"The believers are nothing else than brothers. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy." [Al-‐Hujjurat, 49:10]
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1
What is love? “Whatever you want it to be. It can’t be defined because it is something different to everyone. It is like defining home, to some it’s an actual building or state of mind. To me, love is doing something for someone without them asking you too.” –Sumayya Aman How many times have we claimed to love someone or something, yet we barely know what it truly means. With so many ways of communication, words have lost their v alue. There was a time when a letter would be so valuable because of how arduous it was to communicate. However, now with social networks, emails, texting, and phones our means of communication has become quicker than lightening. Literally. This also means that we say things before actually realizing the true meaning. How often and without any thought do we say “I love you” to someone? But do we truly know the meaning behind love. Think about the one person that loves you unconditionally. Most of us would say it’s our mother. Our mother is that one person that no matter what we say or do still loves us. Now imagine that sort of love, magnified seventy times more. That is the love Allah (swt) has for us. Even after all the sins we commit. The countless nights we go to bed without bowing our head into sujood and thanking Him for the bountiful of blessings he has bestowed upon us. Yet, Allah (swt) never fails us. When we make sincere dua'a to Allah, he listens to us. Even when we sleep-‐in instead of waking up for Fajr, Allah blesses us with a new day. The blessings of Allah (swt) are countless; He continues to give us more and more because he truly loves us. When we go astray, we ask Allah to guide us to the right path, and subhanAllah, He does just that. We fail our creator daily, yet his mercy still remains. In the Quran it specifically says “Call upon me, and I will answer” (60:40). How often have we told someone we love them, yet we sometimes bail out on them? In comparison to the love Allah (swt) has, our love seems so insignificant. Love is in knowing that the one we love is filled with flaws yet to give them unconditional affection. We sin daily and yet Allah (swt) continues to love us. So who are we to judge those amongst us when we do the same? To love means to accept one another for who they are and to let go of all the negativity in them. Allah (swt) shows us the purest form of love. When Allah (swt) loves us even after all the sins we commit than who are we to hate on others. Love isn’t just about saying it but showing it with our actions and accepting one another for who were are. -‐Alisha Hussain
Loving our brothers and sisters What does it mean to us w hen… Amid the unrelenting death and destruction in Syria, a recent report claims 80 people, including women and children, were recently massacred? The unethical and indiscriminate use of drones, including at weddings, funerals, and “double-‐tap” attacks targeting first responders, continually leads to many innocent civilian deaths in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Human Rights Watch publishes a report confirming government complicity/involvement in crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Burma? It might be difficult to empathize with these people because our privileged experiences as Americans are extremely different from their day-‐to-‐day experiences. It can be even more challenging to empathize if we have never visited places like these or have no family connection to these places. The easy thing to do is to just cut oneself off emotionally and try our best not to think about the horrible things that are going on in our chaotic world. Heck, we already do that for the South Side of Chicago, where children and babies are getting shot, where the body of a stabbed 14-‐year-‐old boy was recently found in a body of water. This is the South Side, part of the exact same city in which we are living, studying, and working. If we can disconnect and forget so close to home, it is even easier to do the same with people suffering farther away. But we really have to struggle to fight this urge to disconnect, because these people suffering all around the world in Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, and elsewhere, are our brothers and sisters in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ, salAllahu alaihi wa sallam, may Allah honor him and grant him peace) said, “The example of the Believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy is like one body. If one limb is afflicted the whole body responds to it with restlessness and fever.” (Bukhari & Muslim) So it is definitely important that we should be concerned and attentive to the plight of our brothers and sisters, but does it stop there? No. Prophet Muhammad ( )ﷺ also said, "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love o ne another." (Muslim) Islam teaches us that our brothers and sisters in Islam
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
2 3
What is love? “A swelling feeling inside of you when you look at someone close to you and think ‘Man, I’m really glad Allah put this person into my life and I’m glad I’m close to them. Despite all the differences you have and such you still care deeply for them, and they help you grow as a person and they help you grow.” –Nayela Hoda are our brothers and sisters, regardless of kinship, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc., and we are to love them in order to gain the pleasure of Allah ( ﺕتﻉعﺍاﻝلﻯى ﻭو ﺱسﺏبﺡحﺍاﻥنﻩه, subhanahu wa ta’ala, may He be Glorified and Exalted). If we truly love them we cannot just turn away from them and the desperate situations they are in. But w hat can practically be done? At first blush, it does not seem like much can be done for them, other than to feel sorry for their situation. But as Muslims we have the most powerful tool in the universe at our disposal: dua (supplication) to the Almighty. There are several benefits to supplication. It is actually a very sincere form of worship because implicit in supplication is humbling oneself in front of one’s Lord, acknowledging the fact that He is always listening, and recognizing that nothing happens except as He w ills. But the aspect that is most relevant to this article is that when we sincerely supplicate for something, one of three things happen: We get what we want, We d o not get what we want, but instead get something that is better for us, even if we might not realize it at the time, or never realize it. And of course God knows best w hat is best for us. He knows all the possibilities, outcomes, timelines, dimensions, and parallel universes; He is aware of everything, past, present, and future; He knows what is meant to happen and what is not meant to happen.We do not get what we want, but some of our sins are forgiven as a result of supplication. The best part about supplication to God is that it is incredibly easy to do. There are obviously some recommended duas that we should try to incorporate, but we can “speak from the heart” without anything memorized, in whatever language we are most comfortable with, and with very simple words. We do not need to be in a mosque or any other such special place. And if we are busy or in a hurry, we can make it extremely quick. When Allah has made supplication so beneficial and so easy to do, there is really no excuse for us not to supplicate for better quality of life, tranquility, peace, healing, prosperity, good health, comfort, forgiveness, etc. for our brothers and sisters. Prophet Muhammad ( )ﷺ said, “The Dua (invocation) of a person for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. At his head there is an angel, and every time he prays for him for something good, the angel who has been appointed to be with him, says, 'Ameen, may you have likewise.’” (Muslim) SubhanAllah (Glory be to God)! How generous is Allah that he assigns each of us an angel to pray for us with the very same supplications we make for our brothers and sisters? After w e turn to Allah with our prayers for our brothers and sisters, we need to try our best to effect some
change for them with the capabilities that we have been blessed with. Most of us cannot fly overseas and start helping with relief efforts, but most of us can write to our elected representatives and express our disapproval with how our government is addressing or not addressing these humanitarian crises and violations of international law. We have a right to hold our politicians accountable and ask them what they are doing to address needless bloodshed in these countries. Almost all of us can donate to UN agencies or non-‐ governmental organizations (NGOs) which are working to help alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters in these countries. No amount is too small; w hat matters more is the sincerity behind the act. Please also do not forget: we have also been commanded to be good neighbors and model citizens in the society we live in. Try to find ways to get involved to help our Muslim and non-‐Muslim brothers and sisters because we can have more of a direct impact here just by virtue of the fact that we live here. The best way to call people to or educate people about Islam, in my personal opinion, is not through handing out pamphlets or having a special week where we all wear the same kind of t-‐shirt (although any such efforts are commendable), but by following the tenets of our religion that command us to be honest, polite, respectful, courteous, helpful, responsible, calm, intelligent, well-‐spoken, productive citizens and role models who are a credit to the society we live in. That means taking an interest in local issues in our community, and doing our best to help address the problems that are in our own backyards, in addition to the dire ones facing our Muslim brothers and sisters abroad. -‐Anonymous
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1 2
The Truth Behind an Open Door of Love Love. We feel it. We experience it. W e live it. W e learn to love our parents, love our friends, and most importantly, love our religion, our Prophet (S), and our Lord. But what does this four-‐letter word, love, truly mean to us when it comes down to the five-‐letter word we hear all the time, Islam? Love in Islam is not limited to the love between a husband and wife, a mother and child, or a brother and sister; instead, Islam broadens love to be a means of success. On the Day of Judgment, Allah (SWT) will ask, “Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, on a day where there is no shade but Mine, I shall shade them with My shade” (Muslim). SubhanAllah. Imagine. Imagine that day when the sun will be only a mile away, and there will be those w ho are literally drowning in their sweat. That day when Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Issa, the greatest messengers before
True Love The dictionary says love means “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties” and “affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests”…and so on. Alhamdulillah, Allah (SWT) has already defined true love for us, so we really don’t need any dictionary’s help. SubhanAllah, May Allah(SWT) allow us all to be under His Shade on that Day! Ameen. Some may still wonder how we’re supposed to love each other for the sake of Allah(SWT). If we look at some ahadith, we find some ways of implementing this love bi’izhnillah. Secret admirer?! But subhanAllah, this person makes du’aa secretly for someone, and gets the same du’aa right back for him/herself! (So it’s probably not a good idea to make du’aa for something bad to happen to someone!) This is just one of the ways we can show our love of
our beloved Mohammad (S), will only be worrying about themselves due to the fear instilled in them, and every other human being before being judged by the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and everything in between. Islam tells us that brotherhood and sisterhood are key to success. But why? Think about this. If a fox sees a flock of sheep traveling tightly together, how likely is it that the fox will try to attack one of the sheep? The answer, unlikely. How about shaytan trying to attack a Muslim when he or she is with his or her brothers or sister? Again, unlikely. Why? Because true brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam increases taqwa, god-‐ consciousness, and dhikr, remembrance. They say college is the time you really get to choose who you become. So, why waste this opportunity? The choice is simple. A life full of partying, drinking, smoking, and sex. Or a life full of the beauty, content, success, and completeness. It is true that friends can make you or break you. So, choose wisely. -‐Anonymous
each other for the sake of Allah(SWT). We also learn from more than one hadith that we are supposed to inform our brothers/sisters (respectively) if we love them for Allah(SWT)’s sake. Thus, if someone informs you that they love you for the sake of Allah(SWT), respond by saying: “ ‘ahabbaka-‐lladhee ‘ahbabtanee lahu, which means, “May the One for whose sake you love me, love you”. [Abu Dawud.] What to do next: • Love for the sake of Allah(SWT). • Make du’aa for others secretly. • Inform your brothers/sisters (respectively speaking) you love ‘em for the sake of Allah(SWT) . • If someone informs you that they love you for the sake of Allah(SWT), respond by saying the du’aa above. -‐Anonymous
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
"Passionate Patience" Lost my sight to the soul of a beautiful b eliever My heart slashed-‐ bleeding tears as if I'm a griever This light of love so bright that used to make my life all right despite the fright Colors drained, now surrounded only by black and white The one I love not recognizing our chemistry ignited Or is it that one-‐sided love-‐ unrequited Contemplating whether to tell my parents this love I experience Yet I am too immature and ignorant to understand this surprising bliss Although seeing his smile fills m e with cheer My heart shatters knowing I need to wait a few more years Marriage to take place Breathe Have patience for this passion What's the rush, adults say This love causing me heartache and dismay I need you to be my best friend Know my wandering mind that only you can comprehend Accept m y flaws and mistakes And I will stand b y you through all the aches As for now, I need to be wise Close my eyes One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now I open them wide Rush back to reality Need to push my feelings aside And hide this poisonous agony As much as I love you I must lower my gaze and keep my intentions pure and true Protect my heart from Shaitan's cunning styles Pushing m yself to pass these tempting trials Fall in love, not into lust Because in the end, your heart might bust If it is my destiny to b e with you, I will wait To be granted as my mate Then together, we will race to Jannah-‐our everlasting place Where we will live forever in a peaceful space -‐Poetess Poet
"Limitless Love" My love for you is as wide as the sea But what if it’s not meant to be I am one skin color and you are another That does not matter to my father or mother Yet your parents may not think the same They want their daughter-‐in-‐law to be from where you came But convince your parents to have another view This choice should be up to me and you Feelings played with as a game I may not have a model-‐like frame However, my heart is full of sincerity Yet hidden within this society People look at me as if I’m strange Once meeting me, their ideas change Don’t judge me by my outside cover Get to know me and learn what you discover Reveal the truth behind the masked smile And the tears that conceal my heart over a while Or understand the pressure buried beneath my brow Become my best friend that also accepts the vow To be married with children in a decent house Doesn't take much to make me happy-‐just you as my spouse To have romantic moments as our beloved Prophet (SAW) had with his wives Ups and downs may fill our lives But with you by my side And obeying Allah (SWT) and the Sunnah as our guide There is nothing that we cannot pass-‐-‐even the unseen Raise our children to act upon this beautiful Deen To travel to Jannah and be all together forever After all, obedience to Allah (SWT) in this Dunya is our endeavour -‐Poetess Poet
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
If you truly love someone, set him or her free. The truth sets everything free. And the greatest truth is Islam. So tell people about your love of Islam. But love isn't a word, love is an action. So don't tell people about Islam, show them Islam. What's the point of preaching if you don't follow it? If you want people to love God, show love for the creation. Live your life through Islam and those who you love, will love Islam as well. -‐ Mohammed Kamran
Dear Beloved,
Falsely Beloved You are my greatest memory and pain, And yet I loved you unconditionally. Oh how you neglected me; loved me in vain, And yet I always gave you loyalty. You captivated my eyes by your sweet smile; Mindlessly, I handed you my heart to unzip. Carelessly, you shattered it; your love was vile, I'm fed up with this cruel relationship. If only I could turn back the hands of time, To keep my barren heart from its decay. My state of woe is not your only crime, For you have forced my eyes and mind astray. I'll strip away this bitter-‐sweet memory, To end my state of foolish misery. Danah Agha
The Unseen Deeper than the ocean sea Bigger than any tree It k nows no bounds And at times it m ight astound What is it, you ask me It’s something that no eye can see So complex Even the greatest minds perplex So hard to get a hold of And even harder to let go of So hard to wrap your head around But yet, so simple to grasp once it’s found Gives you hope when all hope is lost Even at any cost Gives you reason for all your actions Shapes every one of your reactions What is it I speak of? Of all hate, it’s free of It’s what the heart consists of Just something known as love
My longing to please you It has reduced me to pieces How can I reveal to you what is buried inside my chest? Without communion with thee, my heart gets no rest Without fail, I present my insignificant self at your door The endless pain, I do not wish to live in vain anymore So lift up the veil on my heart and brighten up my chest And take me out of this ridden lifestyle of the west, Like Umar (R), make me from the worst to the best But I am weak and unworthy, so do protect me from the tests The tests by which so many brave and strong servants fell I am but a sinner, and without your mercy, am doomed to hell So please accept me for this religious cause with relative ease The sleepless nights and endless fights will not cease till I am told that you are pleased. -‐Bilal Memon
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1 2
What is love? “Caring for someone to the point where you would literally do anything for them.” –Reema Hamadeh Islam’s Solution to Poverty In an age of abundance never experienced in history, with more access to wealth, technology, and energy resources than ever before, the mere existence of poverty itself, let alone its severity and global scope, is boggling. Ironically, the era that is responsible for the birth of the internet, space travel, and open heart surgery has been unable, or rather unwilling, to decisively and purposefully end the problem of poverty that affects millions of people across the world. Since the definition of poverty is the inability to provide for one’s basic needs, Islam addresses the issue by providing a system that justly fulfills the needs of every human being. The Islamic economic system is unique and wages a war against poverty. In fact, Hadhrat Ali (RA) said, “If poverty was a man, I would kill him with my sword.” Below are some of the practical steps that Islam has legislated to wage: 1) Distribution of Wealth: The Islamic economic system is geared towards ensuring that the basic needs of people are met. These needs include food, clothing, and shelter. The Prophet (S) said, “The son of Adam has no better right than that he would have a house wherein he may live and a piece of cloth whereby he may hide his nakedness and a piece of bread and some water.” (Tirmidhi) In regards to the economy, Islam provides detailed laws for which the ultimate goal is to ensure the circulation of wealth and to eliminate the current economic model which focuses exclusively on the creation of wealth. This means that how much money the economy produces as a whole is measured using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP), paying no attention to whether or not the wealth has circulated to all parts of the society. Such numbers are deceptive because while the GDP/GNP may be quite high, it is typically concentrated in the hands of a small segment of
the society. The growing gap between the rich and poor in the United States proves that the production of wealth and high GDP/GNP numbers cannot be equated with a prosperous and fair, or even steady economy. From an Islamic perspective, the economic issue is one of distribution as well as production. 2) Difference Between Needs and Luxuries: The Capitalist economic system is based on the notion that there are ‘unlimited wants and limited resources’. On the other hand, the Islamic belief states that Allah (SWT) is the Creator and Provider and that He has produced enough resources to adequately fulfill the needs of His creation. According to the Hadith mentioned above, Islam requires that the basic needs (food, shelter, and clothing) of all people be fulfilled before the luxurious and extravagant things in life are acquired. The Islamic Aqeedah (beliefs) informs us that wealth is the property of Allah and He determines how it is used. People have the right to basic necessities but must forfeit luxuries to provide for those who do not, and Allah will reward the Muslim for his generosity and care for his fellow man. 3) No Artificial Money: Gold and silver have been recognized as currency for most of recorded human history. Their inherent scarcity and intrinsic value make them an ideal form of currency. In the past, a country’s currency would be based on the amount of gold it had in its reserves. During foreign trade, countries would transfer gold as a method of payment. In this way, the country’s currency would increase or decrease depending on how much gold remained in its reserve. In 1944, the Bretton Woods conference changed the way currencies would be valued. Rather than have each currency matched against their gold reserves, they would be matched against the US dollar. In 1971 under the Nixon administration, America completely severed the link between the dollar and gold. With gold no longer backing the US dollar, currencies no longer had intrinsic value
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
4 3
What is love? “Love is like poop because it stinks for a few moments, but without it you can’t function, and it comes in all shapes and colors. ” –America Carillo but rather, a legally Islam had determined that gold and silver be used as money and exclusively made them the monetary measure to evaluate goods and services. These types of transactions bring stability to the exchange rates between countries, as gold cannot be manipulated like fiat currency, and thus prevent inflation. 4) War Against Interest: The role of banks in Islam is to collect the nation’s deposits and act as a central pool whereby money can be collected and invested in the economy, with the returns being distributed amongst the investors. The banks would only be able to invest what they have in deposits and cannot create money as this is the role of the central treasury – Bait ul-‐Mal. As interest (Riba) is Haram, the main function of banks would become the pooling of wealth which could then be invested across the economy, aiding wealth distribution and economic growth. Holding wealth in a bank account would no longer accrue interest and any unused wealth for a year would be liable for taxation (Zakat). In this way, such wealth is only productive if invested or spent, and this would generally prove beneficial for the overall state of the economy. 5) Types of Property: The price of a barrel of oil is constantly rising as is the cost of production and transportation. This has a direct effect on the price of all commodities, especially the basic necessities such as food items. High energy costs are affected by government taxes and the drive for profits by corporations. Islam has ordained the state to play a direct role in the economy and does not leave things completely to the market. Islam lays out three types of property: State, Public, and Private property. This is derived from the hadith of the Prophet (S) when he says, “Muslims are partners in three things: water, pastures and fire”. (Abu Dawood) Islam designates any utility that is regarded as indispensable for the community, as public property. It would then be publicly owned and the revenue generated would be administered for the
benefit of all citizens. Although the hadith mentions just three items, we can utilize qiyas (analogy) and extend the evidence to cover all instances of indispensable community utilities. Thus water sources, forests, pastures for livestock and the like, are all public utilities, as well as the mosques, state schools, hospitals, oil fields, power plants, highways, rivers, seas, lakes, public canals, gulfs, straits, dams, etc . Allowing for ownership of resources as long as none are found to be indispensable or a resource that others are in want of is a concept that, if followed, would ensure that the basic requirements to live would be available to all. 6) Land Distribution: The Prophet (S) said: “If anyone revives dead land, it belongs to him”. (Malik’s Muwatta) The Prophet (S) informed us that anyone who revived a dead land, which was not cultivated before, becomes his/hers. Therefore, Islam has legislated instant means of ownership. For example, in Pakistan there is approx 9,709,300 acres of barren land. Can you imagine the benefit to the state and the populace of reviving this land? This presents a great incentive for poor farm workers and the unemployed to take advantage of this Islamic rule and revive dead land, thereby benefiting the whole country. Poverty would be eradicated; employment would increase, as would production. Increased production would lead to increased supply and therefore cheaper prices and no inflation. Therefore, Islam systematically addresses poverty and fundamentally disagrees with the ‘trickle-‐down economics’ model. Moreover, the current economic model manufactures poverty, and its by-‐products can be clearly seen in the world today. The recent economic crisis has yet again plunged the world into a depression/recession and has failed to solve the basic economic problem of poverty. Hence, it is imperative that the Islamic economic system be advocated as an alternative. -‐Dr. Syed Abdur-‐Rafay
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
2 1
What is love? “I think love is a social construct, its just an infatuation. If we didn’t owe our parents anything, or if society didn’t place a value.” –Humaira Khalid
“They carry a burden that not even strong men or mountains can handle.”
Brains, breasts, and a nice butt. ‘Butt’ I am sorry to say it seems that, Breasts and butts have taken over these days. A woman with intelligence is one to be unknown. Who will notice her if she does not remove some clothes. But men, do you not see. You too are part of this guilty plea. Hoping for model wives. A trophy wife, One whose body can complete your life. When mothers and m en are too busy – Asking for a single lady with a nice rack. Morals and love are what we lack. I am sorry that I m ay not have breasts that demand. Or an ass that can command. Men, you do understand: There is more to a woman than this. Superficial figures with nothing but their physical features. True beauty is seen by those special aspects, The ones we cannot see with the eye, But with our heart. Personality is the holder of beauty – That not many know. It is about time we let it show. Flaunt it now, Because a woman with a smile always lasts. Not a girl hoping for science to help preserve her ass. I know I m ay come off as a little cruel, But this is what it has led to. Women with low self-‐esteem… What kind of world are we? Judging b ased solely on appearance, At the same time the others hung on clearance. Seems like a decent buy, But you run away so shy. Wondering what others may think, So you place them back within a blink. Next time reflect before you replace, Then you will be able to embrace – True beauty. -‐Just An Arab
Dedicated to my beloved friend Dua During a time of war, We seem to forget about the effect we have, Not only on those who stand, Even though it may be them who fight. The children of these times struggle much more. They experience an inevitable war. They break in three distinct ways, Physically: Their bodies change, Mentally: Their minds lose control, Spiritually: Their Imaan shatters. Inability to understand this traumatic event at hand, Yet, they fight each and every day of their lives, Even after the war is won, Peace m ay come, but never individually. This is their symphony. A never ending pain, which others cannot see. However, I am willing to agree: ‘Not even strong men or mountains can handle,’ Step out of your own sandal, Let’s light a candle, And pray, for these young children today. No matter what we say, We will not be able to stray this hardship away, As of now they carry this b urden, But with time the burden will carry them. Until then, there is nothing more to do, But pray. -‐-‐Izia Judeh
Single-‐blinded Beauty Women, do you not see, Media has suppressed both you and me, Telling us that we should not cover, Show some skin, they m ay just be your lover. The three B’s is what they look for. Men hunting for women with them:
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
What is love? “Liking someone enough that you want what is best for them no matter what, something you’d like for yourself, or better. A person you love is someone who genuinely makes you happy, whether it be a friend, significant other or pet.” –Maheen Ahmed
Toothbrush Sonnet
Your Name is My Love
Your oh so minty freshness rushes through, Filling every open and closed space. Like water seeping through my tennis shoe, A burst of sunlight filling every place. I love your bristles oh so numerous, That gently massage all my teeth and gums. Others may find my love so humorous, But only you can remove hidden crumbs. My teeth through you, so clean and pearly white, My tongue everyday massaged and scraped. Alas, your bristles were no longer tight, And your slender neck no longer shaped. I quietly mourned the end of our bond, My toothbrush, of you I was always fond. -‐Anonymous
I etched your name in the unalterable stone, And you scratched mine in the smooth shifting sand. When the rain poured as we ran all the way home, My name was forever forgotten and yours forever remained. You scribbled my name in red on the back of your hand, I meticulously engraved yours on my white bedroom wall. At the end of the day when we had washed and cleaned, Your name forever remained and mine wasn’t remembered at all. Your name is chiseled on my heart that beats every time you call, My name is a thought, a memory written at the edge of your mind. When years pass by and time separates you and I, Your name will forever remain in my heart, and mine will be left behind. Your name is my love to you, I’ll carry it with me for years to come, My name will be crowded in with hundreds forgotten, and then some. -‐Anonymous
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1 2
What is love? “Love is caring for someone more than yourself. It is sacrifice, compromise, give and take.” –Niveen Hilal
Imperfection A world without love, Something I am sick of, But what can we do – Without ever letting go. Loved ones here – so close. I do not mean to impose. Mindless in what has become of this dunya, That they p erceive without flaw Too busy mesmerizing it in awe. -‐Just an Arab
To my dear Muslim community on campus, It has been a chaotic and tumultuous four years, as I’m sure it has been for every one of you graduating, congratulations, and for the rest of you, good luck. However, I want to put aside formalities and praises, and cut straight to the point. I could write a letter praising and thanking all my friends, professors, leaders, etc. for making these years memorable and even bearable, however that would neither benefit you nor me. I instead want to make an effort at opening our eyes to the problems of our Ummah, not as a whole, but on our campus. Our Ummah is suffering and it is our fault, our Muslim community on campus is in pain and it is our fault, our brothers and sisters are lost and it again is our fault. The Muslim community on campus is so diverse, however that diversity is not properly accepted or represented. Too often I walk through places on campus and find cliques of Muslims sitting separately, ignoring the others around them. At least once a week I pass by a Muslim who attempts to do all it takes to avoid making eye contact and say Salaam. I’ve been in classes and labs, where Muslims will partner up with every non-‐Muslim and help every non-‐Muslim and ignore the fellow Muslims in the same class. Often I’ve heard Muslims not accepting the ideas of those who do not think like them, and backbiting them. This is not Islam, and neither is this Dawah. Dawah is such an important concept in Islam, however it is greatly misinterpreted. The majority of Muslims on campus, especially those
in leadership positions have a skewed perception of this term. A belief it is their goal to convert every person who signs up for the hijab pledge, or every student who walks up to the IAW booth, however a deeper understanding of the term Dawah and an application of the word to our society would prove otherwise. There are Muslims among us who do not know how to pray, Muslims who have never fasted, Muslims who are in relationships, Muslims who are abused, Muslims who are addicted, Muslims who do not know anything about the beauty of this Deen, and instead of concentrating on them, we look to the outside. Our dawah is to help these Muslims; it is our duty to be more than just someone who answers the occasional fiqh or seerah question. It is our duty to be there for these Muslims, to hear their problems, to allow them to trust us and to accept and comfort them, to offer them a safe place, and most importantly acceptance. We live in a different society than that of the Prophet (s), a society filled with problems, and our jihad is to solve these problems to strengthen our Ummah, to strengthen the bond of our Ummah. We need to take the qualities and characteristics of the Prophet (s), and apply them, not simply teach them to others. The Prophet (s) was trustworthy, truthful and empathetic. We instead are slanderous, backbiting, deceitful, arrogant, fake and callous, but we teach others our Prophet (s) was otherwise. Before we spread our perfect religion to the outside, we need to perfect it from the inside. We need to be united, we need to stand up for each other and be there for each other and most importantly we need to listen. I cannot stress how important it is that we listen to each other, we are Muslim brothers and sisters, and we need to begin acting as such. We need to open our eyes and notice our brother stressed and sitting alone, our sister crying in the bathroom, b ecause we are all one, the pain of your fellow Muslims should be your pain. And please put activism and the sufferings of those in surrounding countries aside, we have to first help those nearer to us, those within our community, within our classrooms, within our homes. We need to step off our pedestals, yes, many of us are blessed to have been raised in religious households where we have breakfast,
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
4 3 1 2
What is love? “Love is conscious blindness.” –Khalid Abdul Majeed “Love is war, sorrow and glory.”-‐ Adil Qaisar “My Mom.” –Ibrahim Afzal “I hate that question.” –Khadijah Khudeira “God.” –Nida Iftekaruddin lunch and dinner with this sheikh and that mufti, but we need to learn to relate to those who are not as blessed. Many Muslims feel uncomfortable and intimidated by the “religious” individuals on campus, they feel they are beneath them, and they are not. Allah (swt) tells us we are equal in his eyes, except in the levels of our Iman, and our Iman changes over the course of years. A hadith states that a man could be an arms length away from paradise, and commit one act of those of Hell and die and as a result enter Hell, and likewise a man may be an arms length away from Hell and commit one act of those of Paradise and die, and as a result enter Paradise. Therefore, who are we to judge if we are good enough, and those around us are not. To our future MSA leaders, the community is not in need of individuals who have read and studied many texts, individuals who are related and connected to scholars, or individuals who carry a name, they are in need of leaders who are
relatable, please keep that in mind. I leave you with words of advice from an older sibling, please open your eyes, get to know more than just the well-‐known Muslims on campus, listen, hold your tongue and do not spit out words of advice from a Hadith you read, and accept, these are m embers of your Ummah. Follow the footsteps of the most perfect individual to ever walk this earth, he was empathetic, caring, trustworthy, truthful, listened and accepted. Make it your goal to choose one of his beautiful characteristics and perfect it, and listen, listen, listen, your brothers and sisters are in need of an ear to listen, a heart to care and a shoulder to lean on. With love, Your fellow sibling
Everything in this life is fake. Don’t ever forget that. This world and all its beauty is created only to distract the human beings from their purpose. The one who created all this has not put the capacity in this world to fulfill the desires of even one man or one woman. However, we still find human beings running after this life trying to fulfill their desires. Thinking that the desires can be fulfilled in this life is a deception; A deception that will only open unto the human being along with its reality after the individual permanently closes his or her eyes. However, it will be too late to accept the reality and do the deeds that are vital for success in the afterlife. Human beings will continue to run after this illusion because human beings are greatly affected by their environment. The effect is so great that it can even lead a human being to run away – or even deny – the truth, which will ultimately lead to the doom of this individual in this life as well as in the hereafter.
is the faith in the truth. The desires will lead the human being down a very dangerous and unfulfilling life. The desires are unlimited and this life is limited. That means that anyone trying to fulfill their desires is asking for broken hopes and expectations. Having unrealistic hopes and dreams from this deceptive world will lead a person’s heart to become full of depression and grief. This world has taken a lot from many and given back nothing to any one of them. A person works his whole life to acquire the things of this life. He compromises the truth and those endeavors which will make his qualities blossom only to acquire his already written share of this world. And when he dies, he does not even get benefit from those things. His family and friends fight violently over his possessions and forget about this individual. The end result is that this poor m an will suffer for not spending his time and energy in the effort of spreading the truth. Furthermore, other people will use all his wealth and property. He will get caught and be held accountable while others will enjoy his wealth.
There are only two forces that run the human being. One force is the desires and the other force
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
4 3 1 2
What is love? “Overrated and nonexistent.” –Baian Tbakhi “A red cartoon heart.”-‐ Rawan Ibrahim “Friendship.” –Umamah Fatima “Baby don’t hurt me.” –Mohammad Najeeb “Pyaar is dosti.” –Imran Qasim What an unfortunate predicament. Heading towards the worst of ends Solitude and grief, my only two friends While the person is still breathing, he still has time to make good efforts and prepare himself for his accountability in the hereafter. The driving force for this is the belief in Allah and his Messenger (S). A person needs to stay in the correct environment and listen to the word of Allah and the words of the Messenger (S) in order to stay away from the filth of this world. And this is nothing but benefit and guidance through and through. It is impossible that a person gets any loss from following dean. Every condition and situation he will go through will only make him tougher and stronger in his faith and qualities. He will quickly surpass all the other men and women who are running after the duniya in terms of spirituality and acquire such qualities as others are incapable of acquiring. Allah will bestow this person with His love and the love of the Beloved Prophet (S).
And whoever has love for Allah and his Prophet does not feel the worry and depression of the people who have put the worldly things in their heart. People will be attracted to these qualities and this individual will become a means of spreading the truth in the world. He will live a peaceful life full of honor, respect, and dignity. He will die in peace and will get jannat after he leaves this life. Jannat is the only place where the desires can be fulfilled. Now that I am in the good environment, my soul is much stronger As my good side turns to my bad side, and says “you are no longer” I am drowned in His love, and I desire to see Him tomorrow And now my heart does not burn, neither from grief nor from sorrow -‐Belal Memon
Poignant Truth
They said love knew. Yet, it only painted the color blue. We only went so far, We would never reach your bar. Measuring too high, No point in wanting to try. I knew it all too well. This was a game, We were never within aim, Who is to blame? Your love showed too much shame. And it would never be the same. -‐-‐Izia Judeh Issue 6
Reluctant Adoration Brothers and sisters unable to touch, Putting us in such a clutch. Our hearts so rusted, No one can be trusted. Means of cleansing them have become absurd. At least that is what I have heard. Hopeless heart, filtered by none other: Ourselves. Solid in our ways, Unwilling to change, these days. But time eventually will run out, And we will all reach that Day, beyond doubt. -‐Izia Judeh
UIC MSA
April 2013
2 1
What is love? “Ugh, love is a feeling, affection between two people.” -‐Jenean Abdelrahman “Trust.” –Amani Aburomi “Motherhood.” –Ayesha Ashfaq “Mama.” – Lelas Shamaileh “Series of hormonal imbalances.” –Janet Rodriguez Assalamu alaikum, All praise is due to Allah (SWT) the Most High and peace and blessings upon His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (S). Bittersweet. This word can only partially convey the feeling that I have while writing this farewell letter to you all. MSA has been a part o f my life for the past four years at UIC and I have enjoyed every single moment of it. Back in high school, I had heard many good things about the MSA at UIC, however, I had not known that it would cause such a beautiful and enticing experience for me. It is with great sorrow that I must leave you all this year and move on with life and transition into the real world. MSA has set a great foundation for me to live the rest of my life on, growing with Islam tightly by my side. It has been a great three years of service to the Muslims on campus and learning about and meeting all of you was a valuable, blessed, and fortunate experience for me. I strongly believe that every single one of you are amazing people with amazing abilities to accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Seeing everyone, especially this year, hold tight together as one part of the great ummah of Muhammad (S) was very eye-‐opening for me. Islam is a beautiful religion (Deen-‐ul-‐Jamaal) and organizations like this one affirms such a statement. I leave you all asking you to please forgive me for any wrong or shortcoming that I may have done against you or affected you in any way shape or form. I ask Allah to bless you all and grant you success in your future endeavors in life. Sincerely, Muntaser Qutub, MSA President
Asalaamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu my beloved MSA brothers and Sisters, All praise is to Allah (swt) Alhamdulillah. I’d like to begin by thanking Allah (swt) and the UIC MSA for giving me this blessed opportunity to serve you all as your Sisters’ president these past two years. I couldn’t have asked to serve any other MSA mashAllah. This MSA and its members are truly one of a kind m ashAllah. I have loads I want to convey and would love to share all my experiences with everyone, but then the entire al-‐bayyan issue would be filled with just my final words. Therefore, inshAllah I will keep it short. It is a very bittersweet feeling leaving Shura, I never
looked forward to the day where I had to attend my final shura meeting and write these last words. I am extremely grateful for all the experiences and relationships made, and will therefore, miss being on shura very dearly. Overall, it has been a very fruitful, humbling and life changing experience alhamdulilah. May Allah accept all of our efforts. I have learned a lot these past four years serving the MSA and each year ended with a life learning lesson, which I hope you all can learn from. My freshman year I learned the importance of reaching out to others and promised myself that I’d make the most out of every second that I was at UIC. If you have m ore time at UIC, take advantage of your time positively, as these years will never come back. Get involved with the MSA and other organizations on campus. Many friends that graduated and unfortunately were not able to be as involved with the MSA always tell me their one regret is their lack on involvement in the MSA. Do not be that individual filled with regret after leaving UIC, rather be the individual that will look back, smile and say Alhamdulillah for these great experiences. Lastly, use your MSA and each other as a means to become stronger Muslimeen. My sophomore year I learned the meaning of true sisterhood. These were such beautiful and priceless experiences alhamdulilalh. Just want to remind you all that this brotherhood and sisterhood cannot be established through one or two individuals, it needs to be a combined effort. For my last year at UIC I have set my goal to help revive the sisterhood that once was here inshAllah, and I pray all of you get to experience that true brotherhood and sisterhood. My junior year I understood and experienced the true meaning of sacrifice. If you want to make a difference in the community and really help others, you must understand that sacrifice is an essential component. Lastly, this year has taught me patience. Throughout your life you will experience ups and downs. The downs can be very tough to deal with, but always remind yourself that Allah is the best of planners. Be patient, say alhamdulilah, stand up again and move ahead like a soldier. I’d like to end by sincerely seeking forgiveness from each and every one of you if I or the MSA ever wronged, upset or hurt any of you in any way while I was president these past two years. May Allah continue to bless this MSA, grant future MSAs success, and continue to increase the brotherhood and sisterhood at UIC. Ameen. Allah bless you all. Your sister in Islam, Juvaria Shamsuddin
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1 2
2013-‐2014 Shura Hassan Shamsuddin Shura Position: Brothers President Year: Junior Quote: “There is greatness in the fear of God, contentment in faith of God, and honour in humility.” – Abu Bakr Siddique (ra) Future Profession: Accountant, Philanthropist, but iA an Alim Ibrahim Afzal Shura Position: Brothers Education. Year: Junior Quote: “Im going to slap you.”-‐ Mama Interesting fact: Loves to cook. Future Profession: Sandwich engineer. Mohammad Abuakar Shura Position: Brother’s Event Coordinator Year: Sophomore Interesting Fact: I’m hairier than a wooly mammoth wearing a fur coat. Quote: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Future profession: Medical doctor specialized in emergency medicine Adil Qaisar Shura Postion: Technology aka MSA Sonya Booth. Year: Junior Interesting fact: I like cheese. Future Profession: Film Director, author, high school math teacher, high school counselor, NBA and NFL head coach. Tul Fiasco Elsiddig Shura Position: Public Outreach Year: Sophomore Interesting Fact: I’m a distant cousin to Luol Deng. Quote: “Do you even know the struggle?” Future Profession: Future owner of Wallah Cuz Cutz Barbershop
Zamaan Sohel Year: Sophomore Interesting Fact: I work part time fighting evil in the skies of Metropolis. Quote: "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." Future Profession: Bioengineer/Oncologist/Pilot /Astronaut InshaAllah Sumayya Aman Shura Position: Sister’s President Year: Junior Quote: Like choosing my favorite blade of grass, can’t. Interesting fact: I have more nephews and nieces than I do siblings, Alhamdillah. Future Profession: Masters in family and PhD in Imaan. Aya Qutub Shura Position: Sister’s Education Year: Junior Quote: “The first step is on you, the rest is on Allah.” Interesting Fact: I think babies are awesome, and the ones that can’t walk are the best. Future Profession: Nutritionist Maaria Shamsuddin Shura Position: Sister’s Events Year: Sophomore Quote: “That’s legit.” Interesting Fact: Knows Japanese jiu jitsu. Future Profession: Math teacher Biann Abulereish Shura Position: Treasurer/Food Coordinator Year: Senior Quote: “Your tongue is the interpreter of your intellect.” Interesting Fact: Dislikes chocolate. Future Profession: Public forensic accountant.
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
Dear Ms. Therese, What is the best advice you can give me without knowing anything about me? – Curious Dear Curious, Though I don’t know anything about you, I can assume that at one point in your life, you will face a trial of some sort. And when that point comes, do not lose hope. Life will get better. Keep your faith in Allah and remember, “Verily, with every hardship comes ease”. Love, Ms. T Dear Ms. Therese, What is the best way to avoid handshakes in a work setting? – Lost Cause Dear Lost Cause, Handshakes can pose quite a problem when it comes to meeting new people, especially if it is for a job interview. Most people, however, are very respectful because they do not want to make you feel uncomfortable. One way to avoid a handshake is keep your hands behind your back and smile politely while saying that you don’t shake hands with the opposite gender. One other way is to put your hand over your heart and nod your head slightly. So long as you are respectful and polite about rejecting a handshake, they won’t think anything weird about it! Love, Ms. T
Senior Shoutouts "Shout out to Muntaser Qutub for being such a great leader of the MSA! MashaAllah, Muntaser definitely did a great job keeping the MSA strong this year. Alhamdulillah, I can definitely say he inspired me to be as active as I can be in the MSA and I thank him for that. I pray that all Allah helps those who are graduating find jobs with ease, continue their lives without hardships, and guide them all to the Sirat al-‐ Mustaqim (the straight path). Congratulations!"-‐ Mohamad Abuakar Shoutout to Subhi Saadeh for spotting me a few times in PHYS 142 and being a character who simply effuses with swagger. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. – Zamaan Sohel Shoutout to Muntaser Qutub for being one heck of a guy, mashaAllah. Being in his presence is like standing near a blazing sun that radiates knowledge and wisdom, and I got one darn good tan out of it.-‐ Zamaan Sohel Shoutout to Haroon Chaudhry for taking me under his extremely large wing, showing me the ways of the Jacked tribe, and giving me what I need to follow in his footsteps iA. Shoutout to Sallu for sharing his wisdom about BIOE, giving me some direction with my academics, and keeping his insane little brother in line. – Zamaan Sohel Shoutout to Mav "Maw" Khan for waking me up on a couple of Friday train rides, and for being an all around good man. His devotion and love shown towards the freshmen has been especially admirable. Keep coming back to visit, and never stop sending your unique Snapchats. – Zamaan Sohel Medihah Syed -‐ your assassin skills are no match for me, nor will they ever be – Sumayya Aman Shout out to every single person I have ever crossed paths with at UIC. Who I am, what I do, and where I'm going, are all reflections of your influences on me. I couldn't have been blessed with a better community. To my big brothers and sisters that were here before, to my little brothers and sisters that came after, and everyone in between. JazakAllahu Khairun. –Nida Iftekaruddin
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
1 2
Across 2. Unicorn 4. Hipster Hafiz 11. Ghareeb Nawaz is his second home 13. F uture BU Tool 15. Sosa 16. Speaks 5 languages 18. Scrub pants, baseball cap backwards 19. w ith an O 20. Koala 23. Big Dirty 24. 13th Floor 28. L ong haired Adem 31. Kinesiology Club 32. Twin goes to BU 33. Bert from Seseme Street 34. Profesident 35. Smallest kid but can take anyone down in wrestling 39. Wizz 41. L ambu 43. Smooth 44. L adies Man 46. Tal@ 48. Plays computer games in lounge 49. Baja Fresh 53. Sings Beautifully 54. Zindagi’s worst enemy 56. Mr. IAW 57. F ormer BU Tool 58. Short haired Hamza 59. The Hulk 60. The man from Sudan
Down 1. Browncake 3. Ibrahim dresses like him 5. Married. Big Ahmad. 6. Intelligence Quotient 7. Goes to BU more than UIC 8. Mini Arooz 9. Could be mistaken for a 30 year old doctor, but is a freshman 10. Sherry 11. Moose 12. F uture dictator. Speaks 4 languages 14. “ C’mon man…” 17. Obsessed w ith Kobe 21. Masti Wasti 22. “ Gibberish… Jubranos” 25. F uture Ironman (Mechanical Engineer, Air Force) 26. “ Guys I failed m y orgo exam.” Gets exam back… 98% 27. Big Saad 29. Biceps 30. “ Wait, w hat?” 36. Grandpa 37. Mohawk 38. Token Reciter 39. F ood Guru 40. Raihaan v2.0 41. pekhana 42. Gives a nice athaan 45. “ Hehehehehe” 47. Always wearing hood 50. Zain Khazi v. 2.0 51. Junith 52. Torn ACL 55. Big boi 58. Never seen awake
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
ACROSS 3. Sings like a boss 6. “clutch” 9. moon 10. jumping jalepeno 15. new food coordinator 16. abandoned by parents 19. trick 20. always making salads 22. nagging w ife 23. engineer 26. Azfar’s sister 27. good at every single sport 28. Not a freshman anymore 30. Cheetah print 31. Alia’s twin 32. Loose husband 33. cat lady 34. heart of the MSA 35. bride to be 39. table player
DOWN 1. Aqsa’s w ife 2. IAW head 3. the hottest season 4. MSA bully 5. always dressed to impress 7. army backpack 8. long limbs 11. one republic 12. flower 13. lilshams 14. Professident’s sister 16. Freshman alima 17. selfie queen 18. new albayyan designer 21. Mzz I 24. smooth Prez 25. Brazilian beauty 26. “let’s take this outside” 29. Funsized 30. dip 36. buddy 37. B96 38. Ayesha’s twin
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013
Thumbs Up:
Halaal Pick Up lines: Are you religious? 'Cause you're the answer to all my prayers I'd like to be more than just your brother in Islam. What school of thought do you follow because I thought about you all through school So, read any good Surahs lately? Are your feet tired? Because you've been performing Tawaaf in my mind all day long? Do you wanna date? I bought a box full when I went to Madinah. After seeing you, the first thing I said was Mash'Allah. The next was Inshallah! Did you just fart? Because you blew me away Me without you is like a nerd without braces, A shoe without laces, aSentenceWithoutSpaces Are you from Medinah? Because you’re the only light I see You are the reason why hijab was mandated. I didn't know that angels could fly so low! -‐Haroon Chaudhry
To Wikipedia and Google....the two reasons I will be graduating this semester iA To the new Albayyan editors...may the force be with you To Batman......enough said To the MSA BBQ...start getting in line for the hot dogs right now if you want one To lota's......keeping us clean one splash at a time To the lounge.....my second home for the past couple years
Thumbs Down:
To the people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom....ya I see you Finals.....5 cumulative exams in one week.....yes, our education system makes perfect sense............ Spring...you're late To snapchat...........I really didn't want to see that... To sleeveless T-‐shirts outside the Gym.....yes, you workout, cool story bro To farting......just broke my wudu -‐Haroon Chaudhry
Issue 6
UIC MSA
April 2013