UT-Dallas Is Home to the First 'Muslim Interest' Fraternity; Now, It's Expanding Beyond
At a time when colleges and universities are barring Greek organizations from holding social events and serving alcohol, one seems uniquely fitted to weather the storm. Alpha Lamda Mu (A?M) has championed the abstinence of drugs and alcohol since its creation about six years ago.
It was named with the three letters that start in several chapters of the Quran: Alif Laam Meem. The values the frat stands by are Islamic, but it allows in non-Muslims, too. It calls itself a “Muslim-interest fraternity,” not a “Muslim fraternity,” which allows it to accept others. They take in young students from all backgrounds and condition them to be better men under an Islamic atmosphere. It’s an outlet for men to be open about different trials and emotions with a healthy support system of fraternity brothers. And it started at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Greek life is a nearly 200-year-old American institution. The current national president of A?M, Bilal Ayoub, respects fraternities for creating deep networks and bonds of brotherhood between men. He sees it as parallel to his Islamic values of brotherly love.
“However, some fraternities have become diluted and there are a lot of bad connotations and bad events associated with fraternities. Those environments can be toxic,” Ayub says. “A?M take the best of what frats have in America and leaves out what nationally doesn’t align with our [Islamic] values.”
Read more: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/06/utd-is-home-to-the-first-muslim-interest-fraternity-now-its-expanding-beyond/
