MSO members attend 'Saving Our Deen' conference
The conference focused on living as a Muslim in a "not so Muslim world."
Published Jan. 26, 2010
Muslim Student Organization members listened to scholars and poetry at a Saint Louis University conference for Muslim college students this weekend.
The conference, titled "Saving Our Deen: Living a Muslim life in a not so Muslim world," featured poet Boonaa Mohammed and scholars who have studied at Islamic institutions around the world. The word "deen" is Arabic for religion or way of life.
MSO member Hafsa Lodhi said the speakers' stories ranged from challenges and humorous experiences from their personal lives to struggles Moses or Muhammad endured.
"They reiterated stories I'd heard before but they made it relevant to everyday life," Hafsa Lodhi said. "It was nice having it applied to your own life. That was the best part of it for me."
To choose the conference theme, the St. Louis University Muslim Students Association polled its members to see what topics interested them, MSA Co-President Haariss Ilyas said.
Ilyas said the "Saving Our Deen" theme addresses Islamic practices society often misunderstands, and the peer pressure Muslim college students face to partake in activities against their religion, such as consuming alcohol.
"A large portion is based on engaging our members on what's their pressing issue," Ilyas said. "Part of our mission is to provide them with the resources so they can feel comfortable with their religion as a minority."
Hafsa Lodhi said the passionate speakers inspired her to think about how she can change lives. As someone who loves science, Hafsa Lodhi said she realized she could apply her passion to medicine.
"They can see the changes they're making," Hafsa Lodhi said. "They can see us cracking up. I want to make a change in someone's life, and that got me more firmly set on medicine."
MSO has discussed hosting its own conference at MU. In October, MSO member Shafi Lodhi gave a presentation to MSO about organizing a regional MSA conference. Although MSA National chose a location before MSO could apply this year, Shafi Lodhi said MU would be a good choice for the conference in the future.
"It's right in the middle of Missouri, so it's a pretty central location for the region," Shafi Lodhi said. "Columbia's a great city."
In the meantime, the Islamic League of the Midwest conference will take place at MU during the last week of May, Shafi Lodhi said. He said he started the conference last year with three other Rock Bridge High School students. Although MSO does not officially sponsor the conference, many members attend, Shafi Lodhi said.
Shafi Lodhi said activities would include a video contest about the theme "Making It Relevant," a fashion design contest, a Quran recitation competition and an ILM Bowl to quiz students on the speeches and knowledge about Islam.
For Muslim college students, conferences are sometimes the only way to meet Muslims outside their town, Shafi Lodhi said. He said he met students who had memorized the entire Quran at the "Saving Our Deen" conference.
"It's a way to meet other people from different backgrounds," Shafi Lodhi said. "Since people come from different parts of the U.S., it's a great way to meet people with different ideas, whereas with a small town you get used to one way of thinking."