Prayer Space Campaign

In Fall, October 2021, we launched a prayer space campaign titled #placeswepray.

At the time, there was a small room located in “the Village” of the Howard Gittis Student Center. The room fit about 6 people max. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, space became even more limited and lines to pray between classes became longer. As a result, many Muslim students began praying under stairwells or any place that they could find space.

Prior to the campaign, TUMSA reached out to administration several times. Unfortunately, the process was moving slowly and Muslims on campus were in a crisis — having to choose between missing class or praying on time (thus having to wait until the small room was available). Additionally, TUMSA leadership was booking a space to hold weekly Jummah Prayers which required prior set up by students every week.

Hoping for a place to call our own, 21-22 TUMSA leadership launched a social media campaign to educate other students on campus about the conditions in which Muslim students were praying as well as brining awareness to the lack of inclusivity available to Muslims on campus. Alhamdullilah, our community showed up for us and spread the word: prominent sheikhs, imams, and organizations on and off campus supported the campaign.

In Spring 2022, the community was granted a much larger temporary space in Paley Library wherein jummah prayers and ramadan iftars could be held. However, renovations in Paley Library caused the space to be just that — temporary. As a result, the space was emptied in the summer of 2022.

Administration has kindly offered a a larger interfaith space. However, this will still restrict the times in which muslims can pray. While we are ever so grateful for this and intend on utilizing it. However, we are asking for your continued support and sabr (patience) while TUMSA leadership continues to campaign for a permanent space wherein muslims can gather for halaqas, iftars, prayers, and call our own.