Halaqa: A Muslim Philanthropic Model of the University Classroom
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Abstract
A central teaching in Islam is a celebration of the diversity and richness of the human experience. The Quran states that human beings were created into nations and tribes so that we “may know one another.” As much as this teaching dispels prejudices we might have against one another and facilitates appreciation for diversity among mankind at large, it also serves as a directive for Muslims to engage people from all walks of life in generous-spirited conversations, seeking to build deeper understanding through respectful dialogue. In this spirit, we apply the Islamic concept of halaqa toward fostering philanthropy in our university classrooms. Drawing on our experiences teaching interdisciplinary courses to undergraduate students of many different majors, we describe how halaqa can serve as a model to reconfigure university classrooms and nurture honest, open conversations to enhance awareness, humility, and compassion.
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