MSA sends message ‘all are welcome’ to CPP students
By Karina Perez, February 17, 2026
As-salamu alaykum, which means “peace be upon you,” is a greeting widely known in Muslim communities and is one the Muslim Student Association uses to welcome the CPP community.
MSA, founded in 1963 and established at Cal Poly Pomona in 2019, was created to foster community among Muslim students on college campuses across the nation, promoting unity and security in one’s identity.
“The basis of MSA is to create a space on campus where all Muslims feel welcomed, but also to share Islam and our faith with people,” said brother chair of MSA and mechanical engineering student Ahmad Shamim.
MSA is home to students who feel a sense of belonging and can come together with others who share similar values and religious beliefs. Something that makes the organization unique is their involvement in international issues, specifically in Levant, which is a region in Asia according to Shamim.
“I came as a transfer student and on orientation day, I met members of MSA who are now my best friends, and we held a Friday prayer,” said mechanical engineering student Hamzeh Qandeel.
MSA is not only determined to serve the CPP community but also when it comes to international issues. The organization’s social media account on Instagram has been a great resource for students who want to help but don’t know where to start.
Charity events have been their primary contribution to give back to developing nations such as Bangladesh and Senegal, to only name a few.
“We’re not all experts in these fields, so (MSA) is just the starting point to take action on causes that need our attention,” said MSA Vice President and political science student Khawla Dahdul.
MSA hosted its second general executive board meeting of the semester during U-hour Feb. 5. The board announced its championship game: preparing for Ramadan like the Sahabah, Feb. 12 and the upcoming Mathabah’s annual Ramadan Qiyam, Feb. 20. The board was accompanied by their advisor Tamer Omar, who is also an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at CPP.
Chaplin Sh. Furhan also attended the meeting offering chaplaincy services, spiritual advice and answering any questions regarding Islamic education.
For the month of Ramadan starting Feb. 17, which is a time where Muslims fast to commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an and is considered the holiest month of the year, according to Islamic Networks Group, MSA will provide free iftars every Monday through Thursday serving approximately 75 students.
Although MSA has a set budget, it will not be enough to meet the number of free iftar’s needed for Ramadan. The organization posted a flyer, Jan. 13, asking for support from the CPP community, restaurant owners and community partners to sponsor them. The hope for MSA is to receive sponsorships for the entire month of Ramadan.
Manara West, formerly known as MSA West, is a nonprofit organization that oversees the events across college campuses and tracks the money raised from each charity like Palestine, Sudan and Bangladesh. They encourage friendly competition to see which schools in Southern California raise the most funds, according to Shamim.
“Last fall semester, we made the top five in California, raising the highest amount of proceeds for charity week,” said MSA marketing director and psychology student Nabeeha Rahman.
MSA is community driven, hosting numerous events throughout the year in hopes of bringing Muslims and non-Muslim students at CPP closer together. The organization is also a great way to network with students and advisors from other campuses, according to Rahman.
“When you’re a part of MSA in Southern California, you meet Muslims from other campuses like UCI and UCR and build relationships with them through shared events, which is something really special,” said MSA intern and mechanical engineering student Saleemah Ahmed.
Dahdul said everyone is welcome to MSA. Students don’t need to be Muslim to attend the events or to visit the T.R.E.E Center located in the University Plaza, where MSA has a dedicated space for meditation, reflection and prayer.
