We have a new home!
Muslim Life Has a New Home!
وَيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُ ۥۤۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدۡرً۬ا
Allah will provide for them from an unexpected source; Allah will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. Allah achieves His purpose; Allah has set a due measure over everything.Qur'an 65:3
One year ago, after our Muslim Chaplain had become full-time, MSA leadership began to ask: where on campus could the chaplain work and be best available for students? Along with Chaplain Patty, they met with the Chaplains in SPARC, and with Penn facilities. They visited other religious spaces on and around campus searching for the best models and options. However, they were told space on campus is not easy to come by and promised to be expensive. Our chaplain and student leaders resolved to continue to work towards establishing a place on campus to house Muslim Life and serve as a home for Muslim students. They prayed and walked around campus searching for opportunities.
Then, as we transitioned into 2018, Chaplain Patty and Reverend Megan, from the Christian Association separately walked into SPARC with questions thatwould ultimately bring them together. The beautiful churches on campus enjoy proximity to students because they were established before the university had grown to their doorsteps. Yet, the changing dynamics of churches over the years have left these spaces at times underutilized and under supported. Chaplain Patty asked if any churches had unused space and Rev. Megan asked if the Chaplains office would like to use some of their space.
The Christian Association (CA) house is primely located on the corner of 37th and Samson and consists of four floors including the basement. Spring semester Megan and Patty met and decided to try out sharing the space. Suddenly, our chaplain had an office on campus to work in and students began to try out the new space for prayer, studying and programs. Sharing the space created excitement for both organizations.
After a successful trial period in which students, alumni and boards of both organizations were able to visit, meet and discuss ideas, we agreed to officially move in together for the coming academic year. Megan and Patty, with support from students and alumni, work through the summer to get the place ready for the students. They picked out paint and carpet, moved furniture and cleared out storage. As students returned they continued to work on final touches to make the space a home for the students.
As Eid al-Adha and new student orientation coincided, they served as the official launch of the new home for Muslim Life. Now only a few weeks into the semester, there is programing every day for our students. This includes weekly programming lead by our chaplain and students. Additionally, students are coming by every day to pray, study, and meet with our chaplain.
We have been blessed by the opportunity to share this space which provides a variety of rooms for our use, in a building located on campus, and without the cost of buying or renting a space. Our current agreement with the CA requires only that we share expenses with them. What we are able to provide for our students for such a reasonable price is more than we would have hoped for. Alhamdulillah! Sustaining this will require your support in making sure we meet our fundraising goals going forward. Currently, we need another $30,000 to meet our 2018 goal.