ISLAM IN NEW HAVEN . PART III . YALE

December 31, 2009

NEW HAVEN – Tariq Mahmoud says he has no problem being a “Muslim ambassador” to the wider community, but it’s also nice just being a busy college student once in a while.

Yale University ‘s Muslim Student Association lets him do both.

On the one hand, the MSA is a tight-knit social group representing about 200 Muslim undergraduate and graduate students. They host parties, organize dinners and share regularly in prayers and religious events on campus.

On the other hand, the MSA is an energetic force at Yale, frequently stepping forward to discuss important topics relating to Islam and world affairs. They bring in guest speakers, put on panel discussions and take on everything from Islamophobia to the Danish cartoon controversy. Next month, the group will expand its annual Islamic Awareness week into an entire month of lectures, films and other events.

“It’s something I feel a responsibility to do,” explained Mahmoud, a junior at Yale and president of the student group. “We have to rise to the challenge, the prophetic example, of repelling evil with good.”

Omer Bajwa, coordinator of Muslim life at Yale, described the students he works with as “thoroughly” American.

“You find them taking this mission to heart – to be engaged in American society,” Bajwa said. “They’re American Muslims, and they want to see the betterment of American society.”

Yet the blunt edge of current events often intrudes on that mission, both for Bajwa, who works out of the Yale Chaplain’s office, and the students. The recent shootings at Fort Hood, for example, involving a Muslim-American Army psychiatrist, provoked a wave of anger throughout the country.

“It struck a raw nerve,” Bajwa said. “It was a tragedy with horrific implications, and it affects so many people. I’ve been asked by a number of groups to talk about this.”

For Mahmoud’s part, he said that only when the wider American society interacts with Muslims in a variety of social and professional settings will there be a realistic balance to the frightening images of Muslim extremists in the news.

“We need to engage America in all aspects of life,” Mahmoud said. “Muslim doctors, Muslim entertainers and everything else. That’s something this generation is stepping up to do and not just engaging in response politics.”

Jim Shelton can be reached at 203-789-5664 or jshelton@nhregister.com.

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