The opening ceremony of Respect Graduate School (RGS), which is to offer a graduate program leading to the degree Master of Arts in Islamic Studies (MAIS), was attended by the representatives of different faiths from across the country. The graduate school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The ceremony kicked off with Najeeb Johnson, a student at the university, reciting the first chapter of the Quran, the Fatiha.
Patricia Robinson from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia said at the ceremony that the presence of visionary leaders in these types of projects is important and that they will carry out collaborative efforts to give the hope that the world needs.
Ryan Mackenzie, one of Pennsylvania's legislators, said he was honored to participate in the opening ceremony of an institution that would educate future leaders.
President of the university, Süleyman Eriş, said the opening of the institution marked the first time that Muslims had established a university in the US, adding that most of the school's administration is composed of Muslims. He said there are many universities that teach Islam, but almost all of them are controlled by non-Muslims.
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