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infatuation. I will teach us to bend the outline of our lips into the shape of a question mark. To line our eyes not with shimmer but with the roaring deliverance of relevancy into the faces that so suppress us. We will lead the future with our hearts on our sleeves.
We will not respect mediocracy and we will not accept defeat. I am heartache, I am chance. I am tragedy, I am sanctity.
I am victory and I will lead the way.
By: Tara Mohammed
A
s the oldest independent country in Africa, Ethiopia continues to stand proud of its colorful historical and cultural background. It is the only African country never to be colonized and the only African country with its own alphabet. Recently, “Lucy” and “Ardi” – two multi-million-year-old human skeletons – were uncovered there. And of course, we cannot forget that it is the birthplace of coffee! But the greatness does not stop there. Let’s travel back almost 1400 years, to the land of Ethiopia, or as it was known then, Abyssinia. History of Islam in Ethiopia Under the early 7th-century king Al-Negashi, Christianity was the main religion in Abyssinia. Around this time, Islam had just begun spreading in Mecca while the Quraish tribe stepped up their efforts to suppress the first Muslims. Knowing AlNegashi to be a devout Christian and a just leader, the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) ordered some of his companions to seek refuge in Abyssinia. Al-Negashi not only allowed the Muslims into his kingdom, he gave them freedom to practice their religion openly and freely. When the Quraish sent a delegation to retrieve the fleeing group, AlNegashi rebuffed their advances and sent them home. Islamic sources say Al-Negashi converted to Islam in his later years. The Prophet (pbuh) himself announced Al-Negashi’s death and observed
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funeral prayers for him. Ethiopia Today Today, half of Ethiopia’s population – more than 24 million people – is Muslim, ranking it as the third largest Muslim population in Africa, after Nigeria and Egypt. And with such a fruitful history, Ethiopia is a great country to visit, especially if you’re a history buff! The city of Wokro, in the Tigray region, is home to the graves of Al-Negashi and seven companions of the Prophet (pbuh) who died in Ethiopia. Harrar, the walled city in eastern Ethiopia, is the home of nearly 90 architecturally unique mosques. Further north, the city of Axume, the capital of the old kingdom of Abyssinia, houses 3,000-year-old pre-Christian statues. If those aren’t reasons enough, visit the city of Lalibela to see the Lalibela Church, also known as the Rock Church or the Eighth Wonder of the World. In the early thirteenth century, this magnificent structure was carved from one rock ledge. It has become a hub for tourists and a pilgrimage site for members of neighboring churches. Whether it’s beautiful history or beautiful architecture, the majestic nation of Ethiopia has something for everyone.
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But I am a girl living in a box. My four walls, the perimeter of my arrogant captivity is this, the farthest edges that I have reached in our fair state and the blank canvas of my heart waiting patiently to see beyond it’s borders. My name is Hira Zeb, I am nineteen years old and I am a girl. A wide-eyed, short-legged, sequin strapped girl. I am a girl with a weakness for chocolate... who often leaps before she looks. I am a girl who believes in magic... and the theory of natural selection. I am a girl on a mission to find the perfect patent peep-toe pumps... and a revelation. A revelation of love. A revelation of joy from corners of the earth, from lands unheard of by those who claim to have felt heaven. I am every child of the YouTube generation trading designer jeans for hiking boots. Glittering screens for flickering street lamps. Tabloid trash for untamed truth. We’re all standing on the pavement together and I’m asking them, I’m begging them, my friends, to put down their cell phones, turn their ears to the voice of humanity and walk with me into the start of our own era. Let the age of repetition collapse. Let our indifference die, let our hearts be reborn soaked in salt, rung with ribbon. I am here to tell you that your pink nails can hold dirt and your dramatic tears can wash out desert sand and your skin is so much thicker and your bones so much stiffer and your life so much more powerful than you allow it to be. I am a girl born in apathy, living without sympathy, searching for a sanctity, having no regret.
I am a word without action. I am a voice without echo. I am like all the children of my days, pulsing with ambition, fighting for a solace, always waiting for something. I long for one thing and one thing only and that is a solid and pure momentum to reminisce upon. One brief, extensive, undying, unscathed, undisputed memory on which to say: This gives me irrefutable meaning and I am at peace with myself. Where I lived in TRUTH without depriving justice, without shunning the weak, the meek, the faces I don’t recognize from catalogs and catalysts and I didn’t have to sell my soul and I didn’t have to lie to a camera. A place where I could lead my generation out of deceit and into the salvation of living raw. Living raw, living raw... take my hand and we will go to a place where you can trade MasterCard’s for passports. Where we trade the statement of our age for the statement of our destination. A place where we trade twenty inch rims for twenty gallons of water for the village just north of ours cause they’re desperate for it. We must leave this box, paint our hearts with a distinguished rainbow and stretch out perimeters into the outline of a globe. We must turn our hand to another person from another world and make a connection. We must set apart and discover the roots of a life, of a land in need, of a field of unchartered relief.
I am a shifting, contorting cortex of unmet hopes, dreams and ideas.
It is my theory that this is our whole, this is our selves and here will be no strike upon the etchings of it from you.
I am an empty promise, an unwritten book, I am a mountain of glorious, absurd plans.
I am every dreamer living under a thumb, turning away from expectation and grasping
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Editor-in-chiefs:
President: Adam Stephenson VP: Monzer Hijazi VP Sis’ Aff.: Manaar Zuhrudeen Masjid Aff.: Omar El Nabwi PR: Areeb Quasem Secretary: Ismail Nicholas Treasurer: Nader Qassim
President: Nour Al-Muhtasib VP: Manaar Zuhurdeen Secretary: Naomi Henry Treasurer: Anam Tariq PR: Hiba Akhtar SGA liaison: Kadiatu Bah
Nurideen Bashir Sumayyah Taufique
Staff Editors: Hiba Akhtar Tara Mohammed Adam Kareem Anam Siddiqui
Layout: Ridwanur Rahman Shabnom Khan Tooba Mohammad Sanjana Quasem Mehreen Rasheed
Photography: Jamal Aladdin
Cover By: Mehreen Rasheed Shabnom Khan Nurideen Bashir
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
The Pen Do You Fit The Profile Taking The Hit For Islam Gaza Unveiled Beard Styles Tips For A Better Groomed MSA The Other Halal Place Near CP She Said/He Said Finding The Qiblah What The MSA Means To Me Praying In Public A Healthier You Who Am I? Passport To Ethiopia
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By: Nurideen Bashir
M I
t is said that once upon a time, in a place far beyond our own comprehension, and in a past way before MSA’s, furry Adam Kareem beards, hijabs, and hesitant salaams; Allah (SWT) created an instrument that would shape the entire reality on mankind. By Allah’s command, this instrument would document everything we go through from conception to death and beyond. This would be the harbinger that scripted every possible outlook and equation that we struggle to live by everyday. It crafted the idea of Al-Qu’ran way before the words of Allah (SWT) would reshape the world. It’s called Al-Qalam, or the pen; as most of us know it, and it was given the power to write history into existence. Our history. Our existence. Flash forward to today and the pen is but a shell of its former self and its true intentions. Bic and Sharpie, among others, have trademarked the pen as a simple utensil used to spew ink onto paper and leave smudges on the sides of hands. Now some spout very beautifully, glittery color for decoration and others have felt tips or make for good entertainment when you click them in syncopation but the pen is meant for much more than musical amusement that drowns out the professor with the really hard FOB accent. Before there were any other signs or miracles for us to marvel over, the pen represented the individual power wielded of Allah (SWT). What he asked of it, it
proceeded to do and much like it, what Allah (SWT) asks of us, we seek to do. One of the marvels of Allah’s majesty is that we too have been given the ability to wield power and go out and script the world as we see fit. Does this mean we are as capable or powerful as Allah (SWT)? Absolutely not since all that we have belongs to Allah (SWT). What it does mean though, is we are the harbingers of our own power on this
to do with your pen? What will we create that will sculpt and shape the world for the better? What will we pass on to the rest of the world so that our power is what shifts from us to them and around the world, not the other way around? Allah’s gift to us is life and the chance to serve him all drafted up by a single instrument. We are now that instru-
“Before there were any other signs or miracles for us to marvel over, the pen represented the individual power wielded of Allah (SWT). “
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planet. It is our free will and a given responsibility handed down from Allah (SWT) to use appropriately. Much like the pen itself. The interesting thing about the pen is it can only do what the person using it decides it can do. It only writes when you want it to write. It only moves when you choose for it to move. If someone asks to borrow it that power shifts from you to them. All in one, it is tool, instrument, and weapon for its wielder. The question is now, what will you choose
ment…What will we give in return??? And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All Wise. : [Surah Luqman: verse 27]
any Americans live the precarious lifestyle that consists of frequent visits to their intricate assembly-line-style, fat dripping, artery clogging, grandiose fast food chains that seem to fill that void created by hunger. However, as many of us learn the clear consequences of these diets, we begin to attempt to change ourselves and eat “healthier.” This juxtaposition or “counterbalance” to the American way has become a newfound fad. From the mental diet and activity as well. As Muslims, we don’t need salads now being served at McDonalds to the 6 a doctor or television commercial to explain to us the imgrams of fat subs at Subway, we can see that portance and consequences of healthy dieting. our society has come a long way since the last Subhanallah, if we just use our eyes and half of the century. open our minds, we can learn from the the It is not enough, however, Our body is our temporary Prophet’s (PBUH) time. The Prophet to just start eating healthy. (PBUH) has said that we should fill our Although, we constantly temple. Something that He stomachs with 1/3 food, 1/3 drink, and 1/3 hear this from crazy air. Now, what each person determines to health advocates, it did (Allah) is lending to us for be their 1/3 is left on them, however we not become a reality to must understand that we cannot cheat ourme until recently, after my this temporary time, and selves because our bodies are a gift from dad was diagnosed with Allah. Our body is our temporary temple. high blood pressure. something that we should Something that Allah is lending to us for a My father had not realized temporary time, and something that we return to him in the best conthe severity of effects that should return to him in the best of condihigh blood pressure may tions. The following are some tips that can dition we can. bring about until his doctor be used to help maintain our bodies and opened up his eyes to the mind. scary reality. In fact, it Health Tip #1: Cut down on the amount of fatty foods you seems as though it was the mental reality that consume. created the never-before-felt pain. This shows Health Tip #2: Do not eat to the point that you are painfully that our lifestyles are not just dictated by the full. physical diet or activities we partake in, but our Health Tip #3: Try to drink eight glasses of water each day to maintain hydration. Water also helps keep skin smooth, helps prevents headaches, muscle weakness, dry mouth, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Allah mentions in Surat Al’Araf, “eat and drink but waste not by extravagance..” (7:31). Eat and drink and take advantage of the benefits but do not indulge. Remember, our diet, exercise, and state of mind are just as important in Islam as loving one another for the sake of Allah.
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By: Adam Kareem
W
hat’s the first thought that comes to mind when you think of the times that you’ve prayed in public? For some, it’s uneasiness; for others, a sense of accomplishment and an opportunity to make the ultimate assertion to passersby: “I am a Muslim.” But for me – it’s another good laugh. This is because; of the times that I do pray in public, the people around simply don’t know how to act. Individuals who I would otherwise classify as impressively intelligent suddenly resort to behavior I can respectfully classify as humorous, to say the least. As an illustration of this concept, the very first time that I did pray in public, a good friend of mine happened to find me in rukuh. He pauses, looks around, and suddenly sees me kneeling for what we know to be sujood. Finding these motions somewhat odd and indescribable, he asked with puzzlement and concern, “Are you looking for something?” It’s difficult enough to maintain focus and composure when people start talking around you during salah (i.e. 28 seconds after salah in the musullah, anyone?), but when people start talking to you – that’s something else. Finding myself fighting off the erupting desire to just laugh, I instead concluded the salah with a large grin on my face, turned to my friend and meekly responded, “I was praying – what did you think that I was looking for that would require me to first bend over, then plant my face on the
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ground to find it?” What’s even more amusing than individual instances is what they all have in common. If you’ve ever prayed in a classroom on campus, and had an awaiting class walk in on you, you know that the response is a-l-w-a-y-s the same: Person A walks in and first sees an empty room, then a random person standing with their arms folded and apparently whispering something to themselves (that is, if it’s Dhuhr or Asr; any other salah and it’s a WHOLE new ball game). Next, they always happen to say and do just about the same thing: “Oop, I’m sorry, I…you…,” then, do this little nervous hop or walk thing, and quickly redirect themselves to the nearest exit. If a whole class is about to come in, the situation quickly becomes sitcom material, as in the midst of your salah, you hear increasing commotion and volume from right outside the door interspersed with comments such as “There’s somebody in there,” and “I think they’re praying or something.” Alhamdulilah, at the very least, they are respectful. Walking out of the room itself is a scene straight out of a Red-Carpet Premiere sans the Paparazzis, the cameras, Zach Efron …or even the carpet itself… but you get the point, right? You walk out of the room with a heightened sense of celebrity, maneuver through the 15 awkwardly silent people standing in wait, and add this story as just another time of praying in public.
I
t’s Saturday afternoon
and you are shopping with your friends. As you flip through the racks you overhear a conversation between the salesperson and a customer, “I’m sorry ma’am. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” You look up expecting to see someone causing a disturbance. Instead, a woman stands in your view; bewildered. She’s wearing black slacks and a white shirt. Her dark brown eyes narrow in confusion as she asks the salesperson why she must leave. The response is simple, “We don’t serve your type here. People like you can-
not afford things like this. People like you come in here and take things.” It takes a few seconds for the words to register in your head. The woman’s shocked expression now flashes before your eyes. You shake your head, hoping it was just a hallucination, but your eyes open to the horrid truth. With your hand frozen on the rack, you feel the anger rising up inside of you. You feel the aching of injustice. What
will you do? Is it enough to simply feel injustice? Do you continue shopping? This is, after all, your favorite store. Do you choose to take some semblance of a stance? As a nation, we have come a long way since the years of segregated schools and conflicts on buses, but profiling still exists. It may seem like an unlikely scenario, but unfortunately we have gone from a blatant discrimination to one that is hidden. As an Ummah we battle this issue everyday. What’s worse, we have begun to depend on the idea that someone else will stand up for us, and fight our battles, because, after all, we don’t want to meddle and cause more drama. Events from history come back in different forms. In the above story, the woman was mistreated because of the color of her skin. What if it was because she spoke with an accent? Or because she wore a head scarf? Will we stand in empathy while acting in selfishness? Don’t let your silence be taken as approval or defeat. The diversity and individuality of a people are contributing factors to the beauty and success of its nation. Even more so of our Ummah. The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said, “He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has no strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue. And if he has no strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart and that is the least of faith.”
“we have begun to depend on the idea that someone else will stand up for us,” 5 An Nur / Volume 15 / Issue 1
Domestic violence is a horrifying reality of our society, not just because of its innate contradiction with the human conscious, but also because of its disarming ever-presence. Recent studies have shown that three to four million women are beaten annually and roughly every 15 seconds a woman is abused in her home. In Islam, God has described woman and men to be partners of each other. While the two are different, they remain in harmonious balance, one completing the other. This message of unity through equality is woven intricately throughout Islam; it ties verses from the Holy Qur’an to the actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and leaves out any validity for violence or harshness between men and women. While there is no place for domestic violence in Islam, abuse has found its way into Islamic homes and Muslim families. Domestic violence is far from unheard of in Muslim countries. According to a UN survey conducted in Syria, nearly twenty-five percent of married Syrian women reported being beaten. In a similar survey conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in 2002, over ninety percent of married women reported being physically abused. In Islam, God ordains women a beautifully equitable role in society where they are not inferior by any measure or scale. The Holy Qur’an best exemplifies this equity between men and women in several places, but one of the most profound is in Surah Al-Azhab, which says:
“Verily, for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves [before God], and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly: for [all of] them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward.”(33:35)
By: Tara Mohammed
Are you lost, confused, or nowhere near a mosque? Is it prayer time but you have no idea where the qiblah may be? Fortunately, we have an everyday resource to solve that problem exactly: the sun! In North America, Muslims pray towards the northeast in order to face the Kaaba in Mecca. This is called the qiblah. Using the knowledge that the sun rises in the east and sets in the eest, we can calculate our geographic orientation without the use of a compass, GPS, Google Maps, or Onstar. Step 1: Depending on the time of the day, properly orient yourself with the sun. It rises in the East and sets in the
West. If it does the opposite, ummm…Run!?!?!? Step 2: Calculate the cardinal locations – North, South, East, and West – in relation to the sun. Here, if you are standing upright facing North, South is behind you, East is on your right and West is on your left. No, your OTHER left. No…wait…you’re turning the wrong…ok, get the GPS. Step 3: Calculate the direction of the qiblah based upon the cardinal system used above. Step 4: Get your prayer on Just a tip: When on campus, there’s never a reason not to know in which direction to pray. North Campus is really north, and South Campus is really south. Finding the northeast direction has never been easier! Or, just go to the Musallah and catch the jamah!
What the MSA means to me... By: Khwaja Ali
By: Sana Javed
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For some people, the MSA is just a club to go to to kill some time. For others it is a place to make new friends or shun HATERS. Some people go there to become more religious. For me, the MSA is a way of life. It is a place I visit to meet friends, pray and read Quran. But is that all I do? The answer is no. I go to the Musallah daily and stay there for five or six hours because of the relationships I have formed. When I see my fellow Muslims, I just feel good. The reason I devote so much time to the MSA is because I truly believe that a primary focus of the MSA is creating a community.
This community is a sample of around good people and HATthe real Islamic community that ERS, I have become motivated to we will all face after college. The become a better Muslim. I learn best way to be a better Muslim is more everyday and increase my to be around other Muslims espe- faith and learn to dodge seething cially the few who are not HATantics of whom else but… ERS. HATERS. The MSA is a huge part of my life. Without it, I would be lost on such a big campus. Every day I walk to class, I see fellow Muslims, and I smile. And every day I see HATERS, I smile as well (the MSA says that’s sadaqa.) Before joining the MSA at MaryI realize that after joining the land, I used to be a Ramadan MSA, I am content with my life Muslim. Basically, I would only and everything I have gained truly be religious during the month from it; including the HATERS!!! of Ramadan. After joining the MSA and being
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It is also in the Hadith or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), that the value and honor of women is reinforced by both his words and, more importantly, his actions. It is clear that violence against women is not an Islamic tradition when the Prophet (peace be upon him) never hit any of wives, and that some of the farthest-reaching words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are, “The best of you is the one who treats his wife the best.” Furthermore, it is the Prophet of God (peace be upon him) who, during his farewell pilgrimage before his death, kept repeating, “I command you to be kind and considerate to women,” echoing once again the powerful words of the Holy Qur’an. How, then, can men behind the guise of Islam abuse women? Surprisingly, many believe that Surah AlNisaa, in verse 34, permits this type of abuse and harshness. The verse itself says,
“offense” for which a man may “hit” his wife. Then, it made “hitting” an act of last resort…It is also prohibited for him to “hit” his wife initially, without going through a series of peaceful steps. So, the husband must first established that the wife was nashiz, then the husband has to go through several steps of anger management and conflict resolution before he can even think of “hitting” his wife. If these steps do not work, then the husband is allowed to “hit” his wife symbolically (with a bunch of basil or a handkerchief) to express his anger and frustration. Any harm to the wife from his action is clear ground for divorce. Furthermore, this symbolic act defined the minimal standard below which no Muslim may stoop. The Prophet then articulated repeatedly the higher standard in marital relations, that of tranquility and affection.” Al-Hibri also effectively touches on the importance of reading this verse within its proper context, “In fact, it [the verse] severely limited both the act and
“Men shall take full care of women with the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on the former than on the latter, and with what they may spend out of their possessions. And the righteous women are the truly devout ones, who guard the intimacy which God has [ordained to be] guarded. And as for those women whose ill-will you have reason to fear, admonish them [first]; then leave them alone in bed; then beat them; and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek to harm them. Behold, God is indeed most high, great!” (4:34) Dr. Jamal Badawi, author of “Gender Equality in Islam,” indicates clearly why taking this verse to justify abuse or violence is completely the opposite of Islamic teachings and practices: "Under no circumstances does the Qur'an encourage, allow, or condone family violence or physical abuse. In extreme cases, and whenever greater harm, such as divorce, is a likely option, in an effort to save the marriage it allows for a husband to administer a gentle pat with a miswak (a small natural toothbrush) to his wife that causes no sort of physical harm to the body nor leaves any sort of mark.” In addition, Dr. Azizah Al-Hibri provides even greater insight on this issue and elaborates on the initial point that Dr. Badawi made, “The gradualism reflected in the “Chastisement Passage” was not instituted as to the prohibition of “hitting;” that is, unlike wine drinking, there was no gradual prohibition of hitting women. The prohibition was immediate, but the approach was quite complex... The Qur’an transformed the concept of [permissible] “hitting” into a non-violent symbolic act. Also, the verse severely limited the
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concept of “hitting,” so as to empty both from their harmful content. At the same time, the rest of the Qur’an articulated a higher standard of gender communication and interaction. This is the context in which the ayah must be understood and interpreted.” Given all of this, it is painfully obvious how diametrically opposed domestic violence is from Islamic philosophy and principles. These verses, hadith, and articles make it clear that under no circumstances can abuse be justified as God’s will nor can verses be perverted to comfort one’s guilty hands and consciousness. This type of shameful violence has no place in our world today and especially not at the hands of those who follow the religion of Islam where the Qur’an heralds the woman as an equal and the mother as having heaven at her feet.
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Let’s start an MMM!
MWM? At first, I had difficulty coming to grips with it. The first question that came to mind was, “Well, if the girls have an MWM, then who’re all these other sisters in the MSA?” My first inclination was that they were spies, no doubt, hoping to infiltrate the ranks of (what I was slowly assuming to be an all-male) MSA. But trust that I am not alone; many of my comrades, colleagues, associates, and regular business partners all came with the same questions and concerns. “Does this mean that they’re breaking away from the MSA?” “Is the MSA so wack to these girls that they were better off doing things on their own?” “When will the first MSA/MWM Civil War break out?” All very legitimate concerns, I might add. But amidst the clamor of just figuring what this dastardly MWM was up to, one enlightened voice cut through the crowd of ignorance and doubt proclaiming, Let’s start an MMM!” Brilliant. Then, what began as an organization for the girls to come together to better serve their needs as a community in time spawned the most promising, although brief, poorly thought out, and conniving money-grubbing scheme the Muslim guys have come up with yet. The rationale was simple: since the MSA doesn’t receive university funding due to its presidential election process, we would get that money through the use of a marionette group titled the Muslim Men of Maryland to procure those funds and deliver them to the MSA. What a plan! How could it possibly fail? Well, except for the fact that it failed miserably, it was foolproof! Alas, the MMM never grew to beyond anything more than partly imitative Quizno’s slogan and instead was, “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, toasted.” All jokes aside, alhamdulilah for us, the MWM is great and is eager to serve all of our Muslim women on campus. Its mainly run by a strong, although small, group of committed women who put together a number of events to help everyone feel welcome and a part of the community here at Maryland with events like the MWM Ball and the Your Best You to name a few. See, I’m not blind, alhamdulilah, and I see that for many it’s a slow process; the whole getting familiar and joining in with people you may not particularly feel comfortable with at first (or, let’s be honest, even like). But that’s the reason the MWM is here, to help everyone get past that, and to make it easy to do what you can to please Allah swt – what other reason is there?
-Adam Kareem
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The MWM Mastermind Plan... Darn it. Sisters, quick! Ring the alarms. Looks like we’ve been caught! The other day, I was in a meeting with some brothers and I heard one of them ask if the MWM was even real. How did he know? How did he ever figure out our mastermind plan that we sisters have concealed for so long? How did he ever discover that we were really a front organization with a secret plan to take over the MSA and that we weren’t even real? Does he also know that we only exist to funnel money out of the SGA to fuel this mastermind plan? I wonder if he caught wind of what actually goes down at the MWM Ball and our “sisters only halaqas?” As I sat in this meeting, with a fake smile plastered on my face trying to conceal these thought that were whirling through my head, I didn’t know what that MWM was going to do. How could we continue with our Pinky and The Brain plan of MSA domination if they were on to us? It looks like we need an alibi. We need to give these brothers a legitimate reason as to why we exist so to allay their suspicions and keep them complacent. Hmmmm, I wonder what we could say to do this…. After calling a top-secret meeting of the finest MWM aides who had greatest insight into the innerworkings of those bearded heads, we finally came up with a plan. It was so simple! Why didn’t we think of this before? We could just say that the MWM exists to address “girl stuff!” Alhamdulillah, this could work! Whenever we use the “girl-stuff” card that always works! Trust me, I use it on my brother all the time and it works like magic! So here’s our line sisters: The MWM exists to address issues that are specific to sisters only – things that brothers couldn’t ever understand and give advice on because of the mere fact that they are brothers. I mean c’mon now, sisters have hijabs and brothers have beards. Sisters need mehrams and brothers are someone's mehram. How could brothers really help us deal with issues concerning hijab, proper dress, and hayaa? Plus, when the typical MSA cabinet is almost 85% male, the leadership may not be equipped to address issues that affect more than 50% of their population. Also, when inevitably questioned about the MWM, we can throw in that the MWM helps improve gender relations and communication for good measure. This should help dispel their fears about our inevitable duplicity toward the MSA. For now sisters, we need to halt our operation. After the MWM Ball it seems that these brothers have became increasingly suspicious. Some have even tried to investigate our side of the curtain to find evidence against us. Until further notice, we will say that the MWM exists to complement the MSA. We are our own organization with our own events, mission, and leadership, however we work in conjunction with the MSA. Where the MSA cannot venture, the MWM does. It is to help keep our community within the walls of 0204 Cole united and connected. That’s our new front sisters.
-Sanjana Quasem 12 An Nur / Volume 15 / Issue 1
Mohammed Omer told stories about Gaza. His stories were about people he knew and people he did not know. They were about the mothers who watched their young children bleed to death and the little boys who were playing soccer, but who never lived to see the score of their game. His stories were about homes. Little girls grew to become grandmothers in the homes which were demolished and destroyed within mere, unexpected, moments. Families were left shattered and homeless. Now fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons are knee-deep in what’s left after the demolitions, lifting, tossing, and rummaging, to find the remnants of their lives left scattered among the rubble. Mohammed Omer told stories. His stories left few eyes dry on Nov. 5, when Omar, 25, gave a speech to an audience of about 60 people during an event entitled “Life in Hell: A Journalist’s Account of Life in Gaza,” at The Palestine Center in Washington, DC. Photos of the Palestinians he spoke about were included with each anecdote. One is of a woman, wrinkled with age, staring at the wreckage which used to be her home. There is a bright blue sky in the background and nothing else, save for the crumbled rocks and debris. She looks wistful. Her mouth is downturned. According to Omer, Israeli soldiers called this woman one morning at three am and instructed her to leave her home immediately. She had barely five minutes before a bulldozer demolished the house. The woman survived, but one of her eleven children did not, and several of her grandchildren were injured. Not everyone was this lucky, explained Omer. “I think the Israeli soldiers make the phone calls to clear their consciences before demolishing a home,” he said. “There is a pattern. They call at three or four in the morning, and give five, maybe ten, minutes to evacuate. I have met parents who managed to survive the attack, but whose children all died in their sleep because there wasn’t enough time to wake them up.” Photo after photo, Omar shared the stories of the Palestinians in Gaza. There was an image of Ah-
The words of Mohammed Omer as told by: Hiba Akhtar med, a teenage boy who was shot to death when he went to his roof to feed pigeons after the Fajr prayer. This switched to a picture of Huda Ghaliya, a young, smiling girl. She was killed on the beach by Israeli soldiers. Next was Hadeel Gabban, the round-faced six-year-old who was doing homework when an Israeli soldier stormed into his home and shot him. Omer managed to get in touch with Gabban’s assailant, who insisted he was acting in self defense to a Palestinian rocket attack. When Omer asked why he shot the boy, the soldier muttered a quick “no comment” before slamming the phone. At one point during his presentation did Omer’s voice break ever so slightly, interrupting the otherwise straightforward, factual account he gave. “My older brother Hosam was 13 when he was killed by seven M-16 bullets in his head, neck, and chest,” said Omer. “He was killed while he was going to school. Our 34-year-old neighbor tried to drag his body to the hospital. She was shot dead by an Israeli officer. Her husband tried to help. He was shot and is paralyzed to this day. His brother tried to help. He was also shot. I saw my brother’s body in the hospital. I identified it.” Omar even played a clip he shot from his cell phone last year. Children were playing outside with a Palestinian flag. One boy tried to hang the flag from a building in Rafah, but the flag never made it. Israeli soldiers shot the boy and several others. The clip continued. Now, the boy’s brother was lamenting in the streets for his dead brother. Conflict with Israeli authorities has a devastating impact on all aspects of life, said Omar, who still lives in Rafah, just by the Egyptian border. He explained that resources and supplies intended for inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are being held by Israeli authorities. “The hospitals are empty,” said Omer. “They are flooded with plenty of gloves and no medicine. Essential supplies are not available. The ones that are sent from humanitarian groups never make it past the border. Sometimes they will show up more than a year after they were first sent. At this point, some of the medicines are expired.” Omer explained that Israeli forces demolished bridges in Palestine for no known reason, often take away electricity, and do not allow essentials such as food from humanitarian groups, cooking gas, and blankets in the Gaza border. With each story, with each photo, with each anecdote, Omer’s message remained consistent. The situation is desperate. Relief is nonexistent. Ambulances, needed desperately, are nowhere to be found. Those few that are serve no purpose. There is no gas to keep them going. Exports have also been affected, he explained.
I dream of drinking a cold glass of mango juice Farmers who earned their livelihood by exporting thousands of carnations to Amsterdam now feed their flowers to cows and donkeys. He showed pictures of the animals devouring the colorful feast, pinks, reds, yellows, and whites. “The flowers are not allowed to leave Gaza,” said Omer. “This is their best purpose.” Dressed casually in a blue shirt and jeans, speaking eloquently with a hint of an Arab accent, Omer looks like the typical 25year-old. One would never guess his life has been the way it has. Omer was born in the Rafah Refugee Camp and began reporting when he was about 18. Today he is a reporter for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Omer has dedicated his life to exposing the condition of Palestinians living in Gaza. In 2007, Omer was awarded with the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. His citation dubbed him “the voice of the voiceless.” The award came at a price. Omer won £5,000 as part of the prize, and flew to England to accept it. His reentry into Gaza seemed almost impossible, as Israeli authorities did not let him in. Intervention from the Dutch embassy in Israel did not help him. Omer’s personal accounts of being beaten and strip searched by Israeli authorities are posted on his Web site, www.rafahtoday.com. “I hope to bring the story of Gaza to the world,” said Omer. “It is essential for people to know the stories brought forth by journalists. We have to build the bridges of understanding.” His stories and photos reveal the desperation of the Palestinians, but Omer insisted that all hope was not lost. This message was made clear through the example of Abdallah, a Palestinian boy who Omer woke from a nap to ask him what he was dreaming about. “I dream of drinking a cold glass of mango juice,” he said.
9 An Nur / Volume 15 / Issue 1
By: Ridwanur Rahman
It’s been so long since I have shaved that, to be honest, I don’t even remember how I look like without a beard. Anyhow, this article will highlight the different beard types out there for all my bushy and non-bushy faced brothers out there. But before I continue, I want to underline why it’s important for the brothers who are capable of growing their beard to do so. The Prophet (saw) said in a hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim: “Act against the polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow the beard.” So it is clear from this hadith that men need to grow their beards for it is a strong Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saw) and that we need to differentiate ourselves from the polytheists and disbelievers, and this is just one of the many ways to do so. Let’s take a spin through the different types of beards that there are. I’ve even included a few “choice” examples to help you guys see what I’m saying. Let’s start with the Babyface (Level 0). I needn’t really describe this one too much because its self explanatory – the face is as smooth as a baby’s. If that doesn’t help, please take a look at Nurideen Bashir. Yessir!!! Just a step up from this, we have the Alhamdulilah (Level 1). This look features a few hairs on the chin, typically no more than 10 in number and ½ ~ 1inch in length. Many of these faces have been growing these same hairs since birth, and alhamdulilah, they make sure to shampoo and sometimes condition these too. May Allah reward these faces.
Next is the Patches?! (Level 2). Sometimes, no matter how hard our brothers try, they’re face will only comply with patches of beard in random spots and of varying lengths. The hair doesn’t grow with much rhyme or reason and is usually found in middle of the cheek, sideburn area, and along the jawline. After this, the face gets more properly coordinated and we have the Chinstrap (Level 3) as made famous by such people as Reggie Bush, LeBron James. Subhanallah, if we had more brothers who looked like those akhis, all of the Ummah’s marriage problems would be solved. Things get serious at Level 4 and brothers start lookin’ gooood (sisters! lower your gaze ^__^). The beard grows in at equal lengths from right under the cheekbone all the way to the chin. Holla at your boys Nader Quasem and Ismail Nicolas because they’re serious. The only problem: there’s this little vertical strip right outside of the mouth on both sides where NO HAIR grows – what’s up with that? Finally, there’s Beard Am Legend (Levels 5+). These beards are long enough to require regular shampoo, conditioner, and grooming. They can either be a food repository (that’s just nasty) or like Gillette – The Best a Man Can Get. Insha’Allah, everything has been explained and I hope that you all will now appreciate those with big, shiny, silky, cherry blossom conditioner smelling beards!
- Anonymous Sisters, have you ever been in the situation where you need a second opinion about an outfit, but the only person home is your brother? And Lord knows the only thing he ever has to offer is "I dunno." Brothers, have you ever wondered if your shirt matched your pants and the only person around was your mom? And when you asked her, she said that because you were her son you would look lovely in anything? Well, help is here! Check out these fashion DOs and DON'Ts for a little extra help in the morning! Sisters: Do: mix up prints with solids. This never goes wrong, but don't be afraid to experiment with bold colors! A black-and-white combo with a dash of something bright has fashion-conscious written all over it! DON’T: Wear print on print. This means pants and tops, tops and scarves, socks and sweaters.. whatever it is, please be mindful. A print-on-print fiasco can lead to permanent eye damage. DO: wear hijab according to the Islamic guidelines. Cover your hair/neck/bosom. If you're going to make the choice to wear it, you might as well wear it right and earn the respect you deserve:) DON’T: follow every new fashion trend. Not everything can be hijabified. Know when to stop. DO: choose colors that suit you and your skin tone well. This goes not only for clothes, but for makeup as well. DON’T: be perfectly matched. Everything in your outfit does not need to be perfectly color coordinated to the exact same tone of color. Mix it up a little, throw in a splash of the unexpected. DO: layer up. Sweaters over button downs, camis over tees, cardigans over blouses. Layering always helps when you're in a fashion slump. Pull two, boring pieces together the right way and you've got a whole new outfit! DON’T: tuck your hijab into your shirt. Very few people can pull it off with class, better to be safe than
10 An Nur / Volume 15 / Issue 1
sorry. DON’T: wear abayas/skirts that drag. Sweeping the floor with your clothes is really not hygienic/ attractive, unless you're Cinderella, and she doesn't go to UMD. DO: smile! It’s the best accessory. Just not creepily. DON’T: layer on the make up. Day make up and night make up are not the same. On top of that, Allah created us all in the best form, so let's be proud of how we look naturally :) DO: accessorize. An added piece of jewelry can be the one thing that you need to tie your whole outfit together. Don't be afraid to experiment with chunky bracelets and flashy rings. DON’T: go goth. Black does not match with everything. Colors are your friends...use them tastefully! Brothers: DO: wear kufis. Just not the flashy kind with the mirrors and colors... a kufi shouldn't be mistaken for a disco ball. DON’T: wear tight pants. When you make ruku or sujood, its really not a pretty sight for the sisters in the back. Please spare all of us who have to stand behind you in jummah. Please. DO: rock beards. Its fard, and sunnah style is
always the best way to go. DON’T: Let your beard take on a life of its own. Gel is your friend. DO: Give your polo shirts a rest. Really, they’ll be thankful and so will everyone else who is tired of seeing stripes in all different colors and directions. DON’T: take a shower in itar or axe. Its really not a replacement for a shower. DO: Purchase button down shirts, they go a long way. Wear them over a pair of jeans or dress pants, either way it works. DON’T: mix different looks together. Dress shirts should never be worn with sweat pants, polos should never be worn with track pants etc. DO: layer up. Layering is always a classy look and great for winter. A dress shirt with a sweater, a t-shirt with a hoodie, all appropriate ways of layering. DON'T: wear clothes that are not your size whether that be too big or too small. When your shirt looks like a tent or tiny-tee, it's not attractive. Wearing something fitted yet loose is always best. DO: get haircuts. Messy beehives are not attractive.
ALL TIME DO: In the words of Tim Gunn, Make it Work! Its (mostly) not about what you wear, its about how you wear it.
By: Tooba Mohammad
For zabiha eating food lovers, there aren't many options around college park. Of course, there is the traditional Middle Eastern and south Asian cuisine that's available throughout the dc metro area but there comes a point when one just cannot consume any more kabobs and biryani. Many college students have found comfort in the well known food joint named Pizza Roma's. It's accessible, quick, and hits the spot when you're craving a sandwich or of course pizza but what to do when one is craving something a little...different? Say a little soul food or some good old wings. Luckily for us, RJ Cafe opened in Beltsville a little less than two years ago. The following is my personal dining experience at RJ Cafe. I had actually heard about this place but had never tried it until a couple weeks ago. I walked in a little after my group had already ordered but the owner was very nice and went over all the specials with me very patiently. Being someone who is obsessed with food, it is not an easy feat for me to choose between so many great sounding specials. At last I narrowed it down to choosing between the Chicken Fried Steak and T-bone steak. The owner, again, very patiently described the two different entrees and suggested the Chicken Fried Steak when I said I wanted something very unique and flavorful. I ordered per his suggestion and added an order of Buffalo wings as well. The Buffalo wings arrived after a six minute wait. Jumbo sized and smothered with hickory flavored sauce made from scratch, they looked a little intimidating for someone who was not used to eating wings. Nevertheless, ignoring the people at the table with me and disregarding all dining etiquette, I picked one up and dug in. They were as amazing as they looked, perfectly fried and coated with exactly the right amount of sauce. I was only brought back to reality from food heaven when I realized my main entree was ready and just when I thought it wouldn't get any better, lo and behold, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. A perfectly fried fillet of chicken coated with colorful little specks of herbs and spices sat on the table, the aroma of the mashed potatoes, gravy, and the sautéed vegetables made this plate all too perfect. It was love at first sight. Needless to say, I finished every single thing on that plate and there was not a morsel left. I usually pride myself on being able to eat a lot compared to the others I eat with, but this was a new record, even for me. My love affair with Chapli kabobs and biryani was now ancient history, and I had found my new food obsession. I have not been back to RJ since then but I did try some of the desi food off their menu. The shami kabobs, chicken tikka, and chicken biryani to be exact. The aforementioned food items were decent, but it wasn't as intense of a dining experience as the chicken steak. I would suggest sticking to their specials if it's your first time there. The owner takes special pride in those and it comes across in the quality and taste of the food. So if you haven't been down to RJ yet and are craving something different, there's nothing that'll satisfy your taste buds quite like a chicken fried steak.
11 An Nur / Volume 15 / Issue 1