Contents
The Rejuvenation Edition
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Cover art by Parise Henry & Shabnom Khan; inside art by Mehreen Rasheed
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News Friendraiser 2011: Total Success!. Bushrah Rahman Discover Islam Week!, Shabnom Khan
News Highlights from DC MIST 2011, Adam Kareem
News/Spirituality A Civilization Build from a Book, Shabnom Khan
Spirituality Rejuvenation, Emaun Kashfipour Protect Your Heart, Rejuvenate Your Iman, Anonymous
Spirituality Balance, Mohammed Shaikh Ahadith of the Month. Provided by Susan Shatila
Feature Converting Conversations, Mehreen Masoud
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Lifestyle | Reviews A Manner Forgotten, Zulekha Sayyed Cassa Della, Areeb Quasem
Creative Writing If Faith was a Color, Sheima Gimie
Creative Writing Tawbah, Tara Mohammed Majudegi-e-Maula, Farhan Shah
Alumni Alumni Happenings & Spotlight Update, Tubah Sultan
Message from Our Advisers Lessons from MIST 2011, Sahar Khamis Whispers of Spring, Tarif Shraim
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Staff
A lh a m d u limembers of the DC lah we are finally region, the staff and springing (pun inI were really eager tended) into the new to get others to season, and what share their own exbetter way to do so periences about rethan to ponder on verting to Islam and our own spiritual steps towards selfgrowth! improvement. In this issue, Keep your you will find articles eyes out for our final that truly call for issue for the semesself-reflection in order to re- ter—the Graduation Edition—in juvenate our faith. Ranging May, insha’Allah! from personal dialogues to - Bushrah Rahman discussing campus events Msa.nur@gmail.com that reached out to many
A Special Thanks to:
President: Areeb Quasem Vice President: Rushain Abbasi Secretary: Osama Eshera Treasurer: Mustafa Abugideiri Masjid Affairs: Fuad Saif CAIL Head Librarian: Zulekha Sayyed Public Relations: Muneer Zuhurudeen VP of Sisters’ Affairs: Manaar Zuhurudeen
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Editor-in-Chief:
MSA/MWM Liason:
Bushrah Rahman
Omnia Joehar
Editors: Mefruz Haque Aisha Hussain Anam Siddiqui Layout Designers: Sofia Beg Parise Henry
Shabnom Khan Tubah Sultan
Writers/Contributors: Sheima Gimie Adam Kareem Emaun Kashfipour Shabnom Khan Tara Mohammed Mehreen Masoud Areeb Qusaem
Fuad Saif Zulekha Sayyed Farhan Shah Mohammed Shaikh Susan Shatila Tubah Sultan & Our Advisers
President: Naomi Henry Vice President: Shabnom Khan Secretary: Noha Eshera Treasurer: Susan Shatila Public Relations: Omnia Joehar SGA Liason: Amina Haleem
News
Upcoming Events & Current Events April 17: Muslimaat-Al-Nisaa Fundraiser April 25: Al-Nur Submission Deadline April 25-29: Discover Islam Week May 2: MSA Recognition Dinner May 6: Al-Nur May Issue Circulation Date & MWM Graduation Bash
Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the Japanese earthquakes.
Photo from inhabitat.com
Friendraiser 2011: Total Success! Alhamdulilah on Sunday, April 10, more than 400 members of the community attended the annual MSA fundraising event. It was unlike any other fundraiser in that it was primarily focused on building bonds between the MSA, MWM, and the larger Muslim community of the DC metropolitan area. Not only did the event allow parents, staff, alumni, future and current Terps to see what the MSA has to offer, It allowed others to realize the value of having a tight-knit Muslim community, where others can come to each other in times of need, support, and just someone to talk to. Speakers included our very own MSA and MWM advisers, Brother Tarif Shraim and Sister Sahar Khamis, and alumnus and active community member Ehab Hassan, all of whom shared personal experiences with the MSA and MWM, and how these organizations affected their spiritual and academic journeys. As a result of this amazing night, the MSA and MWM raised over $20,000, Alhamdulilah! A special thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made the Friendraiser a success!
Image taken by Jamal Aladdin
Discover Islam Week! Come out and learn more about Islam during the Discover Islam Week on April 2529!! Be sure to invite all of your friends! Keep your eyes out for the fliers! April 25: "The Purpose of Life: An intro to Islam & the Prophet Muhammad" April 26: "Myth vs. Reality: Shariah, Jihad, Women in Islam, and more" April 27: "Jesus in Islam" April 28: "LIfe as a Muslim Terp" April 29: "Eat, Pray, Love: Friday Prayer with the MSA"
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News
Highlights of the DC Muslim Interscholastic Tournament 2011 By Adam Kareem Looking back, I couldn‘t be more thankful to Allah swt for allowing myself and those involved to be a part of MIST Truth be told, the entire MIST weekend itself was highlight-reel material. Right up there with Blake Griffin— dunking in once inhumanly possible w ays—and L i o n e l M e s si — scoring goals on 13 defenders (because two of his teammates got jealous and decided to play defense)— MIST weekend as a whole de- Brother Adam serves its Kareem presenting share of trophies at the time to daz- Awards Ceremony, zle audi- DC MIST 2011 ences. It‘s not because of the overwhelming amount of talent that Allah swt has blessed our community with, or the fantastic speakers that delivered knockout performances, but because MIST itself is in fact a spectacle. A spectacle in its singularity as the only time you will find so many high-school aged Muslim youth going out of their way to participate in an ―Islamic‖ event. For many Muslim college students, attending ―Islamic‖ events didn‘t really become a staple in our lives until, well, we arrived at college. How-
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ever, for 550+ individuals ranging from ages 13-18 to not only attend such an event, but to so thoroughly enjoy it and the overwhelming excitement and cheer that goes in hand so much so that they simply ―can‘t wait until next year‖ is something that you just don‘t see elsewhere. As the Regional Director for DC
these testimonies from the competitors are the most gratifying experiences. To have an individual walk up to you and say, ―Thank you all so much! This has really been a life-changing experience for me,‖ and to see so many former competitors mirror these same words in their actions today is the greatest gift of all from Allah swt. To know that you‘ve made a difference; from the longest serving organizer to the volunteer who
just so happened to be in the right place at the right time; to know that your actions on those three days will resonate for thousands of days to a young Muslim is precious, unique, and exciting. This is honestly the sole reason I am so passionate about MIST and why we encourage as many in our community as we can to take part in some way because it really is changing people‘s lives for the better in ways that very few things can. I see this opportunity as the RD as a trust from Allah swt and it is the very reason that I take this role as seriously as I do. I see this as an opportunity to finely craft a program that is proven to improve the lives of our Muslim youth who are— just like we were at their age— searching for their way into Islam. Searching for how to embrace their Muslim identity and celebrate it in a way that exudes the principles of this superb way of life. For this cause I and all of those with whom I am honored to serve on the MIST Board are committed to see our Muslim community here in DC, Maryland, and Virginia grow into the model of Islam that we pray that Allah swt will be proud of. Get ‖MISTified!‖
News/Spirituality
A Civilization Built from a Book By Shabnom Khan Many of us attend Brother Tarif Shraim‘s Seerah Empowerment Series this semester, where we reflect over the path that Islam took beginning from the word “Iqra.” Iqra can mean to read or recite, depending on the context. Brother Tarif explained that when Angel Jibreel held the Prophet (S) in the cave of Hira and told him this verse, it could have meant both. The Prophet Muhammad (S) neither knew how to read, nor did he have poetry or any form of literature memorized to recite. Yet this powerful command came to the Prophet as the first verses of revelation. Everything Allah (SWT) does is with Wisdom. There is Wisdom behind the first revelation telling us to read/recite. This is where it begins. Most of us are familiar with the history of Arabia pre-Islam. It was a hospitable society, yet it was also a society where the majority of people worshipped idols, which was also a major form of their livelihood, where many buried their daughters alive, where slaves were treated as lesser beings, and where tribes feuded for years over trivial matters. Yet, through a book, so many of these atrocities were abolished. Through the Quran. Umar (ra) was once seen laughing, and then crying. When asked why, he said he was recalling some memories. He said. "I remember that in the days of Jahiliyyah, I used to have this ido1 made of dates. One day, I became so hungry that I ate a piece of it. And then, I cried when I remembered digging a hole and burying my daughter. Whilst I was putting her in, she reached up and brushed dirt from my beard.‖ He ate his idol, and he buried his daughter who cared for him as he buried her. Umar (ra) went from this state, to Caliph of the Muslims through the
Quran. Then, it did not have an effect on him, but as a Muslim, it made him laugh, and cry. Umar (ra), the man who took turns with his servant riding his camel as they traveled to spread the message. Umar (ra), the man who employed a sister in a top administrative position based on her knowledge of medicine. Umar (ra), the man who became one of the greatest political leaders in history. Then, there were the Islamic libraries of Baghdad- at the time - the capital of the Islamic Empire. Scholars prospered in academic and religious research that made a tremendous impact on history. The translations of Greek books during the European Dark Ages brought new opportunity to the world. Sadly, much of this wealth of knowledge was lost when the Mongols invaded Baghdad, destroying the city including the libraries. It was said that the rivers ran black from the ink of the books that were tossed into the water. Brother Tarif shared with us
that of the books that we had in Baghdad, we probably still have about 20% today, and only 10% of that is even accessible to the general public. We‘ve lost our connection with reading, with seeking and gaining knowledge. Nowadays, we take shortcuts in so many ways. If we can get away with not reading our textbooks, we do so. Many of us are just never able to make time for personal ―pleasure‖ (not required) reading anymore. When we read over the Quran, in Arabic and translation, we don‘t reflect for it to have an effect on our minds and hearts. We as an MSA have our very own library of books related to Islam, yet so few of us actually use it. We will never know enough about our deen, we always have questions. The answer is there, we just have to pick up a book and ―Read!‖ This is a reminder to myself first and foremost!
“And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses” (5:83). 7
Spirituality
Rejuvenation By Emaun Kashfipour Every school week is generally the same for us all. As soon as we get up, we're immediately rushing to get ready for class, often times skipping breakfast to do so. Then the rest of the day seems like a blur. We run from class to class, to the library, meet with the study group, get ready for the next exam and on and on. Our goals become that next exam, that assignment, getting that internship, etc. With days like these it becomes easy for us to lose track of our main goal, serving Allah. Fortunately for us, however, Allah is not without a plan. Throughout these hectic days, we have five chances to rejuvenate our faith. When we stand for Salaat, we don't
need to think about anything but praising our Lord. If we were feeling down, salah helps us get right back up. When we begin to think too highly of ourselves, it brings things back into perspective. Five times a day, when we face the Ka'ba and recite the Shahada, we are no longer busy college students, employees, or volunteers. For those few minutes, the purpose of our lives become clear; we are just simple servants praising our Lord. Just by praying Salaat, we've done ourselves a great service, for it helps us to stay true to our responsibilities under our faith: "Observe the Salaat for it prohibits evil and vice" (29:45). Salaat is not the only ritual we
have for rejuvenating our connection with Allah. We fast every Ramadan and give up many of the day to day things that may not even be haraam to show us how little we need from this world and how rewarding it can be to concentrate on the next. Once in our lifetime, we put on the Ihram, perform the Hajj, and go back to our communities having been freed from all our past sins. Ultimately, every one of our acts should be for Allah, but we are forgetful by nature. It is for this reason that Allah has set up reminders every step of the way so that we can meet Him with the utmost purity on the Day of Judgment.
Protect Your Heart, Rejuvenate Your Iman Anonymous We always hear the ayah from the Quran ―Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves‖ (Surat AlRa‘d, Ayah 11). But the question here that begs to be asked is: ―How can we change what is in ourselves‖? Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said ―In the body there is a lump of flesh – if it is good and sound, the whole body is sound. If it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. That is the Heart‖ (Bukhari). Your heart is the most important part of your body both physically and spiritually. It is your heart that connects you to the rest of your body, and it also connects your soul with Allah. One of the greatest diseases of the Heart is Hasad (Jealousy). Jealousy can destroy all the good that you may be doing such as prayer, fasting, and charity. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said ―Beware of Jealousy, it will eat up your good deeds like a fire eats up firewood‖. Sometimes we may see jealousy
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as a sickness that is too big for us to have; that the person with jealousy is really messed up, but jealousy can be something as small as seeing someone with provisions from Allah that you want but don‘t have, and NOT saying Alhamdulillah for that person and making sincere dua for Allah to put barakah (blessing) in what He has provided them with. You should also say Alhamdulillah for Allah NOT giving you what He has given the other person as He is our creator, and He knows what is best for us. It might have been the case that if we had this provision, it would have taken us away from the Remembrance of Allah. Then the same provision that we so desperately want does not help us and ends up taking us away from being thankful to the Supreme source of Provision. Following your desires is another way to kill your heart, and it makes it unable to taste the sweetness of Iman. Desires are put around us all the time nowadays with TV, internet,
and mainstream society. But Allah SWT gives us motivation to stay patient and set our perspectives straight. Allah SWT says in the Quran: "But as for him who feared standing before his Lord and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge‖ (Surat Al-Nazi'aat, Ayahs 40 & 41). Only a fool would choose these worldly desires that are finite over the infinite possibilities that your soul can desire in the next life. One last heart-killer is Dhan (Suspicion). We can‘t look at a person and judge them by their outward actions, because only Allah SWT knows what is in the hearts. We ask Allah SWT to rejuvenate our hearts and make them soft and clean in order to be in His remembrance to prepare for the Eternal Bliss of the next life. Ameen. This is a reminder for myself first before anyone else.
Spirituality
Balance By Mohammed Shaikh Some people might have been surprised when they read my article last month, and may want to ask me about the reason behind the subject. I will try to summarize what I wanted to deliver as much as I can. Some of us (Muslims) see entertainment as a waste of time. We forget that entertainment is a need. I see what is happening around me, and how some people are competing to do as many activities and as much work as they can, even though they can't handle it. My advice is for those who care about pleasing Allah, and not impressing other people. If what you care about is impressing people and showing them you care about Islam, then please, do not read the rest of my article without checking your sincerity. This is my personal
opinion and it is up to you to whether take it or not. As I mentioned, entertainment can be an act of worship if done properly (if it is Halal, does not take over other priorities, and the attention is to refresh our energy to serve Allah). Yes, if Allah has put you in a hard situation, then you should deal with things differently. However, we should not put ourselves under a lot of pressure in normal situations. We need to take care of our problems, ourselves, and enjoy life. Live in the moment, see the blessings that Allah has granted you, and be thankful to Him. The Prophet – peace be upon him - is our teacher and example. We see how he dealt with normal situations and with hard situations. He did not deal with them in the same way. The
Prophet joked with his companions, he was helpful to his family in house care, was romantic to his wives, and interacted with children. It will be hard for us to change our way of thinking to have as much success as we can, but we should strive to do so. Do not overload yourself with things that you can‘t handle. If you have a way to handle them, then fine, and I ask Allah to strengthen you more. I do not mean that you should not participate in any activities. Having a lot of leisure time is a problem as well. Plan early to figure out what you are going to do next . A little sincere work can get us to Jannah, and that what we want. We should not care about the quantity as much as we care about the quality (sincerity).
Ahadith of the Month From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who said, the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever reads Soorat alKahf on the night of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Ka’bah).” ~ (Noted as saheeh by Sheikh Al-Albani)
The Holy Qur’an—image taken by current MSA student
He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” ~ (Noted as saheeh by Sheikh Al-Albani) Provided by Susan Shatila
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Feature Naomi Henry Senior—Geographic Information Science and Computer Cartography Environmental Science and Policy- Restoration and Management Naomi Henry was only fourteen when she and her sister converted to Islam together. Raised Christian, Naomi used to attend church with her mother, but was never comfortable with the fact that people literally worshipped Jesus. In her head, she believed people should be saying ‗praise God‘ rather than ‗praise Jesus‘ because did God create Jesus. Naomi‘s grandmother played a significant role in leading Naomi towards Islam. Her grandmother was in her 40‘s when she converted.
Conver Convers
Naomi and her sister desired more structure in their lives, but noticed it wasn‘t found in Christianity. As they tried to become more practicing Christians, all the contradictions proved difficult to follow. Then Naomi‘s grandmother gave them a copy of the Quran, which was much clearer in comparison to the Bible. They didn‘t have to pick or choose which rules to follow. An inspirational moment came when Naomi‘s sister opened the Quran and read a verse that said ―Today we have perfected your religion and have chosen you to become Muslim.‖ The sisters felt it was their moment to embrace the message they felt that God was asking of them. They practiced Islam on their own and took the Shahada soon after.
By Mehr
Kristin Lake Senior—Cultural Anthropology
Sister Kristin Lake
Kristin took a class on the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, which encouraged her to study her own religion, Christianity. She didn‘t find what she was searching for in Christianity and wasn‘t satisfied with the religion. Inspired by her class, she began looking into Judaism, but a friend of hers told her to take a look into Islam instead. She looked up the 5 pillars of Islam, and realized the pillars coincided with her initial beliefs. She next began reading the Quran and went online to learn how to pray Salat. Kristin describes her journey to Islam as very personal and internal. She lived alone at the time she was studying Islam and had time to ponder her life. She attended Jummah at the Islamic Center of DC. Initially, she wasn‘t comfortable praying alongside people, especially since she considered prayer to be a personal and individual ritual, but ended up staying in the Masjid for three hours. Kristin took her Shahada on April 2010. After converting to Islam, she feels more at peace, spiritual, and her mom has even noticed she helps around the house more often. Islam for her was the logical choice, and is a religion she feels is participatory. Even though there are many challenges she faces, Islam is the structured, internal connection to God she has always desired.
Nick Hoffman Senior—Political Science Nick grew up in a Catholic household, but was dissatisfied with many practices in the religion. He couldn‘t understand the purpose of confessing to a priest for one‘s sins, especially when he felt that you could just confess to God yourself. He knew that even though he couldn‘t hear God, God could hear him. It bothered him that a person who did not attend church was automatically denounced to Hell. Furthermore, he disliked how in Catholicism a person was held accountable for all their thoughts. He thus considered himself as Christian before Catholic. In high school, Nick did the same exact things that his friends were doing, but began realizing what a waste of time that lifestyle was. Nick had always had a passion for history, and through his studies was guided toward Islam. He knew that the Bible was not the legitimate word of God because it was edited by the Catholic Church. When Nick got to college, he took a Quran from the Dawah table outside of Stamp, and knew from historical facts that Islam was the truth. He reverted on September 9 th at the MSA dinner.
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Brother Nick Hoffman
Feature Omari Sefu
rting sations
reen Masoud
Sophomore—Geographic Information Systems (GIS) / International Development and Conflict Management Omari‘s father had became a part of the Nation of Islam a few years before Omari was born, but passed away when Omari was young. His mother‘s side was Catholic. Omari himself wouldn‘t classify himself as Catholic, especially since he hated the idea of confessing sins to a priest. High school wasn‘t the experience Omari desired. He didn‘t have much faith and probably would have identified as an atheist. His life before Islam can best be described in one word: lost. When he got into the University of Maryland, he was very excited to get away from high school and experience something new. But like high school, he couldn‘t identify with the other kids. He wasn‘t into the drinking or partying scene, which seemed to be all everyone around him was doing. The summer after freshman year of college, he found one of his father‘s old Qurans in the closet. He couldn‘t understand the Arabic script, so he went to the library and found Yusuf Ali‘s English translation. Omari decided to also read the Seera of the Prophet (saw). It was in the Seera where he found true inspiration. He realized that the Prophet (saw) was the man his family had raised him to be, and the man he aspired to become. He returned to the library and read more on Islam. Soon after, he went to a nearby Masjid and a big, intimidating-looking brother opened the door. Omari told him he was interested in Islam, and the brother grabbed Omari in a big bear hug and told him he had come to the right place. The man taught Omari his Salat and more about Islam. Halfway through a Khutbah he decided he needed to take his Shahadah. The last thing Omari had to say about converting was that ―The beauty of Islam is that it works for everyone.‖
Jamal Jeter Senior—Animal Sciences Jamal Jeter actually grew up in some what of a Muslim household, with his father being Baptist Christian and his mother being Muslim. His maternal grandfather had been friends with Malcolm X and converted to Islam around the time Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam. Growing up, religion had never been something pressed in his household, and it wasn‘t until middle school, when he went around saying he was both Muslim and Christian, that some Muslim brothers told him, ―Yeah, you know you have to pick one‖. He began identifying himself as a Muslim but he didn‘t know too much about the religion. When he got to high school, Jamal felt there was a disconnect between him and other Muslims because of his different background and the things he was involved in in high school. In his senior year he became close to the president of the MSA, who encouraged him to attend Jummah. At first Jamal was very confused about the Kutbahs, but his understanding slowly grew. When Jamal got to college, he was bothered by the fact there were Muslims in his dorm who knew his background yet never tried to help him with his faith. He recalls one time when he was drinking: he asked a sober Muslim brother in the room , ―How do you do it?‖ The brother simply responded ―I just do,‖ and that moment really sparked something in Jamal. That Friday Jamal experienced an emotional Jummah, realizing something was missing from his life. He began disconnecting from his floor mates who only cared about partying. He attended another Khutbah where he met people that truly inspired him. He remembers sitting with brothers Adam Kareem and Nurideen Bashir before the adhan, as they cracked jokes. Jamal approached them because they seemed nice, and they got Jamal to sign up for their soccer team– his introduction to people in the Maryland MSA. One Friday, the brothers headed to Romas, SHOCKED that Jamal had no idea what Romas was! Through these hangouts, he bonded with a smaller group of friendly brothers. Brother RidBrother Jamal Jeter wan invited Jamal to MCC where Jamal was amazed to see the large Muslim community. Jamal says that meeting people who had an understanding of their faiths allowed him to dwell deeper into his own.
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Lifestyle | Restaurant & CAIL Book Reviews
A Manner Forgotten By Zulekha Sayyed I took a Bayyinah class at Dar ul Taqwa Masjid not too long ago, not really knowing what to expect. Besides gaining a whole new perspective and appreciation for the Quran, a lot of what I got out of the class were the little things that Br. Wisam Sharieff talked about. In between teaching and telling funny stories, he would teach us things about Islam and Adab in general. For example, he always seemed to be annoyed when a person didn't cover their mouth when they yawned, and explained how that wasn't proper Adab. He told us a story about how he once went into an Islamic bookstore asking for a certain book, and the owner said that they didn't have it. When Br. Wisam asked why, the owner replied that it was because that one book didn't look as good on a shelf as an entire set of Sahih Bukhari. The book that Br. Wisam was asking about was Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners (Al Adab Al Mufrad) While the lesson of the story was how people don't really read the books on their shelves, it was also about how people don't really look into the other fundamental books about Islam, the importance of Adab, and how Muslims today have lost a lot of the general Adab when it comes to learning and other matters in life. I couldn't help but be curious about what was in Imam
Bukhari's lesser known book that Br. Wisam found so important, and SubhanAllah I found this same book in CAIL a few days later. Immediately I was hooked. Every time I open up this book, I find it hard to put down. There is a great introduction that breaks down the
science and complexities of hadeeth by the translator, Yusuf Talal DeLorenzo, as well as a comprehensive collection of hadeeths on just about anything that you can think of. Many of hadeeths relate to aspects of daily life that you never even think about. There is everything, from how to knock on a door, what to do when you love someone, what to say when your leg falls asleep, telling jokes, and yes, even what to do when you yawn. While one might think that these small details of life might not be so important, and that there are many more important parts of Islam to worry about, we should all remember that the Prophet (s) had the best of character and that we should always try to copy even the smallest aspects of his character inshaAllah. Also, when it comes to improving your Islam, it‘s always hard to change big habits or flaws, but is it so hard to start implementing small improvements in your life little by little? Allah (swt) loves those consistent acts. Don't be overwhelmed by the numbers of hadeeth in this collection; instead try to learn at least one thing every time you pick it up, and inshaAllah I hope you appreciate it as much as I have. The Prophet (S) said that the best of people are those with the best manners.
Cassa Della By Areeb Quasem Alhamdulilah, there is yet another Halal restaurant that can be added to the list of Halal restaurants around town. But this restaurant is a unique one - it is different than many of our halal restaurants. What makes this place so special? One answer. The Peruvian style rotisserie chicken. This restaurant is known as Casa Della. Alhamdulilah, Casa Della is not too far from campus, located on Chery Hill Road. Halal Peruvian Style
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chicken is hard to come by nowadays. As a matter of fact, there are few halal restaurants that offer rotisserie style chicken. Alhamdulilah, I had the opportunity to eat Casa Della on their grand opening. It was a first for me to eat Peruvian chicken, and I ordered the quarter chicken meal. This meal came with a side order, where you can choose from many side orders such as rice, mashed potatoes, chili, and vege-
tables. The meal there was absolutely delicious, Alhamdulilah. In addition to the chicken, Casa Della has a wide variety of meals, YOU can choose from—from hot subs, cold subs, buffalo wings, to pizza. this new restaurant is definitely a must eat. If you ever are looking for a place to eat near campus, this is a place that will not disappoint you.
Creative Writing
If Faith was a Color… By Sheima Gimie …what color would it be? Red like the rose or blue like the sea? Look around Jumuah and you will see sisters matching gracefully! Wait, how can that be? How can they all match so easily? Come on Facebook and your newsfeed will tell: an event dedicated for every jumuahs, how swell! Jumuah: the one day of the week no one wants to miss; the time where you get to see people you never get a chance to see during the week. One jumuah, a few of us unintentionally wore the same colors. After taking an endless amount of pictures and laughing over the clear sistertelepathy present between us, we took a moment to contemplate over the bonds that were created that day. Nour Al-Muhtasib, a spring graduate, loved the idea of coordinated jumuahs; in her ones with a meaningful purpose. From red in remembrance to the Egyptian martyrs to pink for Breast Can cer Awareness Month, the sisters are now promoting humanity every jumuah with the color of their hijabs. The sisters even extended the coordinated colors
(PBUH) said, "The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthening the other.'' He (PBUH) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. This hadith emphasizes the importance of unity within the Muslim community; for each person represents a brick, and together each brick strengthens another. As insignificant as color-coordinated jumuahs may seem, in the long run it is the same for the Muslim Ummah as establishing the strength of a single brick wall.
Images provided by Sheima Gimie eyes, it ―made people feel included… [especially] those who didn't always come to MSA events; anyone could take part in this.‖ Who knew such a small coincidence could have such a strong impact! It was then decided that we would color-coordinate weekly or at least bi-monthly for the sake of strengthening our sisterhood. It started out with the color yellow as a test trial, and Alhamdulillah, we are now succeeding through the rainbow! The choice of color progressed from random colors to
to the brothers. Alhamdulillah, it is always nice to see everyone participating in a unifying event, even if it‘s something as simple as hijabs. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Prophet M u h ammad
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Creative Writing
Tawbah By Tara Mohammed
Redemption comes In the form of a pension Paid in the darkness of the night's directness To You, The only Director of the moon, Swooning and cradling my heart in its crescent, Never have I tasted repentance so sweet... Regretful. I leave all my resentments with You As whispers spoken to the illiterate moons Soon to be bound and removed from the chambers of my heart Swept up with the winds To Your impenetrable confides, Oh, how sweet the taste of sparing relief... Ashamed. I bow unabashed Attached to Your Mercy Detached from the sin My weakness within Inhibits my release And my retreat into Your Completeness.
Fears. My tears fall As fallen wings Sunken from the stressors of my falls Sinking into the pits of my hollowed ambitions My plans are only as good as my intent So what is there to fear? Fearless. Containing my depresses I contest my regresses Detaining every grain of inane presentment Only to toss them to the sea Fuel for the minds of the weary My only fuel is Your refuge Which I seek under the deluge of Your moon's fluorescents As you swoon and cradle me in its crescent, I am transformed Into a heart conformed to You Conceived and relieved Through Your sweetest reprieve.
Majudegi-e-Maula* By Farhan Shah
My Maula is present everywhere. He is present in the praises of the nightingale as it sings my Maula's surah. He is present in the dewdrops on the flowers as they bathe in my Maula's dhikr. He is present in the Sun's rays as they shine my Maula's nur onto the earth. He is present in the wind as it blows my Maula's rahma across the sky. He is present in my heart as I embrace my Maula's loving majudegi. My Maula is present everywhere. *Majudegi is the Farsi/Urdu word for ‘presence.’
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Alumni
Alumni Happenings By Tubah Sultan
Brothers having a good time at Mimi’s Kabob, March 19, 2011.
Images provided by Adil Bukhari
The Muslim Alumni of UMD group is on a roll! This past month, they hosted their first ever Flavor of the Month, a meet and greet at Mimi‘s Kabob. Brothers and sisters came out to the gathering for a night to catch up with fellow alumni and eat some delicious food. This event was planned in February, where over 25 people responded to a poll asking which times were preferred when actually having the event. The results came in and the first event was at 6pm on Sat. March 19th. Alhamdullilah, the alumni first Flavor of the Month was a success and the group plans to continue this new tradition.
If you are M u s l i m alumni from UMCP and want to participate in this event next month, check out the Muslim Alumni of UMD Google group for details. Everyone is welcome to alumni-sponsored events, and to join the Google group, check out the following link http://groups.google.com/group/Muslim_Alumni_UMD. The Google group is very active with community happenings, events, and job opportunities.
Alumni Spotlight Update The nominations are in! We were not able to reach out to our Alumni for this month‘s Spotlight, but be sure to look out for special coverage of our awesome alumni members next month!
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Message from Our Advisers
Revisiting Faith, Loyalty & Citizenship: Lessons from MIST 2011 By Sahar Khamis I have been privileged to act as a judge in the oratory competition of this year‘s MIST (Muslim InterScholastic Tournament). The sight of the many vibrant, active, and pious young men and women, who came to the University of Maryland from many different schools and colleges to take part in this annual competition, filled me with joy and pride, and charged me with positivity and energy. I had the opportunity to listen to the interesting and informative presentations which these promising and bright young Muslims gave around this year‘s MIST theme: ―Loyalty: The Key to Faith and Citizenship‖. Some of them focused on their personal everyday life experiences and how they redefined the meaning of loyalty and rediscovered their true faith
through them, while others contextualized these experiences within broader societal and political events, such as 9/11 and how it posed identity and citizenship challenges to many Muslims. In every case, it is not an overstatement to say that I learned a lot from these youth. They allowed me to reflect on the meaning of these great concepts as they relate to my own life and the lives of those around me. Everyone of us certainly needs a moment of truth, reflection, and sincerity through which the deeper meaning of faith, and how it relates to loyalty to almighty God, to one‘s own values, family, community, and society, can be revisited and rediscovered. I think that this is the lesson that everyone of us must learn. I had my own learning moment through these
Muslim leaders of the future, upon whom I place many hopes, dreams and aspirations for the Muslim umma insha‘Allah. Sister Sahar Khamis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and an Affiliate Professor of Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland. She is the advisor of the Muslim Women of Maryland. She can be contacted at: skhamis@umd.edu
Whispers of Spring By Tarif Shraim In the midst of the endless clutter and disorder that fill our lives, something extraordinary happened two weeks ago. On March 20, the sun moved across the celestial equator northward starting a new spring. Indeed, all of us long for the arrival of spring every year, and expect it to arrive on time. Spring is a special time that brings out the best of us, makes us feel alive, and allows us, even if temporarily, to forget our pains and losses. But those precious spring moments flee so quickly, leaving us once more searching for those sacred moments that can revive our lives. And so we wait anxiously for the arrival of the next spring, but tragically neglect to hear the gentle whispers of spring that come to remind us, every year, of the promise of hope and life that every moment in our lives has. Who would have thought that a single moment can be a spring for the heart of a person? Yet that‘s what Allah and His prophet, peace be upon him,
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assured us of. Every moment that passes in our lives holds infinite treasures. Every moment can be a transforming encounter with Allah. Every moment can place us in the sacred valley of Allah. Every moment can bring us the healing and fulfillment that we long for. Every moment can indeed turn our lives around. “Oh Allah, make the glorious Quran the spring of our hearts”, the prophet said. Allah can make the Quran heal our hearts and rejuvenate our spirits, just as the spring. But how often do we miss out on such sacred moments when we read the Quran. With our cluttered minds and unconscious hearts, the words of the Quran seem to refuse to penetrate our souls. Every time we remember Allah or stand for salah, we‘re also facing the promise of having our lives turned around. Yet over and over again, we miss those precious moments because our hearts are not present with Allah. A person turning to Allah with a
heart full of yearning and a mind empty of distraction and doubt is a person waiting to take from the infinite treasures of Allah, every single time. In this state, every moment you turn to Allah, whether in supplication, remembrance or prayer, is a sacred moment that can revive your life. The past can‘t be reclaimed and the future is not guaranteed. All we have in our lives are the moments we live. Next year, spring will inevitably come again and on time. Between now and then will be an ocean of springs that await you with every moment that passes. “Oh Allah, make the Quran the spring of our hearts”. Brother Tarif Shraim works as a manager at MarkMonitor, a company that offers brand protection and anti-fraud solutions. He's a graduate of the University of Maryland where he previously served as MSA president. He is the University Muslim chaplain, and can be contacted at: tshraim@gmail.com
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