Ramadan Iftars
The month of Ramadan is a month of spiritual high. The main two reasons for this are ones increased acts of worship as well as the stronger ties of brotherhood and sisterhood that ultimately develop. The New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Muslim Student Association is proud to declare that it strives to create a thriving, healthy campus environment through our daily iftars. The number of Muslims who attend the iftars each day ranges between 70 to 100 people. During the iftars Muslims get together before the sunset prayer to help set-up tables, the prayer section of the room, as well as make their wuduu’. We then proceed to pray in congregation, make dua, and finally serve the food in a timely and organized fashion.
Jummah Prayers
The NJIT MSA provides weekly Juam’ah prayer to all NJIT, Rutgers, Essex, and UMDJ students. Jum’ah is held in the multi purpose room in the NJIT Campus Center, this serves to unify all the Muslim students from the surrounding college campuses. On average, two-hundred brothers and sisters attend Jum’ah. However the problem of limited space remains as yet unaddressed, and continues to exacerbate.
Location: Jummah prayers are normally conducted in the Multipurpose rooms in the NJIT campus center basement.
MSA Rescue
Perhaps one of the greatest concerns amongst NJIT students is the horrific exams that have come to be known as the common exams. Common exams are exams almost all NJIT students have to go through during their first year or two. The common exam that students typically find the hardest and the most stressful is the Math Common exam. In order to assist students overcome the notoriously difficult exams the MSA has launched its MSA Rescue program, a last minute tutoring program designed to aid students find solutions to their last minute common exam conundrums thereby alleviating the stress in general and resulting in better performance overall. The sessions take place during Wednesday’s common hour conveniently located right before the common exam this quick paced tutoring session lasts for an hour and a half. Food is served and volunteer MSA students who have mastered the dreaded math classes are present to facilitate stressing students.
Weekly Halaqas
The MSA is dedicated to educating Muslim Students, and one of the most effective ways of gaining Islamic knowledge is attending a weekly halaqah or “circle.” In this small circle, subjects such as tafsir, Qur’an memorization and current events are discussed. These intense learning sessions are very laid back and meant to be a relaxation session from the stresses of school. The fact that multiple halaqas are run weekly allow students all the more chances to come, sit, discuss and learn.
Weekly Lectures
The Weekly Wednesday Lectures are placed conveniently in the middle of the week in the middle of the day. They are meant to be the spiritual boost before the Friday Prayer. From topics ranging from the Battle of Badr to the afterlife, a variety of speakers including Mazen Mukhtar, Fikry Fahmy, Mohammad El-Filali, and many more, travel long distances in order to speak to the attentive crowds gathered in Kupfrian 117.
Weekly Women Swim hour
For the past year or so, the MSA has hosted a weekly girl’s hour where the pool is reserved for woman. It is here that ladies can enjoy the pool without the stress that comes when men are present. This has become a success among the Muslim woman as well as the many women
who know about the hours and come to enjoy the pool. Here women enjoy swimming and diving without the need to cover, or the pressure of not having a perfect body. This Pool hour helps spur the fast thriving woman’s community developing on campus; this is of much importance to the university because it encourages female enrollment as well as female re-tainment at NJIT.
MSA Room
The most important thing any Muslim Student Association needs to host as many programs, events and services as our MSA does is a fully functional and operational office for MSA staff, and a gathering place for the Muslims on campus. The MSA office is the heart of our Muslim community on campus. Students constantly come into the office to fulfill their daily prayers. At times, 20 to 30 brothers line the hall outside the office to conduct the prayers at their respective time. The MSA office is also a great place for the Muslims students to interact, network and get to know each other. This has truly built strong, solid ties between the Muslim students. The MSA office also has a library that is abundantly stocked with Islamic books and Qurans that are easily accessible for all students anytime they want. Impromptu halaqas are also held in the MSA office and the room continues to prove a perfect place for a burgeoning Islamic atmosphere. The MSA office is also a great hangout spot for Muslim students to come and just “chill”. Alhamdulillah through our MSA office, we have one of the most active and welcoming club rooms in the entire campus.
Location: Across from the Gameroom in the NJIT campus center basement.
Dawah Committee
The Dawah Committee of the NJIT MSA has pushed to establish awareness in numerous subjects in a plethora of themes. First and foremost includes that of launching Islamic Awareness so as to be recognized as an active on campus chapter. Through our in school table events, volunteers strive to clear common misconceptions attached to Islam, they also encourage conversation with Non-Muslims in a friendly setting which welcomes debate and comparison between views from all religions or belief systems. The Dawah Table helps enlighten Muslims on campus as well as encourage active participation from Muslims of all spiritual walks. The event usually runs on Wednesdays, here students are challenged to win a free drink, snack, or food (i.e. hot chocolate, ice cream, popcorn, etc.) by answering a question on Islam correctly.
