Duke University's Muslim Student Population: A Comprehensive Overview

Duke University is home to a diverse community of Muslim students, who are supported by the Duke Center for Muslim Life (CML) and the Duke Muslim Students Association (MSA). The CML is a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs, which provides a welcoming environment for Muslim students to explore their identity, celebrate Islamic cultures, and engage with Islam in spiritual, social, and intellectual ways. The MSA, on the other hand, is a student-run group that represents Muslim students and fosters engagement with the Islamic world. While the exact number of Muslim students at Duke University is not known, the presence of these organizations and the variety of resources and events they offer indicate a significant Muslim student population on campus.

Duke Center for Muslim Life (CML)

The Duke Center for Muslim Life (CML) is a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs. When the CML first opened in 2009, Duke University was one of only four universities to have a paid, full-time Muslim chaplain. The CML now has a larger staff team, including an Office Coordinator, Student Development Coordinator, Muslim Chaplain, and Program Associate.

The CML provides a welcoming environment for students to explore Muslim identity, celebrate Islamic cultures, build community, and engage with Islam in spiritual, social, and intellectual ways. The centre is committed to creating a space where Muslims from marginalised communities feel welcome and are cared for. It is a home away from home for all Muslim students, staff, faculty, and community members.

The CML supports students, staff, and faculty to come together and create a vibrant and inclusive Muslim environment. It aims to enrich the lives of Muslim students and the wider campus community through events and activities that cater to the spiritual, social, and intellectual needs of Duke students. The CML also serves as an advisor to Duke's active undergraduate Muslim Student Association and Graduate Muslim Student Association.

The CML is located in Few GG, 420 Chapel Drive. The centre is open to all and invites people to watch a movie on their flat-screen TV, play games from their collection, host a study group, or join their scheduled programming.

Muslim Students Association (MSA)

The Duke Muslim Student Association (MSA) is a student-run organisation that aims to represent Muslim students and celebrate and showcase the diversity of the Muslim community at Duke University. The MSA plans religious, social, political, and cultural activities to strengthen connections between faith and daily life. The MSA also provides social outlets for members and non-members alike to hang out and build valuable relationships. Additionally, the MSA serves as a resource for anyone interested in learning more about Islam and the Muslim world.

Every Friday night, the MSA gathers to socialise, play games, or just relax. These gatherings are open to everyone. The MSA also holds executive board meetings every Saturday morning to discuss matters and plan events. These meetings are also open to anyone who wishes to attend and join the conversation.

The MSA is advised by the Center for Muslim Life (CML), a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs. The CML strives to create a welcoming environment for students to explore Muslim identity, celebrate Muslim and Islamic cultures, and engage with Islam in spiritual, social, and intellectual ways. The CML offers religious, cultural, academic, and social programming throughout the year, as well as mentorship and student leadership development opportunities.

The MSA has initiated several community initiatives, such as community iftar meals during Ramadan that promote cross-cultural understanding. The MSA also works to create a queer-affirming, anti-racist, and gender-inclusive Muslim prayer space through the Jummah 4 All (J4A) Collective. The J4A Collective prioritises diverse engagement with Friday Prayer (Jummah) and focuses on including all participants, regardless of background, identity, or ability.

The MSA welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and encourages anyone interested in learning more about Islam and the Muslim community at Duke University to join their mailing list for weekly newsletters.

Halal dining on campus

Duke University is home to a large and vibrant Muslim community, with the Center for Muslim Life (CML) being a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs. The CML provides a range of services and support for Muslim students, including the organisation of community meals during Ramadan to promote cross-cultural understanding.

Halal dining is an important aspect of Muslim life on campus, and Duke University offers a variety of options for students who require Halal food. Here is an extensive list of Halal dining options on and around Duke's campus:

On-Campus Dining

Most chicken served at Marketplace is halal, and signs will confirm which chicken dishes are halal. The following dining locations on campus also serve halal chicken, with the exception of boneless wings and chicken tenders:

• Gothic Grill at Bryan Center (all beef served here is also halal)
• Chef's Kitchen Pop-up
• Tandoor (all beef is also halal)
• Devil’s Krafthouse
• Pitchfork Provisions
• Saladelia (at the Perk, Nasher Museum, & Sanford)
• Farmstead: burger sliders (no halal chicken)
• Beyu Caffe @ Duke Law School: all chicken is halal except for any boneless wings and chicken tenders
• Nasher Café: all chicken is halal except for any boneless wings and chicken tenders

Off-Campus Dining

There are also several off-campus dining options that serve halal food, which students can visit using the free roundtrip transportation provided by DISC and the CML:

• Bull City Burger and Brewery
• Burger Bach
• Curry Point Express
• Cholanad
• Dales Indian Cuisine
• Devil’s Pizzeria
• Golden Pizza and Subs
• Halal Haven Food Truck
• Mediterra Grill
• Mediterranean Deli
• Philly Steak Factory
• Quick Meal
• Sitar Indian Cuisine
• Spice and Curry
• Taiba Market

Muslim chaplaincy

Duke University has a dedicated department for Muslim students, the Duke Center for Muslim Life (CML). The CML is a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs and is one of the most robust Muslim Life programs in US higher education. The CML provides a welcoming environment for students to explore Muslim identity, celebrate Muslim and Islamic cultures, build community, and engage with Islam in spiritual, social, and intellectual ways.

The CML was established in 2009, and at the time, Duke University was one of only four universities to have a paid, full-time Muslim chaplain. The current Muslim Chaplain at Duke University is Imam Joshua Salaam, who started in July 2018. He replaced Imam Abdul Waheed, who served as interim chaplain for two years. Imam Salaam has a master’s in Islamic Studies and a chaplaincy certificate from Hartford Seminary and is working on his doctorate in ministry. He has a long history of civic service and community engagement and has served in various roles within the Muslim community, including as a youth director and civil rights manager.

The CML offers religious, cultural, academic, and social programming throughout the year, mentorship, and student leadership development. They also provide support and resources for Muslim students, such as halal dining options on campus and a welcoming community. The CML strives to create a space where Muslims from marginalized communities feel welcome and cared for, and they are a home away from home for all Muslim students, staff, faculty, and community members.

In addition to the CML, Duke University also has a Muslim Students Association (MSA). The MSA aims to represent Muslim students, celebrate and showcase the diversity of the Muslim community, and foster engagement with the Islamic world. They plan religious, social, political, and cultural activities to strengthen connections between faith and daily life and provide social outlets for members and non-members to build valuable relationships. The MSA is a resource for all who are interested in learning more about Islam and the Muslim world.

Muslim student life and support

Muslim student life at Duke University is centred around the Duke Center for Muslim Life (CML). The CML is a department within the Division of Duke Student Affairs and is considered one of the most robust Muslim Life programs in higher education in the United States. The CML provides a welcoming environment for students to explore Muslim identity, celebrate Muslim and Islamic cultures, build community, and engage with Islam in spiritual, social, and intellectual ways.

The CML supports a variety of student organisations, including the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the Graduate Muslim Students Association (GMSA), and the Black Muslim Coalition (BMCo). The MSA is a student-run group that includes undergraduate and graduate, local and international Muslims. It aims to represent Muslim students, celebrate the diversity of the community, and foster campus- and community-wide engagement with the Islamic world. The MSA plans religious, social, political, and cultural activities to strengthen connections between faith and daily life, and provides social outlets for members and non-members to hang out and build relationships. The GMSA, meanwhile, connects all Graduate Muslim students and provides a supportive community-based refuge and a hub for fostering discussions, concerns, and interactions among Muslim students from different schools, cultures, and countries. The GMSA puts on social, academic, and spiritual events for community building, including brunches, hikes, "mocktail" nights, ice skating, picnics, and movie nights.

The CML also provides support for Muslim students in a variety of ways. It offers mentorship and leadership development opportunities and helps students find halal dining options on and off campus. The CML also has a Muslim chaplain, Joshua Salaam, who serves on Duke's religious life staff. The chaplaincy was established in 2009, making Duke one of only four universities to have a paid, full-time Muslim chaplain at the time.

In addition to the CML and student organisations, there are other initiatives that support Muslim student life at Duke. For example, during Ramadan, the CML organises iftar meals that bring together various on-campus groups to promote cross-cultural understanding. The CML also has a Ramadan hub with programs and resources for Muslim students during the holy month.

Frequently asked questions