Answered by Not Assigned
No MSA exists at the College I am about to attend. After I try to form one, is it proper that I try to take over as it”s president. I do fear pride and love of fame – but I have an important reason for doing this: Keeping it away from Salafi/Wahhabi tendencies or “Liberal neo-Islam”
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told us that only one who acts in order for the Word of Allah to be raised high is truly acting in the way of Allah.
There is great virtue in setting up an organizationsuch as a Muslim Students Association (MSA)that serves others, Muslims or non-Muslims, for the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah is in the assistance of His servant as long as the servant remains in the service of their brethren.” [Related by Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Maja]
One’s motive should be to seek the pleasure of Allah, to promote the good, and to serve one’s community and humanity in general.
As for Muslims of tendencies or understandings other than one’s own, we have to remember not to wrong them: if they are Muslim, they are our brethren, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “None of you believes until they love for their brethren what they love for themselves.” [Related by Bukhari and Muslim] We owe them rights of brotherhood; we have to be of sincere counsel (nasiha) to them, and to wish them the best. We should cooperate with them to promote shared interests, while remaining true to one’s own beliefs and understandings. We have to be very careful to distinguish between disliking the actions or understandings of others and disliking them.
Allah Most High tell us in the Qur’an
049.010 The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply you may obtain mercy.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani