As Ramadan – a holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslims – begins on February 28, room 5102 bustles with the sound of one of Liberty’s new clubs: the Muslim Student Association.
Sophomore Anya Jaffer, who co-founded the club, wants to spread awareness about the holiday through the Muslim Student Association.
“We want to help educate people about Ramadan,” Jaffer said. “We are doing fun minute-to-win-it games, and we also did a Muslim themed bingo and Kahoot game.”
While people who are not of the Islamic faith may not know much about the month of Ramadan and the traditions that come with the holiday, Jaffer said the Muslim Student Association is a place to learn more.
“Some of my peers didn’t understand what it meant to be Muslim,” Jaffer said. “There were and are a lot of stereotypes out there. Starting this club has also given me the ability to help educate my non-Muslim friends and peers about Islam.”
Other members of the club share this feeling. Junior Nadia Najam, who is a part of the Muslim Student Association’s general leadership team, expressed her excitement for the new opportunity to learn more about Islam at Liberty.
“I feel like there is this sort of western perspective on Islam, but few people actually take the time to learn and understand it, so this is a really cool opportunity to do so,” Najam said. “I was inspired to join the club because I thought it was really cool that my friend took the initiative to create a community for people at our school to learn more, and I wanted to be part of it.”
Over the years, Jaffer’s struggles to find a community within her religion presented her with a challenge. She often felt left out by other non-Muslim students, prompting her to create the Muslim Student Association.
“I wanted to find a way, not just for me, but for other Muslim students to connect more with their culture and religion,” Jaffer said. “Having a space to celebrate the Muslim culture has allowed me and other students to explore and learn more about it.”
On the second and fourth Thursday of each month, the Muslim Student Association holds their meetings in English teacher Raquel Massena’s room. With activities ranging from Kahoots to trying on the hijab headscarf, the club serves as a community that both informs and uplifts students.
“At one meeting, we presented different facts about the hijab, like where it originated from, and where it’s commonly worn,” Jaffer said. “Then we demonstrated how to put it on, and other club members got a chance to try wearing it.”
Having helped create Liberty’s first Muslim Student Association, Jaffer hopes to establish the club as an environment where students can celebrate Muslim culture.
“Whether students are struggling to find a sense of identity or just want to learn something new, I hope that this club continues to remain a safe space for them to gather,” Jaffer said.
According to Jaffer, although the Muslim Student Association focuses on Islam and the Muslim culture, it is open to all of Liberty. Any student who has an interest in the world’s religions or wants to learn more about various heritages is encouraged to join the club.
“Our society is so diverse, and learning about the Muslim culture can help students in the future. Whether they’re Muslim or not, students have the chance to learn more about a new religion, celebrate it, and have fun,” Jaffer said.
