Students keep faith in Islam while in college

Editor's Note: This article is the second in a series detailing the lives of ISU students and how they maintain their faith while in college.

On 1319 S. Sixth St. stands the Islamic Center of Terre Haute, a haven for Muslim students around campus finding faith farther from home.

"All throughout high school I had plenty of good friends that were followers of Islam," said Brian Morrow, a freshman open preference major. "I truly believe that it is the correct way of life and it makes the most sense to me."

Morrow, a former Christian, converted to Islam in late August 2007. He said that in Islam there is no governing body except God, meaning no one can condemn, judge or punish another for actions if they do not infringe on the rights of others.

"It turns out that Islam had always agreed with what I believed as a Christian," Morrow said. "I always believed that Jesus was God's messenger rather than God in the flesh and that none other should be placed equal to God. Also, in July of last year I stopped eating pork. I figured God didn't want the Hebrews to consume this for some reason. Then I stopped getting sick, lost weight and felt way more lively."

According to religious tolerance.org, Muslims believe in the revelations of prophets including Mohammad Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Their religious faith does not embody the idea that God took human form, nor does it follow any other written word other than the Quran.

"Islam truly is a beautiful way of life despite the slandering on television," Morrow said. "After I (converted), I found out that there were more followers of Islam in the world than Catholics and our numbers are rapidly growing. Islam is the world's second largest religion, and I'm proud to say that I am a part of it."

The Islamic religion requires prayer five times a day as well as other moral and ethical requirements such as fasting during holidays and abstaining from certain habits that are unclean, according to religioustolerance.org.

"Everything on this campus is pork, and alcohol is everywhere," Morrow said.

Omar Alghamdi, a freshman chemical engineering major also has trouble adjusting to college life, with few mosques and groups to rely on. However, his beliefs lead him to carry his carpet with him so he can pray in the parking lots.

"I was born with it, and my father taught me it since I was young," Alghamdi said. "I also compared it with what others believe, and I feel more confident about it when I see what others believe."

However, the behavioral aspects may be easier for some to manage than the mental hardships that correspond with Islamic faith. After the September 11th attacks, some people's tolerance of Muslims' religious beliefs became contorted, making faith a difficult thing to maintain.

"The number one difficulty that I have is the Islam-phobia that has been pumped through the media for almost half a decade," Morrow said. "Myself, along with nearly everybody else in this country, was completely narrow minded with what Muslims believe and just went along with the news network's hate speech."

However, organizations around the community are available for support and worship. "At a mosque, everyone is welcome," Morrow said. "If someone wishes to join in prayer, they are more than welcome to join in. I practice on my own in privacy.  I could also visit a mosque that's just South of campus."

The Muslim Student Association at ISU has in the past participated in events around campus. According to the ISU International Affairs Center newsletter, the MSA hosted coffee hours and informative sessions on Islam as well as participated in International Week.

The group also hosted a Fast-a-Thon, a national event that teaches non-Muslims about Islam, demonstrating values of compassion and charity by actively striving to eliminate hunger and homelessness in their communities.

"The only major new thing to me is the fasting through the month of Ramadan and others fasts," Morrow said. "The only bad side to reverting was the cafeterias closing before sunset during the early portion of the fast. Also, I gave up plenty of food choices. Anything pig-based isn't supposed to be consumed. Pork Gelatin, Lard from pigs, Pork Lechtin, and other additives that are Pork-products (not that these 3 always are) I will never eat again."

However, the difficulties integrating religion and campus life does not prevent Morrow from embracing his beliefs.

"Despite the horrible things that the television said about Muslims, none of them fit the criteria," Morrow said. "My close friend explained to me what Islam is: believing in the one true God just as the Jews and Christians do and placing him above all others."