magazinemuslimprint

Free Edition | WINTER 2009

INSIDE THIS EDITION

The MSA Office Finale

Glad tidings to the strangers:can you keep a promise?

When you have to choose between exams and prayers

The power of ideas:how they shape our lives

ii | Muslimprint Magazine WINTER 2009

Muslimprint Magazine is a student-run magazine for the Univer-sity of Waterloo Muslim Students’ Association. Our goal is to in-crease the exposure of Muslim voices in the University commu-nity. We strive to provide a forum for discussion, a medium for expression, and a learning environment for all students. Muslim-print Magazine is published once a term.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the University of Waterloo Muslim Students’ Association. Their generous financial assistance was critical to a successful first edition.

Disclaimer: Opinions and arguments published in this edition ofMuslimprint Magazine are of the writer only and are not necessarily rep-resentative of affiliated organizations. All magazine content may be freely distributed with proper attribution.

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Editorial Board

Faraz SyedFawzy ManaaHisham FahimSaleem Ahmad

Contributors

Amin BarakzaiAtif Bhaor

Kashif UmerNourhan Safwat

Rayyan AbdusSamad

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Welcome!As Salaamu Alaykum (peace be upon you),

Since the early days of Islam the masjid (mosque), was the centre of community activity as well as a place of

worship. Muslims would gather in a masjid to pray, to learn and to interact with fellow Muslims. Sadly this great tradi-tion has failed to take hold in the local community. Today we are increasingly disconnected from the pulse of the Muslim community, which can only harm our iman (faith).

Additionally, despite the many established outlets of stu-dent journalism at the University of Waterloo, the thoughts of Muslims on campus still suffer from underexposure. Their beliefs, hopes, and opinions go unvoiced and the greater campus community is denied the opportunity to build mutual understanding. This disconnect in turn encourages stereotyping and adversity (see Our Promise to Allah, p. 3), since it is human nature to fear what we do not understand.

In an effort to bridge this gap, we present to you Muslim-print Magazine, a regular publication we hope will give voice to Muslim issues.

In this issue of the magazine you’ll find discussion on recent events, reflections on faith, and commentary on the underlying ideas that shape our every action.

Since Islam covers every aspect of life, Muslims can of-fer a unique perspective on our world. We hope to bring you these perspectives and the insight they offer through diverse forms of expression such as articles, opinion pieces, poetry and comics.

We would love to hear from you about your thoughts on the magazine, as well as any suggestions you may have for the future. Please contact us throughmuslimprint@waterloomsa.com.

Your friendly neighbourhood Editors,

Faraz, Fawzy, Hisham & Saleem

Letter from the Editors

We begin this issue in the name of Allah,the most Merciful, the most Compassionate.

As Salaamu Alaykum,

Welcome to the first issue of the Muslim Students’ As-sociation’s brand new magazine! I hope that this new

initiative will be succesful and I invite all of you to contrib-ute to its success for years to come.

It has been a busy term for the MSA so far and yet over the next couple of weeks even more events and sessions will be held, inshaAllah (by the will of Allah). Organizing such a large volume of consecutive events requires immense dedi-cation, something that the MSA’s directors and volunteers showed no lack of during every event this term. Whether it was behind-the-scenes work or out in the open, the work was carried out with commitment every step of the way.

As we try to jump to the next level as a group it becomes more about how we all function as a team and not only about the qualities we individually possess. The MSA has grown quickly over the past couple of years in terms of its member base and the number of events. While this is a positive sign, it requires us to pause for a bit to re-evaluate the direction we are headed in and assess whether the cur-rent processes and protocols we have in place allow us to achieve our goals as an organization.

This comprehensive assessment will kick-off at the MSA annual convention happening soon, where we will be dis-cussing specific protocols and integrating those to achieve our set plans.

I am very optimistic about the future of the MSA. Wanting to continually critique ourselves is our greatest strength, and I think that along with the grace of Allah, this will see us through any future challenges. Although this slows us down in the short term by forcing us to pause and reflect every once in a while, it is a good indication that we’ve got our eyes on the big picture.

Enjoy this issue,

Kashif Umer, President,Muslim Students’ Association

From the President’s Desk

2 | Muslimprint Magazine WINTER 20092 | Muslimprint Magazine WINTER 2009

The Muslim Student Association is one of the most active clubs on campus, running term-long activi-

ties for many years now. How do we do it? I don’t know for sure, but what I do know is that we couldn’t have done it without our office.

Don’t be fooled by the petite size of this room. A lot more went on in the humble offfice space than a quick glance might suggest. Not only did this 80 square ft. room witness the birth of several brilliant ideas that have changed the course of how this club runs, it was also a second home for many of us (and a first in the

case of some of our homeless members). I felt that this was the only place that combined work, fun and spirituality. It was where tough decisions were made, games became game nights and where we felt a sin-cere appreciation of the special kinship we share.Life in the office wasn’t always rosy. Our office has witnessed a lot of ups and downs. There were times when the office was as dead as a graveyard and others where it resembled Union Station with students drop-ping in at all hours.

Despite that, this place has affected us in many differ-ent ways. It was where I first met some of my closest friends. A pleasant acquaintance in a calm, serene en-vironment was one of the few experiences that made my stay at university a whole lot easier. Infrequent visits slowly gave way to small study breaks, which became hanging out at the office. I grew so attached

that I even became the Office Director!

In Fall 2008, the SLC management board decided to take away all club office spaces and transform them for other purposes. Even though they have promised to provide us with lockers, some things will never be the same. While it might seem like a harmless deci-sion to spectators, the thought of losing it is both mind-boggling and disturbing.

I belive thinking positively is the key here. After all we are well known for our dedication, organization

and perseverance. Such a decision shouldn’t represent a setback, rather an opportunity to adapt into some-thing better.

It’s during times like this we can prove we are not a club that relies on its possessions. The accomplish-ments of the MSA are far beyond any resources or items we once had or currently have, and any achievement was due to our team work and the gra-cious support of Allah.

With or without an office, we will remain active no matter what difficulties we face, inshaAllah. One thing is certain, we will always cherish the good memories we had there. Who knows? We might end up finding a great alternative!

Nourhan Safwat is the Office Director of the Muslim Students’ Association.

by Nourhan Safwat

My Office Finale

Closing the door on one chapter of the MSA’s history, and hopefully opening a new one.

PHOTO CREDIT: HISHAM FAHIM

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Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Islam began as something strange, and it will revert to being strange as it was in the beginning, so glad tidings to the strangers.” [Muslim 1:270]

When I first read this hadith (sayings of the Prophet, p.b.u.h.) a couple of years ago, I thought I understood exactly what it meant – that there would come a time when Muslims would seem like a strange and bizarre people to the rest of the world. Little did I know how wrong I was. In the early days of Islam the sahabah (companions of the Prophet) were thought to be strange, not only because of their faith, but rather how their faith affected their every action. This was what made them ‘strangers’.

To shed light on what made Islam so strange, I went back to the basics. No, I’m not referring to prayers or fasting. I’m referring to a few simple words that when uttered with faith could make anyone a Muslim. It was my shahadah. “Ash-haddu-Allah ilaah-a-ill-Allah”“I testify that there is no ilaah except Allah” These powerful words were a promise to Allah. A promise to base my actions and decisions solely on Allah’s com-mands. It seemed simple enough, but as I dug deeper I became ever more surprised at the full signifi-cance of the shahadah. I thought my shahadah sim-ply meant believing that there was only one God, and that Allah alone should be worshiped as the creator. This was true, but it was only half the meaning. It wasn’t until I unexpectedly came across the following Quranic verse that I was able to fully grasp the shahadah. “Have you seen the one who has taken his whims and desires as his ilaah?” [Quran 25:43] Here was Allah using the word ilaah in the Quran! Now I understood that even my own whims and desires could become my ilaah or ‘source of reference’ – that if I chose my actions according to my feelings and not according to Islam then my shahadah would be rendered worthless!

Isn’t this exactly what the ummah (Muslim community) does today? Drinking, free interaction with the opposite sex and other haram (forbidden) activities have become prevalent. If it is not the shahadah, then what are we follow-ing? This needs to be asked and unfortunately the answer is not a pretty one. It is our whims and desires that have become our ilaah.

So what about those Muslims who remember their shaha-dah and stick to the Quran and sunnah (the example of the Prophet, p.b.u.h.)? All of a sudden these Muslims have become ‘the strangers’, not only to non-Muslims but also within their own community. What a strange situation! Just for implementing the Quran and sunnah in their lives they have become estranged from their own community. I later came across the same hadith, this time in full, and it continued,

The Messenger (p.b.u.h.) was asked: “Who are the strangers?” He replied, “The ones who break away from their people [for the sake of Islam].”

We now have two roads ahead of us. One road calls us to excess enjoyment and enslaving us to the whims of our heart. It is a road full of attractions, rowdy parties and seductive music, yet the final destination of this road is a horrible, lonely place filled with the painful

screams of the ones who forgot their ilaah — the burning of Hell fire. The other road calls us to a life of determination and hard work. It is a road that calls us to perhaps

fewer friends and a quiet patience, yet the final destination is eternal happiness and indescribable pleasure. This is the final home of those who never forgot their ilaah — Blessed Paradise.

My dear Muslim brothers and sisters, will we remember our shahadah, our promise, and choose the road of the strangers?

Atif Bhaor is the President of the Muslim Students’ Association at Wilfred Laurier University.

by Atif Bhaor

Our Promise to AllahReflecting on what it really means to be true to your Lord

All of a sudden these Muslims have become ‘the strangers’, not only to others but also

within their own community.

4 | Muslimprint Magazine WINTER 2009

Even as we go into a recession the world seems to be a much better place than what it was nearly 80 years ago

during the Great Depression.

Through the lens of history we observe many world orders rise and fall like the tides, either due to their own weak-nesses or external influences. Most prominently, we see that those systems established by Western ideologies (most recently secularism) remain unstable. Predictably, these systems have brought about strain on society via crime, poverty, and social deterioration. The failure of secularism is not due to its faulty solutions but rather its core ideology. The world must re-evaluate its vision in order to succeed in its social function, as a function of humanity, and it can achieve this through Islam.

Islam was revealed in its final form to one man, Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) and was also implemented by him. After thirteen years of struggling he was able to establish the Islamic ideology in a form of a state and implement its systems in their entirety. Within a further nine years the whole of Arabia followed Islam. A few years later it suc-ceeded in overpowering the two superpowers of the world in that time. Historians, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have marvelled at the rate at which people accepted Islam.

Unlike other belief systems Islam is more than just a reli-

gion; it is deen (a complete way of life), an ideology consist-ing of aqeedah (creed) and shariah (law). Islam is the source of guidance in conducting the affairs of the daily life of a Muslim. What differentiates Islam from other ideologies, such as secularism, and other systems, such as capitalism and communism, is that it comes from Allah, instead of hu-man whims and desires. Unlike other ideologies that have been shaped and reshaped by many thinkers and politi-cians, Islam was revealed in its final form as an ideology from a single source.

In Islam, shariah establishes a comprehensive law govern-ing the affairs of individuals. It establishes relationships between the human being and their Creator, the personal affairs of the individual, and also the social, political, economic, and international relationships. This system addresses all issues in the social, economic, and political spheres and benefits all walks of life. It directs mankind with a set of ideas and rules, and obligates mankind with a simple principle: submission to Allah. The revival of today’s ummah requires a comprehensive understanding of the deen that has been bestowed upon us. Islam cannot be successful when it is partially imple-mented. It should be first implemented fully in our hearts and minds, our actions, and towards the social function of the community.

Since the collapse of the Islamic State on March 3, 1924, the ummah has been subjugated to various systems that are not rooted in Islam. It is imperative for us as Muslims to be aware of what is missing in our life and in our society as a whole. Needless to say, the solution to all the problems we face is a complete implementation of Islam in this world. There are already plenty of Muslims in the world, but success does not come from the quantity of Muslims, but rather it comes from the quality of their iman (faith).

Rayyan AbdusSamad is the President of the Muslim Students’ Association at Conestoga College.

Upcoming EventsIslam Awareness Week March 10 - 12

SLC Great Hall

Sisters’ PartyMarch 137 - 10 pm

PAS Lounge (Room 3005)

3rd Annual UW-MSAConventionPlanning the Road Ahead

March 14 TBD

MSA End of Term Dinner March 24SLC Lower

Atrium

WorkshopQuest for a Purposeful Existence

March 26 TBD

Qiratul Quran Competition March 28McMaster University

for more information visit www.waterloomsa.comDon’t waste your genius! Contribute!

muslimprint@waterloomsa.com

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by Rayyan AbdusSamad

A Familiar CycleOn achieving social harmony through Islam

www.waterloomsa.com/muslimprint | 5

S o you’re sitting behind a desk in an exam room furiously scribbling your answers into your book-

let and you notice that it’s time to pray. What should a Muslim do in this case? Should you run out to pray, risking losing valuable time? Or should you stay put and put off your prayers until later?

Prayer – the second pillar of Islam – is the foun-dation of our lives. It’s what nourishes our souls and lifts us when we are down; it brightens the dark tunnel of life like a ray of hope. And yet it is one of the most neglected pillars, especially amongst youth. We let our studies bog us down so much so that it consumes every ounce of our energy. When it’s time to pray we find ourselves making feeble excuses to delay it.

Prayer is not only about praising and glorifying Allah, but it’s a means for us to surrender ourselves and our affairs to Allah the Almighty, the only one who can aid us through difficult times – whether it’s a major test of life or something as minor as a school exam. All we have to do is fulfill our obligation toward Allah. It’s through the obligation, in the act of worship itself, that our affairs are aided by Allah. Worship Allah and He will alleviate your burdens. Take care of your duty and Allah will in turn take care of you.

So the next time your exam schedule is in con-flict with Friday prayers (or any other prayer), rush to the prayer room and offer it on time. You don’t want to miss out on an excellent opportunity to secure a the support of Allah! Most of the pro-fessors are very accom-modating and they are

willing to let you leave the exam room to offer your prayer. The Muslim Students’ Association can also provide you with a letter if your professor needs as-surance that you will actually be praying.

by Amin BarakzaiHoly Exam Conflict

And yet it is one of the most neglected pil-lars, especially amongst youth. ... When it’s time to pray we find ourselves making fee-

ble excuses to delay it.

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