Friday, September 14, 2012


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.