By Marin McGrath

At the university, two Muslim students work in community to navigate what religion looks like on a college campus.

In many ways, college proves to be a fresh start. People see it as a change from what life was like at home, some view it as an opportunity to come into their own and others are able to discover what is important to them, such as religion. For first-year graduate student Abdullah Asif, the practice of Islam acted as a lifeline in an ever-changing environment.

Since elementary school, Asif had to constantly explain to the other kids why he would pray during the day or eat different foods due to dietary restrictions. 

While growing up in Bentonville, Asif said his family brought him up in the Islamic faith but he didn’t necessarily understand the reason behind the practice that left him constantly explaining.

“It’s a faith that I found a lot of logic, spirituality and also clarity within,” Asif said. “As I grew up I remember watching a lot of podcasts, a lot of lectures on different philosophies and religions and even though I was born into it, Islam is the one that stuck with me the most.”

While the classes got more difficult and the social aspect became more of a priority, Asif faced challenges that students practicing other religions were not facing.

“Muslims, we pray multiple times a day,” he said. “It is often difficult to find time between classes to do your daily prayers or time to balance your religious life while also balancing being a student on campus.”

Although the challenge was something Asif struggled with coming into college, he said the university has aided and accommodated him. His current lab instructor gave him permission to leave class early for prayer, the multicultural center in the Union provides a space for meditation and he has been able to respectfully pray all around campus in the open.

“Me and my friends sometimes pray together just in the JB Hunt building in the open area,” Asif said. “We just let people around us know that we are praying before we start and most people are pretty receptive and open to us.” 

Whether it is through prayer at the JB Hunt building or meeting at the mosque, Asif revealed that the community aspect is something that has allowed for fulfillment when it comes to his Islamic faith.

Asif serves as the Vice President of the Muslim Students Association at the U of A and this year has been a catalyst of activity for the organization that he said he hopes will encourage other Musilm students to feel welcome.

In addition to weekly gatherings, the group has held events such as talks with guest speakers and a lecture discussing the relationship between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The group is set to host an event centered around Ramadan called “Fast-a-thon.” 

“We’re challenging our non-Muslim friends to fast the entire day with us and then they are going to join us at sunset and then open our fast together with us,” he explained. “It’s kind of opening cultural attitudes towards Islam.”

Another practicing Muslim on the U of A campus is Roohan Tanveer, a junior from Pakistan whose family now lives in Oklahoma. He said that while the community aspect inside of the religion is vital, it is also important for external individuals to keep an open mind about Islam.

“Every religion has misconceptions,” Tanveer said. “I would like for people to explore those instead of being polarized by the news or other online sources of information.”

The solution Tanveer expressed: talking. He suggests for people with questions to talk to someone they know that is practicing the Islamic faith. Many people tend to view it as the “bad religion” he said and so talking through misconceptions is a way to become more educated.

Many people associate Muslims with violence according to Tanveer, but he said he wants people to know that is not what the faith teaches. 

“Every faith has people that try to misrepresent it, misuse scripture,” he said.

With these stereotypes surrounding Islam, it can prove difficult to be accepted on a college campus, Asif said.

Asif said he wishes for people to be more open minded to Islam and educate themselves on the religion. 

“We like to have a community that’s allowed to thrive on campus,” Asif said. “Outside of that, we’re still pretty normal people even though I’d say Islam is more of a conservative and extra-practicing religion than most other religions are now-a-days.”