Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Ta’Alah Wa Barakatuhu.

So there’s this thing. It’s something completely phenomenal and amazing. Once you get it

there’s no turning back. Most people try to use this thing for good, but others don’t quite see it that

way. Then there are the people in the middle. The people like me. See, I love doing anything that’s

good. I want to perform actions that only benefit this world. I want to be someone with a pure heart,

someone who always knows right from wrong. This is why I am Muslim. Because there is no other way

for me to live my life when I want these things. There is no other way for me to live my life that is right.

Islam is so pure and honest. It is the only thing that keeps me sane. It is the only thing that keeps me

complete. It makes me feel like I am someone.

Sometimes it’s very hard to feel that way. When you’re out and about it’s easier to act like

someone that you’re not. At home you’re one person. With your friends you’re another. In classes

you’re another. Do you call this a multi-personality disorder? I call it being human. We let ourselves

get stretched in tons of directions because...why? We all have bits and pieces in us that come from

different places but what is the outcome? In my case it is someone who is cut in half, someone who

wants to be one person but is another. I want to be so good, but I’m stuck on average. I don’t do as

much as I should, yet I do too much of what I shouldn’t.

I’ll let you in on something. This isn’t just how I feel. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself

agreeing with what you’re reading. I hope no one agrees, but let’s be serious. This is what’s wrong with

today’s youth. Heck, this is what’s wrong with today’s human population. We have the bodies and the

minds to do incredible things ad we just don’t. What some people would give to have what we have. It

brings tears to my eyes. And it has to stop.

My friends, it shouldn’t be this difficult. My brothers and sisters, we shouldn’t be so confused.

There’s good and bad in us all. It’s the one we act on that sets us apart from everyone and everything

bad and evil. If you can recognize those words from Sirius Black then you are a marvelous person.

Yes, I am a nerd. But it is completely true. It’s perfectly said here. “There is nothing heavier in the

scales than good character.” I won’t tell you who said that one. You need to figure it out for yourself

and then maybe you will find yourself going in the right direction. Now Ramadhan has passed but that

shouldn’t stop us from continuing the good patterns that we started. How many of you have begun

listening to music again, hmm?

Well…that thing that I was talking about before…that thing that is what makes us do all these

things. It’s something that can be so hard and frustrating to understand, and it is the very thing that we

are all so grateful for. We hate it sometimes, but we love it always. Will you use it for bad or for good?

Well it begins with which you want. You say you want to be good but lack motivation? Well what are

the good things you want to do? Now how do we actually make ourselves physically do these things,

especially if they’re on a daily basis? Here’s how. The secret formula. Tear your eyes away from those

hilarious but useless memes and take off your earphones for a second. Yeah we get it. The lazy

college senior is lazy and the college freshman is naïve about college life. Okay already.

Well look at that. You’ve just realized that without doing useless stuff, you’ve opened up the

next three hours of your day! Didn’t you notice it’s time to pray Asr? Whether you’re at school, at work,

or at home, remember the world is your masjid. You look on the calendar and what do you know.

Project downtown is tomorrow! Whaaat?! Yeah. It’s that easy. We just make it hard. You don’t have to

be one of those in-between people. We can all be 100% good because we actually try and don’t sit

around and let life pass us by. Then we’ve all graduated from UIC and keep saying how quickly the

time has passed and regret not doing more. Don’t let this happen to you! It doesn’t have to be this way

at all. By the way that “thing”? It’s called life.

So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to submit this piece to AlBayyan and if you’re reading this in

the newsletter then that means that they agree with me too. Now I will make wudu and I will pray.

Before I go though, I want to welcome all new students to the UIC MSA. This won’t be the last that you

hear from me, inshAllah. I’ll be here, in the AlBayyan newsletter, during MSA Assassins (aww yeahh),

during midterms, during Fast-A-Thon, during finals, and next semester. I’ll be watching over all of you

like a hawk. Okay, that’s creepy. But seriously, I will challenge myself to be a better Muslim, and KEEP

it that way. I hope you join me. Let’s call this “The Great Quest”. We’re in for a wonderful year.

Ma’assalama.

-Anonymous

“Be content with what Allah has given you, and

you will be among the richest of people.”

The Purpose of your Education at the University

Education is at your disposal at the University, it is the responsibility of the student to pursue

the knowledge. As reported in the IPEDS Graduation Rate Survey, 53% of the freshmen completed their bachelor’s within six years of their enrollment. What happened to the rest of the 47% of the students? The academic structure at UIC is such that it allows multiple avenues for students to discover their own personal identity. Not only does being at the University signify that you are on an upper level academically but also that students at this level have the special opportunity to paint anything they desire onto their canvas or university transcript, so to speak.

Let’s suppose that a student that is a “pre-med” and decides to embark on the journey of
becoming a doctor. Where does that journey begin? Perhaps it was as soon as he/she enrolled in the
University. Or even before entering college and during their own voluntary experiences. No matter
where you begin, let’s applaud the mere fact you made it thus far. So now that we are here, what is
expected of these motivated students? Let us take a closer look.

Will there be some kind of initiation required for me to be labeled a pre-med student? Do I have
to join some sort of club that boasts its mission? The answer is yes and no. The reality of the situation is that the University gives the student freedom. Students at the University level are required to select a major of their choice. This is where the student has the freedom to drop everything in the past and decide for themselves a future withholding many different promises. Therefore you must choose carefully. Besides the selecting of a major, there are many resources available within your reach to help grasp a quality education.

The resources at UIC can range from the writing center in Grant Hall to the Science Learning
Center (SLC) in SES. Teaching assistants and other faculty are constantly looking for motivated
individuals that seek knowledge. Learning does not stop there; many different people of many different backgrounds are there to learn from you and for you to learn from them. Biologically we are of the same species! Limiting yourself to only class work will essentially not provide ample opportunity for growth in your career goals. Clubs and activities are available only to help students get involved socially within the context of the UIC community and beyond.

Let’s make it a point to help each other in the terms of academia; a group of doctors is more
beneficial than just one. Learning from others past experiences will develop better doctors, or any other form of a professional. UIC is in need of these kinds of people who are there to sacrifice their time to better help the sense of community that UIC offers. So don’t be shy and show up on time insha’ Allah.

Lastly as you embark on this journey of knowledge it is important to be conscious of why it is
you chose the direction of your own individual path. Does choosing a particular major benefit you or someone else? It may be possible that your chosen path will not work. Learning experiences whether
positive or negative often can be the result of where you end up along this journey of seeking
knowledge. May Allah (swt) grant you the best of what education has to offer as well as success.
By Muzaffar Khan

"I do this for the money!....said no teacher ever."

Teachers Union is striking

they are choosing not to teach

many people are taking this fact

and misinterpreting what it means.

Media is media, no matter what the subject

So before you point fingers, be sure to get your facts checked

They're doing this for social justice

not at all for money, power, or fame

despite the hate, showing great patience

while the world chooses them to blame

claiming that they're selfish

and they don't deserve a dime

when the fight was never for money

but for the students, this whole time

it's a fight FOR education

not a fight against it

try to understand the union

then do your part to support it.

while other countries honor teachers

here, they are made a mockery

no wonder we excel in not math and science

but in incarceration and poverty

invest in the future of your country

support the people who actually care

the ones who mold minds and change hearts

and when smoke clears, will still be there.

they will still be there with open arms and smiling faces

because that's just what teachers do

its in their aqida to love their students

yes, YOUR teachers love YOU.

understand the conflict fully

before making blanket statements

support teachers and empower youth

and watch your country conquer greatness

By Nida Iftekaruddin

AlBayyan September Issue

Click here to read the issue online.

Tormenting the Peacefully Praying

Within one week, we witnessed unfolding stories of hate crimes against the peacefully praying. I cannot wrap my mind around the thinking process behind throwing an acid bottle, lighting a fire, or shooting a place of worship. What gratification comes out of these radical acts of violence against groups of people who are just praying? Regardless of their religion, race, or social class, these innocent worshipers were just praying to their lord.

Unfortunately, because of our biased media and few bigoted politicians, frequently tossing around the term “Islamophobia” caused people to fear Islam comfortably. This leads to the torment of the peacefully praying.

How can we change this?

First, let us avoid using the term “Islamophobia”. Yes, I have used it in this piece twice, but aside that, I feel that the more we use this term, individuals who are not Muslim literally see “fear of Islam”. Though used in the media frequently, this term is similar to a fad that will stop at one point. When? God knows. Nevertheless, the least we can do is not to contribute to harmful propaganda.

Second, it is time for us to step outside of our boxed environments and branch out. We need to make a constant presence in our communities. Whether it is sending food baskets to our neighbors during Eid or holiday greeting cards, acts of kindness and benevolence make a difference. Even inviting our neighbors to family dinner sparks interesting conversations and, essentially, friendships. Too many people fear these sorts of ideas or they feel like they do not have the time to interact with our neighbors. However, we see them often when leaving or entering the house and even a small gesture, such as, sending an Eid card is quite simple.

Third, we must constantly remind ourselves that the few individuals attempting to hurt this Ummah are uneducated people who do not respect worshipers. No matter the religion- Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, or Hinduism- everyone is praying. There is no need to chastise other religions, but rather unite, respect, and protect places of worship.

I pray inshAllah (God-Willing) that we strive to become the best role models we can be in our communities and attempt to overcome the fear of interacting with our own neighbors.

Additionally, remember to pray for the countless innocent in this dunyah who are victimized, oppressed, and abused in Syria, Burma, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, this country, and every place where Allah is worshiped.

-Ayesha  Qazi

Combating Islamophobia at the Grassroots Level

I was going to write an article with tips about how to make the last days of Ramadan count, replete with reminders of the many opportunities we have - even those of us busy with jobs or families - to sit down and read even a little Qur'an or do some dhikr (remembrance of God) or dua (supplications). (As a side note: duas are especially needed for our brothers and sisters who are suffering at the hands of oppressors, and for those who lack access to food, clean water, stable shelter, and educational and economic opportunities in so many places around the world; may Allah ease their pain and improve the situation of all of them.) And truthfully that's only really one part of it. Ramadan is also about sincere reflection, recognizing and attempting to change those bad aspects of ourselves, whether it is a propensity to lie, backbite, get angry easily, smoke, or drink, for example. When writing this kind of article, I was faced with a realization that most of us already know these things and are currently working on all of this, Alhamdulillah (all praise is for God). I deleted what I had already written, and was looking for something different to talk about. And then the topic hit me, over and over again, within the span of a few short and eventful days.

First, there was a tragic shooting at a gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Wisconsin by a white supremacist, killing six Sikh worshippers. Very soon after, a mosque in Joplin, MO was burned to the ground. Then, pig's feet were thrown at a mosque in California while Muslims were praying there. Then, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) agreed with a person at a town hall meeting in Elk Grove Village who was concerned about the threat of Islam in America, and added onto that argument by proclaiming that radical Muslims in Chicago's suburbs were "trying to kill Americans every week."  Then, air rifle pellets were shot at MEC in Morton Grove, damaging the brick exterior. It is clear that the situation has deteriorated quickly, and these problems are here and now, at our very doorstep.

In the aftermath of the gurdwara shooting, several news reports made sure to explain that Sikhs are not Muslims, intimating, perhaps, that the senseless violence would have made more sense had the victims been Muslims. If you look closely, you will see that too many people in our country are consciously or unconsciously painting Islam and Muslims with the same brush - that we are all supposedly a threat to America and the American way of life, or that we all share in some kind of collective blame for the actions of a few very misguided people. We are that mysterious "other" that politicians love to scare people with to score votes from ignorant people.  Rep. Joe Walsh chose his language carefully when scaremongering about Muslims trying to kill Americans - he implied that Muslims cannot be Americans; Muslims are one group (outgroup) and Americans are another entirely different group (ingroup). Of course, this could not be farther from the truth. We are both Muslim and American, and proudly so. Yet politicians and well-funded Islamophobic hate groups have been spreading a different message and they seem to be achieving their goal: a September 2011 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute showed that 47% believe that Islam's values are at odds with American values, and 41% would be uncomfortable if a teacher at an elementary school in their community was Muslim. These are just two examples that give some insight into the attitudes and fears that the average (non-Muslim) American has about us and our faith. It is incredibly saddening and frightening that anti-Muslim sentiment in this country, having been on the decline since 9/11, has reared its ugly head once again and has risen drastically since 2010, due to dedicated, vocal, and well-funded voices of hate.

We might be thinking that Average Joes must be so dumb for buying into the garbage being peddled by these guys, but we have to realize and accept that humans are lazy and, in the absence of any other information, will just accept what they see on TV or hear on the radio and use that to inform their beliefs. The media does not do us any favors by giving airtime to Islamophobes and dedicating extensive airtime and resources to stories that play into their narrative, like stories of "homegrown terror" plots. In a society obsessed with spectacle, the media will always prefer to air stories with shock value, rather than the obvious, boring stuff, like Muslim groups in the U.S. unreservedly condemning terrorism and declaring that it has no place in Islam (yawn).

What are we to do? It might seem kind of hopeless, but the fears, anger, prejudice, and hatred that is affecting our community primarily stems from ignorance. In general, we have not done a very good job of showing people what Muslims really are like (or should be like), and instead we have let Islamophobic groups fill the knowledge void. The depressing poll numbers about public fear/distrust of Muslims seem to stem from another poll number: 62% of Americans polled said they do not personally know a Muslim American. That is almost two-thirds of the country! And what about those respondents, who do, in fact, know a Muslim American personally? That group's percentage of people having negative perceptions of Muslims is drastically lower. Knowledge is power.

How many of us have non-Muslim friends and acquaintances? How many of us personally know and interact regularly with our non-Muslim neighbors? Coworkers? Classmates? How many of us have invited a non-Muslim friend or neighbor over to our house for dinner? Or, in the spirit of Ramadan, for iftar (the fast-breaking meal at sunset)? If you have been doing these kinds of things, good for you. Keep it up. For the rest of us, myself included: we have got some work to do. Every opportunity that slips through our fingers is a loss for all of us. Each and every one of us has the powerful ability to be "brand ambassadors" for our faith. We are proud of our faith and blessed to have been given it, and if we are awesome, then gosh darn it, we should not keep our awesomeness to ourselves.

We have an obligation to not only be good Muslims on the inside, whether that's inside our homes or our mosques or our hearts, but also to be good Muslims on the outside. Of course we might not be the best Muslims, but we should strive to be, and that includes perfecting our character, integrity, and manners. If we can do that - or even just try our best to do that - and reach out and engage the non-Muslims around us, we can do our community a great service. I am not talking about running and telling your neighbors that you are Muslim and that you have such-and-such good qualities. Not only would that be weird, but it would also be ineffective. I am talking about offering a smile and engaging your neighbors in a friendly conversation, learning more about them and offering them an opportunity to learn more about you, showing them through action how a Muslim conducts him- or herself. It will eventually come up that you are Muslim and at that moment, you have the power to make that person really believe that Muslims simply cannot be as evil or un-American as Islamophobes say we are. It is kind of like Inception, except used for good.

While it might seem odd for one person to have such a big impact on another's beliefs like that, that is exactly the way human psychology works. People always remember and always bring up vivid anecdotes. Imagine for a second, hypothetically, that almost all Muslims are bad people. If your neighbor knows you well, and knows you are a Muslim and a good person, you will forever stick out in their head as the exception to the rule. And they will always think of you when someone makes a blanket statement against Muslims: "Well, I know this one young woman, and she's not like that at all..." "But my neighbor Ahmed is such a sweet boy..." And that is how we can show people what Islam is all about - being a responsible, active citizen, committed to one's family and friends, striving one's utmost to be a truthful, helpful, generous, and compassionate person. And all of that is due to our commitment to the commandments of Allah and the clear example set by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, peace be upon him).

When this Ramadan ends, we should all inshaAllah (if God wills) do our best to leave this month with aspirations to be the best Muslims we can be. Hopefully that also includes a renewed effort to reach out to our non-Muslim neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and relatives, and convincingly prove to them that our faith enriches our lives and the lives of others, by being good Muslims in word and deed. We can all be that clear, positive counterexample that really gets non-Muslims to question and ultimately reject any kind of false argument about Muslims being dangerous, violent, misogynistic, deceitful, or whatever else Islamophobes and some politicians try to smear us with. If they close that door, then the doors of hatred, anger, and attendant violence will close with it, inshaAllah (if God wills). I pray that Allah keeps us all safe and makes us a united and prosperous Ummah (community).

-Anonymous

Ramadan Reflections: Hardships Are Hidden Blessings

Ramadan Reflections: Hardships Are Hidden Blessings

The pre-Ramadan enthusiasm I felt within me was unmatched compared any other point in time throughout the year. In prior months before this spiritual season, I regretfully admit to losing sight of many of my priorities and principals that I used to hold so dear. Thus, as Ramadan drew near, my spiritual preparations began. By mid-Sha’ban, my goals had already been set, my schedule was arranged and my heart was desperately anticipating for the blessed month of Ramadan to arrive. However, despite all of the extensive and precise planning on my part, I had come to understand that Allah is Al-Khaliq, the best of planners.

One week prior to Ramadan, I was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease in which cells within the patient’s pancreas fail to produce insulin, a hormone necessary to transport glucose into the body’s cells. Without insulin, the body is unable to use glucose for energy. Thus, diabetics recreate this process by injecting insulin into their bodies several times throughout the day. It is essential to continually monitor one’s blood sugar in order to maintain a precise, stable glucose levels.

Unfamiliar with the disease at the time of the diagnosis, my first concern had little to do with the my health, but rather whether or not I would be able to fast in the upcoming Ramadan. However, my doctors and family did not see this as a priority considering the disease had been developing within me for several months and their sole concern was to immediately begin treatment. Because I had been readily awaiting Ramadan for the past few months, this news was heartbreaking. I was absolutely crushed.

Completely terrified by this entire process, I quickly fell into somewhat of a depressive state for the days following the diagnosis. I was extremely frustrated by this whole situation and frankly, angry that this happened to me. The thought that consistently occupied my mind day and night was, “of all weeks to get diagnosed with diabetes, it had to be the week before Ramadan.” Even my doctors agreed that it was somewhat of an unfortunate coincidence. But nothing is ever a coincidence.

The first week of the diagnoses was the most disheartening, agonizing week of my life. All of my excitement for the upcoming Ramadan had instantly faded as I became so extremely occupied with doctors appointments and coping with the side-affects of the new medication. I was told that because I was recently diagnosed, fasting was not an option since regulating your blood sugar is a learning process that comes with time. Discouraged, I lost hope in having the much-anticipated “Ramadan experience.”

Although I was feeling weak in my iman, I attended the first Jummah before Ramadan. As expected, the khateeb gave a beautiful khutbah about fasting. He explained how there is no act of worship comparable to this because it is the one act of worship done solely for the sake of Allah Subhana wata’la. I felt as if I was hearing the concept of fasting for the very first time in my life because for me, it was the very first time in my life where it was indefinite that I would be able to fast. My eyes filled with tears as this thought became more of a reality. Last Ramadan I never would have considered the possibility that only one year later, I would be uncertain about my ability to partake in one of the most special parts of Ramadan.

I feel like I listened to the khutbah in a different light than everyone else that day. For others, it may have been an annual reminder about the blessings and beauty of the upcoming fasts. For me, however, it was an eye opening reality that forced me to apprehend my lifelong ungratefulness.

As I cried to my best friend that night, I complained that this was the absolute worst time for this to happen. Being extremely wise, she stopped me mid-sentence and said, “perhaps this is the best time.” She continued to explain that yes, a significant part of Ramadan is about fasting, but it is also about developing and strengthening your relationship with Allah Subhana wata’la. The beauty of the situation is that, while I may be experiencing one of the most difficult times in my life, I am doing so in the most blessed month out of the entire year where His divine mercy is shown everywhere. In that instant, I realized what an amazing blessing I was given. I realized that this couldn’t have happened at a better time.

“Verily, with hardship comes ease”. (94:6)

As only a few days remained before the commencing of Ramadan, I met with my doctor and reluctantly asked her again about the possibility of fasting. I spoke from the heart and explained that one’s health is a priority in Islam, but it would mean the world to me if we could figure out a way to safely go about fasting, although we are still in the beginning stages of treatment. To my surprise, she was extremely understanding and willing to try any sort of changes in medication to make it work. Currently, we are almost one week into Ramadan and I feel so unbelievably blessed to be fasting and experiencing this month as I would ordinarily. However, I have come into this month with a new frame of mind. I am truly thankful for how easy my situation has become, and for every other functioning part of my body that I previously tended to neglect.

We are all faced with trials that come in different forms and at different times in our lives. Theses trials have the ability to make or break us. It all depends on your attitude and your willingness to put your trust in Allah Subhana wata’la. I originally considered my diagnosis and it’s timing an absolute disaster. However, with a change in perspective, I am able to view this situation as one of the greatest gifts that Allah Subhana wata’la could have given to me. Not only is this hardship a means of attaining closeness to Him, it is also happening at the most beautiful, blessed moment in time.

Many Allah Subhana wata’la make us successful in our journey back to Him this Ramadan. Let us never neglect to be eternally grateful for every imperceptible cell that seamlessly functions so efficiently and beautifully within our bodies. Ameen.

-Lauren Tabakhi

Ramadan - A Time of Reflection

Don’t eat from sun up till sun down.  That’s what I learned when I was a kid. I began fasting at the ripe age of 6 years old. I clearly remembering begging my parents to let me join them while they withheld from eating or drinking anything.   That’s what I saw.  The only change I saw was that they would stop eating and drinking.  I always wanted to join in on things my parents did and this was no exception.  In school, I proudly told my classmates and teacher at lunchtime that I was fasting. The other six year olds would look at me with gawking, disbelieving eyes.  “You don’t eat all day?” I looked at them with this smugly superior smile and nodded my head knowingly, as if they were all beneath me.

But as a six year old, I just wanted to make sure I wasted as much time as possible to get me to maghrib.  There were days I would monitor the clock as it inched minute by minute towards iftaar. Ramadan to my six year old being was merely a time where I felt hunger and thirst.  My worship towards Allah (swt) did not change nor did my daily habits.  And I think that so many Muslims today continue to pass each Ramadan not knowing its value.

Alhamdulillah each one of us was blessed to live and experience this Ramadan.  A month where the blessed Qur’an was revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S).  It is a month in which all the devils are locked up in the hell-fire, and we, as humans, are merely left to battle with our nafs.  We are left to battle the temptations and desires stemming from our very being and instead attempt to replace them with purities.  Ramadan is a month where Muslims should dedicate towards cleansing and purifying themselves.  We need to build new habits and break the bad.  Learn more about our beautiful religion for it truly has something remarkable and unique to offer in every sense.  It appeals to the mind rationally and the heart spiritually.

Ramadan is a month where our hearts need to fast, and this fasting is just as important as the physical abstinence we put our bodies through every year.   Understand that Ramadan is not a month of hunger and thirst, but a time of reflection and understanding.  It is a month dedicated towards giving the Muslim ummah a chance.  Allah (swt) has decided to grant you this opportunity this Ramadan.  He has invited you to partake in the best of months.

Seize each moment because God knows if we will be alive for the next Ramadan.  

-Anonymous 

Race towards the pleasure of your lord!

Alhamdulillah Allah has blessed us with the opportunity to benefit from another Ramadan. It's that time of year where we up the ante and use all our time to do good. We turn off the music, turn on the Quran and even wait an extra month to watch The Dark Knight Rises. But this maxing out on deen makes it almost impossible for people like me to maintain such habits after the month ends. Truth is, I get burnt out. I try so hard in Ramadan and then get too tired to keep up the good work. Allah will ask us if we worshipped Him or if we worshipped Ramadan. After all, the goal of this month should be to develop good habits. It shouldn’t be to do as much good as we can then go back to our old ways. So how do we set realistic, attainable goals that can be continued once this month ends?

Take baby steps. We all want to get better, but realize that it doesn’t happen overnight. Most importantly, consistency is key. Choose a task that is small, but done regularly. Establish a habit during Ramadan so that you can continue once the month has passed, inshAllah. Also, grab a buddy. It’s so much easier to be good when you’re not alone. Choose a friend whom you trust, love, and someone you want to grow closer to. Do the task together. It can be a daily, or weekly thing; whatever works for you, just make it consistent. Doing it with someone else makes it that much easier. They will be there to give you that extra motivation and keep you in check, plus bonding over deen will bring barakah into your friendship and give it a strength that can’t be shaken.

Your task can be anything. Choose a lecture series and listen once a week together. Or choose a surah and memorize a couple ayat everyday. Maybe you can choose a new sunnah each week and work on implementing it together. You can try to give up bad deeds together too! Maybe try to give up music or gossiping together. The sky is the limit, folks. But the bottom line is that it's easier when you do it together. We are weak people, and honestly, we can’t make it on our own. That’s why we need each other to do good. “And hold onto the rope of Allah together” (3:103). And when we do that, our bonds grow stronger and we begin to love each other for the sake of Allah. This love will unite us on the Day of Judgment under the shade of Allah, while others drown in their own sweat.

So grab hold of someone you trust and race towards the pleasure of your Lord. Struggle and fight together. Love and protect each other. Develop good and solid habits that you can continue after Ramadan ends for many more months to come. Check your intentions and do it for the sake of Allah alone. And see the coolness it will bring to your hearts and the strength it will bring to your bonds!!

May Allah (swt) grant us all the strength to admit to our brothers and sisters that we love them. May He grant us the strength to grab onto His rope and struggle for the sake of deen. May Allah (swt) accept our efforts, and unite us amongst the righteous on the final Day. Ameen!!

Happy Fasting, and happy racing!!!

-Nida Iftekaruddin

The Blessed Month of Shaaban

Fast in Sha’ban In Honor of Ramadan

How often have we entered upon the month of Ramadan and felt as though our bodies required a week or so to adjust to the long days of fasting? Perhaps for the first few days, we feel extremely exhausted and unable to be as spiritually productive as we would like to be due to feelings of fatigue and weakness. We feel this way because our bodies are not physically used to partaking in consistent fasts throughout the year. However, we are blessed with the beautiful month of Sha’ban in which our Prophet, peace be upon him, advised us to increase in fasting during the first half of this month in honor of Ramadan.

Sha’ban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, immediately preceding the month of Ramadan. We tend to overlook the importance of fasting during this month due to the anticipation of Ramadan. However, it is the sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to engage in nafal fasts during this blessed month.

A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha’ban. [Muslim]

Sha’ban is the ideal time to partake in the nafal fasts, as well as make up any missed obligatory fasts from the previous Ramadan. However, we are advised to refrain from fasting during the second half of Sha’ban if we do not have a regular habit of fasting. This is to ensure that we do not feel burnt out by the time we enter upon the month of Ramadan.

“Do not anticipate Ramadan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.” [Bukhari]

Additionally, the physical benefits of training our bodies early on is a method that ensures we will make the most out of our Ramadan, without wasting any time physically adjusting to the act of fasting.

Many Allah accept our fasts during this blessed month of Sha’ban and allow us to see the month of Ramadan.

-Lauren Tabakhi Benedictine University

Rajab – The Opening of the Spiritual Season

How many times have we entered upon the month of Ramadan and found ourselves unprepared? Often times we go throughout the year indulging in our ordinary habits, anticipating that once Ramadan rolls around, we will instantaneously transform into better Muslims overnight. However, we find that when we enter into Ramadan with this attitude, we are rarely ever able to maintain our spiritual goals, let alone achieve them. Our most valuable asset is time, and here Allah (Swt) gives us a two-month period in order for us to prepare for Ramadan.

Flashback to your Junior year in high school. Recall how much time and effort you spent studying for your ACT. You may have taken a class to learn test-taking strategies in order to prepare. You probably began studying months in advance to ensure you would be able to preform your best. We did not simply show up on the day of our ACT without any prior preparations, in fact, preparing for that test became every student’s number one priority.

But why is it that we take such extreme caution to prepare for our worldly affairs, but neglect our spiritual ones? Just as we sharpened our pencils and double, if not triple checked the batteries in our calculator before the exam, we must begin charging the batteries of our iman before we find ourselves in the midst of Ramadan.

In surah Tawbah, we learn that Rajab is one of the most sacred months of the year. Therefore, we are not to violate these sacred months by committing sins.

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” 9:36. 

Although committing sins is haram throughout the year, this ayah is stating that during these sacred months, it is even more forbidden, and we should take special precautionary measures to protect ourselves against sins.

Time is of the essence, and as we are at the threshold of month of Rajab, we should begin our spiritual cleansing process in anticipation of Ramadan. Eliminate harmful habits, increase in ibada and most importantly seek forgiveness from Allah (Swt) in abundance.

As Rajab commences the spiritual season, let us begin setting and working towards our spiritual goals so that when we enter into Ramadan, we will be fully prepared to make the most of it.

May Allah make us all successful in our travels to Him and have a blessed beautiful month of Rajab. 

-Lauren Tabakhi (Benedictine University)

A Look into the Revolution in Syria

Forty years ago the merciless tyrant Hafez Al-Assad wiped out the entire city of Hama, killing more than 10’s of thousands of people, in an effort to quiet those asking for change in the government. The rest of the country and the world remained silent, forgetting the thousands that died, the thousands that were widowed and the thousands that were orphaned. We live in a country where freedom of speech is included in our bill of rights, and are given the right to speak out against our government, our rulers and anything that we do not agree with. The people of Syria, and other countries involved in the Arab spring, live in the fear of not only of speaking out against the government, but simply of having someone claim that they spoke out.

Being part Syrian, I remember visiting Syria a few years ago and experiencing that fear of speaking out first hand. I would walk through the streets of the country that I loved and adored and notice the enlarged photograph of Bashar al Assad at every corner, on the back of every car, on the door of every building, and in every room of every public institution. My younger brother once stared at the huge photograph on the side of an entire building and innocently asked, “Why is there a picture of Bashar everywhere mama?” Immediately my mother, aunt and all my cousins hushed him and stared around double-checking to make sure no one had heard him making fun of the president. This was only a small example of the hushed fears.

In March of 2011, children in Daraa, a village on the outskirts of Syria near the Jordanian border, wrote on the walls of their town: Down with the government! Down with Bashar! The government swooped in and tortured the children, ripping off their nails and beating them. This was the initial spark causing the uprising in Syria that is still ongoing today. A people’s claim for freedom and a change of government has brought upon them the death of close to 4000 people and the detainment of 60,000 civilians. Civilians who peacefully went out to the streets in Homs, Deraa, Deir Ezzor, and other provinces, to call for change, and resulted in a repeat of the massacre of Hama. This weekend alone, more than 400 people including 30 premature babies died in the shelling that destroyed Homs. Homs is bleeding, and people are sitting in their homes still debating whether or not the Syrian government is committing these crimes. On a daily basis Syrian television, networks twist and bend the truth, claiming all these atrocities are being committed by rebels and terrorist groups. If indeed they were done by these rebel groups, why would they kill their own families and destroy their own neighborhoods? Why would Qatar, The United States of America, or any of the other countries the Syrian government is claiming is instigating this revolution, want to witness the death of so many innocent civilians? And at times it would be a mercy to be killed and become a martyr, instead of the ruthless torturing the 50,000 detainees are witnessing. A man had his throat ripped open and his voice box removed simply for singing a song calling for Assad to step down!!

This inhumane treatment is being condoned by Russia and China, who continuously use their veto power in the UN for their own selfish purposes. I think it has reached a point where intervention is necessary! How many people have to die, become orphaned, become widowed, lose a son, daughter, sister, brother, friend, teacher in order for the world to move?! What is happening in Syria is a genocide, and there is not any time for everyone to sit around and discuss what is happening, argue about viewpoints or speculate about the future! It is time to speak out, to pray and make duaa at every moment of the day for all the people who are suffering in the world! This silence is leading to a repeat of Hama, but it is even worse, in Hama there was no media covering the atrocities, now there is every form of media covering the current carnage and bloodshed; Twitter, Facebook, news channels, newspapers, etc., to let this pass by would be a dark mark in history on our parts.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “ You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” The Syrian government may be content with fooling and lying to themselves, but it can no longer fool the world. This bloodshed has to stop and it starts with speaking out, letting everyone know what is happening, but most importantly it is important not only for us to make duaa and pray, but to fix ourselves. Allah (swt) says in the Quran, “Indeed Allah does not change the condition of a people unless we change that within ourselves,” this is a huge test (balaa) from Allah (swt) and also an opportunity for all of us as a Muslim Ummah to come together and correct our mistakes, in order to build a better future. The revolutions in the Arab countries are not simply Syrian causes, or Egyptian causes or Libyan causes, they are Muslim causes, we should all work towards a better future involving freedom for all Muslims! All the revolutions relate to all of us as Muslims, we need to put aside internationalism and associate with all Muslims as one. It does not matter if your Syrian, Jordanian, Pakistani or American, Sunni, Shiite, Muslim, Jewish or Atheist, we are all humans and the rest of the world needs to give the world the opportunity to enjoy the basic human rights that only a few of us are offered.

Pondering Our Words

Abu Hurairah - radiAllahu' anhu - reported that the Prophet said,

“Indeed a servant may say a word from which Allah’s pleasure is gained and the servant does not realize it, Allah will raise him up levels. Indeed a servant may say a word from which Allah’s displeasure is gained and he does not realize it, Allah will put him in Jahanam due to it.” 

- Saheeh al-Bukhari (8/485)

I am writing simply as a reminder for us all on the importance of good speech. Speaking justly is
extremely important to emphasize in our daily lives, because our tongues can either speak good or bad upon us at Judgement Day. If it’s the latter, all our good deeds, prayers, fasts can be cancelled out if our language violates the etiquettes of Islam as shown in the hadith: The Prophet Muhammad
said:

"A man may be so close to Paradise such that the distance between him and it is one derah (an arm's length) and he speaks a word and he becomes distant from it further than Sana" (Ahmad).

It is immensely difficult to utilize proper vocabulary in an age where media and corporations
dictate what Americans should say and do, and it’s necessary to always reflect on your dialogues with
others to make sure our tongue is pure. I will briefly mention a couple common mistakes many of us
make in daily life that violates the Sunnah.

1. The Golden Rule. 

We were taught this in Kindergarten: don’t have anything nice to say about anyone then don’t say it. It’s best to avoid talking about anyone behind their backs, even if it is good (because it can often lead to other discussions about that particular individual). Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleasedwith him) reported: The Prophet said,

"He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent'' [Muslim]. 

Backbiting is a grave sin. A common trick by Shaytan is to think that as it’s okay because we may treat it as a joke with friends rather serious, but backbiting is still a major sin and should not be laughed off.

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah said,

 "During the Mi`raj (the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, `Who are these people, O Jibril?' Jibril replied: `These are the people who ate flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people's honour" 

[Abu Dawud].

2. Foul words. 

We are at an age when we know every curse word possible. If you’re tempting to say
something vile, even a filler word, remember this hadith. Imam Ahmad and Tirmizi reported that IbnMasoud narrated that the Prophet (s) said:

 “A Muslim is not a person who slanders, curses, speaks obscene words or is abusive."

3. Useless talk.

 The Prophet would always speak good and avoid wasting time with conversations
that were of no use. We should try minimizing the amount we goof around and laugh with our friends, as The Prophet said,

 "Laugh little for much laughter deadens the heart.” 

Additionally, if we spend hours talking about basketball and football every week, then we should seriously reevaluate how much we value sports entertainment. The key to everything is moderation and not letting these petty distractions control our lives. Abu Hurayrah, May Allah be pleased with him, narrated that The Prophet said,

“A sign of one’s excellence in his Islam, is ignoring what does not concern him.’

[Ahmad, Malik & At-Tirmithi]

-Ahmad Noweder

In Perspective

 

His image in the mirror was blocked

Was not himself but the fear had stopped

But he was stuck on the path, and his steering was locked

He made no progress so his hearing had stopped

No longer progressing, became a parody

Was living a lie, but claimed clarity

What he had lacked to himself was verity

What he lacked to others was charity

What he needed was spiritual therapy

Gained respect of life through self, not inherently 

Through experience, achieved a greater perspective

Realized respect is required, and is not an elective

-Adil Qaisar

Surviving the Times

Somehow living life without any description

Won’t take the time just to sit down and listen

To all the people that he seems to lock up in prison

And he locks himself from all the help, just regretting decisions

Life seemed to be just passing through

His empty life seemed to be passed as truth

Driven to a point where he had to lose

Meaningless reasons is what he was acting through

See it’s easy to complain, but it’s hard to fix

Realize, life’s not shallow, it’s all abyss

Everything’s confusing until it starts to click

In the end this life here is a war and we have to conquer this

Consider this all into all your feelings

What is there to life, without any meaning?

Have to open our minds to understand what we’re seeing

Yes, we’re all human, but what are we being?

-Adil Qaisar

A Trial, A Tribulation

I stood there frightened, panic-stricken, and demoralized

The court room was cold; and my thoughts couldn’t be synthesized

Trying to recall the crime I’ve committed but nothing comes to mind

I looked deep into my heart too; but I swear there’s nothing I could find

The Judge names my sin; it is murder I have committed

I begin to doubt myself, as my self-respect is omitted

Explaining that I have killed many of his people, many of his friends

I stood there, vulnerable as ever, as he tied in the loose ends

“Punishment for life” he proclaimed.

I stood there in front of him; dumb, silent and maimed.

Years have passed now, and I haven’t made bail

My own brothers deserted me, denounced the peace; left me imprisoned in this jail

But here they don’t know I have time to think, and it makes me smarter

But here they don’t know I eat well, and this test makes me stronger

Here I got to catch up with an old friend, Al-Islam, who has always been kind

We have gotten to know each other well, all these years together confined

He too was falsely condemned, though he never did wrong

Too many wanted him gone, erased, but his message is today still strong

My brother, my sister; someone, somewhere will be judged too

Just stay strong my siblings, you will one day pull through

Because after hardship will always come ease

I hope and pray that this struggle will one day soon cease

But sometimes I get angry and wish to fight back

Incriminate them for my Identity Theft, and get my life back on track

But I learned: my prophet wouldn’t react; for he would respond

That we are people of peace and should cherish every type of human bond

It is sad, but I know that true justice may be too much to ask of today’s laws

We will one day face Al Hakm, the true judge of mankind, and we will each face our flaws

At times it is not the problem that matters, but the angle from which you choose to see

God tests those that he loves; I hope that God loves me

AUS

Did you not see?

Did you not see the green green grass

or the big white clouds that came to pass

Did you not see the tall brown trees

or the honeycombs and the buzzing bees

Perhaps you did not see the sparkling stars

or this cleverly crafted body of ours

Or maybe you missed the beautiful moon

Not to worry, the sun will be here soon

Then you will see my dear friend

to me your ear you must lend

Did you not see the vastness of the sky 

no mighty pillars keeping it up so high

its a different painting up there everyday

my Beloved changes it in his own way, anyways 

I'm talking about the marvelous wonder of the sunset

you must've missed that too I bet

don't let me get you worried

here comes a fragrant flower from a seed that was just buried

Poor fellow! I see you have eyes but still you are blind

Because His greatness you could not see neither from your heart nor your mind

My Beloved is not seen

However He is seen in every scene

-Bilal Memon

Nothing is Impossible

“…Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those

who put their trust (in Him).” (Quran :159)

Nothing is impossible

Of course just as Musa was saved (from the pharaoh), and Younis (from the whale), they did not just sit there and wait to be saved. No they did their part. They acted. They were active.

Musa started by warning Pharaoh. He later had a challenge or competition with the magicians at that
time. He beat them by throwing his stick which turned into a real snake and swallowed all the other fake snakes. He had to "throw his stick." When he was by the sea he had to “strike his stick,” so the sea could open. Was it the stick that opened the sea? Was it the stick that ate all the other fake snakes? No, it was Allah (SWT) who was in control.

When Unis (AS) was in the whale in the darkness of the night, and the darkness of the ocean, and the
darkness of the whale, who would hear him? Who would see him? Who would save him? He made Duaa and was patient. Allah (SWT) saved him and took him to shore.

When the time of labor came for Mariam (the mother of Esa-Jesus), she sat under a tree. She needed to eat and Allah (SWT) ordered her to shake the tree trunk so dates will fall. Was Allah (SWT) able to feed her without any distress? Yes of course, but He (SWT) still ordered her to shake the tree trunk.

When Mohammad (S) wanted to go from Makkah to Madina in secret, he had a plan. He had his things ready and packed. He left at a time when it was so hot most people were inside. He traveled the opposite way of Madina. He had a Sheppard walk behind him with his cattle to cover up his steps. He hid in the cave of Thowr. He had his daughter bring him food. All these preparations and the Kufar still came near the cave, but they did not see them (The Prophet (S) and Abu Bakr (RAA)). Who is the one protecting them? ALLAH (SWT).

The point is, whatever you do, do your best, and trust Allah (SWT). Nothing is impossible. Just do your part, and if you do not succeed, do not give up. Noah (AS) made Dawa and warned his people for 950 years before he made his Dua. The harder things are, the more rewards, so just be sincere, be patient, and do your best!

-Raed Oweisi