowed to determine the tone and enviroment of MSA events.

[Wolfn]

My MSA is having a game night soon. We're going to break out the X-Boxes and play "Halo" and all that stuff.

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by basejumper56

What do you believe an MSA (college/university) should primarily represent; Islam or Muslims?

Islam. Most college MSA's from what I've known of them are sometimes (often) terrible Muslims donchaknow

[IbnMardhiyah]

The MSAs should be reppin' the Muslims, but I'd say make sure you got competent folks at the top leading the group, and by default, most of them [if they're competent] will make sure the MSA doesn't go too off-track, Islamwise.

They'll keep it balanced and stable because you need to represent as many of the Muslims on campus as possible, and include them and bring them together rather than alienate them with rigid, monolithic policies and events.

[Pushpa]

Muslims, Muslims, Muslims.

Representing 'Islam' becomes cause for contention when everyone has different ideas of what is Islamic or not, to the point where in my experience the Islamic Society (as we call them in Britain) becomes very very limited, to providing only jummah, iftar and tarawih during Ramadan, a couple of speaker events and the brothers' and sisters' halaqahs - and even then we have sparks flying every which way. Now of course not everybody wants to go to a halaqah, but Muslims do want to hang out with each other and providing Islamically acceptable social alternatives SHOULD be a responsibility of the MSA. It's not really the place of the student society to tell students how to practice, unless you have experienced, learned people in an advisory role - and even then, they should be there only for those who want to seek advice, not pushing it in everyone's face. Students telling other students what to do never goes down well.

[sally]

I cannot stand MSAs. Anyone else with me?

[MuslimZ]

Originally Posted by sally

I cannot stand MSAs. Anyone else with me?

word to tha bird.

I'm a big fan of Hillel.

Also, basejumper56 has cooties. I know this for a fact.

[Deel]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

The MSAs should be reppin' the Muslims, but I'd say make sure you got competent folks at the top leading the group, and by default, most of them [if they're competent] will make sure the MSA doesn't go too off-track, Islamwise.

i agree, that's the most important part, son.
i know a muslim sister who was elected president of a uni's MSA who wears hijab then goes to frat parties where she takes off her hijab and drinks. and i've seen pictures.
how nice

[hijabihoodlum]

Originally Posted by Deel

i agree, that's the most important part, son.
i know a muslim sister who was elected president of a uni's MSA who wears hijab then goes to frat parties where she takes off her hijab and drinks. and i've seen pictures.
how nice

is she a bad president?



my answer: muslims.

[MuslimZ]

Originally Posted by hijabihoodlum

is she a bad president?

From experience with my own MSA, certain sisters don't make good presidents.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by Deel

i agree, that's the most important part, son.
i know a muslim sister who was elected president of a uni's MSA who wears hijab then goes to frat parties where she takes off her hijab and drinks. and i've seen pictures.
how nice

hmm, a weak Muslimah who drinks [are you sure it was alcohol?]

well, lets look on the bright side ... alhamdulillaah at least she wears hijab as often as possible, and prays.

[hijabihoodlum]

Originally Posted by MuslimZ

From experience with my own MSA, certain sisters don't make good presidents.

certain MuslimZ's can talk to the hand.


in seriousness though, to ask religiosity of members of a purely student organization (no religious governing body, can't discriminate membership based on anything) is silly. and it is after all the *muslim* student association, not "islamic" student association.

this obviously means a lot of change for your traditional MSAs (it would mean quite a lot for mine), but for those of us still attached to old things, we really have to take a step back and ask ourselves if it would be a bad thing if our MSAs liberalized. what would happen? events would probably include more secular and social aspects. members would be far more diverse, ranging from your scary bearded guys to the atheist who has a lot of desi muslim friends to the hijabi who wants to legalize pot (im really just pulling these out of nowhere).

really, we cant do much to unify the purposes of each individual MSA because MSA national just doesnt have the power to do so. and the msa nat'l president is one of my best friends, so i dont mean that in the slightest derogatory manner, but rather just as a statement of fact. so in my eyes, it's each to her own. and i envision a whole lot of power struggles and heartache between those "stronger" and "weaker" muslims for who gets to call MSA their own. <--it obviously won't work either way. but that's a whole other issue.

[jinnzaman]

Leadership is an amanah (trust). In addition to being accountable to the people, one is ultimately accountable to Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). As leaders, they are obligated to fulfill the rights of the Creator, themselves, their families, and the people.

Mu'awiyah's strategy was the best: when people pulled forward, he would cut them slack. When they tried to get away, he tightened his grip.

You should adopt this approach as well. When the people are inflexible, then be as flexible as you can be without compromising your aqeedah or the commandments in Islam. When the people are flexible, then be strict and encourage them to fulfill the commands of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala).

It requires a balance and extremism is a source of contention and our Ummah is one of moderation.

Remember, the characteristic for which the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhum) were most praised in the Qur'an was for being gentle with the believers and being firm with the kuffar (disbelievers who were hostile to Islam as opposed to simply being non-believers).

Basically, if anyone follows the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhum), their organizations will be a success.

[basejumper56]

who wears hijab then goes to frat parties where she takes off her hijab and drinks. and i've seen pictures.
how nice

Not that Im calling you out or anything. You really should refrain from talking about people like that. At my Uni, this is one of the biggest problems which repulses muslims from being part of the MSA.

As soon as someone does anything the least bit un-Islamic, student issued fatwas are gossiped around these conservative circles, alienating other muslims. Thats why I feel that MSA's should represent students primarily. And as for leadership positions, its not for us to judge if people are "Muslim" enough for the position. As long as they are voted in, no one has the right to come and challenge their position based on what they do with their own time.

[Haramoobobi]

I think this thread's title should change to Who and What Should VTech MSA Represent?