A Window into the Muslim Student Association at University of Cape Town

South Africa is a country of many countries. Within its borders you can find vibrant cultures composed of different races, ethnicities, languages, customs, and religions. The relationship between Islamic faith and South Africa’s complex history is still changing as younger generations of Muslims find their place in society. I came to Cape Town interested not in the history of Muslims in the city, but in how Muslim college students navigate the university space. I had great ambitions for the type of project I wanted to do, but balancing the Bing program and other personal interests, the time left for this project forced me to create a more streamlined focus. I would not be able to interview a large number of Muslim students and paint an in depth picture of Muslim student life at University of Cape Town. The actions going on back on Stanford’s campus regarding Muslim identity and the consequent event in Paris influenced a new lens. I understood that for many Muslim students their faith and culture is a central aspect of their understanding of self and something they actively engage with and protect. One structural way students at University of Cape Town have given legitimacy to their culture is through the creation and maintenance of the Muslim Student Association.

 Choosing to interview students involved with the Muslim Student Association had two major benefits. First, ease; I was able to easily seek out members via email and set up a meeting with leaders of the organization. And secondly, by interviewing student leaders of the MSA I was able to target highly involved students with both a historical knowledge and a present commitment to the community. 

Initially I was nervous about asking the MSA to sit down with an American visitor and how I would be perceived as an outsider wanting to interview about their “Muslim experience.” My worries were assuaged; the leadership was not only open to an interview, but also invited me their opening braii. In addition to the braii, the association also had their Israeli Apartheid Week and began the G4S boycott while I was in the country. Events like these gave me an opportunity to experience how an “outsider”, someone not of Islamic faith, could engage with the Muslim Student Association. It was the interview with the leadership, however, that gave me an idea of how Muslim students seem themselves in the university space. 

One of the themes that came up in the interview is that of the association’s balance between religion and politics. With a membership of over 500 students the organization serves first and foremost the religious needs of its members. Over its time as an organization they have been able to advocate for a prayer room and the right to leave during exams if they overlap during a time of prayer. A point of contention for the organization that comes up at least once a generation is should the organization lead political movements.  Students have attempted to solve this issue by having separate organizations for activism. I found this personally valuable to learn about considering issues on Stanford campus. It can be difficult to represent a diverse group that has competing interests.  We have yet to find a perfect a solution, but I think we are still striving to be in a place where everyone feels connected while also being able to challenge each other on personal topics.