My niece is 19yrs old and attends William Paterson College. I recently found out that she pledge in school with a Sorority named Zeta Phi Beta. My daughter informed her that as a Muslim we do not pledge to anything or anyone except Allah. Please give me information so that I can pass on to her Insha Allah. Shukran.

All praise be to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be on His last and best messenger, Muhammad and his purified household and honorable companions. Sororities are social groups that have some Hellenic origin and they are a major attraction for many freshmen and women in their first year of college. These sororities have various activities that are mainly social, and they usually have open houses and parties and many other social activities. Most of these activities involve things that are inappropriate for a Muslim whether a man or a woman to be involved in. many times, the members are requested to do things that are quite immoral or irrational to prove their loyalty to the sorority. Some of the stories are shocking and ultimately reprehensible. The attraction to join such sororities is to have networking and connections which may help you during your college years and thereafter. For many, it is the socialization that they seek. A Muslim should certainly avoid joining such groups, for there are two types of friends: one who will help you remain conscious of your mission in this life which is the service of Allah and such friendship will be appreciated and celebrated in the hereafter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Those who loved one another for Allah will be (sitting) on pulpits of light on the day of judgment”. The other type of friends is those who steer you away from the straight path, and such friendship will be a source of regret and remorse in the hereafter. Allah says: "Ah! woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend! "He did lead me astray from the Message (of Allah. after it had come to me! Ah! the devil is but a traitor to man!" (25:28-29) As for the oath of allegiance, that is another problem; one should make sure his allegiance is devoted to God, not to people who are at best reckless and inappropriate and may be a lot worse. I would advise your niece and my sister to find a group of righteous sisters and establish with them a female branch of the MSA, and if there is no MSA, they should start one. The smart one is one who thinks ahead and does not get deceived by young age and wealth or intelligence. These blessings are great if well used for one’s benefit in this life and the hereafter, but they could be also sources of regret in this life and the one to come if misused or if they deluded us away from the truth of this existence, which is being a stage of preparation for the next one, the immortal existence in the hereafter. Allah knows best.