December 2017

Issue 19

The UIC MSA Publication

Time

December 2017

Al-Bayyan

Esraa Elkossei

Zainab Naveed

Saba Ali

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Introduction I remember quite vividly a sunny afternoon from when I was around 8 or 9 years old.

It was a Saturday afternoon and I was sprawled on the living room divan, surrounded by a pile of graphic novels and fiction books I had gotten earlier from the library. As I finished going through all the books, I began to notice that sitting all those hours in the sunlight had made me sweaty and uncomfortable. I remember feeling frustrated that I didn’t have any more books to read. I wished time would pass quickly so I could get my driver’s license and drive to the library by myself and read as many books as I wanted to.

I recall that day now, and the discomfort and frustration I felt then are insignificant. I remember the feeling of sitting around lazily in the afternoon sun without a care in the world. I remember the warmth of the sun and joy I felt in reading all those wonderful stories. I wish I could go back to that moment and not have to worry about the frustrations and problems I face now.

I think of this memory often, and how differently it felt at the time versus how I feel about it now; and I’ve come to realize something quite important. It is that our souls were created for eternity and our

bodies are quite temporary. Sitting there I wished I could have had an unlimited amount of books to read forever. But after a while my mind would tire and I would fall asleep. We want to taste the deliciousness of a good meal forever, but it lasts only as long as it is in our mouths. We want the feeling of a good nap to last forever, but it lasts only as long as we are asleep. We want to continue doing what makes us feel good forever, but our bodies cannot comply. Our souls are built for Paradise, a dimension in which time does not exist.

But our bodies are built for earth, in which time shapes our very lives.

The point of this is not to despair and feel as if our experiences and joys are meaningless because everything in this life will come to an end. It is to understand that time will not give us the joys we seek to experience forever so we must be wary of it. But at the same it is not such an ominous force that we should let it control our every action. It is to understand that time is just another creation of Allah(SWT), and that we humans are the best of all the creations of Allah(SWT).

Managing Editor Ibrahiem Mohammed

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Total Eclipse Oh sun, my beautiful sun My skin would long for your shine You would always brighten my day You would dry my rainy days You would warm up my coldest days Even when you were gone, i would still feel your warmth You would turn any of my gloomy days into the perfect day In my darkest days, you would brighten the moon Seeing you would only radiate me But oh sun, dust clouds and rocks sit between you and I Oh sun, you are no more visible Oh sun, minutes turn to months Oh sun, I only see your see you from afar Oh sun, I miss your warmth Oh sun, my beautiful sun.

Oh sun, if only I could tell you that I love you one last time But I guess the you had to set sometime I’ve accepted that the sun may never rise again.

Your Earth.

Conscripted Soldiers

An Ode to the Faces that Have Lost Their Names After all this time I am wandering back home.

A place where faces are familiar, But everything else is not.

I spell my name in broken letters, Sometimes not even recognizing That these letters, form my name.

As I walk towards what is left behind, The letters keep slipping and I’m Forgetting what I’m called.

Panic sets in, who am I, where am I This home This time Is a different place.

And in the distance, I see something that brings much needed comfort I am walking towards a building People call it “Nostalgia.”

Meeting you was a reunion of long lost friends Souls split by time seeing each other again And in their reunion finding themselves Alone my soul is whole And with you it is at home This is a poem dedicated to my sister, mom and my closest friends.

The world can be cruel and so can its people, but my loved ones always make even the worst days infinitely better and brighter.

Samirah Alam

Javerea Ahmed

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A Wrinkle Over Time Old and has-life-together is always just Older than you and thus, their life is together.

In elementary school it was taking the yellow bus down to middle school and in 5th grade it was hearing one of my best friends tell me in class about how her sister was a sophomore and feeling stupid that I didn’t know what one was.

6th grade it was a sixteen year old family friend telling me about the metal things on her teeth Then it was 8th grade or freshman me hearing about - and so confused about - what scholarships are.

Old to freshman me was looking at my neighbor’s junior year sister, the pretty and popular dancer that all the boys loved.

Old is one step ahead of you.

Old was high school me looking at those in college.

In college, old is a twenty year old. Wow! Twenty-somethings get almost as much attention as sixteen year olds in literature do.

Old is getting a college degree, which is The Most Important Thing In Life.

The pressure on it is unnerving, honestly. It makes me want to grab it quick and run away to a remote location of the world sometimes.

Just get it to be able to say I did it, not because I want it or enjoyed the process of getting it. Old is thirty. Old is forty, like the women who fight with me at the cash register.

The women with children and husbands and homes.

They have it all, I always think.

What more could one want?

Everyone older looks like they’re somehow more put together than you are. Like they’ve somehow figured out more about life, have unlocked how to find happiness quicker and in more abundance the way someone stumbling upon dealing for the first time must.

Because they’re older, I always think that they’re somehow better.

Old right now is 21.

Well, not quite. But it’s older than me. I love youth.

It is a simmering, beautiful thing that can not be outmatched by anything, like liquid gold too hot to be touched for some time after it’s freshly melted. You are born on a random Tuesday.

And then you’re in 8th grade.

And you’re 16. And you’re graduating high school.

And you’re in college.

I feel like a baby at each step. I feel like I don’t know any of the stuff everyone before me looked like they knew.

But it’s true, I know more. It’s true, I’ve gathered something.

I’ve changed a bit.

I’ll garner a wrinkle here one day and there the next.

And over time, without even knowing it, I’ll have a face full of them, so many I won’t even be able to count them. I know all this.

Yet I sit and wish difficult times away, like there will ever be a age in which there aren’t any.

I had better stop soon - after all, young age will be my excuse for only so much longer.

Aiman Ghani

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Finals Week Guide to Chicago Coffee Farooq Chaudhry

Finals week is the academic equivalent to hearing your mom walking through the door and realizing that you forgot to take the meat out of the freezer like she had asked you to six hours ago. On a moment’s notice, time stops. Your heart rate flutters. Flashbacks of binge-watching your favorite show, spending too much time on the wrong floor of the library, and googling conspiracy theories form a collage of regrets and guilt so abstract that it almost resembles a Picasso.

Frantically, you grab your backpack and rush to Daley Library, and, shockingly, it’s full. You swiftly turn around and rush to grab a space in Douglas or Lincoln only to find full rooms, and scraps of people’s belongings showing signs of life and letting you that the territory has been marked as claimed. Almost running now, you head to Student Center East. Between the upper and lower lounge, and Pier Room, the only thing you find is a line at Dunkin’ Donuts as long as your unfulfilled obligations. No seats. Anywhere.

Finals season is the time of year we all try to become the student that we tell our parents we’ve been for the past 15 weeks. However, because the entire campus is experiencing the same academic existential crisis as you, finding a place to study is difficult, if not impossible. WiFi, calm music, and an atmosphere of activity make coffee shops the perfect place to settle down. Whether you’re a morning person, night owl, or just want a place to escape the madness and take a break, this is your guide to Chicago coffee shops as you prepare for the busiest time of the academic year.

For the Early Birds Sip Coffee House 1223 W. Grand Avenue This isn’t my first time writing about Sip, and that’s because it’s one of my absolute favorite spots in the city. What makes this an ideal early-morning place to work is the diversity in the types of seating they offer,

abundant natural lighting, and variety of breakfast foods. Sip has lots of tables on the main floor and a couple of secluded tables on the second. What I love is that they also have a few couches and sofas tucked away in corners, so there’s comfortable seating available to match the nature of the type of work you need to conquer. On top of that, enormous windows illuminate the entire space. Being located in the quiet West Town neighborhood, the natural light warming the space brings a tranquility that is seldom found in the hustle and bustle of the city. Coffee from Intelligentsia and a wide variety of food make this spot perfect to wake up, fuel up, and get working

Heritage Outpost 1325 W. Wilson Avenue Trekking up north to Lincoln Park brings us to Heritage Outpost. What I love about Heritage Outpost is its minimalistic interior, big windows, and simplicity. In a world of overstimulation, walking into a place like Heritage is a breath of fresh air.

While taking that deep breath, you’ll smell freshly brewed coffee, specialty lattes, and maybe even some pies from local Chicago pie-shop, Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. White walls accented with a carpet on the floor, a few bicycles hanging from the ceiling, and a soft blue couch make this spot the perfect place to spend the morning coupling serenity and productivity. The coffee is as good as it gets. That, combined with the pies and biscuits from Bang Bang and other Chicago establishments, makes Heritage a must-go place during finals week to unwind and buckle down.

Dollop Coffee Co. 343 S. Dearborn Street For people who feed off of the energy of their surroundings, the Dollop location on the corner of Dearborn and Van Buren is the place to be. Located conveniently by

the Pink, Orange, Brown, and Purple ‘L’ stops, Herald Washington Library, and Columbia College, Dollop is upbeat, face paced, and lively in the mornings. That doesn’t mean it’s distracting, though. On the contrary, the coffee shop is spacious and offers ample seating, so you can bask in the energized environment from a distance that still allows you to get work done.

On top of that, the windows in Dollop look out to the busyness of State Street and the L, so the movement and traffic outside of the shop will provide you with the visual stimulation you need to keep you going, if that’s your preferred study environment.

Dollop serves up coffee from Metropolis, so you know what to expect in terms of the coffee. On top of that, the assortment of pastries, sandwiches, and other smallbites will provide you with fuel to stick around for hours as you watch the world go by outside the windows, and your todo list dwindle.

For the Late Nighters Ipsento 606 1813 N. Milwaukee Avenue Ipsento 606 is the second location of Chicago coffee company Ipsento Coffee—one of the city’s best coffee roasters, without a doubt. What makes this the ideal late night shop is that it’s open to 11pm from Sunday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

During the day you’ll find a simple, tranquil environment with black wooden tables spaced throughout the shop, and bar seating. At night, the lights go down a little bit, and candlelights are placed on each table, giving the space a smooth, hushed vibe. They serve alcohol here, too, so at night the space tends to become a little livelier. Thus, if you can study through a little noise, then this spot is ideal for you.

As mentioned above, Ipsento is one of the city’s premier coffee companies. I personally recommend the nitrogen-chilled cold brew they serve on-tap. Hands down, it’s the best cold brew I’ve ever had. (Note: a

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friend told me he was told they don’t allow laptops after 7pm, though I have never had this experience when I’ve worked there at night. If you are asked the same, Tea Bar is across the street, and also open late.)

Bridgeport Coffeehouse 3101 S. Morgan Street Some of us have different ideas of what exactly “late night studying” means.

Bridgeport closes at 9pm, but I decided to include it on this list because it’s the type of shop you can head to in the late afternoon, and stay here for hours, working away. Not only does Bridgeport source and roast their own coffee—making it some of the highest quality you’ll find in Chicago—but they also have a menu filled with sandwiches, wraps, and other food items. This allows you to head to Bridgeport after lunch, stay for hours, and not have to leave for dinner because you can grab some great food here and keep working away. The seating is ample and diverse: bar seating up against the windows, desks in the main-space, and more desks and tables in two rooms in the back that are a little more secluded. Overall, the word “coffeehouse” is very appropriate, as the atmosphere is very cozy, and home-like. The diverse seating options, food, and fantastic coffee make this the perfect spot to come during the day, and let your studies spill into the night.

Starbucks 210 W. North Avenue If you’re really desperate, this Starbucks is open 24/7, and has tons of seating.

There’s not much that needs to be said about Starbucks, and, honestly, I don’t have too much to say myself (other than Peppermint Mochas are the key to world peace, but that’s a different conversation).

Study Break Shops The Wormhole 1462 N. Milwaukee Avenue During finals season, everyone feels like a nerd. But if you’re a true nerd at heart and want to relive the days when being a nerd had more to do with retro video games and movies, and less with breakdowns after spending 72 hours in the library, Wormhole is your spot. The ‘80s themed coffee shop features a DeLorean (yes, like the one from Back to the Future), Nintendo games, movie posters and references to the glory days of everyone’s childhood scattered throughout the shop. High quality coffee is guaranteed, and specialty lattes like the Cool But Rude latte with ginger and curry sauce make both the coffee and the space quirky and cool. Rather than a score of tables and chairs, you’ll find nice oversized couches and sofas that make it possible for you to unwind, relax, and exhale a little bit. Nestled in the heart of Wicker Park, too, you won’t find a shortage of places to visit outside of the shop, if so you choose.

Sawada Coffee 112 N Green Street Located in the vibrant West Loop neighborhood, Sawada Coffee is guaranteed to be one of the most unique coffeeshops you’ll step foot in. Coffee shops are known to be calm and simple, typically with soft music in the background. Sawada is vibrant, upbeat, has a million and one things going on with its interior (in a good way), and features an upbeat playlist to compliment its décor. This is definitely not a place to come study, but an excellent place to kick it with a friend while exploring West Loop. The fact that it’s difficult to study here makes it the best place to come for other purposes. Opened by master latte artist Hiroshi Sawada, you’ll find the best latte art in the city at this shop. They feature an incredible green tea latte, and the

military latte, which combines the warmth and purity of matcha, kick of espresso, and creaminess of a latte. Seating can be found on the bar facing Green Street, and one central table that tends to fill up quick.

But fear not: Sawada is also connected to Green Street Smoked Meats (which is halal!), which offers much more seating.

On top of that, you’ll find doughnuts from Chicago icon Doughnut Vault. Under one roof at Sawada, you’ll be treated to good vibes, great coffee, fantastic food, and a killer doughnut.

Café Jumping Bean 1439 W 18th Street Café Jumping Bean has been operating in Pilsen since 1994, making it Pilsen’s first coffee house. On top of that, it also serves as an art gallery, featuring and promoting local artwork, making it a community staple. The interior is very bright and colorful– so much so that you may even temporarily forget the gray of finals week. The upbeat, vibrant space makes Café Jumping Bean the perfect place to escape the monotony of quiet study spaces. On top of that, Café Jumping Bean’s menu serves fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, and a variety of pastries to go along with their full-service espresso bar. Being located in Pilsen, Café Jumping Bean is in walking distance from UIC, which factors in to why it’s on this list. Taking a walk is an incredible destressor, and walking through the beautiful neighborhood of Pilsen and checking out the local shops and galleries leading up to the buzzing Café will leave you not only recharged, but inspired to let your soul speak through your work, as the artists featured in the shop beautifully do.

Though this list ends here, the studying continues. I wish you all nothing but the best exam scores, cappuccinos, pour-overs, and company. Check out @ farooqscoffeestories on Instagram while procrastinating studying, and, perhaps, get inspired to do your best.

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Open Your Eyes

Nuh Time

Time flies.

It really does.

In the blink of an eye, everything changes.

And it never goes back to the way it was.

Tek Time

It feels like just yesterday I was packing my backpack for the first day of 8th grade.

But now, here I am, looking at applications for graduate school.

It feels like just yesterday I was laughing with my dada as we watched movies through the night, But now, as I see old pictures, I reminisce, realizing he passed away over 10 years ago.

It feels like just yesterday that I wanted to grow up as fast as I could, But now, all I wish for is that life would pause, giving me a chance to take it all in.

Life has its good days and its bad days, but each day is something new.

An opportunity to make a change in yourself, a change in those around you, or even a change in the world.

Not a moment of those days should go unnoticed.

Because if you close your eyes for too long, you’ll miss it all— the moments that will shape you, the people that will inspire you, and the trials that will guide you So please, open your eyes Enjoy the life you have, Don’t waste a moment Because I’m telling you, time flies.

Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer

Jazzy

Welcome to the Present Do Not crave a past that is gone Or thirst for a future to come For neither exist Nuha Abdelrahim

What is it? And what does it say? it starTs at the beginning, and finishes at the end It seems to fly, wIthout wings, and returns naturally we always seeM to want to kill it. yEt it kills us, Slowly until measured, it isn’t known. but How we miss it, when it Has gOne it can crumble mountains, and tear down Walls yet we cannot See it it devoUrs everything from birdS, to tree, bats, and bees it surrounds you WHerever you are, and is Always moving people seem To want it moRe wE seem to wAnt it Less the most vaLuable thing of all You know it can never be replenished it Makes for the best gift to someone becAuse you will never geT it back but all in all, we need to starT listening bEcause it speaks, ever so softly for humanity to heaR, Sincerely P.S. If you like riddles, look at the first letter of each underlined word Abdul Basith Basheer

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Time

Feeling Time

Time Flies

Time can make someone feel every single emotion there is, yet leave them empty.

It is the only thing in life that is constant.

No matter what happens, time is always counting down to its next objective. TIME IS YOUR WORST ENEMY.

It is actually something that knows us better than us. Time teaches us passion, responsibility, and adapts to our way of life. It brings us together in joyous celebrations and bloody wars. Time is history.

Time is innovation. Time is change. Time is happiness.

Must live..Time is death. The more time you see, the more heartbreak, anger, hate you encounter. Lies upon lies you were told since the day you walked.

All feeding towards the hatred this country was built on. Hatred for those not like you, those who didn’t believe like you, those who didn’t dress like you. Time has only taught us hate.

Except it is not. Time was made by you and me. We decide how to take advantage of it. The equation to owning time and making it your ally is no secret. The only issue: the answer itself takes time.

And by the time you find the answer you will be sound asleep.

It seems like I have no time. I don’t hear the ticks on the clock. I don’t see the minutes pass me by. I don’t feel time anymore. I rush from class to work to meetings to friends to family. I then repeat it all after some restless sleep. I say “I’m busy.”

I say “I don’t have time for that.” I say “That doesn’t work with my schedule.” I don’t feel time anymore.

Am I as busy as I say am? Or am I just so engulfed in the antics of this world that I refuse to feel time? The truth is, I have time. I’m not busy every minute of every day. No one is-- not really anyways. The free moments I have, I rarely allow them to stay free. I’ve realized that I’m afraid of the nothingness that comes with acknowledging time, so I fill it with anything that’ll entertain me.

Feel time. Take a minute and breathe with your whole body. Feel His presence in your heart and soul. Let your mind run free with thoughts that have been chained.

Let boredom guide your heart to what it desires. Listen to the ticking of the clock.

Watch the minutes pass you by. Feel the time carry you through space, because time is a gift -- not because it allows us to do things, but because of all the beautiful presents it brings when there’s nothing to fill it.

The end of the hour comes right when I thought it started.

Time. There never seem to be enough hours in the day. Every minute is precious and the weight of every second ticking away is heavy. We’re so absorbed in time.

We spend time in school, at our jobs and at home. Time for our homework, our family, our responsibilities but when everything is done and everyone is satisfied for today, there isn’t enough time left for ourselves. The sand in the hourglass has run out and the cycle begins anew. School, work, home. School, work, home. Every turn of life is demanding something from us and we give away all our time. But maybe we need to be a little selfish and keep some of that precious time for us. Just spending a little more time waking up in the morning, or sleeping in. Watching the orange rays of light spill over the horizon before we rush off to our demanding lives.

I’m not that selfless to give away all my time. I need some for myself and I’m going to keep it.

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

Now

This quote is said by none other than Albus Dumbledore in the Goblet of Fire. Although none us have to choose between being foolish by standing up for what is right and following the magnificent Voldemort, this quote can still be applied in our daily lives. How so? Meh...I’ll leave that as an exercise to the reader.

The Only thing that exists is now. The only thing you have is right here, right now. So if you have something to say, say it. If you have something to do, do it. Now. There is no such thing of how things are supposed to be or how they should have been.

Things just are. Life just is. Experinces are just experinces and life is full of them everyday. Do not project past images onto your present ones and do not come to a situation looking for something that you had. Reflect on what was but do not live in it. Just take moments as they come.

Regret comes from not being present.

There’s this thing I’ve been thinking about, the person that I am and the person that I want to become. Maybe life is like a clay sculpture; constant molding, shaping, changing until you achieve what you wanted to create. Add more clay, take some away, use a different kind, bend and twist.

Perhaps, however, life is more like a sculpture made of stone. I imagine you start off with a block of stone, a chisel, and a hammer. The final piece is in there somewhere, you just need to keep chipping away at the stone. Either way, one thing I am certain of is that there can only be one artist. I think a lot of us have too many hands tampering with our vision.

Abubakar Zafar #DontSaveHer

Voodoo People Yunus Syed

Nui Waris

Nuha Abdelrahim

Sarah Basheer

Sad reax only plz Nahian

Tl;dr: The way life goes YEET

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Time

Adil Shoeb

Time heals all.

Time changes circumstances.

Time changes people.

Time helps people. Time can never be cheated.

Nothing will come to you before it is ordained.

Nothing will be delayed when is it your time.

I graduate in a week. I have been at UIC for 4.5 years. I have met a lot of special people, taken numerous classes, and attended more MSA events than I can count. As I come down to the twilight of my undergraduate career, I’ve realized I am going to miss this place like no other.

It’s hard for to me put into words

what this place has meant to me. I have met so many people who have shaped me in so many ways. I can’t describe how much love and care the people at this school have shown me. I came into UIC as this awkward freshman who would walk around campus with his headphones on full blast wearing this atrocious CPSA senior purple hoodie from high school.

I leave UIC as an awkward senior with headphones on full blast while still wearing this atrocious CPSA senior purple hoodie. Some things never change.

I had a plan. Graduate in 3.5 years with a dual degree in Biology and Psychology with a seat in medical school.

The thing about time is that it doesn’t care about your plans. It changes and evolves you to think of things differently. To be someone you never planned to be. I graduate later this month after 4.5 years with a degree in Economics. Sorry mom and dad.

It’s so difficult to try thank everyone who has helped me. So, I leave with the following message:

I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I used some of you and never thanked you. I am sorry for not being there for some of you when you were there for me. I’m sorry that for those who were silently struggling I was not there to talk to you in the lounge as some of my older peers did for me. I was selfish and I was never the older brother than other peers were to me. That’s my biggest regret. I hope you all can find in your heart to forgive me.

To all of you younger guys and girls who are going through this experience right now, enjoy it. I remember from “The Office,” Andy (Ed Helm) makes a statement that will always hold true.

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

of varying beliefs, and it was comforting.

You didn’t just have shadows that you labeled as friends. You had people who reminded you that you could do better, be better. And maybe that’s the void, we’ve been surrounded and continue to surround ourselves with shadows. We crave ourselves and if we find people to support us, then great join the party. With the limited wisdom I have, I just want to say, don’t chase your shadows. College is the time to find yourself, it’s the time to mature into the person you want your kids to someday take example from. You’re not going to find that if you keep writing people off because you don’t roll in the same crew.

Find people who ignite passion and your purpose to serve, to shine in the few years you can before real life hits you and consumes whatever time you had left. Don’t let it pass by because you’re too busy with

cuffing season or last weeks tea, we’re Muslim I get it we’re always in cuffing season and we down those cups of tea like they’re water but there’s so much MORE out there. So many more things that deserve energy towards, that are fulfilling.

Things that can really make a difference in people’s lives, including your own.

Lastly, please get over the whole millennial, “don’t judge me” kanye-esque attitude. You need people, especially in this dunya, to respectfully remind you that you have more potential than you credit yourself for. Don’t let the fear of judgement close doors for you that otherwise would have shaped you into a better person.

When the MSA struck 12Javerea Ahmed

I’ve been pretty nostalgic these past few weeks, maybe because I’ll be starting my last semesters of college soon. Maybe it’s because I realize now that we don’t always grasp on to good things when we have them because we think they’re indefinite. I can wholeheartedly say the people I met in college my freshman year shaped who I’ll be for the rest of my life. I was just your average run of the mill lowkey Muslim public school kid. The kind where if I didn’t tell people my name they just assumed I was one of them. Fine with me, I guess.

But when I started college there was something about this MSA that made my heart swell with joy, something it hasn’t done in awhile. It was seeing the brotherhood and sisterhood and knowing that no matter how hard your day/week/ month was, you’d have people. Not just your friends, but people of all walks of life

Time has wings, can you, the reader, keep up?

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Editors in Chief Farooq Chaudhry Nuha Abdelrahim Managing Editor Ibraheim Mohammad Staff Writers Ummeselmeh Abdulbaseer Sarah Basheer Safa Shameem Nahian Saed Samirah Alam Nui Waris Ali Nasaruddin Javerea Ahmed Staff Artist Saba Ali

Doodles Sumaiyya Ahned Creative Direction Noor Abdelrahim Interested in contributing to Al-Bayyan? If so, email submissions to albayyanuic@gmail.com

Cover Photo Courtesy of Osman Manzoor

Meme Masters Aleena Haider Manal Qadeer Kareem Jabri