On April 5 and 6, Muslim Student Association (MSA) competed at the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) at Hofstra University, and qualified in certain competitions for the national level MIST competition.
Based on their performance at Hofstra, the MSA qualified in many areas for the national competition occurring this summer. The areas they qualified for include Book Knowledge, Quran Recitation, Photography, Extemporaneous Essay, Extemporaneous Speaking, Improvisation, MIST Bowl, Nasheed, Science Fair, Social Media, Basketball, and Volleyball sections. According to MSA Co-Presidents and seniors Ayoub Ayoub and Shayra Shoshi, the team had worked extensively in the months leading up to the event.
Ayoub shared that MIST preparation had been productive, with many meetings held to track members’ progress and ensure engagement. “We made sure that everyone who wanted to compete had the opportunity to do so, and we filled every spot possible,” he said. Shayra echoed this sentiment, saying that MSA dedicated specific days—Mondays and Fridays—for MIST prep. “We tried to check on competitors regularly, and most were committed,” she said. “While last year there were some challenges with group coordination, this time around, things ran much more smoothly.”
Seniors Maimuna Amina and Aima Hossen served as MIST Coordinators and played key roles in overseeing preparation. Amina emphasized the importance of pacing, explaining that dedicated prep days allowed students to balance schoolwork with competition requirements. “We created group chats for each competition and conducted weekly check-ins,” she said.
Aima said that one of the biggest improvements from previous years was the focus on group coordination. “We prioritized weekly meetings for group competitions to improve communication and accountability. Many students also reviewed the MIST rulebook regularly to ensure they met all expectations,” Aima said.
Among the many competitors, sophomore Md Faheem Alam participated in both Quran Memorization and the Brother’s Nasheed competition. He described how he divided his memorization work and practiced regularly with his group. “The board provided mandatory meetings that helped us practice and prepare for the weekend,” he said.
Senior Maliha Mosharraf, who competed in multiple categories including culinary arts, reflected on her solo preparation. “It felt like a breeze this year. While I didn’t need much assistance, it would’ve been helpful to see more guidance made available for each competition.”
Reflecting back on the competition, Ayoub said, “The best part of MIST is being able to meet people from all over New York. I was proud of our team for their effort and dedication.”
