On March 16th, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) organized an event for club members to gather for Iftar and break their fast together. The night was filled with delicious dishes, heartfelt conversations, and a strong sense of community.
Iftar is the evening meal Muslims eat to break their fast, which “is a time when families and friends gather to break their fast together,” stated senior Co-President Shiza Zahid. “We wanted to bring that same spirit to the MSA for our members… the girls really enjoyed it, so we wanted to continue the tradition. It’s a great way to strengthen the MSA community, especially as new members join each year.”
Hosted by and held at one of the officers’ houses, the event included a variety of homemade dishes from both the members and officers, beautiful decorations for Ramadan, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Many students who attended mentioned how easy it was to talk to new people and form new friendships. “I spent time with people I care about, met new people, and we quickly got used to each other,” commented sophomore Jana Wanas. “ I found it amusing that coming together as a community can get us to become better friends and meet new people, which means a lot to me.”
A freshman at the Mystic Valley Charter School, Amira Housni, who heard about the event from one of the presidents, shared that she loved how the environment made it easier to connect with others. “Putting food and people together really helps build bonds,” she voiced. “Everyone was so kind.”
A member of the MSA, junior Hala Abdghani, stated that the Iftar gathering brought a sense of community and “Ramadan spirit,” bringing Muslims closer together for a “wonderful” time, but she wishes that the event was more inclusive to not only Muslims, but other people outside the community as well. “I would try to spread the announcement of these events to non-Muslims as well to demonstrate the Ramadan spirit and unite us stronger as a Malden community.”
Of course, food played an important role in both bringing everyone together and the event itself. From junior MSA officer Shahd Abdulghani’s pasta to homemade rolls and sweet desserts, the table was full of culture and variety. “My favorite was Shahd’s pasta. It really stuck out to me, and I hope she makes it again if there are any future events,” said Firdaous Elimami, a freshman at the Vocational High School. Some other favorites included the Afghan mantu, mac and cheese, and even dishes that reminded them of their home and heritage.
The event also gave members a chance to pray Taraweeh together, a special nightly prayer during Ramadan, at the Malden masjid. “I really enjoyed the time after Iftar till Taraweeh,” said Abdulghani. “We broke our fast together, laughed, and then went to pray. It was everything I wanted and more.”
Organizing everything was not easy, from preparing food to decorating and making sure everyone got to the mosque on time. The officers faced quite a few challenges; regardless, both the officers and members were happy with how it turned out.
“One of the challenges was the transportation aspect and how we would get to the Malden mosque from where the iftar was hosted with so many girls attending,” senior Co-President Sabrina Kharkach expressed. “We ended up raising enough money to be able to afford Ubers to take us in groups, allowing us to all be able to pray together in the end.”
The event made a lasting impression. “It helped me find people I had a lot in common with,” said Elimami. “I had a lot of fun building connections with the members of MSA.”
For new members, the hope is that events like this show what the MSA is all about: connection, culture, and a strong community. “I want everyone to leave these events smiling,” Abdulghani concluded, “and Alhamdulillah, they did.”
