Muslim Student Association strengths diversity at Allen High School 

(ALLEN, Texas – May 8, 2023) Education and religion are commitments students balance in their daily lives. Allen High School (AHS) Muslim Student Association (MSA) transforms the learning environment into a space for Muslim students to embrace their faith. According to Dwellics, about 3% of Allen’s population are Muslim. MSA is strengthening diversity in Allen in grades 9-12.

AHS MSA advocates for diversity by being inclusive of the Muslim community. 

“If you see what our meetings look like, it will have a pretty large South Asian base, but you’ll have Muslims from all over the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, etc. It really shows how many types of Muslims there are not just around the world but in our immediate community,” AHS MSA president Sameer Hussain said.

Muslims practice the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars are prayer, fasting, shahada (faith), pilgrimage, and charity. These practices require time and dedication to fulfill, so religion can be demanding for full-time students. 

AHS MSA vice president Minahal Sabir shared her struggle balancing school and religion during Ramadan, one of the holiest months.

“You’re supposed to be doing more, really committing yourself to religion, and when you have school going on, it just feels really hard,” Sabir said. “Like, I can’t stay up and pray until [midnight] every single night and then wake up for a 6 a.m. class.”

Like any religion, Muslims have faithful duties that impact everyday choices and relationships. MSA empowers students to share experiences about school and religion without judgment.

“It’s not just about how often or how much you pray, but also about other commitments and doing them to the best of your ability,” Sabir said.

Three reasons how MSA successfully paves way for inclusivity

1. MSA nurtures an inclusive community for students to build confidence and connect with peers 

MSA is an opportunity for all Muslim students to bond outside a place of worship. 

“[AHS MSA is] a community of people who constantly have your back,” Sabir said. “I’ve never felt more like myself [than] in MSA.”

2. MSA has activities and events dedicated to building faith and friendships

MSA has faith-based education meetings and separate gender socials to cultivate a safe space. These activities help students dedicate time to their faith every day. 

“People like seeing themselves in others, and when [organizations] like MSA or culture club exist, it allows people to connect based on an important common attribute and create meaningful friendships,” Hussain said.

3. MSA grows beyond high school 

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is one of many colleges with an MSA organization. While AHS MSA and UTD MSA are not related, Muslim students can continue MSA after they graduate.

UTD MSA has pushed campus diversity with its inclusivity and focus on outreach. MSA at UTD encourages students to express their religious identity, regardless of culture, level of commitment, age, and background.

“We separate culture from religion and emphasize the importance of developing and growing your religious identity as a Muslim,” MSA public relations officer Nawal Ahmed said.

Clubs and organizations like MSA achieve the purpose of the First Amendment. Based on an article from the Drexel University School of Education, diverse experiences shape students to become better people in their communities.