Muslim Student Association provides a pathway to knowing more about Islam, and a space for students to decompress from their stressful school schedule.
MSA has an event and a meeting once every month at NTAB 2106 in NE Campus.
Salma Sayed, the president of the club, said the events and meetings are open to both Muslim and non-Muslim students.
“This semester, we planned three events, each one of them is featuring a guest speaker from the community,” she said. “[The speakers] talk about Islam, like important aspects of life from an Islamic perspective.”
Sayed emphasized that the meetings are set from 1:30 to 3 p.m., just in time for afternoon prayer.
“We are hosting our meetings and events during our midday prayers, which is at 1:30 or something,” she said. “It’s also to provide a room for Muslim students to pray.”
“We normally make a section, in the room, just for prayers. We bring prayer mats,” she said.
In addition to helping students gain more information about Islam, Sayed said MSA also delivers a stress-free zone for students caught between the nets of assignments, exams and classes.
“Prayers usually don’t take more than eight or 10 minutes. We perform it in Jamara, which is like a group,” she said. “We pray as a group at the beginning of the meeting or the event. We serve some free food, like pizzas and snacks, and we just chill afterwards.”
Vice President of MSA, Muzhda Sakhi said her first semester being in MSA has been enjoyable.
“It’s heartwarming,” she said. “You get to meet people and get different point of views on Islamic culture.”
Sayed said her, along with other officers started MSA just last semester with the help of their advisor, Hind Ahmed.
The idea of starting MSA came to Sayed when it was her first time being exposed to campus clubs and couldn’t find a place for Muslim students to come together.
“I was like, “Wherever I walk on campus, I meet Muslims. There’s a lot of Muslims here, and I wish there was something for them,’ you know,” she said.
Sakhi said the club helps students grow not only in faith and knowledge, but also in respect, compassion and unity.
“It’s open to anyone, you’re welcome to get to know us and see what we are going to [offer],” she said.
