Our Purpose on Campus

The Muslim Chaplaincy at UIC (MCUIC) provides religious, spiritual, educational, and social support to the Muslim population on campus, advocates for the needs of Muslim students, and works to build bridges across the diverse communities that make up the fabric of life at UIC. Our services include one-on-one pastoral care, advocacy, consulting, and community programming.
MCUIC serves all Muslim students at UlC, regardless of sect, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, and degree of religiosity. We work to create a space where members of the UIC community can learn and practice their faith freely, engage and connect with the diversity of the Muslim community in an inclusive and welcoming environment, and gain a deeper understanding of Islam and Muslims. MCUIC also strives to be a spiritual care and wellness resource for the UIC student body as a whole. Chaplain Ariz Saleem is available to meet in person or via zoom by appointment.

Meet The Chaplain!

Chaplain Ariz Saleem

EDUCATION

Chaplain Ariz Saleem holds a Master of Divinity in Islamic Chaplaincy from the University of Chicago and has completed 2 units of Certified Pastoral Education.
His divinity studies afforded him an opportunity to gain a broad survey of the Islamic intellectual heritage, including readings in early Islamic texts, like the Sirat of Ibn Hisham and works by later scholars like al-Muhasibi, al-Ghazzali, and Ibn Taymiyya.
He continues to augment his knowledge of the Classical Islamic Sciences along with the academic study of Islam.
Prior to his graduate studies, Chaplain Ariz traveled to Egypt for nine months in 2015 centering the study of Classical Arabic and completing a course on the science of Tajweed. While there, he also received lessons in fundamental Islamic Sciences.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Chaplain Ariz has had a diverse set of work experiences ranging from Benefits Administration in Corporate America to Community Organizing for ICNA Relief.
He has prior chaplaincy experience at Loyola University, Rush University Hospital, and Cook County Jail.

HOBBIES

Freestyle rap
Playing Basketball
Writing poetry
Walking/hiking in nature
Spending time with his two little ones