Malaysian Muslims' Experiences with the Muslim Community at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Hussain, Farah

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/90192 Copy

Description

Title

Malaysian Muslims' Experiences with the Muslim Community at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Author(s)

Hussain, Farah

Contributor(s)

Rana, Junaid

Issue Date

2016-05

Keyword(s)

• Malaysian
• Muslim
• MSA
• Community
• Experience
• Separation

Abstract

Traditionally, Malaysian Muslims on campus have created their own social groups isolated from the dominating Arab and desi Muslim community. The Muslim Student Association, or MSA, is comprised mostly of desis and Arabs and one can rarely find Malaysian Muslims participating in their events. This research paper aims to shed light on the experiences of the Malaysian Muslim community at the University of Illinois and how they are separate from the dominating desi and Arab Muslim community, and whether or not they know the reasons for this separation. The research question I would ask is “How and why are Malaysian Muslims isolated and separate from the Muslim community at large at UIUC?” This question is important as it addresses this separation and attempts to discover the reasons behind it. Hopefully, if more people become aware of the way Malaysian Muslims have been segregated from the majority Arab and desi Muslim community, then the former can be better integrated and feel more welcome to join the latter. I explore the reasons for the separation between Malaysian Muslims and the overall Muslim community on campus, which is likely due to cultural differences like language barriers, vast differences in cuisines and clothing, and there basically being more differences than similarities.

Series/Report Name or Number

AAS 258; Spring 2016

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90192

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