On November 7th, 2025, the BHA gym was transformed into a diverse tapestry of Islamic culture woven by students from sixth grade all the way to eleventh grade. For most students, learning history in class can feel unengaging and dry. For some, studying for history courses can feel like an arduous process in which the content may even appear exclusive and repetitive at times. However, by zooming in on the deeply personal and critical topic of Islamic history, the annual History Night at BHA offers an opportunity for the richness of history to shine through beyond curriculum textbook pages, and truly attract the engagement of students and visitors. Attendees at the event could walk through and observe a myriad of rich Islamic cultures that students worked hard to portray both artistically and imaginatively. The event held by the Social Studies Department effectively highlighted the profound influence and depth Islamic culture has engraved into the history of the world. There were various components assigned to every grade which included Islamic empires for tenth grade to Islamic countries for ninth grade.
Each project featured similar constituents: an informative poster board, 3D models, and some even offered delicious foods attendees could indulge in and taste, offering a glimpse into the complex cuisines of various Islamic cultures. Wonderful presentations by the freshmen offered a plethora of delights including Turkish sweets, Thai shrimp dumplings, and even coffee. Additionally, students wore attire relevant to their assigned topic. From colorful, intricately woven abayas to gilded, embellished satin fabrics, these efforts fostered the diverse atmosphere of the event. Ms. Shamsa Ashraf, head of the Social Studies Department which organized this splendid event, voiced this notable aspect, “The highlight of the event was the joys that it brought to the parents when they saw their kids’ projects and hard work. Mashallah this time the topic was Islamic history and students learned even more than what they were learning inside the classroom.”
Splendid innovations to the annual event increased its appeal and engagement, including the incorporation of a trading system in which attendees were given chocolate gold coins upon entry, which they could use to buy and sell with at certain stands. This interactive feature coupled with the tents overhanging some presentations made the event even more captivating and riveting to the attendees. A parent attendee named Shazia Sajid commented on this, “The best thing is that it was done very well and the students even added games and food to their projects. The students did great.” Another notable change was the featured trivia game “Are You Smarter Than an AP Student?”, which is an interesting adaptation compared to the typically used “Are You Smarter than a Middle Schooler?” game. This component was managed by the eleventh grade AP U.S. History students, and covered Islamic empires, influential figures, innovations, country flags, and information on famous mosques. These aspects ultimately aided in bringing the illustrious Islamic history to life in a way that cannot be achieved the same in the classroom.
The event was exceptionally effective in celebrating the Islamic cultures that serve as a testament to the richness and diversity of our history. Commemorating this tapestry of complex cultures aids in strengthening our sense of community and kinship.
The large turnout of attendees aided in achieving this and boosted the spirits of the students as they observed parents appreciating their hard work. Brother Sami Moussa commented on this, “The students put a lot of effort into their projects. It was nice seeing the parents that came and supported their kids which really made a big difference, Mashallah the number of people who came is a lot.”
Overall, this annual event by the Social Studies Department never fails to weave a patchwork of cultures into life that feels like oneself is walking back into history. Since Islamic history itself is precious, we should never fail to increase our knowledge of it by commemorating and studying it intently even outside the classroom environment. As our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
Check out the gallery below to see more pictures!
