AUGUST 2025

﷽

Asalaamu’ alaikum and welcome to the Cal Muslim Student Association’s monthly newsletter! This is your one-stop scroll for events, reminders, resources, and reflections to keep your imaan strong and your calendar busy.

As the semester kicks off, remember: education is a gift, not a guarantee. While many in our ummah face barriers to even basic schooling, Allah has granted us the privilege to sit in classrooms, open books, and expand our minds. May Allah allow us to be among those who seek knowledge sincerely, act upon it, and use it for His sake.

MEET THE BOARD

UPCOMING EVENTS

SELF REFLECTION

Welcome to this month’s self-reflection! College life can easily sweep us into deadlines and to-do lists, but this section is a chance to pause, renew our intentions, and remember that every step can be a path to spiritual growth.

DUA OF THE MONTH

As we step into a new school year, let us remind ourselves that seeking knowledge is not just an academic pursuit, it’s an act of worship. Our Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam taught us to purify our intentions so that what we learn benefits us in this world and the next. A great reminder of this is this dua:

“O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, pure provision, and accepted deeds.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah 925).  

THE POWER OF ISTIGHFAR

Istighfar— the act of seeking forgiveness — is more than a response to sin. It is a powerful tool for spiritual clarity, emotional relief, and divine connection. True tawbah begins not on the tongue, but in the heart, with a sincere sense of remorse and a yearning to return to Allah SWT.

In Surah Hud (11:3), Allah commands:

“Seek your Lord’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. He will grant you a good provision for an appointed term…”

This verse is a reminder that rizq and ease are not attained solely through effort or ambition, but through sincere repentance and closeness to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever increases in seeking forgiveness, Allah will provide relief from every worry, a way out from every hardship, and provision from sources he could never imagine.” (Musnad Ahmad)

Istighfar is a daily need, not because perfection is expected, but because human deeds will always be flawed. Even acts of worship carry deficiencies. That is why seeking forgiveness remains constant — not out of guilt, but out of love and reverence for Allah’s unmatched mercy.

PODCAST REFLECTION

As the new semester begins, we’re all setting goals—academic, professional, and personal. This podcast reminds us of tawakkul: putting in our best effort with sincerity, then entrusting the outcome to Allah SWT. Our time and hard work never go to waste, and at the same time true success ultimately rests with Him.

I encourage you to take 30 minutes—perhaps during a walk between classes—to listen and reflect on how the Qur’an’s stories can strengthen your reliance on Allah this semester.

GLOBAL MUSLIM NEWS

Welcome to the Global Muslim News section of the MSA newsletter. As part of the worldwide ummah, we are bound by shared faith, history, and responsibility. This section highlights stories, struggles, and triumphs from across the Muslim world. We hope to keep our community at Cal informed and connected, with the underlying remembrance that what affects one part of the ummah affects us all.

As stated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), 

“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Why Stay Aware?

Far too often, global issues facing Muslims are underreported or misrepresented in mainstream media, by peers, or even in our education. By making space for updates and discourse here, we hope to provide context and encourage meaningful reflection and solidarity. Staying informed is an act of awareness and advocacy that will allow us to collectively take action against oppression at home and abroad, along with engaging in conversation and prayer.

Eyes On Palestine

This past summer has been especially devastating for Palestine. In Gaza, a devastating humanitarian crisis persists, with several sources reporting the entire Strip has faced acute food insecurity as of May 2025. Just days ago, the UN reported that over 5,000 children have been treated for malnutrition in July. With the Israeli blockade continuing, a man-made famine has cost at least 266 lives, 122 of which were children. Israel’s deliberate starvation has now commanded the attention of several international aid organizations and committees, but much of this support is coming far too late into the continued genocide. Despite these hardships, the Palestinian people have continued to demonstrate inspiring resilience and strength. We owe it to them to take action. We will continue to provide updates in the coming months, but we highly encourage you to continue educating yourself on the genocide and humanitarian devastation in Palestine and throughout the Muslim ummah through our provided resources, and to contribute. Even $1 makes a difference.

ACTION FOR THE UMMAH

 BERKELEY MASJID

 COMMUNITY SERVICE

CAMPUS RESOURCES

 PRAYER SPOTS

 LINKS

1. MSA 

   1. Linktree - access all important links below and most recent events/ RSVPs

   2. MSA WhatsApp Group

   3. Public Comment Form

   4. Instagram (@calmsa)

   5. Contact Us

2. Mental Health Support

   1. Muslim Mental Health Initiative (MMHI) - Sign up for free online and on-campus consultations

   2. Counseling and psychological services  

   3. Bay Area Muslim Therapists - list of Muslim-identifying therapists in the Bay Area

3. Palestine 

   1. Palestine Linktree

   2. PalestineLegal

   3. Books

      The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi3.08 MB • PDF File Download

      The Question of Palestine by Edward W. Said2.11 MB • PDF File Download