By: Julie Boody

Over the past year, the MSA (Muslim Student Association) of UB (University at Buffalo) has been swamped with events, activities and Islamic learning classes that were carried out regularly.  The association had been focused on ensuring that students and the community is aware of the events that they are able to participate in. To wrap up all of the 

excitement that  MSA  brought was celebrated at  their annual banquet at the Marriott hotel on Friday, May 1, 2015 from 6-9pm.

The banquet was completely sold out and all of the tables were filled to capacity.  Students, business owners, community members and the student’s families were all in attendance  for this auspicious occasion. The MSA E-board had recently finished their terms and the board members that had  finished their terms, were saddened to go but were very hopeful for the association to carryon with the great momentum that had been created.  Each of the previous E-Board members had received awards of recognition for all of their hard work.  The Women’s Council of MSA was recognized for the outstanding work that they had done by getting the female students together for events, classes, halaqa’s and overall support.

There were several different organizations in attendance to show their support. Rahama (Resources and Help Against Marital Abuse) received an award for their “Outstanding Service to the Community”. Rahama works with victims of marital abuse and helps to get them and their families the resources that they need to be able to move in a more safe and positive direction. Previous E-Board President, Mohammed Shariff  gave a strong message that Rehama is an organization that “you don’t want to mess with”.  He also stated that “if there is marital abuse in the community then you should watch out because Rahama will find you.”

WNYMuslims was also an award recipient for our service to the community as well.

When the award giving ceremony and dinner concluded the featured speaker, Yasmin Mogahed was announced.  She arrived into a room of attentive attendees eager to listen to the knowledge she brought forth.  Yasmin Mogahed is multi-talented role model with many accomplishments. She has been a youth coordinator, a writing instructor, a staff columnist for the Islam section of InFocus News, an instructor, an author as well as an international speaker. She received her Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   She focuses most of her work on spiritual and personal development. Yasmin is the author of  the popular book, Reclaim Your Heart, which is available worldwide.

Yasmin focused her lecture on “What you love the most, is what your heart is consumed with?”  She stated that “the first thing that you think of in the morning when you wake up and before falling asleep at night is what you love the most and your heart is consumed with just that.”  Examples that were given of what your heart could be consumed with were money, love, family and career and how it interferes with the importance that give to Allah in our lives. Yasmin stressed the importance of changing what you love the most to the love for Allah and how we should be living a life the way he wants us to.  The day to day stresses of life here in this dunya (our lifetime) will always be there but by refocusing what your heart loves the most is the first thing in balancing all of that stress out.  After her lecture, there was a session of question and answers.  Overall the evening was very informational, educational but most of all it was a lot of fun.

For additional pictures, please click here.

For more information on the Muslim Student Association at the University at Buffalo, please click here.

For a more information on Yasmin Mogahed and to view a collection of her articles, poetry, and lectures please click here.

For more information on Rahama, please send an email to rahanahousing@gmail.com.