Editor’s Note: Humnah Ibrahim is the Social Media Editor for Al-Hikmah.
As the semester comes to a close and summer approaches, the 2025-2026 MSA board has been officially confirmed. Get to know the students who will be leading UMD’s MSA during the upcoming academic year.
President: Zayd Mahfuz
“I want the community to know that I’m here to hear them and listen to them.”
Zayd Mahfuz is a rising senior majoring in information science and minoring in cybersecurity. Mahfuz’s experience with MSA began in high school when he transferred from an Islamic school to public school. His experience in Islamic school made him appreciate the Muslim community and work with other brothers and sisters to bring that same community to his high school.
In his free time, Mahfuz enjoys playing sports, traveling and doing activities in nature. Off campus, he is an active member in many Muslim communities including Prince George’s Muslim Association, MAFIQ foundation, and Young Muslims.
Mahfuz highlighted the importance of interfaith dialogue and connecting with other organizations on campus in terms of giving dawah. He prioritizes creating a welcoming environment for freshmen in the coming semester.
While there are many Quranic verses close to Mahfuz’s heart, some of his favorites are the last three ayat of Surah Al-Hashr, which describe the attributes of Allah (SWT). Mahfuz said he tries to reflect on the meanings of these attributes and use them while making dua.
Vice President of Sister’s Affairs: Yaara Aboelmagd
“I will be trying my best, insha’Allah. Insha’Allah, I will try to live up to the role.”
Yaara Aboelmagd is a rising junior and public health science major. She was inspired to take this role by Mlyka Nadeem, the previous secretary of the MSA, admiring her work and effort in the MSA.
Like Mahfuz, Aboelmagd sees welcoming freshmen as a priority next semester. She also hopes to create more sister-centered events aside from the weekly Sister’s Circles and per-semester Sister’s Gala.
In her free time, Aboelmagd enjoys reading, drawing, hanging out with friends, and playing with her cat, Simba. She is also an Events Coordinator for the Egyptian Student Association (ESA).
A Quranic verse close to Aboelmagd’s heart is, “Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” (Quran 13:28). She said it reassures and comforts her in her daily life.
Vice President: Rayn Ali
“I ask everyone to make dua so that everything is done with amanah [integrity] and I meet the expectations I have, and exceed them.”
Rayn Ali is a rising junior majoring in information science and on the pre-med track. Ali decided to run for MSA elections because he finds joy from making others happy, and felt this role would allow him to do just that.
Ali lived in India for 16 years. When he returned to the US, he established strong ties to local Muslim communities including Young Muslims’ chapter in Lanham and Dar-us-Salaam Youth. He hopes to create more brothers-centered events to bring the brothers together.
In his free time, Ali enjoys cooking and playing soccer and video games. He shared that during Ramadan, he tried to keep up with Ramadan recipes from the cooking influencer, The Golden Balance.
One of Ali’s favorite surahs is Surah Al-Asr. For Ali, it serves as a reminder of the importance of patience.
Treasurer: Masah Farh
“If we don’t have our own fellow Muslims, we have no one else.”
Masah Farh is a rising junior majoring in government and politics. In her freshman year, she felt the MSA provided a strong community that pushed her to become better, and she hopes to help others have that experience.
Farh sees maintaining a sense of community as a priority for her in the MSA. She hopes that the MSA can be a place for people to become closer to their deen (religion) and build a stronger Muslim community.
In her free time Farh enjoys reading, going on walks, and doing spontaneous activities with her friends. She is involved in other organizations on campus: she serves as the BSOS representative in the SGA and the treasurer for ESA, and will be the president starting Fall 2025.
Farh’s favorite hadith is: “If he comes to Me walking, I will go to him running.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7405) It reminds her of the closeness of Allah.
Musallah Affairs Officer: Mohammed Abdulmujeeb
“I see the MSA evolving into not just a Muslim organization, but an organization that encourages all sorts of people to come as well.”
Mohammed Abdulmujeeb is a rising junior aerospace engineering major. He was inspired to run for MSA elections by the work of the previous board—specifically the Musallah Affairs Officer, Musa Waseem.
In his senior year of high school, Abdulmujeeb reinstated his school’s MSA after it had dissolved. The experience was his first time being involved in a Muslim student organization. According to Abdulmujeeb, the MSA at his high school is still active and doing well.
Abdulmujeeb also participates in a range of clubs on campus, such as intramural sports, the Culinary Club, and Coffee at UMD. He is in the process of starting a new club called the Hypersonics Club.
A hadith close to Abdulmujeeb’s heart is the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1956)
Public Relations: Humnah Ibrahim
“I was able to find a good community through MSA…I just wanted to use my skills to provide that same sense of community for other Muslims.”
Humnah Ibrahim is a rising senior majoring in Immersive Media Design. She joined the MSA to use her skills to help increase the MSA’s reach.
Ibrahim is involved in many organizations on campus: she is the Marketing Director for the Pakistani Student Association (PSA), a graphic designer for UMD Libraries and Department of Resident Life, and serves on the advisory board for her major. She also contributes to Al-Hikmah’s social media work.
In her free time, Ibrahim does intramural sports with her friends and enjoys photography. She also has a black belt in karate.
One of Ibrahim’s favorite verses is: “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Quran 40:60) It reminds her to make dua, and that she always has an outlet.
Secretary: Aryaan Ahmed
“I’m just hoping to improve upon what past boards have already done.”
Aryaan Ahmed is a rising junior public policy major and pre-law student at UMD. He is an out of state student from Memphis, Tennessee, and the MSA helped him find community away from home.
Ahmed hopes to provide events that are engaging and informative for UMD’s Muslim community, as well as build upon work that previous MSA boards have done.
He is also involved in the Asian American Pre-Law Society, where he does public relations work, and the PSA, where he is the historian. He will also be a Resident Assistant (RA) in the next semester. In his free time, he enjoys following and playing basketball.
A Quranic ayah close to Ahmed’s heart is “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Quran 20:114) He tries to always recite it in his duas.
A message from the former MSA president
As the new MSA board prepares to take over, 2024-2025 MSA president Leena Davis offered advice:
“Dear 2025-2026 MSA board,
“I think it’s very important that you work together as a team. First and foremost, you are doing a great blessing for the Muslim community at the University of Maryland. So, work together as a team, and the decision-making should not be solely on one person; it should be a collective process.
“People will always have something to say, whether positive or negative. Try to understand where they’re coming from. But at the end of the day, your job is to do right by Allah. Don’t chase people’s approval.
“If you focus on pleasing Him, you will never lose.”
Image credits: Cover photos by Amna Tariq for Al-Hikmah. Collage created by Riona Sheikh.
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