Faisal Malik is the newest member of the MORSL faith volunteer roster, a team that is here to support McGill students of any (and no) faith. Faisal will be specifically supporting Muslim college and university students in Montreal, and his work is supported through Mont-Lumiere, an organization established by alumni of McGill University and the Muslim Students’ Association of McGill University (MSA McGill) that works to help students with their mental health and spiritual struggles.
Faisal knows what it is like to be a student in Montreal, having earned a BA in Religion from Concordia University. He also holds an MA in Near/Middle Eastern Civilizations from University of Toronto and a Diploma in Arabic from International Open University. Along with his academic studies he continues to pursue Islamic studies from various institutes and scholars. Along with his studies he has years of experience in community grassroots work and currently works as Marketing/Project Coordinator for ICNA Relief Canada. His interests include topics such as tafsir (a genre of Muslim literature focused on interpreting scripture), tazkiyah (a process of spiritual cleansing and growth in Islam), Islamic psychology, colonialism and Islamic education.
On Mont Lumiere's site, Faisal shared these feelings about his new position: "As a Muslim born and raised in Montreal I have experienced first-hand the challenges that young Muslims face towards their identity and faith. Navigating one's religious identity in a predominantly secular society can at times prove to be challenging. Building upon my experiences and knowledge, I look forward to working with students and share with them the vitality of the beautiful teachings of Islam, which will allow them to thrive in whatever circumstances they are in Insha'Allah."
We are deeply grateful to Mont-Lumière foundation and the McGill Muslim Alumni Network for their dedication and efforts in defining a chaplaincy role that is aligned with the Muslim tradition and student needs, and for recruiting and supporting Faisal in this position. We are so thrilled that Faisal has joined our roster of faith volunteers and we are looking forward to getting to know him better in the coming weeks and months.
You can find Faisal on our Multi-faith Volunteers Page and you can make email him or make an appointment on Mont Lumiere's Site.
