May 2016

May 2016

Issue 10

The UIC MSA Publication

Al-Bayyan

Growth

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5 9

2 7

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6 1 3 1 8 6

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1. Shapla Shaheen 2. Ayah Chehade 3. Madihah Sharif 4. Sharikh Khan 5. Mustafa Hoda 6: Sara Alattar 7: Javerea Ahmed 8. Farooq C. 9. Han Liu 5

Introduction

Everything in this world changes. Seasons, friends, traditions, opinions, you name it. But why? Why doesn’t God just let us settle into the comfort of Now? Why must He continue to throw us for a loop?

How is it that we can be the happiest person alive one day and have everything come crashing down on us the next, or vice versa? Whether change is positive or negative, these questions can confuse us and distance us from Allah (SWT). Positive change, perhaps a series of academic or financial successes, can make us think that Allah is rewarding us for how amazing we are. Negative change—the loss of a loved one, or maybe not getting into that dream school—can make us feel like maybe Allah is angry with us, that He’s punishing us, or that maybe He just destined for us to be losers. In reality, neither of these extremes are accurate.

Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, said that Allah says, “He who comes to Me walking, I will go to him running.” Everything that happens in our life is God’s way of trying to nudge us into taking that small step towards Him. Change can and will shake us, and it will take us for a ride to the top of the world and back down again. But it is what we do in the aftermath that really counts, and that is realizing and internalizing that HE is the only constant that exists. There is no such thing as being a perfect human being. In fact, our beauty lies in the reality that we are imperfect. We will grow each and every day, for better or for worse. The key is just to take that first step and keep walking.

Aamna Ghafoor

Incoming Sisters’ President

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Poetry You Changed Me, For The Better We all meet those special people For which we think to ourselves, Where in the world would I be?

If I had not met this person?

So this is not a declaration, This is not an explanation, But rather an ode, an ode To those who definitely deserve You taught me how to be silly and carefree You showed me that the sunrise Can be a very beautiful thing So for that I thank you You introduced me to my less serious side You taught me that in order to be free, Sometimes you just have to sing your heart out So for that I thank you You taught me that laughter is good release You showed me that sometimes, The best work is done behind the scenes, Without recognition So for that I thank you.

You taught me that ball is truly life.

But you also showed me how, To be comfortable in my own skin 3 years you’ve been there day and night So for that I thank you.

You showed me what it takes to be a leader But you also taught me that the best advice and companionship Comes from the heart I knew, when you offered us chai at 628 So for that I thank you You showed me that true friends Are the ones who really care You showed me how to be calm In the face of adversity A mentor, but at the same time, A real friend So for that I thank you

All Love You showed me that in order To not slip through the cracks You have to hold tight To brothers who care You gave me a chance when no one else would You brought me in and kept me there You chose me over others So for that I sincerely and will always thank you.

I wish you could stay But it is almost time for you to go You all did your part You all changed me, for the better So for that I will always thank you.

Dedicated to: The guy with the bike and long hair The guy who sings in stairwells The guy who I go way back with, all the way back to IFS days ;) The guy with bad knees but a good heart The guy who actually belongs in the genius hall of fame of all time The nice guy with an even nicer beard The gentle giant whose kicks are cray ABB

I’m ten feet tall when I stand on the shoulders of my brothers.

They never encourage the m-word, either.

“Not me. We.” Because I am just a soul in regards to Islam.

Yesterday, I stepped foot into a library.

My palms were sweaty, my throat was dry, and I couldn’t even think.

I can’t feel. I’m not cut out for this.

I was introduced to a group of people I didn’t think would like me.

I felt it, they judged me. They did.

Today, I’m sitting on the couch.

I’ve been told by three separate brothers that I could call on them for anything.

Whose three brothers?

It’s not “manly” to say “I love you.”

Even being the way I am, that phrase was reserved for women as a man. For blood brothers and sisters.

Never for friends. Just for family.

He stood up and hugged me tight. “Salaam.” His words broke through stones and glass.

I knew nothing then but I know a little more now. “You are loved, brother.

We all love you.”

Do I dare say it back? I love them too?

I trembled at the thought of being vulnerable. I had to ask myself, “Are they my family?”

Now, I’m ten feet tall.

Elijah Hernandez

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Our Love Compared to Eternal Love Many a times we think we’ve found the one Thinking our journey is finally all said and done That long exhausting journey finally over All because we think found our lover Thinking our purpose of life has finally been achieved Thinking we finally found happiness...or so we believe We go out seeking love Looking all over, searching for our so called white dove Willing to endure so many trials and tribulations Even go against all of Creation and their accusations We fight hard and let our emotions drive us Thinking that whatever we do is a must..

When in reality our actions have become absolutely superfluous We say that every little action is worth it Why? Because we think that person is so lit and just so legit When it comes down to that person we’re willing to make all kinds of excuses To such an extent when anyone talks bad about that person we cut them off and chuck our deuces We’re even willing to stand out all night in the pouring rain Just to make sure that person isn’t going through any kind of pain We do everything in our power to make that person happy That if that person isn’t happy then we’ll be all snappy feeling really crappy Losing that person is what we’re so afraid of Cuz we feel we’re so madly in love, which probably is just puppy love To this person we’re always running toward When was the last time you actually ran to your Lord?

We claim that we love Him (SWT) and do whatever we can But when it comes down to His commands all we say is, “Maaannn!!!”

When it comes to praying we say we don’t have time Making Allah something even less than parttime But even it comes to that person, doesn’t matter if it’s lunchtime or dinnertime

Put Together That person has our attention all the time, every time, anytime, driving us into way past overtime You don’t believe me?

You spend so much time studying that person I’d say you’re trying to get a PhD Just think about when you pray Instead of focusing on your Lord you’re thinking about “bae” We try so hard make our relationships official, many times even satisfied with it being unofficial In the end nonetheless it won’t be beneficial We don’t understand that our love is superficial Something that honestly, has become so artificial We claim we know what love is If we did we’d actually pick up the Qur’an and read it’s verses We don’t know what is love Only until we know the kind that comes from up above Allah loves us 70 times more than our own mothers Truly a love that’s like no other Amid in our darkness even during our darkest hour Have faith, turn to Allah and His mercy will surely begin to shower Regardless how far we have gone astray Allah tells us, “Don’t worry ‘Abdi I’m here to stay” Through our actions we may say we don’t care Even then since day one Allah has been there Regardless if we’re abandoned and left in the unknown ready to make our own tombstone Allah tells us, “Ya ‘Abdi have no fear you’re not alone” “Where ever you are I will be there” “Why? Because I love you, and out of everyone and anyone when it comes to you I truly do care” “My love for you is truly like no other” “Come back to me, you and I are truly meant for one another”

My hair does not shed, my stockings do not run; yet, I still fall apart.

Sara Alattar

Raja Amjad

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Shoutouts Shout out to master bedroom crew

Top Bunk Shout out to #1 in the apartment power rankings, 1418 ABB Shoutout to Umayr “Lambu” Ahmad for being genuine and a true brother

Your “Chosen One” Shoutout to Zamaan Sohel for secretly being a Jedi master

One of your padawans Shoutout to Adil Qaisar for loving me and my idea

Al-Quran pitch guy S/O to Lambu and Adil. Even though we weren't able to get you those intramural rings we all gained something better: love for our brothers. The brotherhood here on campus is something that you guys have built upon and made greater. We promise to continue this and make a lasting impact just like you two. #G.O.A.T.S. Fellow teammate and brother, I'd like to give a S/O to the brothers of 1142 and 812. Thank you for everything you have done for me and may God bless you.

Much love,

Abu Zafar S/O to Farooq and ABB for being extremely welcoming guys, always making sure I was involved and being great people

Taha Sharif Shout out to Asal for being more than a sister, but like a mother always looking out for everyone. Thank you for making this year spectacular and always letting me feel your love.

Princess Shout out to the MSA fam, what a great year, thank you for being such smart, wise, dedicated, talented, hilarious and amazing people who make the UIC MSA the best.

Sarah Basheer To the DeAngelo Russell of 1418, Jigloo Bund Anon

Hello all, I'd like to give a shoutout to our MSA 2015 secretary. iA she does well after graduating. #MD2020

Abdullah Hussain To Aisha Mujtaba, Bayan Takrouri, the twins Kiran and Rabia, I-Dawg, Maha, and Zara, thank you for being my everything this year aur hamesha se. Love you all very much.

To design team: thank you x10000, for your help, creative ideas, and selflessness! Best team anyone could ask for.

Asma Maghribi Shout-out to Maaria Shamsuddin! I'll miss seeing your beautiful self light up the place whenever I see you. May you succeed even more in the future with Allah (SWT) by your side in everything that you do.

S/O to Twin #1, my best friend, my other half. I'm glad I spent every possible waking moment that I could with you (as painful as it was sometimes) because I know I'll miss it.

I'm so happy we still have one more semester to go together. Thanks for always being with me and an early Congratz! to you, I wish you all the best in everything you do.

Kiran Fatima Shout out to Javerea Ahmed for being saltier than the Dead Sea. Anonymous To every single freshman in the MSA for being the most passionate, energetic, and involved individuals. Y'all brought so much excitement to the MSA. The success of so many huge events wouldn't have been possible without your enthusiasm for helping out. Y'all may just be my favorite Year/ Class. Stay fabulous (but please stop moving trees, it's weird).

Sarra Fazila, there really aren't many people like you in the world. There's only greatness waiting for you in the future iA.

Zara Raja To Fazila Vhora (who spells her last name incorrectly) for graduating and leaving us. We don't miss you at all. Forever a PC.

Anam Vohra & Zara Raja

I'd like to give a shout out to Maria Quadri.

You got this. No matter how hard it gets, you have what it takes. InshaAllah, you'll find what you love and go for it.

To my sister, Kiran. InshaAllah you'll be married a few months from now. All I want to say is : give the love a chance, smile cause I love your smile and so does everyone else, and I really do love you.

Rabia Fatima To the shura for giving me a second family I never knew I needed! Love you all for His sake.

Anonymous To every person who has offered me free snacks/given me their lunch/bought me food in the lounge and beyond. Ya’ll can borrow my iron anytime.

Who else?

TO MYSELF FOR BEING FREAKING HILARIOUS LOL.

Sara “Deezy F Baby” Durrani Shoutout to A. I love you. Please accept.

Adarsh To Asal Wahdan for that one conversation in BSB 140 first semester.

Child To Mobeen C, for showing me the meaning of a true friend, even though I haven't been the best one in return.

Your brother, always Shoutout to O.M. for being an energetic, helpful, and kind hearted person. And for being the perfect son for me.

Your not so perfect father Shoutout to Safura Ateeq for being down to do everyone’s mehndi.

Shoutout to Shapla Shaheen for eating people’s food so they get barakat for sharing.

Shoutout to Javerea Ahmed for struggling with me to pray tahajjud.

Sumaiyya Ahmed

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Shoutout to the Felicias in Islam. We didn’t do nothing, we just bad af.

Pakistani Felicia Shoutout to the Felicia who has yet to return any of my clothes, the Felicia who I still can’t get rid of despite getting a single room, and the pineapple wearing Felicia who tryna be president next year. Y’all still decent.

Bangladeshi Felicia Shoutout to my Felicias in Islam who be reppin the Desis/Africans with their big hair, winged liners, and mustard yellows.

Nigerian Felicia Shoutout to the Felicia in Islam with the distinct howl laugh, the Felicia aka Khalifa, and the Felicia with the clothing iron.

Ethiopian/Somali Felicia Shout out to Farooq Chaudhry for not only being the weirdest kid at UIC but also for being the most hardworking, dedicated, and compassionate human being I have ever met. Your excitement for outreach is contagious! Thanks for being such a great motivator! P.S. your 15 minute “no punch line” joke was awful.

The other PO I wanna give a huge, and I mean HUGE, shout out to Umayr Ahmad. Even though I haven't known you for very long you've made a huge impact on my life Alhamdulilah. Only regret I have is that we didn't meet before. May Allah bless you and give you the best of this life and the next. Cheers for a successful life InshaAllah.

To Adil Qaisar, thank you for welcoming me into the MSA with open arms, you're one of the funniest guys I know. May Allah bless you and grant you the best place in this life and next.

To Hossam El-Shikh for having the prettiest eyes and face Allah has ever created after the Prophet (SAW) MashaAllah, you the man.

To Hosam Hadid, one the greatest people I've ever come across into my life. You've honestly changed my life and helped me become a better person, I hope we will see each other again and pop bottles in Jannah together with the Prophet (SAW)

To my IAW Lead Partner Ronya, you're the greatest IAW Lead of all time and may Allah use you to lead humanity into Jannah #GOAT. Raja Shoutout to the Project Downtown crew, who have helped so many deserving people. You’ve shown me what it truly means to be selfless and the people who we’ve helped have shown me what it means to endure.

Shoutout to the AlBayyan crew, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure everything gets done on time! It’s been a great 4 years.

Shoutout to Senior Squad for staying together from the moment we all met each other in the lounge on that first day.

Shoutout to 1142! I could not ask for a better family Alhumdullilah :) The same goes for everyone who stays over!

Shoutout to Lambu, Adil, Basith, Farooq, and Zamaan for being a light for everyone.

Asif -Shoutout to Sarra Wahdan for being anchor that kept the Project Downtown and Outreach boat from sinking away. Your wisdom, thoughtfulness, and dedication has kept us afloat the whole year. I know Pat is proud, somewhere.

3 bananas, a box of granola bars, can of soup.

-Shoutout to Irfan Safvi for his silent, behind the scenes sincerity, love for goat-milk lattes, and genuine desire to help me, the MSA, and anyone else whenever in need.

Elly’s? Plz? Nuha Abdelrahim for your unparalleled enthusiasm, dedication, and upright character. Thanks for always looking out, always caring.

Aspiring Outlier Shoutout to Nuha Abdelrahim for lighting up Al-Bayyan Live. Your vision and dedication is uncomparable.

Shapla Shaheen

To my other half, Syada To my sisters who are the reason I get anything done To Hibaa for being my day one To Shapla for the breath of air To Simba, for making Farooq who he is today And to everyone in this lovely MSA. Nuha Shoutout to my cat, Gaara, for helping me get through the last four years.

Humaa Siddiqi To the IAW Outreach team. Your passion, energy, and commitment was incredible, and it left a lasting impact on non-Muslims and Muslims alike-- myself included.

To Osman Mansoor for his genuine care for the MSA, demonstrated by all his behind the scenes work.

Madihah and Azfar Sharif for always looking out for not only me, but everyone who they’ve crossed paths with. Thank you for showing me what it means to let your actions and character speak louder than your words, and for your guidance.

Zamaan Sohel for helping me cope with Stan’s not being halal. We’ll get through this together, buddy. And for December 4th-sitting on the floor in the lounge. For being there, like always.

To Taz. Your light heartedness and silent greatness kept me going-- more than you can ever know.

Umayr Ahmad for being a friend-- when that was what I needed most as a freshman.

Farooq Shoutout to Hassan Shamsuddin, Adil Qaisar, and Zamaan Sohel for a great three years. You guys will always be my presidents. May Allah protect you all.

The kid who learned a lot from you To Osama Khazi for being the person who introduced me to his family away from home. I’ll never understand why he thought I deserved it, but all MSA has ever done is give. So I know what I have to do.

Elijah Hernandez

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Brothers’ Crossword

Sisters’ Crossword Across 1. she says she’s a transfer but she probably ran away from an arrest 6. Her smilwe and wave made your day on the way to the lounge 10. Green eyes 11. Slept over with every girl possible during

Down

her freshman year

2. Palestinian and Guatemalan

12. A future Bollywood actress

3. Turkish and Pre-Med stu-

13. Amnesty International at UIC President

dent

14. Loves eating, sleeping, and Shah Rukh

4. This year’s MSA Secretary

Khan

5. She loves trolling as much

15. Comes from a family of MSA Presidents

as she loves engineering (1st

16. Former Al Bayyan Editor in Chief

place!)

7. Future lawyer 8. Loves studying all the time 9. Has the softest hands and gives the warmest hugs

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Dear UIC MSA, Not knowing a single person at this university when I first walked in, I felt quite small and lost. At such a crossroads, my path could have gone in so many different directions. I am eternally grateful to God for forcing me onto the right path. It truly is amazing how one individual or a handful of individuals can have a life-altering influence on your life. These individuals attain a reward from God for all the good that you do after that point, and likewise for all the people that you impact. Furthermore, these people themselves had others who touched their lives in such a manner. In this way, life is a beautiful pyramid scheme set up by God Himself to make it exponentially easier for us to earn good deeds. To make it even more surreal, many of the elder brothers who took me under their wings have younger siblings that are now just beginning their journey here, and I have had a much more intimate opportunity to try and pay it forward.

So much has changed. The UIC MSA is no exception. Any student organization experiences frequent flux and change; after just four or five years, the entire community consists of entirely different faces.

Naturally, with different people come different perspectives and different personalities. The UIC MSA community is a different community now than it was when I first began - and there isn’t anything bad about that. Change is good when it is grounded

in principle. We must always remember the bigger picture: we’re here to bring everyone closer to God and closer together, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done. We’re here to love and serve unconditionally. Seeing how many of my sisters and brothers in this MSA already grasp this bigger picture fills me with hope. As long as the bigger picture is continually passed down, the community will continue to grow brighter and more beautiful, bi’idhnillah (with God’s permission).

Some things never change. The future springs from the past. There were always beautiful people. There were always critics and pessimists. There were always struggles and challenges. There were always moments of incredible love and unity.

There were always people just trying to find their way. There were always others ready to help. There was always work to be done…and there still is much more to do. I am grateful to Allah that I at least did not drop the baton, though I may not have been the fastest runner. Now the time has come to pass it on, and with all of you amazing people in this family, I can do so with a smile of confidence and relief.

Thank you, MSA family. You are in my prayers, please remember me in yours.

Your brother, Zamaan

Thank you for the sleepless nights and the endless stress. Thank you for all the moments that made me ask myself, “why did I volunteer for this?” Thank you for the Facebook drama, the arguments about trees, the sad memes, and the parda.

Thank you for some of the greatest companions I’ve ever had. Thank you for the many adventures. Thank you for the many opportunities to grow, to learn, and to teach. Thank you for your love, your patience, and your generosity. Thank you for being my family.

My decision to leave shura was possibly the most difficult decision I have ever made. The last two years as a shura member have helped me grow. I have overcome trials and learned from my mistakes and my struggles. I was blessed with two families that I will never forget. Two families that taught me patience and tolerance. Two families that pushed and motivated me when I needed it most. My shura families have been nothing but loving and I didn’t think I would find the support I found in them anywhere else.

However, the heart of the MSA is not in its shura, but in its members. Anyone can be the MSA President or the next Events Coordinator, but it takes someone really special to step up and volunteer their time to help out when there is no obligation to do so.

You are the essence of the MSA. You create its natural beauty and allow it to blossom and grow.

Without you this MSA would not be successful, without you this MSA would not be what it is. Yet, it could still be better. Remember, this MSA is a family - you must always come together and accept one another for who you are. Cherish each other. Cherish the sisterhood. Cherish the brotherhood. Stay united. Wherever you are, whomever you are, you always have an opportunity to do good. There is always peace to hold onto and love to give to one another.

Stay Classy UIC MSA! As Always, Peace and Love (peace emoji, heart emoji), Outgoing President, Asal Wahdan

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Reflections From YTGY to Yunus Syed Yunus Syed

When I came to UIC, I had few friends, low self-esteem and was under the impression that I was socially awkward. The former changed the first day of school when I made friends with a few of the freshmen guys and Farooq. The latter still remains but, according to one of my friends “issok”. In addition, I went to an Islamic school for 13 years and was essentially sick of Muslims at this point.

The rest of the first semester, I made some Muslim friends, a lot of non-Muslim friends, and focused primarily on academics. As a result, I did nothing but study math for 25-30 hours a week and chill in the Math Learning Center or with the non-Muslims when I was free. However, I saw the freshmen Muslim cliques form, but I kept trying to avoid them. During this time, the cliques moved to the fourth floor of the library and everyone told me not to chill with them since I’ll only get into mischief. Little did

they know that my non-Muslim friends were influencing me in many worse ways (I prefer to keep this part of my life forgotten).

When second semester started, I still continued to believe that friends are a great distraction but I realized I needed to stay with the Muslims. Since the MSA lounge was practically dead in the morning, I walked my way up to the 4th floor of the library. At first, some people found it odd that I came out of nowhere and tried joining their clique. As the semester progressed, however, this became less of an issue, but even till this day, there are still some members of the clique who don’t like me (but this doesn’t matter). Although the guys on the 4th floor are very distracting, they still influenced me in a positive way. I began to pray, make dua and felt the Muslim “Brotherhood” that every Muslim guy on the court says they are apart of. When I look back to it,

I wish I came into UIC with no animosity towards Muslims and wish I spent more time with the guys during first semester.

With that being said, I want to thank the following guys for being there for me: Abdulaziz Ahmad, Affan Qadri, “Prince” Ali Idrees, Amru Qutub, Atif Siddiqui, Faraaz Khan, Farhaan Khan, Ishaq “Sarosh” Hameed, Kumail Zaidi, Mohsin Safvi, Kazi Moin Hussain, Munther Saadeh, Numaan Mahmood, Osama Khazi, Osman Manzoor, Rafay Siddiq, Rameez Baig, Saad Ghani, Sauban Farooqui, and Taha Sharif.

vealed to Umar (RA) that he was not on the list. It is said that Umar (RA) would cry from fear until his beard was soaked every time he came across Surah Munafiqun, to the point where he couldn’t even finish it. And we, not even among the best of the Muslim’s to walk this Earth, have the audacity to think that we somehow have immunity to hypocrisy.

Alhamdullilah the MSA has opened so many doors for me this past year, but of course with every blessing, Allah tests the believer, and although our tests may not seem burdening it is our duty to be aware of them. It is extremely important that everything you do is for the sake of Allah SWT. You shouldn’t be volunteering in an activity because it’s “cool” in the sight of others or if “everyone” is doing it. Personally, I’ve found there are innumerous blessings when we do things for the sake of God. And trust me, I get that it’s easy to get sidetracked and forget our greater purpose, but it is so very important that just like our sahaba we keep ourselves in check. Something I’ve

found to help me keep my intentions clear is to always do what YOU want for yourself and for everyone else, and that seems like a cliché solution but at the end of the day it’s the right thing to do. Often times, life gets blurred around the edges and you find yourself not even knowing why you’re doing something. Make sure your purpose is clear to you first and foremost. Every.

Single. Time. And if you forget, go back to where you entered, and check your intentions at the door. Bismillah.

Freshman Reflections Anonymous

I’m from a small northern suburb called Bloomingdale which has approximately five Muslims. Maybe more, but I haven’t encountered many of them. And growing up I didn’t have many Muslim friends, so the first time I really collectively experienced Islam outside of my home was UIC. I took every opportunity to participate in the MSA from the small events in the lounge to doing public outreach during Islam Awareness Week. And alhamdullilah for the opportunity to be able to grow in my faith surrounded by so many beautiful people.

But very early on in the year I came across a narration regarding Umar bin al Khattab (RA) which has stuck with me since then. Umar (RA) who, despite being one of the most noble and closest companions of the holy Prophet (SAW), feared that he belonged to the list of the munafiqun (hypocrites). When he heard that these names were disclosed by the Prophet (SAW) to Hudayfah Ibn Al-Yamman, Umar (RA) rushed in anguish to ask if his name was on the list. He asked three times until Hudayfah finally re-

Signed, The not so fresh, Freshman “O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.” (Quran 63:9)

10

AlBayyan Senior Reflection Rund Daoud

First off, I would like to start by saying please don’t judge my writing. I am by no means a creative writer and my sentences don’t flow so bear with me.

The start of my college career was not the easiest. When I began at UIC, I knew no one, had no friends, and was not really sure what path I was headed in. I was lost. I spent my first year going to school, attending class, and going home. Pathetic, right?

Believe me, I know. It wasn’t until the fall of my second year that my fellow engineering Muslim classmates showed me the lounge and honestly that was when I really began feeling like “hey, I think I’ll find my way”.

No one really knew me at first, but I guess everyone had seen me around in SCE and the Pier Room (my second home), always carrying a stack of books and a backpack that was too heavy for me. They all assumed I was a senior and weren’t convinced I was only 19. That became the little “bit” that helped me to get to know my first friends at UIC: Emma Ibrahim, Salwa Shameem, and Lana Shatat. They made me feel welcome and that was more than I could ask for.

As time passed, my circle of friends grew and so did my work load in Civil Engineering. You know that meme that goes “Study, Sleep, Friends: Pick Two”? They aren’t lying when they say that. It became

difficult to balance all of these together so I would pick two and focus on them, and then switch it around every once in a while to sort of balance out my life.

Fast-forward 4 years (let’s pretend freshman year didn’t happen which would make this 5 years), I have successfully balanced my schoolwork, friends, and sleep schedule and could not be happier with the turnout. I still would constantly complain to all my fellow MSA friends about how much I hate school and whatnot because it felt like I was going nowhere. It was not until April 22, 2016 that I truly felt I accomplished something and all my hard work at UIC paid off. My team and I won 1st place at the Senior Design Engineering Expo for designing the Navy Pier Flyover, a Movable Pedestrian Bridge over the Chicago River. Of course naturally, the first thing I did was share it on Facebook (because pics or it didn’t happen, duh). I didn’t expect so much love to come flowing in from all my brothers and sisters in the MSA. Comments, texts, phone calls from everyone telling me how proud they are and happy they are for me. Not only did it show me what I was able to accomplish, it showed me what it meant to be surrounded by such an amazing Muslim community and I owe that to all of you.

So with that, I want to give a few shoutouts:

*To the ladies of the MSA, thank you

for all your love and generosity these past 5 years and for being the best group of ladies I’ve come across.

*To the brothers of the MSA, thank you for always being gentlemen and lending a helping hand not only to myself, but also to all the sisters when they appeared to be in need.

*To the Engineers of the MSA, I still don’t know how we survived but shout-out to surviving.

*To the team I was lucky to be a part of in planning The Mosquers: Best Event I have EVER helped plan and attend. #TheMosquers #WhatIsApril20th *And finally to all the members of the MSA, thank you for showing me what having brothers and sisters in Islam really means and for always knowing what to say or do.

For constantly showing love, support, and kindness. For this, I am forever grateful.

some bumps in the road during these four years, they still stuck to me to make sure I was not led astray. During my later years, I wish I could have been a better role model to my younger brothers and sisters in the MSA. I could have done so much more as the previous brothers did for me, but even then I cannot reach their potential.

Only recently has it hit me that I am leaving and hitting the road of the future.

Maybe I feel that it is scary leaving because I am off to start something new, just like when I first started college. I just ask Allah

(SWT) to make it easy for me like he did when I asked to make it easy for me during college. He truly does not bear on a soul more than it can handle. Trust the process Inshallah.

Congratulations Class of 2016!

(And as Asal Wahdan would say…)

PEACE AND LOVE Rund

Senior Reflection Khalil Suliman

Zero score and 4 years ago, I chose to go to the UIC over Urbana-Champaign and Michigan-Ann Arbor because my parents had convinced me that it would be better to stay close to the family and the vast Muslim community in the Chicagoland area. I was at first annoyed, but what was waiting for me was something I did not expect.

Being a freshman who did not know any better about campus life and how college worked, it was great to have the MSA brothers looking out for you like actual blood brothers. Even though there were

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A Toast

Sarah Basheer

I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn with them. And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we give them the chance to and all the while, we’re helping them in return. Well I know there’s some that don’t believe it, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you. All of you.

Every year when a senior class continues onto the next step in their lives and graduates, they leave their mark on the rest of us. I feel it deeply when they leave, almost as if a little piece of my heart chips off.

Seniors bring so much wisdom, knowledge, and charisma to the MSA that without them there would be something missing. I’m sure all of us can attest to a time in our undergraduate lives when we’ve been touched or inspired by our upperclassmen. The closer

I come to graduating myself, the more I mourn the loss of my upperclassmen role models and the people who shaped my journey. While upperclassmen lead us and share their wisdom, it’s our underclassmen who continue to pump life into our MSA-forming a continuous cycle.

The MSA creates a bond between all of us and I haven’t felt it more powerfully than I have this year. And in my heart I know it’ll only grow stronger. To the seniors pondering whether they’ve left their mark on the MSA, yes, you have. Each and every one of you. You’ll be remembered always, because how could we ever forget you? We’ll think of the advice you’ve shared and all the things we’ve learned from you, whether you knew you were teaching it to us or not.

I thank every Muslim student that’s walked through the UIC campus before me and all

of the people who have shaped the MSA into what it is now, on our fiftieth anniversary. It’s incredible, the family we’ve made here. And I’m glad to have found success, contentment, knowledge, and happiness with all of you. It’s been an incredible year for me. I’ve been through so many experiences, adventures, and challenges, seen so much, felt every moment, and made so many memories. A toast to a spectacular year and to what next year holds, our seniors, and to the MSA family. I wouldn’t be who I am without all of you.

We as humans are more alike to plants than we think. The way each of us grows is similar in that, past the physical nutrients, we all need certain elements from compassion, social interaction, happiness, and love in order for us to grow and live. When we are deprived of these elements, our growth is hindered. When we begin to absorb the negativity and toxins of this world similar to how plants can suck up toxic substances in the soil, we begin to perish internally.

But also like plants we adapt. We grow tougher skin, we learn from our mistakes and we change things about ourselves to help us survive. We adapt to the stresses through faith, exercise, reading, writing, and our own various therapies.

Growth is a relative concept. Some grow wider, some taller, some even shrink, but growth is not just physical, and it occurs in all of us. It’s the choices we make that enable us to continue on with this beautiful, stressful, dangerous, and exciting thing we call life filled, with predators and allies. It’s

being able to choose to leave a toxic environment where your roots are drying up to search for a place where the nutrients are abundant. It’s staying firm and resolute in your faith when the storm feels like it is eternal, and it is budding upward when the sun finally shines. To grow is to survive, and to survive is to truly identify what parts of yourself you can’t live without, as well as those you can. And even when you feel like you’re stunted in your growth, just remember that spring always follows winter.

Growth Piece Sami Elmulti

I’ve learned recently in my biology class about all that goes into how a plant grows.

It’s really quite amazing for an organism that we sometimes forget is living, too, to be able to survive and adapt to its environment without being able to pick itself up and walk around like we can. Its roots go down into the soil to absorb nutrients needed for life, and the parts above acts not only as the center for the mechanisms that transform certain molecules into energy but they also give the plant its ability to be able to reproduce. And that’s just talking about plants in general! Look at how many different species are living all across the world and all different ways they’ve adapted! Some have needle-like leaves to reduce water loss, some have underground stems that span large radii to increase surface area, and other yet have pretty colored petals to attract animals that spread their seeds. Honestly, it’s all pretty awesome and we rarely think about it even though we experience the same type of growth.

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The Silver Lining

Reflection

Growth

My sophomore year I took my first 8 AM class that required attendance. My commute to UIC was over an hour long. I would get up at 5:30 to get ready and catch the 6:20 train because if I took the 6:50 train I would be about 10 minutes late and the professor would mark anyone over 10 minutes late as absent. It was a horrible experience.

Some days I would get up and be in such a rush that I would forget to pray Fajr.

I would walk to Stevenson Hall and almost tip over from the furious winds from University Hall. I would get to class and completely zone out and not listen or participate at all.

I hated those mornings. It was a tough semester to get through.

UIC in general was tough to get through. That combined with the face that I was was a Computer Science major and that UIC was not aesthetically pleasing to look at didn’t help much. It was a struggle to get through it all. I don’t think I would have made it through without the friendship the Muslim community provided for me. After that 8 AM class I would go to the lounge or Pier Room and have a blast talking to people I knew or people I would meet right there and then. That was the silver lining in all the 5 years here. It was the people that made it bearable, they made it great.

Leaving this community behind is the biggest part of UIC that I will miss. This place changed my life. It connected me with people who helped me connect with my faith.

I will forever be appreciative of UIC’s community and I will forever be indebted to you guys. I might not be physically at UIC after this semester, but I will be there if you need me, just like you guys were there when I needed you.

I hate saying goodbyes. I'm not sure what it is, but it's never really settled well with me.

It's been four seemingly long years at UIC, yet it's all passed in the blink of an eye. At the start of my freshman year, I always wondered why I never saw any of the seniors in the lounge, and I understand why now: life becomes hectic. We go through these years, trudging through the dirt, struggling against the waves that wash over us day after day. Sometimes it even feels like we're about to be swept away, but we always find a way to make it through unscathed somehow. I am beyond thankful for what this community has given me, as well as what it's given to so many others. There are no words to describe what we have accomplished here and it makes me so happy to know that we all left a mark in our own way, whether it was through volunteering, raising awareness, or just being there for a friend.

The people who had the most lasting effect on me, they did so unknowingly. It was in their actions, their words, and mannerisms that really changed my life and I want to take a moment to thank them. In these little things that I observed, I saw future leaders, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and analysts, not from their grades, but from the way they held themselves up when no one was watching. I saw the way they selflessly helped others, but most of all, what I saw was that they were genuine.

They were real. And it was through seeing these people, interacting with them, becoming friends with them, and confiding in them that I learned what it means to be selfless. I learned that what I really wanted from life was to help others. And that our faith and our intentions are what truly matter, above all else.

Before I leave, I just wanted to remind everyone that the little things are more important than you think. Every failure and every success is part of the experience, and the key to our growth lies in how we deal with them.

To the victims of someone else’s future success,

Adil Qaisar

Asif Mazhar

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We all grow up. At some point we all realize we need to man up and finally start fulfilling our potential. Become a little selfish. Focus on yourself even if it means letting go of people who held you back. Sometimes we hold on to bad people because of the good memories associated with them.

But that isn’t what this piece is about.

This is an open apology. To everyone you may have let down in the quest of your own personal growth. It’s a guilt we all need to live with it. As we progress and move up we tend to drag others down. It’s the natural order of things.

But to those who are reading this and feel that they have been wronged just know that every moment this guilt haunts those who have wronged you. Know that they are repenting for what they did.

Know that these people took the lessons they learned from you and are changing for the better.

It sucks to be the victim. It sucks to be the collateral damage of someone else’s future success. I feel your pain and I feel your anger. It’s 100 percent justified.

Allah loves those who forgive. Allah love those who repent.

For if a people were sent to this earth who did not make mistakes and did not sin Allah would destroy them and replace them with those who would. Those who would sin and make mistakes but run back to him.

Run back to him and cry. Cry in regret and in pain and seek his forgiveness. Cry in anguish and sorrow for what they did. For they know they what they did. They know what they did.

Allah is the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.

Sincerely, Boys who are now becoming men

Until next time, Asif

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Where has the time gone Hossam El-Shikh

It’s absolutely mind boggling to me that it has been 5 years here at UIC. I still remember the first day of school. I walked up to the Pier Room, before it looked like Barney the dinosaur redecorated it, and saw all these new faces. Little did I know how many of these faces would impact my entire world.

Some people that I met in that room that day have become people I would consider life friends. Since that day I’ve met so many fantastic and inspiring people at UIC and I can with 100 percent confidence say I wouldn’t be the man I am today without them.

Let me take you on a slight tangent for a second. Some people may not know this about me, but I was very different in high school than I am today. I was this quiet, super shy, to himself kid with the weird long bowl haircut (I don’t know what I was thinking). I never really got involved with organi-

zations or any causes. I just did the normal routine of going home after school.

I remember before starting UIC, I made a promise to myself that I would never be that type of person in college. I would be a person that people can come to for help, to talk, to simply grab a bite with. A person that would try new things, be more outgoing, and get out of my comfort zone.

A person that would get involved with groups and causes in the hopes of making a difference and also keep myself aware of the world around me. I don’t know honestly if I’ve fulfilled my promise, but Alhamdullilah I think I’m headed in the right direction and it’s a never ending journey.

So how does this relate to the people I’ve met? The people I’ve met throughout my years here equipped me with the tools I needed to do these things. I wouldn’t have grown as a person without the Grace of Al-

lah and trying to surround myself with good company: with people that genuinely want you to be the best person you can be, and Alhamdullilah the MSA is filled with these kind of people. I’m truly going to miss this community here, and based off my experiences here I know you all will change the world through kindness and unity because that’s all I saw radiating from this MSA. May Allah grant you all success and happiness in all your endeavors and keep this MSA like a second family for many like it has been for me.

look at humankind as the way God, the Perfect, sees it. Looking at your brothers and sisters through the Eye of Perfection means seeing in them beauty and heavenly light, regardless of who they are. Don’t think less of anyone who may appear to be weaker than you spiritually. For all we know, that person could be a hidden treasure of God. Let it be known that there are several hidden treasures in this community. There are many brothers and sisters among us at this instance who are quiet and unknown, but are in fact mountains in the eye of God. And for those of us who feel spiritually lesser compared to those around us, you are also great mountains. Never believe that God has forsaken you. Seeing through the Eye of Perfection means never looking down on others who don’t do what you do. It means never being jealous of those who do what you do, and perhaps more. The Eye of Perfection shows that there is light in all of us, regardless of the sins we committed in the past. As Muslims, we must believe in growth.

I believe that almost everyone decides in undergrad who they are going to be for the rest of their lives. We each have incredibly unique journeys that brought us to this

point, and now we get to decide what defines us. That is why undergrad involves the most rapid growth. We know where we’ve been, and now we decide where to go. I am incredibly humbled by the people around me and the journeys they have been on. For every single person I have ever interacted with at UIC, I would like to sincerely thank you. Each and every one of you has taught me more than you would ever know, and my heart becomes alive just by being in your presence. You are all my teachers, and I will always be indebted to you.

A Prayer for my brothers and sisters:

Growing through the Eye of Perfection Madihah Sharif

I once took a lot of pride in over-analyzing the people around me. I used to meticulously place individuals into specific categories in my mind, sort them into descriptors that would then determine how I perceived them. Partyer. Strict. Dater. White-washed.

Fob. Pious. Liberal. Conservative. Although these labels never directly affected my interactions with a person, it was in fact poison for my mind and heart. The truth is, as I soon realized, I myself never quite fit into any of my created categories. In high school, I was the first non-hijabi MSA president. I felt honored that my peers loved and respected me as their leader, even though I did not necessarily look the part externally. How gracious of those young sisters back then who not only didn’t disregard me based on my “un-Islamic” appearance, but rather placed me up so high as their mentor and advisor. How they perceived me helped establish my own sense of self.

I did not know it then, but this was the beginning of the dismantling of a corrupt mindset, and the foundation for building an opened heart.

Today, I can say wholeheartedly that understanding growth has changed the way I look at the world forever. I strive to

May your tree of life stretch its thin branches up to the heavens May it be lush and bear fruit May your tree of life grow thick and tall through the years, and one day act as a shade for the blossoming flowers beneath you.

With nothing but love, Madihah Sharif

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