“It’s pretty obvious to everyone that after Sept. 11, many Americans started being raised to discriminate [against] Muslims,” AlShaikh said. “The group that did those attacks doesn’t represent Islam. They only represent ?themselves.”
AlShaikh is part of a community of Muslims in Tuscaloosa of over 600 people, including many UA faculty and students. The group commonly meets for prayer at the Islamic Society of Tuscaloosa mosque on Paul W Bryant Drive. The mosque is open to all community members for prayer five times a day.
Mohammad Farooq, a graduate student in electrical engineering, said he is fighting against the stereotype of the Muslim community. As president of the Student Muslim Association, Farooq leads the Student Muslim Association in service projects throughout Tuscaloosa with partners like Target and the Cross Roads Center.
“Target has been a huge help and has allowed us to work with other ?organizations to really give back to the community,” Farooq said.
The Student Muslim Association holds weekly meetings and is currently trying to reach out to other Muslim students. In October, the group will hold a festival celebrating the holiday of Eid Al-Adha.
Ibrahim Albannay, a sophomore majoring in management information systems, said he finds peace in being a Muslim and going to prayer throughout his day.
“Let’s say you wake up in the morning in just a bad mood – just pray and ask God for whatever you want and your mood will be cleared up,” he said. “Each prayer just makes up for whatever you’re going through and through each one you’re more connected to God.”
