Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion founded by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the Arabian peninsula in the 7th Century CE. Islam literally translates to ‘submission to the will of God’, and centers around the teachings of Muhammad ﷺ and the Quran, Islamic scripture revealed in a revelation from Allah. Islam is widely practiced across the world and has just under two billion followers, making it the second most popular religion worldwide.
Islam
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While generally regarded as an Islamic symbol today, the crescent moon and star pre-dates Islam by several thousand years. This symbol became affiliated with the Muslim world after it was adopted by the Ottoman Empire. While certainly not in uniform use among Muslims, it’s often associated with Islam because the lunar cycle has an important ritual and legal role in Islam’s calendar.
Yale’s Muslim community is served by Omer Bajwa, Director of Muslim Life, and Leenah Safi, Assistant Muslim Chaplain.
To learn more, visit the Muslim Life at Yale website.
The Musalla, Yale’s dedicated Muslim prayer space, is in the basement (room 012) of Bingham Hall. As a “port in the storm” in the midst of Yale, it offers a hospitable environment for religious and social gatherings. 24 hour access is available if needed. Learn more.
There are other prayer spaces around Yale’s campus. Learn more about them here.