Coming soon: the ‘Muslim Georgetown’
June 9, 2009 by Geneva ReidPosted in: Enrollment, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
It would be the first four-year college of its kind, and its motto is: “Where Islam Meets America.”
Its name is Zaytuna College, and it would be the first accredited Islamic four-year college in the United States.
The college — nicknamed the “Muslim Georgetown” — is the brainchild of Imam Zaid Shakir and Sheik Hamza Yusuf, respected teachers who now reside in California. They’re hoping the school will open its doors in fall 2010.
Yusuf is the founder of Zaytuna Institute (Shakir teaches there), a Berkeley, CA school for Muslim scholarship.
The college – which isn’t intended as a seminary – would go beyond the work of the institute, offering majors in Arabic and Islamic legal and theological studies.
Students would learn analytical skills, ethics and theology. Open to all faiths, Zaytuna College would allow men and women to sit together in classrooms.
But there are some fears that the school will promote the concept of an Islamic State.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Tags: Islam, Muslim, Zaytuna College
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June 11th, 2009 at 8:09 am
As someone who is a professor at at Jesuit Catholic school (not Georgetown) I see no reason why this school should not be allowed to open. We allow our schools to flourish and other religious institutions like Liberty, Oral Roberts, Yeshiva, etc. are also allowed in our great country.
At the same time, however, I would be careful about giving any school federal funding assistance IF they advocate anti-American views. But at this time we must assume that this is not the purpose of this institution.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
In Re Liberty University’s action towards a club that promotes an agenda contrary to school policy.
This should be interesting. Whom or what will a Moslem school try to ban?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:30 am
NO FEDERAL FUNDS! I truly do not believe as an American citizen that any of my taxpayer’s money should go to support a specialized school …let those of that “interest” support this school and any other “specialized” shcools. With our public schools already suffering with budget cuts…not one penny should be handed to such interests.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Private religious schools (of any religion) are not eligible for public funds. At least not to my knowledge. If they are, I do not see how a Muslim school could be legally disqualified from those funds.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I am pleased to see in my life-time a Muslim College. I have been Muslim over 30 years and I taught at a Muslim elementary school (pre-K – 6), in an urban city here in America. I remember this was the highest grade American Muslim children could attain in a private Islamic school before they went to public or parochial schools to further their education. At the Muslim school, I taught over three years and we did not teach hatred of America, we taught the required course work to prepare Muslim children to be citizen in this country. Muslims live, work, and pay taxes in this country and many hold professional positions, such as engineers, scientist, doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, etc. Positions they attained through American educational system. It is sad that as progressive as this country is the ignorance still abounds. When will we stop fearing an entire group of people, who mainly want to live as citizens in the US? An Islamic College can provide an opportunity for others to learn about Islam, let us welcome Zaytuna College as an educational institute in the US.