Alpha Lambda Mu
Alpha Lambda Mu (ΑΛΜ) (ألم:Alif Laam Meem in Arabic) is the first national Muslim fraternity in America.[1][2] It was established in 2013 at the University of Texas at Dallas as a social fraternity with an emphasis on community service.[2][3]
Alpha Lambda Mu (Alif Laam Meem) | |
---|---|
ΑΛΜ ألم | |
Founded | February 12, 2013 University of Texas at Dallas |
Type | Social |
Emphasis | Islam |
Scope | National |
Mission statement | To connect, build, and sustain a lifelong brotherhood as the first Muslim-interest fraternity in America through excellence in character, excellence in service, excellence in intellectual standard, and excellence in creativity amongst all members, chapters, conglomerates, and associates. |
Chapters | 11 (6 active) |
Colonies | 1 |
Headquarters | 924 Horseshoe Bnd. Richardson, Texas 75081 United States |
Website | alphalambdamu |
History
Ali Mahmoud founded Alpha Lambda Mu at the University of Texas at Dallas in February 2013.[1] At the time Mahmoud was a nineteen-year-old junior; he is also a first-generation Egyptian-American.[1][4] Mahmoud created Alpha Lambda Mu as a social fraternity "to offer Muslim students the chance to express both sides of their identity, the American and the Muslim"[1][3] Araf Hossain was the fraternity's co-founder.[3]
Mahmoud and Hossain formed a council with other interested Muslims.[3] On February 13, 2013, the council sent invitations to students they believed would be interested in joining the new fraternity.[3] Later that month, seventeen members were admitted with a ceremony that included being knighted with a red kufi cap and donating a $100 initiation fee to a charity.[3][5][4] Collectively, these seventeen members were called the Kufi Krew.[4] Its first rush was held in September 2013; forty men rushed the fraternity and twenty were offered bids.[1][6]
The fraternity became national in 2014 with the addition of Beta chapter at the University of California, San Diego and Gamma chapter at Cornell University.[7][2] Rumzi Khan was the founder of the Beta chapter.[1] As it expanded, the fraternity was somewhat controversial; Mahmoud noted, "We’ve gotten fire from the Islamaphobes saying that we’re a sleeper cell, we’ve gotten fire from the super-progressive Muslims saying that we’re rooted in a white elitist organization that’s trying to take control of Islam and put on misogynistic ideals again."[8]
As of fall 2020, the fraternity has six active chapters and two colonies. On some campuses, the fraternity is a member of the Interfraternity Council.[9][10] The fraternity is governed by its National Shura; it also has an advisory board.[11]
Symbols
The fraternity's Greek letters, ΑΛΜ, are the phonetic equivalent of Alif Laam Meem, three Arabic letters that start chapters of the Quran.[1][2][4] Its members were a red kufi caps.[4] The fraternity's bagdge is a silver Sandala pin that features its logo.
Members
Its members are Muslim or non-Muslims who share the same ideas, regardless of sexual orientation.[6][9][3] Its members come from a variety of backgrounds including American, Egyptian, Arab, Somalian, Pakistani, and Benga.[3]
Activities
![](../I/Alif_Laam_Meem_Muslim_Fraternity_At_Domestic_Violence_Rally.JPG.webp)
Because of its affiliation with Islam, Alpha Lambda Mu is atypical of most social collegiate Greek letter organizations; it prohibits alcohol, hazing, most co-ed events, adultery, or fornication.[1][12] Some of its activities incorporate an imam for lectures and prayers.[1] Its service activities include picking up litter, distributing water to the homeless, and a nationwide campaign raising funds and combating domestic violence.[1][13] The Alpha chapter has provided food and supplies after a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas and helped clean up after tornados in Moore, Oklahoma.[8][4]
The fraternity has taken a position "against domestic violence, fair trade violations, or any other form of oppression."[3] It hosts a four-day Akhtober event that benefits local shelters and transitional homes for women.[13] On March 24, 2013, Alpha chapter confronted negative stereotypes of Muslim Men when they joined a protest against domestic violence in Dallas, Texas.[12] Photos of fraternity members carrying signs that read, "Muslims Say No to Domestic Violence" and "Muslims Say Yes to Women's Rights" went viral on the Internet and was covered by national news.[12]
The Alpha Lambda Mu Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 charity in 2019.[14]
Chapters
Following is a list of Alpha Lambda Mu chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italics.
Popular culture
In June 2022. Dylan Hollingsworth (videographer) and Wheeler Sparks (director) released Kufi Krew: An American Story, a documentary about the fraternity.[13][20] The documentary's name refers to a former YouTube channel where fraternity brother's posted humorous videos.[13][6] The film's creators, who are not members of the fraternity, started working on the project in 2013.[13] Hollingsworth said, "We knew that this community was a really powerful vehicle through which you could examine the Muslim American identity and maybe answer some questions for people who really don’t know a lot about that."[13]
Notes
- This chapter was suspended or never recognized by San José State University or its national office for hazing, violence, or inappropriate chapter management practices.
References
- Spencer, Kyle (February 6, 2014). "Fraternity Life, Islamic Style". The New York Times. p. 22.
- "A Frat Of Their Own: Muslims Create A New Space On Campus". NPR National Public Radio. March 8, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- Wenerd, Brandon (September 17, 2013). "An Interview with the Founder of Alpha Lambda Mu, America's First Muslim Fraternity (Ali Mahmoud)". BroBible. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Kim, Eun Kyung (September 13, 2013). "Fraternity paves 'new path for Muslims on campus'". Today (NBC). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- Hafiz, Yasmine (2013-09-05). "Meet Alif Laam Meem, America's First Muslim Fraternity, AKA Alpha Lambda Mu". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- Broderick, Ryan (September 6, 2013). "10 Things You Might Not Know About America's First Muslim Fraternity". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 3, 2022) Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 23, 2022.
- Boyd, Clark (September 16, 2013). "Life at Alpha Lambda Mu: America's First All-Muslim Fraternity". The World. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Alpert, Bruce (June 5, 2017). "Muslim Fraternities Finding Place on US Campuses". Voice of America (VOA). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- Italia, Eric (2017-05-23). "Alpha Lambda Mu: Cornell IFC Welcomes First Muslim-Interest Fraternity". COED. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Governance". Alpha Lambda Mu. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- Emily Deruy (April 8, 2013). "Muslim Fraternity Confronts Negative Stereotypes". ABC News. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- Spahalic, Hedija (October 14, 2022). "First Muslim Frat: Alpha Lambda Mu and The Meaning of Brotherhood". American Muslim Today. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Alpha Lambda Mu Foundation | Charity Navigator Profile". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Current Chapters". Alpha Lambda Mu. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Muslim Fraternity at UW-Madison builds brotherhood and character". Wisconsin Muslim Journal. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "2018 University of Oklahoma Fraternity & Sorority Experience Guide by University of Oklahoma Fraternity and Sorority Programs and Services - Issuu". issuu.com. 5 July 2018. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Student Org Conduct | Student Involvement". www.sjsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Alpha Lambda Mu at Ohio State : Find a Student Organization: Student Activities". activities.osu.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- "Dallas filmmakers chronicle America's first Muslim fraternity in new documentary". Dallas News. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2023-05-11.