Most Western religious students studying overseas intend to return home to help their communities. However, after years of immersion in a foreign culture, students may find themselves out of touch with the Muslim community and the broader society. These students must know the issues of the day, what is expected of their role, and the condition of their community in order to be effective teachers. Dr. Ingrid Mattson tell us what realities students can expect to face, and how to prepare for them….
Last week, SG team members Faraz Khan, Salman Younas, and Abdullah Misra had the opportunity to sit with Dr. Ingrid Mattson while she was attending a conference on Islam and the Environment in Amman, Jordan.
The questions that the group sought her advice on included: what can students of the Islamic sciences who are overseas expect to encounter upon returning to the West? What should they know, and what can they do to prepare themselves for a life of teaching and service in the North American Muslim community?
Over the next two and a half hours, Dr. Mattson offered profound advice, with relevant examples and penetrating wisdom. Below are snippets and summaries of her advice: