October 2014 by Al-Bayyan

UIC Muslim Student Association Presents:

Issue 2

AL BAYYAN

October 2014

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The believers, in their mutual love, mercy and compassion, are like one body: If one organ complained, the rest of the body develops a fever.â&#x20AC;? -Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Inside this Issue: Footprints of Jannah: Uthman Ibn Affan

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A Return to Our Roots: Why Learning the Seerah is By Tooba Ghafoor the Key to Building Unity

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Time

By Anonymous

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Building Muslim Community at UIC

By Adil Qaisar

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We are One and the Same

By Anonymous

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Secret Eiddy: MSA Style

By Maryam Raja

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Satying United

By Abdul Basith Basheer

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We are One, We are the Same

By Lilian Mali

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Midnight Crisis: Understanding the Unwavering Bond

By Muhammad Hatib Umar

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On Unity

By Ibn Mahdi

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Peanut Butter Jelly Poem

By M.M.C

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Unity

By Zain Khazi

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Umrah

By Fathima Alaidroos

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“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of A---h, and be not divided among yourselves…” {3:103}

Footprints of Jannah Uthman Ibn Affan (ra) Not attached to the Qur’an? Here, let me tell you about a person who was ultimately attached to the Qur’an, that his love for the Qur’an made him more loved by those who read about him. I am talking about, 'Uthman Ibn Affan (ra). It is fascinating how Muslims know so much about Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali (ra) yet not much on ‘Uthmaan when he has reigned the longest amongst the Rashidun Caliphs. So here is something about this great man. When Islam was born, the Prophet (S) made sure that the Muslims acquired their concepts from one source only and that was the Noble Qur’an and it was through this method that ‘Uthman and all the Sahabah (ra) were educated. 'Uthman was deeply attached to the Noble Qur'an. He learned the Qur'an from the blessed lips of the Prophet . The verses from which 'Uthman heard directly from the Prophet (S) played a role in the formation of his Islamic personality. They purified his heart and soul and influenced him. Thus, 'Uthman became a new man, with new values, emotions, aims, behavior and aspirations. He was among the Sahabah (ra) who taught others the Qur’an. Abu ‘Abd Al Rahman Al Sulami said: “Those who taught us the Qur’an (such as ‘Uthman Ibn Affan, Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud) told us that when they learned ten verses from the Prophet (S) they would not go beyond them until they had learned the knowledge contained in them and how to apply it in deed.” They said: “So we learned the Qur’an and knowledge and its application together.” Hence, they would spend a while to memorize a surah. 'Uthman was a hafiz of the Qur’an, and he read Qur’an all the time. Before the Prophet passed away, 'Uthman recited the entire Qur'an back at him, just like how a teacher would listen to his student after teaching him everything he knew. One instance that would highlight the memory and attachment of ‘Uthman to the Qur’an was whenever he prayed qiyam al-layl (tahajjud). The wife of ‘Uthman said on the day when he was besieged: "Either kill him or leave him alone, for by A---h, he would recite the WHOLE QUR’AN in ONE RAK’AT when praying QIYAM AL-LAYL." The love and dedication of ‘Uthman (RA) is just amazing. O Muslims, ponder and reflect from this great caliph, he would recite the whole Qur’an in one rak’at when most of us can’t even stand the waiting when the Imam reads a surah that is quite longer that Al Faitha! Indeed, whenever we talk of ‘Uthman, one ayah will always come to our mind: I"s one who is obedient to A---h, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)?"- Qur’an 39:9 -Excerpt from Stories of the Sahaba by Zohayma

A Return to Our Roots: Why Learning the Seerah is the Key to Building Unity

By Tooba Ghafoor “Indeed, A---h will not change the condition of people until they change what is in themselves (13:11).” Perhaps we have come across this ayah numerous times in the past few months, as it explains the cause of all the problems facing the Ummah today. Why are we under attack? Why is our Ummah so divided? We hear this ayah, we marvel over how A—-h SWT has given an explanation for everything in the Qur’an, but then we simply move on. We forget that A---h SWT is telling us that in order for our Ummah to be unified, we need to change ourselves. And this, my friends, is where we are going terribly wrong. But that ayah doesn’t really apply to us, right? It applies to “other Muslims”, the ones that do all those bad deeds, somewhere else in the world, that’s who A---h SWT is talking about, right? Wrong. A---h SWT is referring to us! He’s referring to ME, he’s referring to every single person that is reading these words right now. WE are the ones that need to change. WE are the cause of the disunity problem. Our actions, our refusal to obey the commands of A---h SWT, the way we pick and choose from the Deen as if only our favorite flavors are what matters, this is the reason our unity is under attack. If A—-h SWT wills for us, we can change the condition of our Ummah. But in order to make our Ummah be strong and mighty, we must start where any mighty structure does, at the foundation, the roots. If we want to be successful, it is essential that we learn how the Ummah was established in the first place. It is our responsibility to learn the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (S), and apply his example to our lives. Islam started out with a lady, a slave, and a child. Issue 2

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The first three people to accept Islam from the Prophet (S) were Hazrat Khadija (R), Zaid bin Haritha (R), and Ali bin abi Talib (R). How did it spread from this small, blessed group to every last corner of the earth? Sacrifice. The Prophet (S) and the Sahabah (R) sacrificed everything for Islam. Their safety, their security, their money, their desires, absolutely everything. And because of their sacrifices, A---h SWT gave them success in this life, and in the hereafter. He unified them, he made Islam flourish throughout the globe. A---h SWT has said in the Qur’an to Rasulullah (S) that “If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together, but A---h brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise” (8:63). Thus, it is evident from the Qur’an that if we want our Ummah to be unified, if we want our brothers and sisters across the globe to stop being killed, if we want people to stop spreading lies about Islam, we need to sacrifice for the Deen. We need to learn the Sunnah of the Prophet (S), and we need to accept it immediately into our lives in order to please A---h SWT. The Prophet (S) was the most perfect human being to walk this earth. Just imagine how beautiful our communities would become if we all strove to follow his example. Imagine how much love we would have for each other if we all tried to develop even a miniscule fraction of the amount of kindness and mercy our beloved Prophet (S) had. The solution to our disunity problem lies not in politics, my friends. It won’t be solved by social media campaigns, or protesting on the streets, although all of these are useful places to start. In order to make this Ummah strong again, we must return to our roots. We must learn about the sacrifices made by those who planted the seeds, so that we can cultivate them properly again. The work may not always be easy, but if A---h SWT wills, we can start a new season of growth for our beloved Ummah. 4

Time By Anonymous “By time, [103:1] Indeed, mankind is in loss, [103:2] Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. [103:3]” Surat Al-Asr There is a little voice inside me begging to shut out the noise of the world around me and hear it. Everything I want to do and feel, I postpone to a ‘destination’ I think I will eventually reach. But life is not a destination; it’s a cyclic process. Every second of my life I feel my heart sobbing as it laments the passing of time. I’m racing with myself; racing, racing to all the things I love. Racing so quickly that I feel I’ve lost the art of appreciating a moment as it happens. Every numeral on a clock looks to me like something or someone I love marching further and further till I can no longer touch it. Every hour or minute hand looks to me like some double-edged blade slicing through the air in the space between numbers.

“God, I learn, is my solace. There is nothing unshakeable but Him.”

The aging face of my mother terrifies me until I feel crippled under the thought that one day I won’t have her. The creaking bones of my father terrify me until I feel handicap under the thought that one day I won’t have him. The passing lives of my siblings terrify me until I feel crushed under the weight of nostalgia and the fear that one day, I will be the one who never quite got the hang of moving on. The fluid transformation of my identity over time terrifies me for it reminds me of the shaking ground beneath my feet. Where is stability, I wonder? It seems that everything I rely on slips away. I am longing so badly that it aches. The very solar system I look to for some sort of direction does not even carry the intuitive concepts of north, east, south, and west. It moves around us so quickly that we can hardly notice, even with the aid of telescopes and spaceships, and satellites. God, I learn, is my solace. There is nothing unshakeable but Him. There is nothing else on this Earth or in the heavens that I can look to and not find my gaze diverted by dying, fading, paling evanescence of clockwork and sunsets after sunrises. It is only through Him that we reach contentment with transience that we can live with. It is only through Him that we are able to understand why things seem so impermanent and what that makes of us. We are vessels- capable of crumpling and dying but we are vessels that carry something more precious within us: our souls. We carry immortal existences within us; ones that have been carefully devised by something so much more beautiful and lasting than “here.” It is for this we feel that longing. It is for this we feel so lost. It is for this we must smile, move on, and understand that this isn’t it. Issue 2

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Building Muslim Community at UIC

By Adil Qaisar

here has been one question I have been asking myself and keep being asked since I came to UIC. That question being: ‘What is the point of the MSA?’ Even after being a volunteer and being blessed to serve the MSA as a board member and President, I still do not have a clear-cut textbook answer as to what the purpose of MSA is. I came into UIC not connected to any other Muslims on campus and also not being an engaged member of the Muslim community in general. Three and a half years later, I can confidently say UIC MSA has turned my life around. I will be honest and tell you that UIC MSA did not have such a great effect on other Muslim students in my class or many others before and after me. It is true- UIC can be a very boring, uneventful and sometimes lonely school, and has been this way for a lot of Muslim students. I always reflect back on my time as a freshman and how I became so involved with MSA, and often wonder why so many other students did not. After having conversations with Muslims who do not associate themselves with UIC MSA, I realized why the MSA never appealed to them. When I was a freshman, I was blessed to be able to meet and engage with the Brothers’ President Khalid Abdul Majeed. Of course he was a busy man that was balancing school, work, MSA and life. It is not easy. Still, he managed to be a strong presence that had a lasting effect on me and others in my class. But on the opposite end, there were still a number of students who had never even met Khalid. What Khalid and the other board members did with a lot of the freshmen that year was special. They empowered the MSA. They showed us that we can make a difference. They showed us the importance of a healthy community. They gave us roles. That is what made the difference at the end. There were a number of freshmen who felt like they played a part in the functionality of our community. It kept us all Issue 2

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together. It did not matter if someone was a freshman or a senior or even a graduate student. We were all in it together. We were one community. But what about those Muslims on campus who were not given roles in our community? It is crazy to expect the board that only consists of ten people to be able to give every Muslim on campus a role to play. Regardless if you are a board member or someone who comes to the lounge to pray here and there, you need to find your place. Where and how can you benefit the community? This is not the board’s MSA. This certainly is not my MSA. God willing, I will be graduating in due time and no longer will be a student at UIC. It was never Khalid’s MSA. Three years after he graduated, the MSA still runs fluidly without his presence on campus. So whose MSA is this? The only answer here is that the MSA is every Muslim’s. This is our community. So what is the point of MSA? The best answer I can give you is that it is here to build the Muslim community, our community. Now here is my question to you guys: W hat is going to be your role in your community?

We are One and the Same By Anonymous Sometimes it is difficult to find a common ground for us all. It is an undeniable truth that we are all different in our own way. A---h (swt) intended it so. At times, it feels like we are so caught up in our differences from our race, income level, looks, education, and so on. There are thousands of things that divide us. However, there is truly one thing that unites us: Islam. Our beautiful religion preaches the ties of unity from praying in jam’ah to making dua for our brothers and sisters. It is best said in the Quran, “And hold firmly to the rope of A---h altogether and do not become divided. [3:103]”. SubhanA---h. A---h (swt) reiterates to us that if we truthfully believe in Him, we can never be divided. Whenever we are struggling, it is essential to remember that we are one ummah with one beloved prophet, Muhammad (saw), facing one Qiblah under the control of one Almighty God. 6

Secret Eiddy: MSA-Style By Maryam Raja Eid just got ten times better this year and was extended to a secret eiddy celebration on campus! Organized by Sister’s Events Coordinator Asal Wahdan, secret eiddy is an event where sisters signed up to give a gift to another sister. Whether they knew the sister or not, their identities and gifts had to be kept secret. Wahdan says that a “secret eiddy was assigned based on a budget of either $10-15 or $20 and up. The event’s popularity recruited over thirty girls. This amounts to lots of happiness that cannot be measured.

Above: Gifts are ready to be handed out! Photo credit: Hiba Khaden

After being emailed which lucky lady will be receiving their gifts, the giftfinding, purchasing and deciding began. The only information provided was the name of the sisters, their favorite color and what they would like. For some sisters, there was a specific gift that they could purchase like a book or hijab. For others, it was not so clear-cut as they had to dig deep within their imaginations to think of a gift. A week’s worth of gift shopping culminated in the unraveling ceremony on Thursday, October 9, 2014. Gifts were handed out one by one. Gifts ranged from maxi dresses to hijabs to jewelry. The fun does not end here. Wahdan has another gift-related event planned for next year: The White Elephant Gift Exchange!

I really enjoyed secret eiddy. It was such a fun way to bond and connect with other girls in the MSA. I loved seeing how happy everyone was with their gifts simply because they had been given something out of love :) -Aamna Ghafoor

Hello Sana Baji, I hope you see this InshaA---h! I was fortunate enough to receive a tremendously well thought out and extremely cute gift from none other than a very pyaari dost, Sana Tea <3 Capturing my Eiddy wish well, she showcased all of my favorite details in every aspect of the gift, even the bag. :D I could not be more thankful to receive such a girly gift, but more happy that it came from my dear girly herself. <3 -Asma Maghribi

I was sitting in the little circle so excited to see my gift & evil Asal made me wait until the end to torture me! When she finally called my name, I jumped up to get my present & I saw Neveen take a picture of me. I was like okay that's cool, CHEESE & she's like I was secret eiddy person! Lol so I hugged her & opened my gift. Honestly, I think it was everything I had asked for on the Eid survey cutest sea green hijab with matching accessories! I showed it to my mom & she's like I'm totally borrowing this hijab lol. Shoutout to Neveen, love you habibtijaan you're the Secret eiddy is an awesome event. sweetest! The first time I participated in the -Fatima Nadia eiddy event was my freshmen year, which brought me into the MSA! Oh and by the way I loved I was at first disappointed that I didn't get the gift my eiddy gift! Thanks Sara!! I wanted but then I was really happy because now -Irum Qadri I don't have to go and buy a hat and scarf for winter! And white is my favorite color so yay! -Kinza Zafar

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Staying United By Abdul Basith Basheer On a crisp, blustery, and cold Wednesday morning, I awoke with a sudden start. With my alarm clock blaring and the faint neon light of the street lamp peeping through my bedroom blinds, I rose like a zombie and shifted my way out of the bedroom towards the bathroom down the hall. After making wudu, praying Fajr salah, and collecting the essentials, my roommate and I left the calm serenity of our apartment for the cold turbulence of an early autumn morning in Chicago. Rendezvousing on the steps on the Adler Planetarium with another one of our friends, we settled ourselves, quietly anticipating the sun and its ascent over the shores of Lake Michigan. As we conversed and enjoyed a small breakfast, I noticed a flock of geese grouped together on the shallow waters near the concrete steps. While the sun rose up behind the clouds, the flock of geese began flying south, along the waterfront. The effortlessness of the flock to fly in a V formation was astounding. The wings of the birds together beat as one. Organized. Synchronized. Unified. The concept of unity in Islam is one often overlooked, but nonetheless still holds a large degree of importance in our lives. As Muslims attending university, we are at an important stage in our lives where many of us are becoming more attuned to the Deen and are building acquaintances with other Muslim students. I believe the concept of preserving unity among the Muslim ummah applies to us more than any other age group. It is interesting how animals, creations of A---h (SWT), depend on unification and togetherness as a means of survival and growth while we, not only as Muslims but as humans in general, disregard unity and squabble over issues that in end, do not matter in front of the almighty creator. The current state of the world does not exactly create the perfect atmosphere for Muslims in the eyes of many. Islam has been under attack in the media for quite a while, and the opinions of many bigoted individuals do not seem to be changing anytime soon. In order to combat these troubling times, we, not only as Muslims but as Muslim students, must be steadfast in our unity amongst fellow brothers and sisters. The Holy Quran states to “Obey A---h and His Messenger (S) and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. A---h is with the steadfast (8:46).” Discriminating others based on race or religious affluence should be avoided at all costs. InshA---h the hearts of Muslims across the world stay united under the banner of Islam and rise of the problems of faith, morality, and bigotry that plague the world today.

We are One, We are the Same By Lilian Mali In the community I live in, many people look at status and wealth to judge a person. The more money a person has the more people get attracted to them and seem to have the urge to be so nice to them. Liking someone based on their social status is a bit disgusting, and a horrible quality to have. Just because a person is wealthy does not make them superior to anyone else, I see this with many Muslims in my community. We don’t care about each other, we only care about the people who are flashy and we don’t care about their spirituality, just as long as they have money. I’m not saying that ALL the Muslims are like this, it’s just SOME! We call ourselves Muslims and we are getting sucked into this dunyah (this world) and forgetting about the deen (religion). People do the basic pillars of Islam but forget that there is a whole book that we must obey. We get so mesmerized with people who are in authority or their title (doctors, lawyers, etc.) Not to say these jobs are bad career choices, it’s just another example of judging by status and not who the person is. Parents are so quick to judge someone else’s kids and talk about them, as long as their kid’s names are clear. We easily get threatened by each other and get very defensive and have the need to be rude or stay away from one another. Issue 2

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Why must we be threatened by each other? Why can’t we embrace all of our unique talents/ strengths and better each other? We are not united, get us all in a room together and we will start so many problems. How do we expect others to respect our culture and religion when we don’t get along? We question why we have so much conflict in the Muslim world; we miss out on unity. We sell each other out for a price, think of ourselves and no one else. If all the Muslims came together we could solve so many problems, it’s a shame to see it like this. It is starting to get better with new generations, but there are many glitches that need to be fixed, we should look to the Prophet (pbuh) and learn from the beautiful characteristic he had. As young Muslims our goal should be to strengthen the Muslim ummah, learn from the mistakes of the older people around us and bring on a sense of unity. Once we start to unite and understand one another, we will radiate peace and a sense of love in this ummah. Let’s not repeat the past, but start a peaceful future full of unity.

Midnight Crisis: Understanding the Unwavering Bond By Muhammad Hatib Umar In that brief time before sleep, when the lights go out, when the sounds silence, and when the world winds down, I like to take inventory of the day: reflecting on what was done, what was said, where I sit at this moment, and where I need to stand––and many days, it’s just the trivialities of life, of what I did during school, what’s due tomorrow, or how much time I have before the alarm hails in another day. But today was different. Turning continuously in an attempt to sleep, my thoughts spiraled, racing, taking me to an uncomfortable place, face to face with a fear from deep inside. My mind fell on family. Specifically, on my siblings and I: the bond that binds us together, and the realization that one day it too will disappear. Let me take a step back and explain. My life has always been about change, about moving from one place to another: transitioning from one home, from one school, from one circle, from one environment, and from one life to another. As a kid, my family had to move frequently, and while I ended up going to five different elementary schools, what I always took solace in was my family––the one constant in a set of ever shifting variables. And yet as I lay that night, I wondered, how long this bond would last? Would the flow of life drift us apart one day? As we all start families and one day branch out, would these branches know that they came from a common root, once so tightly knit? Would our memory, generation after generation, fade to nothing, each branch drifting ever farther till they become strangers to one another?

...and many days, it’s just the trivialities of life, of what I did during school, what’s due tomorrow, or how much time I have before the alarm hails in another day. But today was different.

And as this sort of existential turmoil weighed down on me, I remembered that everything we see, and even ourselves are dependent, meaning insufficient, bound, requiring something else for sustenance, and perhaps scariest of all, with a definite beginning and end. More importantly, I remembered that therefore there must be one Independent, relying on nothing, whereas everything relies on Him, who dies not whereas everything else dies, and who wavers not whereas everything else wavers. And in that very instant, in remembrance of A---h, my heart found rest: understanding that while one day the bond between my family and I will pass, fade, and die––my bond with A---h (swt) will never waver. And it is by no coincidence that the next day I ran into––or more appropriately, I was given––the answer to my questions: “Whatever you have will end, but what A---h has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do” Quran [16:96]. BONUS: Read through Ayahs 75-79 of Surah Al-'An`ām (i.e. [6:75-79]) to understand the genius (to say the least) of Ibrahim (AS), as directly related to the contents of the article, revealing the line of thinking we should all take. Issue 2

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On Unity By Ibn Mahdi To admire the Prophet’s Household is to pull at my heart strings; yet, when the principal praise I heard for Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) from a well-intentioned man reciting dhikr was polytheist killer, those same strings suddenly broke and my heart immediately started to sink. It was not until several years later that such strings were mended uplifting my heart when I heard a line of poetry referring to him as the sword upon transgression. What may appear here to be a merely harmless issue of word choice bears significantly upon our concerns surrounding unity. If one were to take the epithet polytheist killer at face value and automatically assume that they were killed at the hands of Ali (as) simply because they were guilty of attributing partners to A---h (awj), a new premise develops stating that mushrikeen deserve to die. After factoring in the fact that the hypocrites are even more dangerous a force than the polytheists, odious terrorist groups arrive at the erroneous conclusion that the hypocrites truly populate the holy hit list; and since a hypocrite is precisely defined as one who appears a believer but whose belief remains but a guise, every reciter of the shahaadatayn falls victim to scrutiny. It is precisely with such fallacious conclusions that the neither-Islamic nor-the-State of Iraq and the Levant has quite unfortunately been able to persuade far too many a gullible and naïve soul to ignore the oppressed Palestinians suffering under the occupying Zionist regime all while inflicting much worse atrocities upon those innocent civilians who attest to the oneness of the same God, the final prophethood of the same Messenger, and the eloquence of the same ultimate Scripture: all of which are the requisites of a Muslim. Returning to Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), I would simply like to clarify that while many of those who were slain by him were indeed polytheists, their polytheism was not at all the reason for their death; rather, their transgressions were. In other words, they had trespassed upon the rights of others to such an extent that they had forfeited their own Issue 2

right to pursue happiness. This introduction serves as an appropriate segue into the broadest category of unity. The Humanistic Kind Although absolute religious liberties and freedoms are not inherently existential rights recognized by A---h, it should be duly noted that it is indeed a social right obligating the respect of all fellow humans. In fact, the Qur’an takes this issue to next level and addresses PR instructing its readers on how to comport themselves accordingly with some practical pieces of advice: Do not abuse those whom they invoke besides A ---h, lest they should abuse A---h out of hostility, without any knowledge. That is how to every people We have made their conduct seem decorous… (6:108) - Translation: Ali Quli Qarai First and foremost, this verse does not entail that one’s primary intention for refraining from such abuse is simply to prevent its reciprocal. Instead, it attempts to cultivate a certain level of mutual respect for humanity as Ali (as) had stated in his letter to Malik Al-Ashtar upon appointing him as governor of Egypt: ‫ق‬ َ َ‫ َوإ ّما نَ ِظي ٌر ل‬،‫ك فِي الدِّي ِن‬ َ َ‫ إِ َّما أَ ٌخ ل‬:‫ص ْنفَا ِن‬ ِ ‫إِنَّهُ ْم‬ ِ ‫ك فِي ْال َخ ْل‬ They [your subjects] are of two kinds, either your brother in religion or one like you in creation. Amongst the Children of Abraham It need not be mentioned the dignity which Islam has accorded the People of the Book. However, we could all benefit from some beneficial suggestions. As a community which highly values sharing its beautiful faith with others by: 1. Overtly publishing Qur’anic verses whether on shirts or on posters 2. Holding Islamic Awareness Week We should strive to incorporate these three experiences into our own educational experiences which not only enrich ourselves but will also do justice to those whom we hope would stop and understand what we have to

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say about our own religion: 1. Read through Both the new as well as the Old Testamen 2. Attend a church in addition to a synagogue service 3. Stop and listen to what the Christian missionaries who approach you have to say Within the Muslim Ummah This is probably the hot topic you had been expecting from the beginning which is why instead of commenting myself I quote below the uncensored1 words of Imam Khomeini (ra): Today, world peace is such that all countries are under the political influence of the superpowers; they observe a control everywhere and have schemes for defeating every group. The most important of these is sowing discord among brothers. Muslims should be awake, Muslims should be alert that if a dispute takes place among Sunni and Shi'ite brothers [and sisters], it is harmful to all of us, it is harmful to all Muslims. Those who want to sow discord are neither Sunni nor Shi'ite, they are agents of the superpowers and work for them. Those who attempt to cause discord among our Sunni and Shi'ite brothers [and sisters] are people who conspire for the enemies of Islam and want the enemies of Islam to triumph over Muslims. They are the supporters of America and some are supporters of the Soviet Union2. I hope that through considering this Islamic precept - that all Muslims are brothers [and sisters] - all Islamic countries will triumph against the superpowers and succeed in actualizing all Islamic ordinances. Muslims are brothers [and sisters] and will not be segregated by the pseudo-propaganda sponsored by corrupt elements. The source of this matter - that Shi'ites should be on one side and Sunni on the other - is on the one hand ignorance and on the other hand propaganda of the foreigners. If Islamic brotherhood [and sisterhood] comes to the fore among Islamic countries, such will become a great power which none of the global powers will be able to cope with. Shi'ite and Sunni brothers [and sisters] should avoid every kind of dispute. Today, discord Issue 2

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among us will only benefit those who follow neither Shi'a nor Hanafi [nor any other school of Islamic thought]. They neither want this nor that to exist, and know the way to sow dispute between you and us. We must pay attention that we are all Muslims and we all believe in the Qur'an; we all believe in Tawheed and must work to serve the Qur'an and Tawheed. This address may have taken place decades earlier yet it seems almost as if its content is even more relevant now than it was back then.

Inside the Household This is the final and most intimate unity which should possibly exist. Since this is no article directed towards considering family values as well as in the interest of brevity, this section will simply serve as a reference to Silat Al-Rahm (upholding the ties of kinship). Closing Remarks After having passed through a brief parable in addition to a pyramidal approach to covering unity, we conclude with three more holistic and comprehensive points regarding unity as a whole. For one, the root of practically all schisms is our words. Time and time again we observe figures from any religious group speaking as if with authority on what members of any other denomination believe and practice. Muslims in the United States lodge the legitimate complaint that nonMuslims are constantly using media to bombard to relay false claims about what Islam has to offer. At the same time though, we Muslims often make statements regarding what other faiths assert without the faintest idea of what they truly affirm. In fact, even leaving interfaith aside much of the Muslim population tends to homogenize its own demography sometimes more than nonMuslims do by assuming too much. Otherwise, we learn all about the other sects only from the scholars of our own. These critiques are not at all directed at any one particular group; but rather are directed with the utmost respect in order to simply warrant a respectable amount of introspection on a communal and an individual basis. The sim(Continued on page 12)

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ple solution to these problems is offered by Luqman’s (as) last reason as to how he reached the wisdom he did: ‫ترك ما ال يعنينى‬ Leaving what does not concern me. So, if everyone avoided discussing that which they are ignorant of, nothing foolish nor anything harmful would ever be said. The second point to be made here is that unity is nothing but another manifestation of moderation which lies between bigotry and assimilation. Unity does not mean compromising one’s ideals because it is not at odds with the pure practice of Islam nor is unity the actualization of pluralism. Last but not least, it is absolutely imperative that we realize no matter what is thrown our way in an effort to separate we should never demote ourselves to the level of conduct shown by perpetrators though it may very well be justified. Why sell oneself short of anything less than striving to achieve the exemplified akhlaq and adab of the Prophet (saw) especially in the face of adversity? On a final note, I wish to end by remembering those who are suffering especially in the Muslim World – specifically the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia – with one more quote from Imam Khomeini: “We Muslims are busy bickering over whether to fold or unfold our arms during prayer, while the enemy is devising ways of cutting them off.” Endnotes: 1. I have added some text in brackets (i.e. [added text]) in order to fill some translational gaps which arise from transferring this manuscript from Farsi into English as well attest to the much more inclusive nature of this message. 2. Keep in mind that this work is over thirty years old and was written back when there actually was a Soviet Union.

Peanut Butter Jelly Poem by M.M.C I know I’m a little salty, and you’re always very sweet So when you and I are united, it’s always a treat. We fought through our different skin colors, families, and more, And in unity, you and I will soar. Sometimes I come to you chunky, and other times smooth, But you look past my imperfections, and we get in a groove. Without you I am incomplete: dry, bland, and bare, But with you and your colors, we burst like a flare. This poem is driving you nuts, but that’s what I am, So let’s get together because you are my jam. We are the epitome of unity, can’t you see? For it is us, peanut butter and jelly. Issue 2

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Unity by Zain Khazi We attempt to attain unity without realizing the flaw in man, But unity, as understood by the wise, is perfection amidst imperfections. These imperfections that break our unity, Are meant to be the cause of our unity. From one flawed man to another, We ought to learn of the imperfections that lie within, And work with each other to strive for perfection.

However, perfection is not attainable by man, It is a characteristic of Al-窶連zim (The Magnificent). Creation- Man and Jinn specifically, however, is left but to yearn for perfection, And it is the pursuit of perfection in the eyes of the Magnificent that unites us. It unites us not only with Man, But also with all that which is created. So work with your inner self; And strive for perfection despite our imperfections, For unity is the pursuit of perfection amidst imperfection, as understood by the wise.

Umrah by Fathima Alaidroos Different race, age, gender Different social class, nationality, background Yet all gathered in one place For a single purpose On the same earth Under the same sky Forming a single body moving in a common direction Around the Ka'aba And towards A---h Exemplifying the beauty And strength of Unity

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Al Bayyan Staff Fazila Vhora Editor-in-chief Maryam Raja Layout Designer

Asif Mazhar & Lelas Shamaileh Copy Editors Azfar Sharif & Madihah Sharif News Editors

The topic for our next issue is TAWAKKUL. The deadline is November 28th, 2014. Please send all submissions to albayyanuic@gmail.com. THANK YOU!

Are you interested in writing, drawing, or contributing to AlBayyan in any other way? FOLLOW us on Twitter @albayyanuic LIKE us on Facebook www.facebook.com/albayyanuic Email us at albayyanuic@gmail.com. Issue 2

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