Muslim Student Association

Colorado State University

A Muslim university student's checklist

Find your university's Muslim Student Association (MSA) office: there you can…

· Locate the daily prayer space and Prayer timings .

· Weekly Juma prayer location at ICFC or CSU.

· Meet and introduce yourself to other fellow Muslim student

· Find Islamic books, audio and video tapes

· Stay up-to-date on MSA events and announcements

· Find Muslims to share a room, apartment, or house with

· Come to relax between classes and read some Quran in peace

· Get to know other Muslims in your classes and on-campus:

· How do you break the ice? "Assalamu Alaikum, are you taking this course?"

· Exchange personal information and contacts such as phone #, room #, e-mail

· Form study groups with other Muslims (you need someone you can depend on!)

· Seek their help in studies, especially from seniors

· A few contacts made early on go a long way in your university life!

· Find out the 'safe' and 'un-safe' places to be when on campus in after-hours:

· Find a good quiet study space for yourself (which you WILL need!) e.g. at a library, or residence basement, which will also serve as your personal retreat from the hectic university life (sometimes even your room-mates make matter worse)

· Keep in touch with family and friends back home.

· Attend Islamic events organized by MSA & ICFC:

· Weekly lectures, normally held on Friday evenings

· Organize timetable to not interfere with any prayers.

· When things go wrong:

do not underestimate the power of prayer and Dua*

in everything, seek Allah's Help and seek His protection and strength

in times of distress, remember your goal and purpose, remember Allah(subhanahu wa taala), remember your relationship to Him (sometimes that is all you will have to motivate you!)

And finally…

don't make the university experience any harder than it already is by trying to wing it on your own. You can't!

we all need help and positive reinforcement, and advice from those who have gone through the same experiences