Muslim Chaplain Abdullah Antepli speaks at the opening of Muslim Life at Duke. Photo credit: Photos by Les Todd.

More than 100 faculty, staff, students and members of the Muslim community from Duke and the Triangle gathered Thursday for the official opening of a Muslim Life center at Duke.

For Duke's Muslim Chaplain Abdullah Antepli, the new center, a grey clapboard house at 406 Swift Ave., represents "one of the most happy, joyous moments of my life -- a dream come true."

As the sun pierced through pine branches swaying in the afternoon breeze, the voice of Duke University law student Mazen Alhroob cut through the air. Alhroob, who is originally from Palestine, led the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan. Then, following a brief reading from the Koran, several Duke officials spoke to the crowd about the significance of the occasion.

Both President Richard H. Brodhead and Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells said the presence of a strong Muslim community on campus was essential for bringing out the best of Duke.

"We are ambitious and we want to be the best we can be," Wells said. "We can't be the best without each other."

Fatemah Ahmad, a senior at Duke and co-president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), expressed gratitude at the university's commitment to and support for the campus Muslim community. She and Antepli emphasized the center is open and welcoming to everyone.

"The easiest way to show you what we mean to do with this space is for you to come in and participate -- hang out, drink tea, read books, or study," she said. "The light is always on and a pot of tea is always brewing."

Ahmad recalled when the Muslim students first entered the house last November, they were quickly joined not only by Muslim students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, but students from Duke's Freeman Center for Jewish Life, which is also on Swift Avenue, as well as students and staff from Duke Chapel and the Newman Catholic Student Center. Swift Avenue, Ahmad said, was now truly an "interfaith street."

Jalees Afzal of the Islamic Association of Raleigh presented Brodhead with a plaque thanking Duke for its leadership, vision, commitment and support of the Muslim center. Following a ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests at the event enjoyed food and an open house.