28 November 2005: Islam Goes Greek: First Islamic Sorority Launched

Now Muslim college women can enjoy the best of both worlds with the launch of a Muslim-oriented sorority on several US college campuses.

Although technically the sorority is open to non-Muslims (a must for the organization to receive any support from most campus Greek bodies), we were unable to get a straight answer as to how many non-Muslim women were members.

According to the group:

Membership in the sorority starts with making an inquiry giving some basic educational and background information. There is no requirement to be Muslim; the membership is open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. There is no age limit, but you must have, or be pursuing, a baccalaureate degree. Eligibility begins after completion of two consecutive semesters at an accredited college or university and a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or 1.5 out of 3.0 must be maintained. One must also have excellent personal and professional character, and high moral standards.

At that point, the shroud of secrecy descends on the sorority:

If the candidate meets these preliminary requirements an invitation is made to attend a Gold Presentation. Attending the presentation is mandatory at which additional membership information is given. These events are what Dr. Collins terms a Mutual Selection process. This is where the candidate determines whether Gamma Gamma Chi is right for them and the sorority determines if the applicant is a suitable match for Gamma Gamma Chi and its goals and precepts.

Once both the applicant and the sorority determine that they are compatible, the iniatition ceremony is held:

After all requirements have been met and the applicant is accepted there is final secret ceremony before membership is complete. According to Dr. Collins the ceremony is an induction where they discuss values and the sorority in relation to Deen, work and community. There is also a Creed, which she could not disclose since it is for members only, and a sorority song.

Given the focus on the “Deen”, or the religion of Islam, it is highly unlikely that any non-Muslims would ever reach this point.

A quick look at the Statement of Purpose which the organization has posted on their website also calls into question whether non-Muslims are truly welcome:

The purpose of this organization is to unify collegiate and professional Muslimahs who are interested in promoting Islam through Sisterhood, Scholarship, Leadership, and Community Service.

The Mission Statement concurs:

The mission of Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority Inc is to promote positive visibility of Muslim women and Islam in general.

The statement makes it clear that the group is specifically for Muslim women, or Muslimahs.

The FAQ further states:

The sorority is open to all women regardless of their faiths as long as they support the mission of the Sorority: To unify Muslim collegiate and professional women and to promote Islam.

The organization promotes itself as providing a shari’a-compatible alternative to college sororities – a way for Muslim women in colleges and universities to bond together.

The photos of the board of directors on the Gamma Gamma Chi website show a diverse group. Some of the women wear hijabs; others are pictured in secular dress.

The group even has its own line of Greek clothing, just like other sororities. Several of the items the group offers to its members are shown below.

It is interesting to note that several of the Greek items, including the cami top, have been removed from the CafePress website.