Hello! I haven’t seen any Muslims on this forum, but if you’re here, please respond! This thread is open to anyone, however, so don’t hesitate to answer if you have any insight.
I have a few questions regarding being a Muslim at Michigan. I’ll be a freshman next year and I’m worried about maintaining my religion and making friends.
How hard is it to not drink, smoke, go to clubs, or do drugs and still make friends?
What halal* (Islamically permissible) fun is there on campus?
How is Michigan’s MSA (Muslim Student Association)?
I’ll be dorming.
Thank you (and jazakullah khair to any Muslim responders).
*forbidden things in Islam that are commonly seen on college campuses are:
Alcohol
Drugs
Premarital relationships (no dating, etc)
Listening to music (I’ll be honest and say I don’t follow this as I should)
Music? LOL! That’s a new one. Although I am Catholic myself, I have read to Quran in Arabic over and over. Listening to music is not haram.
Anyway, university isn’t high school. There is no peer pressure to drink, smoke, do drugs or befriend members of the opposite sex. Your friends will not force you into doing anything that is “haram”, so you can decide on your own what to do with your free time on campus, regardless of your friends’ personal beliefs. There are naturally plenty of things you can do, such as joining clubs and organizations, intramural sports, hanging out with friends in cafes, going to the movies, attending sporting events etc…
I am not sure that is incorrect woah. Prophet Mohammed, PBUH, did not forbid, or discourage, the appreciation and enjoyment of music as an art or in celebrating events such as marriage. Obviously, music in a night club environment while sipping on an alcoholic beverage is not halal, but not all music forms are haram.
By the way, I do not drink or “party”, and Michigan was a lot of fun. Many of my friends drank, while many others did not. There was no pressure to conform.
Here are some thoughts:
The MSA, at least back in my day, was small and not very active. I am not sure about today.
Ann Arbor has a mosque and an active muslim community. They have juma gatherings, and break fast together for iftar during ramadan.
Muslim here! I wasn’t even cognizant that there was a muslim student organization, but I might look into it. ^ Number 2 is relieving because I was wondering how weird it would be if I wake up to eat iftar at 3:00 am. I don’t even think I’ll have to worry about it until my junior year because it will be during summer break.
@Alexandre Do you recall how far away the masque is from the main campus?
@Alexandre Hadhrat Abu Maalik Ash’ari (radhiyallahu anhu) says that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) say: “Most certainly, there will be in my Ummah people who will make lawful fornication, silk, liquor and musical instruments.” (Bukhaari)
woah, I am Catholic (Maronite to be precise), born and raised, but I know a lot about Islam. I respect the religion, and I will address the Prophet, PBUH, as is befitting of his status.
AcceptableName, the mosque was off of Plymouth Road, very close to North Campus. As woah16 said, half an hour by bus from central campus…on a very busy day.
Cherry-picking what rules to violate so one can feel holier-than-thou about making a big deal about observing other rules, makes one a hypocritical worm.
GMT, the same can be said of every religion. Following every single recommendation set forth by any religion is impossible. Humans are frail and flawed after all!
That being said, CC is not the place to discuss the merits of religion, or what constitutes a faithful worshiper. Woah16, and many others I am sure, want to know more about the infrastructure in place for Muslim students. Let us stick to that.
@woah16 as a muslim going to umich this year (as a sophomore) being a muslim is what you make of it. IF you are committed to being a true muslim, then doing things like drug or alcohol won’t be a problem. There are many people muslims and non-muslims who don’t these things and are amazing people at campus so there wont be an issue. In terms of MSA, its really active at Michigan and they do many activities. Theres alot of people at jummah so youll be fine and good luck next year :-*
There is a strong population of students that don’t drink or do any drugs. I’m not saying a majority but when you have 25-30k undergrads, there are many thousands that don’t partake.
Now most of those will listen to music now and again
Thank you to all who answered. GMT, I’m not cherry-picking to feel holier-than-thou. I follow the rules but still have problems. Do all Catholics never divorce, for example? Anyway, this forum is not for discussing religion as Alexandre pointed out.
Well, I have to disagree with the comment that a religion cannot be followed to its height. First, no one drinks openly at Michigan (thank God!), and you’d have to exert some force (and money) to get in a liquor store to buy some drinks. Concerning premarital relationships, I think that is really up to you. Others might do it, but I would be pretty confident to believe that as a Muslim you would not be doing such. Music is undoubtedly something that you cannot avoid. It is everywhere, and I think one can be excused for that because you really have no control. But you can nevertheless plug in some earphones and listen to some Quran or otherwise religious “recitations,” per se. And no, there are no drugs. Michigan students know better than that (except some idiots now and then).
