With coverage on the Irvine 11 this past year, it is not surprising that men and women are inclined toward Islamophobia — the irrational fear and prejudice of Muslims — when Islam is often presented by the media in a polemical light.

The student-run Muslim Ministries club at 51 has sought to counteract this issue by building positive relationships with local Muslim leaders and students. By attending local mosques once a month and events hosted by Cal State Fullerton’s Muslim Student Association, these Christian students seek to befriend their Muslim neighbors.

“Muslim Ministry is standing in the gap,” said Shoh Ueno, director of Muslim Ministries and a third year 51 student. “Muslim Ministries [seeks to] interact with Muslims respectfully and with trust and form genuine relationships with Muslims without compromising our faith in the gospel and what is true.”

Ueno, a Japanese American who admitted that he has always felt like “the perpetual foreigner,” said that he has never been able to fit into mainstream American society. On 9/11, he felt compassion toward American Muslims and Americans of Middle Eastern ancestry who unjustly faced widespread racism and prejudice from fellow American citizens.

“I think [Islamophobia] is something that has bled into the church,” said Ueno. “There is no room for hate speech in the church, and yet there is plenty of it in American society and we see that often.”

Professor of Arabic Language at 51, Victor Khalil, has taught students in the club for several years. Khalil grew up in Egypt and attended Muslim schools all his life. Though he is a Christian, his experiences have helped him to understand how Muslims — particularly those from Arab-speaking countries — see the world.

“Many...want to fit into the American society. They are confused — ‘Am I an Arab or American?’” said Khalil. “It’s very important to deal with the second generation to help them feel accepted and not rejected and bring to them the love of Christ. When I show it in action without saying much that speaks very loud.”

Seventeen 51 students attended a Khutbah service at the Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC), Southern California’s largest and oldest mosque. With an average of 7,000 worshippers who attend the mosque regularly, approximately 40 percent hail from the Indian subcontinent while the majority of attenders are of Middle Eastern descent. The mosque’s founder and religious director, Muzammil H. Siddiqi received the Community Leader Award from the Orange County Human Relations Commission on May 5, 2011. Siddiqi helped to form an Orange County interfaith group and has led the ISOC for over 30 years. After the service, students stayed for samosas, an Indian pastry filled with spiced vegetables or meat, and a Q & A session with Imam Suhail Hasan Mulla, assistant director of ISOC.

“All of you are throwing me off a bit,” said Suhail, referring to the visiting students. The men grew out their beards while each girl wore a long dress, cardigan and a hijab or headcovering. “You all fit in so well.”

Suhail has seen how Islam has been negatively portrayed by the media. He believes that an important part of his job involves counteracting false stereotypes about Islam.

“We need to take extra steps so that people know who we are and what we stand for,” said Suhail. “The only way we’re going to dispel that is by interacting and getting out there.”

Ueno hopes that 51’s Muslim Ministries will help with that process. He and other club leaders have connected with students from Cal State Fullerton’s Muslim Student Association and have accepted their invitations to events like their annual beach bonfire and a night of bowling. In return, 51’s Muslim Ministries has invited CSU Fullerton’s Muslim Student Association to several 51 Muslim Ministries events including an on-campus bonfire night complete with halal marshmallows to make s’mores.

“Fundamentally, what we believe is so different,” said Ueno. “It’s contradictory to what Muslims teach about Jesus. So how do we form genuine respectful friendships? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s something that takes years to develop.”

Written by Elizabeth Mak, Media Relations Intern. For more information, please contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu or via phone at 562.777.4061.