DANIEL WONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Muslim students join in
prayer at a 1 p.m. service Friday put on by the Muslim Student
Association.
By Marcelle Richards
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Members of the Muslim Student Association gathered today in
mourning and in fear for the safety of their brothers and
sisters.
The streets of Westwood, the halls of UCLA and the walks home
are now shrouded in hopes that the next person to walk by
won”št be the one to dart an eye, yell a slur or worse.
"We’ve been targeted as the people to suspect," said Siraj
Mowjood, a fourth-year anthropology student. "People are caught in
a bind. They don’t want to make themselves too visible because of
fear of harassment, but at the same time we do want to show our
condolences and sympathy for the victims."
Mowjood stood at the entrance of Ackerman Grand Ballroom,
greeting MSA members as they arrived for the unadvertised
gathering.
The 40 members in attendance silently knelt to the east on a
spread of embroidered prayer rugs.
A melodic prayer from the Koran filled the air. Somber and
resonant, the voice carried the words on the fall and rise of notes
as all else stayed quiet.
In the privacy of the room, the community stressed camaraderie
and safety, as second-hand reports of attacks and harassments were
exchanged.
"Some of the sisters are scared because we stand out with the
scarves," said Shereen Sabet, a graduate student in immunology
whose father had a close encounter with the crash.
"My dad was almost on one of those planes. He was going to
change his ticket for Tuesday. Thank God he didn’t get on one of
those planes. I almost see my dad on that list of names," she said
as she started to cry.
With the burden of losses and near-losses on shoulders, the time
to grieve was paired with the time to unite.
As the members remained seated, third-year computer science
student Bilal Khan stood to address his peers in words of empathy
and solidarity.
"Each one of you represent Islam. Everything you do, that’s
what Muslims do," he said. "Show people Muslims are good people
because the spotlight is on us."
Khan recited scriptures in a group prayer, then encouraged
members (brothers included) to seek out one another and to stay in
groups for safety reasons.
MSA also sent an e-mail message to its members advising students
to study, walk and to conduct daily business in groups for
protection.
The message also mentioned that some students were opening up
their homes to fellow MSA members who felt unsafe at their current
residences. Numbers were provided for guidance and support.
Khan said that for those outside Islam, the greatest challenge
will be countering ignorance.
"It’s important for the community to understand that just as
people like Timothy McVeigh and the Ku Klux Klan did not represent
the image of Christianity, what has happened does not represent the
image of Islam," he said. "Islam represents peace and
compassion."