By Andleeb Khan ‘04

Assalamu’alaikum. That means peace be with you, it’s how Muslims greet one another.

My faith is important to me, so as an incoming freshman, aside from the uncertainty about classes and meeting new people and doing laundry, I had another concern. That was whether or not this new environment would make it tougher for me to keep being Muslim. That’s why “A Time For the Soul” jumped out at me when I was flipping through the Orientation booklet. I went, and there, in just my first few days at Hopkins, I felt like I was already a part of a community. I knew I had something in common with these other students – we cared about faith and spirituality.

The Interfaith Center is a very special place because not all universities have something like it. Sharon and Kathy encourage and make it easy for students at this campus to develop and explore their respective faith traditions. I was so happy to find out that there was a building where Muslims could hold daily prayers and have dinners together during Ramadan, which is a month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast during the daylight hours.

A lot of my Muslim friends at other colleges have a prayer room. And they also get together for Ramadan and other activities as well. But they don’t have access to an interfaith community that’s as tight-knit and cohesive as we have here at Hopkins. Sure, other Muslim Students Associations hold interfaith events which are fine, but I feel a much deeper understanding and appreciation is gained from becoming a part of community where people see each other often, actually know each other. You’ll see members of the Interfaith Council engaged in intense intellectual discussion at our weekly meetings, and then the next day they’re complaining about Orgo over ice cream.

Interacting with people of different religions is a sort of test of character, because you’re dealing with differences that are much deeper than skin color. Diversity enriches your personality. That’s what I thought before September 11^th. After that happened, I knew that’s it’s necessary to understand others, and to be comfortable with the fact that you’re surrounded by all kinds of people. Familiarity goes a long way in dispelling apprehension and stereotypes.

A few days after September 11^th, the Muslim Students Association received sympathetic cards and emails from other religious student groups on campus, and even individuals from the Interfaith Council. That really touched my heart, and I thought about how those gestures were probably a result of our real, interfaith community.

The Interfaith Council has been a huge part of my Hopkins experience. It’s a great place for exploring your own faith, meeting some really neat people, and most importantly enjoying Sharon’s amazing bean dip and chaplain’s chili. I only gained from being a member of the interfaith council, and that’s why I’m still a part of it as a senior. Ð

Previous Page | Next Page