Resolution Made for a Permanent Prayer Space for Muslim Students at FIU

Magali Zoghaib | Contributing Writer

All the president of the Muslim Student Association is asking for is a secure and secluded space for Muslims to comfortably perform their daily prayers, fostering an environment that honors and supports their basic needs. 

Fatima Zia, president of the MSA and pre-dental student at FIU, is actively collaborating with the Student Government Association to pass a resolution advocating for a dedicated praying space for Muslims.

As FIU accommodates more than 500 Muslim Students and staff members, the university has not addressed such urgent fundamental needs yet.

Despite the fact that the Trish and Dan Bell Chapel is currently under construction on FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus, it is expected to be operational in approximately two years.; meanwhile, the third-floor “serenity room” in Graham Center is intended to serve as a multi-faith prayer space for students of all religions.

Unfortunately, this modest chamber can only accommodate a very limited number of students, not exceeding 10 at a time, which becomes a significant issue considering the hundreds of students who use this space for religious practices every day.

Moreover, the serenity room is utilized for various purposes, leading to interruptions during prayer times as students are asked to vacate for events. The university recently implemented a schedule for the serenity room, designating specific hours for its use, with it being accessible from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This is extremely hard as our prayers occur five times a day, with the earliest starting at dawn and the latest between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and with such a restricted schedule I frequently find myself looking for an empty classroom or even resorting to praying outside at times,” mentioned Zia.

Moreover, there is a lack of understanding regarding the religious traditions of the Muslim community at FIU, leading to instances of them being photographed, mocked in public, and facing judgmental looks and harassment from others on campus who fail to comprehend their practices.

“When you don’t understand another person, you fear them,” remarked Mohsin Jaffer, co-founder of the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Center for Muslim Studies at FIU on WLRN South Florida News.

The primary goal of the resolution is to secure a sufficiently large room, accommodating around 80 to 100 people, serving as a safe space for Muslim students on campus to seek solace, talk to their lord, and read the Quran without facing judgment.

“As Muslims, prayer is our life, and it’s the one thing that really keeps us going,” added Zia.

The ongoing issue with the serenity room for new incoming Muslim students demonstrates the university’s failure to address their basic religious needs as it discourages them.

Despite the university’s focus on the construction of a chapel, there is a lack of awareness regarding the urgency of the challenges faced by Muslim students until the chapel is completed.

The Muslim community awaits the resolution to receive the attention it deserves, hoping it will alleviate the frequent harassment they face.

“Yes, there is a chapel being built, but that’s not going to be ready right away. We need a chapel right away. We need a room right away that will be able to cater for us and our basic religious needs,” said Zia.