Encyclopedia of Islam

Muslim Students Association

  

509  J

---

the MSA Persian-Speaking Group (MSAPSG), 

which appeals to Shii students with ties to Iran.

MSA chapters are encouraged to join the 

MSA national network, which is divided into 

U.S. and Canadian chapters. These chapters are 

subdivided into geographical regions: eastern, 

central, and western regions for the United 

States; eastern and western ones for Canada. 

Each region holds its own “national” conference, 

in coordination with MSA national. The MSA 

national organization is governed by a general 

secretariat, with its headquarters in Plainfield, 

Indiana. Women hold visible leadership roles 

at both the chapter and the general secretariat 

levels. In 2007 MSA adopted a logo that shows 

two nested crescent moons, together with sym-

bols and colors of the U.S. and Canadian flags. 

The word salam is written in Arabic inside the 

logo, which MSA interprets as referring both to 

“peace” and the customary expression of greet-

ing exchanged by Muslims: al-salamu alaykum

“peace be upon you.”

Until the 1990s the MSA looked for inspira-

tion to the Islamist reformism embodied in the 

writings of s

ayyid

 q

Utb

 (d. 1966) and a

bU

 

al

-a

la

m

aWdUdi

 (d. 1979), which are now seen as too 

radical by most members. Today, in promoting 

the ideals of religious identity and unity among 

Muslim college students, the MSA affirms a list 

of values that helps define its place in American 

society and contributes to combating anti-Mus-

lim prejudice in North America, especially since 

the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World 

Trade Center and the Pentagon. These values 

include sincerity, knowledge, patience, truthful-

ness, moderation, tolerance, and forgiveness. 

The secretariat and the campus chapters hold 

conferences and meetings to help realize these 

values. One of the major activities they undertake 

is organizing an Islam Awareness Day or Week, 

which features films, guest speakers, and exhib-

its to educate non-Muslims about Islam. During 

r

amadan

 MSA chapters sponsor “fastathons” to 

raise funds for charities and evening interfaith 

iftar meals, which mark the end of the daily fast. 

Many participate in interfaith events throughout 

the year that foster mutual understanding and 

acceptance in the campus community as a whole, 

especially among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim 

students. The MSA also engages in outreach 

through the Internet.

An indication of the remarkable success 

that MSA has experienced since it was founded 

are the nonstudent Islamic organizations it has 

inspired. These include the Islamic Society of 

North America (ISNA), created in 1981, with 

which it still maintains an affiliation. Professional 

organizations have also been established by for-

mer MSA members, such as the Islamic Medical 

Association of North America (IMANA), the 

Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS), 

and the Association of Muslim Scientists and 

Engineers (AMSE).

See also  c

oUncil

 

on

  a

merican

-i

slamic

r

elations

; 

daawa

; 

dialogUe

;  i

slamism

;  m

Uslim

p

Ublic

  a

FFairs

  c

oUncil

; 

reneWal

 

and

 

reForm

movements

.