Established by a group of young Muslim men at the University of Texas almost a decade ago, America’s first Muslim fraternity Alpha Lambda Mu is the subject of a new documentary which explores what it means to form a Muslim-American brotherhood.

The documentary, Kufi Krew: An American Story, is the result of the work of two Dallas filmmakers, Dylan Hollingsworth and Wheeler Sparks, The Dallas Morning News reported.

It was released last month on several streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.

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Along with discussing American-Muslim identity, the film follows universal themes such as forbidden romance and family tensions.

“When you’re in America, people, they ask you where you’re from, they don’t expect you to say America. And when you’re in Pakistan or when you’re in Egypt or you’re in Syria or Jordan, and they ask you where you’re from, they don’t expect you to say Syria, Jordan or Pakistan. They expect you to say America, right?” founder Ali Mahmoud says in the documentary.

“We’re constructing a new identity.”

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The filmmakers, both non-Muslim, say they had an overwhelming sense of gratitude at the chance to observe this brotherhood.

“It was an honor for us to get to have a front-row seat to something that was pretty different than how we grew up,” Hollingsworth said.

The Fraternity was created by founder Ali Mahmoud and co-founder Araf Hossain.

The fraternity’s founding chapter was founded at the University of Texas at Dallas on February 12, 2013. As of fall 2020, the fraternity has six active chapters and two colonies. 

The word “fraternity” translates to the word akhuwwa or “brotherhood” in Arabic. Brotherhood is an extremely powerful force that has been recognized in the Islamic tradition as a catalyst for good.

All Muslims irrespective of their color, place of birth and language are equal and brothers to each other. The Qur’an dictates:

The believers are but brothers to each other, so make reconciliation between your two brothers, and fear Allah that you may receive mercy. (49:l0)