91原创

As president of the , senior chemical engineering major Kamal Muhanna attended a Riwaq Institute event at Drexel University hosted by their own MSA that inspired him to establish a new RSO back on campus.

鈥淭his event particularly resonated with me due to its simplicity, engagement level and student-focused audience,鈥� Muhanna said. 鈥淢otivated by this experience, I facilitated the hosting of two Riwaq events through 91原创 MSA, which were very well received, to say the least. The creation of MADRASA stemmed from the increasing demand for such educational events, a domain I felt was beyond MSA鈥檚 broad scope, which aimed to serve as a communal and friendly space.鈥�

, which translates to 鈥渟chool鈥� in Arabic and stands for Muslim Association for Development in Religious Academia and Scholastic Achievement, started forming last spring and was officially recognized as an RSO in October 2023. The mission of MADRASA is to provide education in Islamic sciences and help their members gain access to resources needed to generate literary and creative content.

鈥淢SA focuses on arranging engaging activities for Muslims to socialize, including game nights, trivia nights, sports days and Iftars, whereas MADRASA鈥檚 sole focus is on bringing Islamic education to the academic forefront,鈥� said Muhanna. 鈥淢ADRASA is purely educational鈥攚ith some recess. There are many students that attend both RSO events and are extremely grateful that they have access to two active RSOs presenting them with a variety of different activities for them and their friend groups, covering everything from fun to philosophy, which can also be fun to some.鈥�

First-year finance major and board member Azan Khan serves as the communications coordinator for MADRASA and said the two RSOs offer a holistic experience.

鈥淲hile MSA is a warm and welcoming home for Muslim students, MADRASA is the school where they come to learn,鈥� said Khan.

In its short tenure, MADRASA has already hosted six diverse guest lectures with more slated through the end of the semester. The group鈥檚 partnership with the Riwaq Institute, a nonprofit organization that facilitates contemporary scholarship and discussions around Islamic philosophy, was crucial to MADRASA鈥檚 mission. 

鈥淭he Riwaq volunteers have been incredibly supportive, contributing significantly to our educational initiatives,鈥� said Muhanna. 鈥淭heir collaboration has greatly enhanced the quality and depth of the educational experiences we offer at MADRASA, ensuring that our members have access to authentic and intellectually stimulating material.鈥�

Lectures provide a platform for in-depth discussions and debates on Islamic sciences, history, jurisprudence and spirituality. Because MADRASA lectures focus on academic enrichment rather than religious motivation, it is open to all students regardless of background. 

鈥淢ADRASA attracts individuals interested specifically in Islamic education, including non-Muslims seeking an academic perspective on Islam,鈥� said Muhanna. 鈥淥ur focus is on education and dialogue, aiming to offer a comprehensive view of Islamic academic disciplines in a welcoming and inclusive environment. It鈥檚 for anyone keen on exploring these subjects.鈥�

Muhanna noted his appreciation for his fellow founders and hopes the new group will continue to grow and thrive at the University in the years to come.

鈥淭he founding members of MADRASA have worked tirelessly to establish this organization from the ground up,鈥� said Muhanna. 鈥淭heir commitment has been instrumental in creating a platform that not only fosters academic exploration of Islamic sciences, but also promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation within our University community.鈥�

The last two events of the semester feature notable guest speakers and take place on Thursday, April 18 and Thursday, May 2. The April 18 lecture on liberalism and postmodernism will be led by Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research Director of Content Strategy and Assistant Director of Research . MADRASA holds bi-weekly meetings every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall 127. If you鈥檙e interested in joining or want to learn more about upcoming events, connect with on Instagram.