About Us
The MSA is a thriving student community engaging the campus and the greater society through community service, outreach, and educational projects. Its diverse constituencies find an environment away from home in the MSA that stretches far beyond simply an “organization.” It is a community, a space where Muslim students can feel comfortable growing and engaging their campus in a focused manner. As a cultural group, MSA adds a valuable voice to UCLA, one that speaks for its Muslim students, seeks to dispel harmful myths, and is committed to broadening horizons all around. As a community, MSA develops leaders who use their education as a tool with which to engage their peers and further empower themselves. As part of a whole, MSA strives to build bridges with other communities to maintain meaningful dialogues. Thus, the MSA is a cultural, social, political, and philanthropic vehicle that produces individuals who fulfill not only the vision of MSA, but ultimately the mission of USAC and the University as a whole. The MSA is capabable of achieving these results by establishing itself as an umbrella organization of six diverse projects; MAPS, AMP. UMMA, IYTP, Da'wah and Al-Talib,.
MSA's educational and cultural value
The Muslim Students Association, in concert with the goals of USAC, endeavors to create programs that provide academic, social, and personal enrichment to all of its constituents. Our history of organizing dynamic and effective programs—such as Islamic Awareness Week, various Teach-Ins on issues like affirmative action or the strife in Palestine, and screenings of independent documentaries—show that MSA expenses are an investment with a high return. These edifying activities are a vital complement to the education received in the classroom, enhancing that education by stimulating dialogue and discussion. MSA seeks to be not just a theoretical forum, but to be action-oriented, to provide valuable and alternative perspectives on social and political problems, and to emphasize the link between education and action. The MSA also provides a safe prayer haven for students, whether active in the MSA or not, which the MSA office serves as one of its many purposes.
Tapestry of MSA
The MSA offers a wide variety of avenues for Muslims to be attracted to the community.
For those spiritually inclined - Halaqas, Qur'an competition, about 2 lectures from prominent Muslim figures per quarter, unofficial mobilization to off-campus Islamic events, such as the MAS Convention, Bayyinah seminar, RIS, Tajdeed Retreats, and the MSA West Conference.
For those politically inclined - We are part of a coalition with 9 other student groups like (MEChA, Afrikan Student Union, etc) and we plan events with them (the Pres and External Affairs Director meet with them on a weekly basis). We also have a student government campaign; Palestine Awareness Week, etc.
For those socially inclined - we have general body meetings once every two weeks, basketball and dogeball tournaments, barbeques in the Sunset Rec, movie nights, and spontaneous events once folks come around.
For those community service inclined - we have 4 community service projects. A Muslim-Newsmagazine (for those interested in journalism); UMMA clinic (for pre-med folks); IYTP; MAPS, (social justice) etc. Many people start off by volunteering for one of the projects and then they get exposed to MSA and then begin to develop their Islam.
For those inclined toward Da`wah and Academic Development - we have a Da`wah Committee (Muslim Union) and the Academic Mentorship Program.
The Jumu`ah Prayer is a mixture of all these, and is utilized by making announcements regarding these things