Author: Mariam Ahmed
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Cultural clubs go viral: the rise of reels
Within 24 hours of posting a trivia night promotion, the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) 15 second reel, of members interrupting a board member with information about the event, garnered more than 11,000 views on Instagram. Cultural club promotions have not just reached the UMD community — they have gone viral. “Having a successful social media…
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From midterms to runway: UMD student’s crochet business goes viral
A sea of vibrant hijabs filled Howard University’s Blackburn Ballroom. All eyes were fixed on the runway, where models wore flowy modest clothing, including colorful crochet pieces designed by University of Maryland student Sarrah Ewing. Ewing first learned to crochet at 10-years-old after being introduced to the craft by her mother. Now, she owns Stardust Stitchez,…
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‘All Day for Gaza’: UMD community gathers to mourn Gaza’s martyrs
More than 50 University of Maryland community members gathered to honor the deaths of Palestinians at the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) “All Day for Gaza” event on Tuesday at McKeldin Mall. The event consisted of sit-ins, teach-ins, speeches and art demonstrations with small white flags placed by organizers to represent Palestinian martyrs killed…
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The rise of MENA country specific cultural organizations at UMD
Within the past year, four new country-specific cultural clubs within the UMD Middle East and North African (MENA) community were formed. Despite many of these clubs fitting under broader cultural clubs such as the Organization of Arab Students (OAS) or Faces of African Muslims (FAM), many students felt that these clubs were essential. Cultural clubs…
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MSA welcomes students with fall Welcome Back Dinner
Over 100 students gathered in Stamp’s grand ballroom for the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) semesterly Welcome Back Dinner on Friday. The Welcome Back Dinner provides new students a place to meet their Muslim brothers and sisters, allows returning students to get together, and helps build a sense of belonging amongst the Muslim community at UMD,…
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Meet the 2025-26 MSA Board
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…
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MSA bazaar showcases small businesses, student talent
Dozens of students gathered in the Nyumburu basement on Thursday, May 8 for the MSA’s bazaar event, during which students and organizations displayed their businesses, crafts, or services. Leena Davis, a senior agricultural and resource economics major and president of the MSA, was inspired to organize the event by her longtime love of arts and…
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New Muslim club sparks mental health conversations amongst community
To create a space for Muslim students and others to discuss mental health through cultural and religious lenses, Maha Idsassi and Yusra Umer co-founded the club Noor On My Mind (NOMM). “As a Muslim student, I am passionate about my faith, but I feel like when we talk about Islam and mental health together we…
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Living on campus: the Muslim experience
The fluorescent lights shone above the common room as the microwave hummed, warming the dining hall provided suhoor — the meal eaten before dawn when fasting. Students sat in silence, adjusting to their surroundings, as they waited their turn to heat up their food. At 4 a.m. in Prince Frederick Hall, Habib Camara, a sophomore…
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Palestinian Cultural Club: building community through culture
In an effort to gather Palestinian students on campus and educate the UMD community about Palestinian culture, Sarah Edwan came up with the idea of the Palestinian Cultural Club, also known as PCC. Edwan, whose family hails from Gaza, founded the student organization last semester with the motto of building community through culture. “I wanted…
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