Greek life in the US: Muslim sorority seeks best of both worlds

Sounds Greek to me

University students tend to segregate into various social groups soon upon arrival, and one would be hard pressed to think of of two groups farther apart on the social spectrum than Muslims and members of the Greek (fraternity & sorority) system. Some in the two groups have for years cast curious eyes at each other, with some Muslims seeing a benefit in a close-knit support group, and some Greeks seeing Muslims as a way to diversify their houses and clean up their hard-partying reputation. While Muslims have joined traditional fraternities and sororities for years, a group of Muslim women have taken the step of creating Gamma Gamma Chi – the first Islamic sorority in the US. “As a Muslim who dresses modestly and does not drink, I wouldn’t want to set myself apart from the people I was pledging with,” explained 34-year old Imani Abdul-Haqq, a business administration major at Guilford College in Greensboro who started the sorority. “I want to feel the unity.” Open to both Muslims and non-Muslims who are ready to reconcile the benefits of sorority life while keeping with Islamic law, the sorority hopes to have chapters across the country within the next ten years. Members will have to maintain a minimum GPA, commit themselves to living a non-traditional Greek life (i.e. no hazing, partying, etc.), and commit to the sorority motto (“Striving for the pleasure of Allah through sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and community service”) during their membership. The sorority comes complete with secret handshake and a line of Greek accessories in official green-and-purple color schemes. Some Muslims have complained about the new endeavor (“All these sororities sound very good on paper,” explains Jacksonville MSA President Tahir Rajab. “But partying is what they are known for.”), but the sorority has also received interest from overseas. “I dearly hope the sorority will have a chapter of its own in Pakistan someday,” said Karachi freshman Hina Aman. “Sororities can, I believe, bring a big change in our society.” Next for the sorority: take part in campus “Rush Weeks” to grow membership and apply for membership in national Greek organizations. “Part of our purpose is visibility,” says sorority president Althia Collins. “We want to show Muslim women as they really are. We want to write our own story.”

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.