Religion is pervasive in society. In every diverse community with a large spectrum of people comes a wide range of religions. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is one religious organization within the Kean community.

Despite being dedicated to the expression of one religion, there is no exclusivity involved; any and everyone is invited to be a part of MSA. In fact, people are encouraged to bring Muslim and non-Muslim friends.

Dalya Matari, sophomore communication major and President of MSA, states, “One thing we do [is] we let everybody express their selves, so no matter what they want to say they can say it there. It’s just a place where everybody is able to speak freely about what they need to.”

The Kean University population is characterized as a gamut of diversity. Every individual brings their own network of information, experiences and advice. In diverse communities it’s essential to recognize that to each culture, its religions and traditions are valuable. From an outside perspective, people should recognize that sanctity and be respectful of it.

Waseem El-Helw, sophomore biology and Secretary of MSA, states, “Specifically for us in the MSA here, it’s more of a notion of spirit in a world where everybody is telling us no no no and everybody is against us. We can show our unity, we can help enlighten the world and we can find our serenity there. That’s what the MSA is to us; it’s not just a club, it’s more of a lifestyle.”

Kean University ensures that no matter what context you come from, there is a place for each individual because each unique person adds an element of character to the community. Through organizations and clubs, the university celebrates differences and unique insights that every person offers.

El-Helw continued “…a mosque that I go to is called ICPC and on a monthly basis they have meetings where he meets up with a rabbi, he meets up with a father, he meets up with a patriarch and they just have fundraisers. They sit there and they just talk.”

MSA makes it their personal mission to involve themselves in their surrounding world. By connecting on and off campus with as many organizations as possible, as frequently as possible, they are creating positive relationships with those around them.

El-Helw states, “Last semester we had a bake sale and part of the bake sale was for the woman to try on hijabs, see how you look in it…”

As an organization within a larger educational community, they work copiously to improve their environment. They raise knowledge about Islam as a religion and as a cultural basis, they pray together five times a day, they discuss prominent topics, through their actions and advocacy they actively try to rectify misconceptions and they host and sponsor numerous events every semester. With each event, meeting or simple discussion, they spread awareness and encourage people to expand their minds.

El-Helm states, “the MSA is a club but we’re more blood brother[s] and blood sisters than anything else. We look at each other and we’re like ‘wow, we all come from the same land, we share the same roots, we try to send the same message.’”

MSA places a heavy emphasis on conversation. They strongly believe that through dialogue people can really begin to understand one another. Often times people are intimidated, nervous or hesitant to start a conversation. Consequently, despite their curiosity, they bite their tongues with topics such as religion. MSA believes communication to be critical.

El-Helm states, “the first passage to come down inside the Koran was God saying Ikra. It’s a general word for read, write, learn, converse, talk and establish a dialect.” In meetings they set aside time for current events. If there’s something going on in the media and someone brings it up, everyone voices their opinion.

Matari states, “Especially with the media, the way they portray us, we have to voice our own opinions, our own actual beliefs rather than let everybody go on what the media is saying.”

The MSA supports any form of dialogue which will open up an idea. El-Helm explains, “We enforce topics, that’s what the beauty of Islam is; it’s the beauty of conversation, it’s the beauty of talking and establishing the ideas. Because everything can be a negative, but if you talk about it, that has the potential to [positive]…” Not only do they stress talking, they also emphasize nonverbal communications. Through their actions is how they express who they are and what they are actually about.

Tubah Yahy, senior elementary education major and Vice President of MSA, states, “These hijabs that we wear are a silent kind of conversation. It’s like you’re looking at us and this is how we behave, this is how we act.”

Because of their hijabs, women are the most obvious portrayal of their culture. Those in the MSA, especially the executive board, take it upon themselves to be positive representatives of the Muslim culture. El-Helw elaborates, “being on the board, where I hold the name of MSA, people are like ‘wow, maybe Islam isn’t what Fox News says it is’…I can help shed a little light and show that we [as] Islam are unity and we’re peace. The word Islam, the root word is peace.”

Contemporarily, religion serves many purposes.  El-Helw states, “…everybody believes in something, as long as you have that structure. [As people get further from their faith] now they’re looking for the structure in the drink, in the society, in the parties, ect.”

While every dimension of a person’s character is dictated by context, being Muslim provides a context all its own. Human experience is characterized by extreme diversity; in fact, no two people have the same exact life experiences. A lot of times people let their differences act as divisors. People need to allow that which makes them different make them better. Life is much richer when individuals embrace the various ways humanity presents itself.

Stop by for an MSA meeting as they take place every other Tuesday in the Center for Academic Success (CAS) building room 442 during college hour.