Portola High’s Muslim Student Association hosted its third annual joint Iftar celebration with MSA clubs from around the county at Rahma Center Banquet Hall on March 19.
Iftar, the meal marking the breaking of the fast each sunset during Ramadan, is a time for community, according to MSA co-president and senior Shifa Harsolia. The event began with a collective Dua, or prayer, to break the fast, followed by a presentation by guest speaker Sheikh Atef, who discussed the significance of Dua during Ramadan. After the Maghrib prayer, attendees enjoyed dinner, dessert and a final prayer, fostering a sense of community among fellow high school students who share their faith, according to Harsolia.
“Seeing everyone makes me feel more connected with the community, because it brings like-minded people together,” attendee and junior Asma Natsheh said. “It just allows everyone to express their thoughts and ideas in an open and accepting environment.”
Entirely student-run, the Iftar required extensive planning that began in January, according to event coordinator and sophomore Maria Hajjar. One key decision was selecting a theme that would resonate with attendees. This year, the theme was “Patience and Resilience Through Hardship.”
“It really ties into how Ramadan plays a role in our lives, how we have to be resilient, even through the hard times,” co-president and senior Rayyan Jalal said. “At the end, with hardship comes ease. So you’re fasting all day, and I feel like it reflected how we have to go through Ramadan.”
The theme also highlighted ongoing global challenges, such as the Palestine-Israel conflict, while encouraging seeking divine help and maintaining hope, which was touched upon by the speaker, according to Natsheh.
“He talked about how important it is to stay patient during Ramadan, and how people in Gaza still stay patient even though they don’t really get food,” Natsheh said. “So it’s important to support them and to just always be grateful.”
Witnessing the Iftar grow into the event it is today, along with allowing for reflection and memorable moments with new people, was a highlight, according to Harsolia. Around 200 people attended — a record number compared to previous years.
“Usually in the past, it’s like ‘Oh, I recognize everyone,’” Harsolia said. “It was really cool to see people that I’ve never seen before and to see that we reached out to so many.”
MSA plans to expand the Iftar in the upcoming years and host a mini Eid celebration after Spring Break.
