Gold balloons formed an arch in a room adorned with moons and stars. Students dressed in abayas, thobes and other forms of cultural wear filled the space. Muslim students across campus at LPC have been participating in the month of Ramadan, a holy month in which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.
To celebrate the last 10 nights of Ramadan, LPC’s Muslim Student Association held an Iftar Banquet on March 12 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Cultural Community Center. Food was catered by MyFundAction, a nonprofit humanitarian organization. External Vice president of MSA, Noor Akbar, said, “Our expectations are to bring together the Muslim community of Las Positas College for a beautiful Iftar.”
The event also doubled as a fundraiser for MyFundAction. “We also want to fundraise money to build a water well in Nigeria, and expect around 120 people,” added Azaan Asad, sophomore biology major and MSA president.
After the breaking fast, students were led outside for the congregational prayer. MyFundAction representative Mustafa Ebrahimi also used this time to briefly introduce the nonprofit and its current Ramadan initiatives: providing clean water wells and food security in Nigeria.
“We’re fortunate enough, living in places like the United States or Australia, to have a roof over our heads, clean water and food,” Ebrahimi said. “We can use our skills and the wealth that we attain from the work that we do, to help community members who are in need across the world.”
A MAGHRIB is led by the Muslim Student Association outside the LPC Cultural Community Center on Mar. 12, 2026. Maghrib is the fourth mandatory prayer and starts just after sunset. (Photo by Eric Liang/The Express)
Attendees were able to donate to MyFundAction throughout the event. By the end of the night, the MSA raised around $1,000 in donations — enough to build a well in Nigeria.
“Zakat,” or charity, is a fundamental component of Islam and the Muslim identity — Muslims are required to give charity. “It’s about spreading the good will and nature of our faith,” Ebrahimi said. “Whether you’re Muslim, or somebody from the wider community, the gift of clean water should be for every human.”
The room filled with laughter and conversation following the presentation. Attendees dined, donated and enjoyed themselves.
“I really liked the event, it was very organized and welcoming, everybody got a chance to be included and to socialize,” said Hallah Alkatib, a sophomore and business major.
“(The Iftar) marks a very new change to how the MSA has been operating,” said Yousef Elshora, sophomore and data science major. “We’re going in this philanthropic direction and we hope to extend to more charities and organizations in the future.”
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TOP PHOTO: Guest speaker Mustafa Ebrahimi of MyFundAction at the LPC Cultural Community Center on Mar. 12, 2026. Ebrahimi is raising funds to provide clean water wells and food security to Nigeria this Ramadan. (Photo by Eric Liang/The Express)
Manahil Bajwa is a staff writer for The Express. Follow her on Instagram @manahilbajLPC.
