Guilford College’s Muslim Student Association is working to rebuild, grow and create a stronger sense of belonging for Muslim and non-Muslim students alike. After several quieter semesters marked by leadership transitions and slowed activity, the club is regaining momentum with a new board, renewed goals and a major Ramadan event on the horizon.

The MSA’s mission is simple but meaningful: to build community and increase knowledge about Islam. For Ayuzah Shah, the club’s social media manager, that mission begins with outreach. Shah connects with other colleges, local high schools and community members to promote events and expand the club’s reach beyond campus.

“All are welcome to join,” she said, emphasizing that students do not have to be Muslim to attend meetings or participate in events.

Vice President Inaya Ejaz has been involved with MSA since its early days. She previously served as secretary and stepped into her current leadership role during the most recent election cycle. With only a handful of members when the club began, Ejaz said everyone had to take on responsibility to keep the organization moving forward.

“We didn’t start with that many members,” Ejaz said. “I wanted to make sure we were becoming a successful club and getting more members.”

Serving on the board has required more than just attending meetings. Ejaz has coordinated event reservations and ensured the organization meets funding requirements. As a newer club, MSA must complete specific training and administrative steps before becoming eligible for campus funding.

“There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes,” she said. “Not just going to events, but actually planning them out.”

One of the biggest challenges the club has faced has been leadership transition. Zaineb Khan, a member of the club, said activity slowed after the founding president, Osman Sohaib, graduated. In his absence, meetings became less frequent and eventually stopped for a time. Now, with new board members — including Ejaz and Shah — Khan said things are “picking up” again.

The highlight of MSA’s year is Ramadan. The club primarily hosts Iftar nights, gatherings where participants break their fast together after sunset. This year’s major Iftar event is scheduled for Feb. 24. The board has been reaching out to restaurants for catering, inviting professors and contacting students from other schools to attend. Past Iftars have drawn strong attendance, including faculty, community members and guests from neighboring colleges.

“One of them was huge,” Ejaz said of a previous event. “We had so many staff come, and so many people from other schools.”

She described the event as especially meaningful because it demonstrated the club’s credibility and leadership potential as a relatively new organization.

In previous years, MSA also collaborated with students from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for a volunteer initiative at a local mosque. Members helped pack food for a community drive — an experience Shah described as impactful because it allowed the club to work beyond campus.

“We helped our community outside of Guilford,” she said.

While Ramadan remains the club’s primary focus for now, the board hopes to expand its programming in the future. Limited funding and membership numbers have made it difficult to host multiple events throughout the year, but recruitment is a top priority.

“The more people we have, the more things we can do,” Ejaz said.

The club is open to anyone interested in learning more about Islam, engaging in interfaith conversations or simply enjoying community-centered events — often with plenty of food. Members say students who are passionate about their beliefs, curious about other religions or looking for a welcoming space on campus would thrive in MSA. There is also interest in collaborating with other religious or cultural organizations in the future.

Joining MSA is straightforward. Students can email a board member or reach out through the club’s social media platforms to get connected. In past years, meetings were held in the basement of the library, though the board is still finalizing regular meeting locations as activities resume.

Leadership and volunteer opportunities are expected to expand next year as the club continues to grow.

For Shah, being part of MSA has provided reassurance and belonging.

“It helps me get a sense of community and reminds me that I’m not alone on campus,” she said.

As MSA works to rebuild and expand, its message to the Guilford community is clear: it is a growing club with open doors. Whether students come to learn or simply to break fast together during Ramadan, the Muslim Student Association aims to provide a welcoming space for all.

As Ejaz put it, “I think anyone who honestly enjoys a good bit of food” would thrive in MSA — so if nothing else, come hungry.