OK I regularly attend a small masjid on my college campus. It is very tiny, so much so that for Jummah prayers I am usually the only sister there. Possibly up to 40 brothers come.

Anyway, our population used to be more but this is what happened. There was some divide in the masjid. At one time Sunni and Shia students used to attend together in peace. It happens to be that our MSA is entirely Sunni, and requests have to go through them if the masjid is to be used for any purpose.

So when Ashura came around, the Shia students wanted to use the masjid to acknolwedge this event. When MSA found out, they told them they wouldn't be allowed to use masjid for any of those purposes because Ashura is haram event. So the students had no where to acknolwedge this holiday.

After that the Shia students stopped coming and now there is a divide between the Shia and Sunni students on campus

I think what the MSA did was wrong. This is a small masjid. I don't think it is declared a SUnni or Shia masjid, so who r they to decide? And in the end, all it has done is divide our community. Sunni have problem with Shia, and Shia have problem with Sunni now.

what do u all think?

certain people are always looking to cause divisions unfortunately, especially when they get influenced by intolerant ideologies that spread misconceptions and hatred.

some "sunnis" think its ok to strap on an explosive vest and detonate themselves amongst crowds of innocent women and children who happen to be shias. be grateful that at least no ones blowing themselves up on your campus.

the problem Rizwan is that now all the Sunnis completely agree with the masjid decision... I stopped being friends with many of the sisters there because I saw all this prejudice... during Ramadan I realized it was only Sunni at the masjid and they started saying how "back home we don't consider Shia to be Muslims..." and how they don't think Shia should be allowed to use the masjid for their haram things that they do... How they don't talk to Shia, etc. I was completely shocked and didn't want any part of that ignorance

it makes me feel really unpleasant at the campus. And on the Shia side its completely Saudi girls, who don't want anything to do with non-Saudi girls. I am only friends with maybe 2-3 Saudi girls and that's because they are really "different" from the rest of the group... mostly they only stick to themselves. Even when I see them I say Salaam and they just turn away... The Persian girls I am friends with but theres only 1 left on campus :/

so what to do? I feel like I don't have Muslimah friends now. All of my friends are Hindus except one Muslimah girl and she's leaving campus! So every person I consider close in my life is Hindu. I don't mind because I love my friends, I don't care about their religion at all, (besides my friends r the greatest!! ) I'm just saying, it makes me sad of this problem on the masjid. I feel like I don't fit in on either side I don't consider myself Sunni or Shia

If the masjid was a sunni masjid then such activities should not be allowed.
Imagine a sunni group going in to an ithne asheriyya masjid and giving a speach on the merits of sayyida aisha .
The divide between shi'ahs and sunni's have existed for over 1000 years. It's not something that will change anytime soon.

was-Salaam

That's the problem. It wasn't a Sunni masjid! This is merely a masjid on our college campus that's supposed to serve the purpose for Muslims coming from all over the world. It happens to be that the officers in our MSA (Except for me) are Sunni that is all

I feel the your Masjid should have stated policies as to the status of the Masjid. The policies should be that the masjid is for every student regardless of the sect. When
"La ilaha illallah, Muhammad Rasullulah" is uttered, there should be no division in the masjid, or elsewhere(my opinion).

Was the masjid based on a policy that allows all muslims to participate regardless of sect? Our MSA carries this policy and any muslim is allowed to attend. It just so happened that the Shi'a moved to an off-campus masjid near our local mosque. They still work close with eachother though.

well i kinda think its wrong because all muslims agree that ashura is not definately haram and that its ok to weep for your loved ones as proven that the Prophet (pbuh) himself cried and wept on the death of Hazrat Hamza (a.s) his uncle who was called by the title of syadatul shuhada.
If it is a masjid for all sects then who are those small band of peope to hurt other religions belief i think this matter should be intrusted to the school board as muslims of other sects (such as the asker) are having problems

discuss it with your friends and tell the saudi girls that islam dosent tell us not to socialise keep in touch with your friends even if they are leaving campus plus share your problems openly



HOPED I HELPED

Salaams

Nazia it's been a long time! If the people in charge Acually have the right to decline an activity then they are justified but anyone who says that remembering ashurah is haram WILL have a rude awakening sooner or later. I hate when people tie their opinion to an entire population ie.. Sunni. Don't get me wrong I don't agree with 99 percent of Shia beliefs, but when it comes to there reverence for Ahlul-Bayt we see eye to eye. I don't remember the last time I missed commemorating Ashurah.

Shah ast Husain
Bada Shah ast Husain
Deen ast Husain
Deenai pana ast Husain
Saradad na dad dasta dastsa yazeed
Haqaa kaibanaa lailaha ast Husain

it is actually very bad. your small mosque in your college campus is for all sects . so common religious day should be given to observe without thinking different sects. but unfortunately there is always have such sunni people who makes a big thread to the shia people like your mosque. i dont think that telling the sunnies in your mosque will make any difference in their mind towards shia people. rather i will advise you to be careful in dealing with them.