Santa Clarita Muslims Celebrate Ramadan at Al-Umma Center

Community gathers for nightly iftars to commemorate the holy month

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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As Ramadan approached in February 2026, Muslims in Santa Clarita came together at the Al-Umma Center to celebrate the holy month. The community gathered for the first iftar on the fourth night of Ramadan, breaking their fasts with dates and soup. Younger members like 11-year-old Leena Hakati shared their experiences fasting for the first time, while lifelong friends reminisced about the community's traditions over the years.

Why it matters

Ramadan is a sacred time for Muslims, marked by fasting, spiritual reflection, and community gatherings. The Al-Umma Center serves as an important hub for Santa Clarita's Muslim community, providing a space for them to come together and maintain their traditions, even as members' lives change over the years.

The details

On the fourth night of Ramadan, Santa Clarita Muslims of all ages gathered at the Al-Umma Center for the first iftar, the post-sunset meal to break the day's fast. Younger members like 11-year-old Leena Hakati shared their experiences fasting for the first time, noting the challenges of going to school and seeing their non-Muslim friends eat. Lifelong friends Samy Couja, Morwan Osman, Deaneer Salman, and Justice Buckly spoke about how the Ramadan gatherings at the center have remained a constant in their lives, even as they've grown older and their lives have changed.

  • Ramadan started on the evening of February 17, 2026 and will continue until the evening of March 19, 2026.
  • The first iftar at the Al-Umma Center was held on the fourth night of Ramadan, on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Leena Hakati

An 11-year-old sixth grader at Mitchell Community Elementary School who is fasting for the first time this Ramadan.

Samy Couja

A lifelong friend of the group that gathers at the Al-Umma Center for Ramadan.

Morwan Osman

A senior at the University of California, San Diego who makes the trek back to Santa Clarita to celebrate Ramadan with the community.

Deaneer Salman

A member of the group of lifelong friends who gathers at the Al-Umma Center for Ramadan.

Justice Buckly

A member of the group of lifelong friends who gathers at the Al-Umma Center for Ramadan.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it would be hard at first, especially with school and [physical education], but it's actually kind of easy, since it's not as long as I thought it would be, because we usually break our fast around 5:40, so I could just take a nap and do my homework.”

— Leena Hakati, 11-year-old (The Signal)

“We're like a second family. Ramadan still feels the same. I know we're way older now, but how we were like 10 years ago is how we are today. It's rejuvenating. It's like nothing changed. Everything remained the same — same jokes, same people.”

— Samy Couja (The Signal)

“Ramadan means revisiting how I was raised, how I grew up with these guys. I've known them for years, and to know that we still gather at least once a year in such a blessed month is very peaceful, very nostalgic.”

— Justice Buckly (The Signal)

“This is my favorite time of year. It's a time for me to get closer to Allah, get closer to my religion, and bond with my community members a little bit more. Things of that nature. I'm always excited for it every year, ever since I was a kid.”

— Deaneer Salman (The Signal)

“I feel like this community brings me closer to Islam, and growing up, it was definitely a big highlight of my life — going to the parks and being around these guys and the parents, and knowing that I have this community to fall back on when my school life or personal life is hard.”

— Morwan Osman, Senior, University of California, San Diego (The Signal)

The takeaway

The Ramadan celebrations at the Al-Umma Center in Santa Clarita demonstrate the enduring power of community and tradition, even as members' lives change over the years. The center serves as an important hub for the local Muslim community, providing a space for spiritual reflection, intergenerational bonding, and the maintenance of cherished customs.