Responsibilities of an Muslim Chaplain in a University

Question: What are the responsibilities of an Imam or a Muslim Chaplain in a non-Muslim university with a growing population of Muslim students?

Answer: 

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

The general responsibilities include leading ritual prayers, giving general Islamic advice to students, and helping Muslim students find answers to their questions from reliable sources.

On a deeper level, a chaplain is to give spiritual advice on interpersonal relations and help Muslim students navigate their studies and careers in an Islamic way.

The chaplain also must help the Muslims carve out a separate yet balanced Muslim identity that is welcoming and that provides a clear safe haven for students that struggle to find themselves and their Islamic identity in a tempest of ideas and social pressures.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language