Issuu

APRIL 2022

VOLUME 4

A PREEMINENT HAPPENING

THE MIRROR

A LETTER TO THE CHILDREN OF WAR || HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU OF HOME? || MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL || LEGACY OF THE GREATS || AND MORE

War, disease, oppression, and injustice…humanity today is plagued with trials and tribulations. It seems as if with every swipe on social media, every headline in the news, and every phone call from home, all we hear about and see is hardship and calamity. But is there not some meaning to it all? Expiation of sin for the enduring of pain? Reward beyond measure for the bearing of patience? And above all, is there not the Decree of Allah, who does as He wills? In this issue, titled A Preeminent Happening, our brilliant writers explore the themes of peace, patience, justice, and the importance of belief in divine decree. Our talented artists present striking visuals to accompany each masterpiece. From the halls of McMaster to the valleys of Kashmir, from the sidewalks of Hamilton to the mountaintops of Syria, this issue of The Mirror aims to take you on a journey- one that unravels the feelings of longing, perseverance, grief, and tranquillity from cover to cover.

"A PREEMINENT HAPPENING" 1

Through every line of poetry, every reference to the Hadith, and every verse of the Quran- The Mirror will leave you reflecting. I am humbled and beyond grateful to present to you the 4th volume of The Mirror Magazine. What is shown in these pages is just the tip of the iceberg- a mere glimpse into how talented, eloquent, and passionate the community really is. Thank you immensely for your support and engagement. On behalf of the entire Mirror team- I hope you find as much joy in reading this issue as we found in creating it. As-salamu'Alaykum / Peace be upon you,

Momal Khan

THE MIRROR 2022 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04

Theme Inspiration [6:59]

The Running of Time Novaira Javed

Connecting the Dots Fatima Haroon

tarek alkorani

Our Team

A Letter to the Children of War Sara Sadat 11

Have I Ever Told You of Home?

Writing Contest's Winning Submission

See How We Have Changed Eesha Rehman

What Is Going On Around the World? Sarah Abdellateef

MacMSA Spotlight

The Ultimate McMaster Muslim Survival Guide Shifaa Syed

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Taima Abdel Hafiz

Community Creators

Zena Shamli Oghli Aleeza Cheema

momal khan

Ocean's Girl

Sara Emira

A Promise Leona Salmic

The Exam Journey Taima Abdel Hafiz

A Preeminent Happening Fatima Haroon

Fareeda Baruwa

fatima ahmad

Justice Will Be Served

Another Chance Novaira Javed

Necessities Ahmed Al Mudarris

Ramadan Starter Pack

The Sky Novaira Javed

Community Fun Zone

Legacy of the Greats Emaan Qureshi

Sponsors

Visit

@MACMSAMIRROR 3

on Instagram

Our Team

Director Momal Khan MSA Liaison Amina Toor Advisor Sobia Mahmood Writers Taima Abdel Hafiz Sarah Abdellateef Ahmed Al Mudarris Fatima Haroon Novaira Javed Emaan Qureshi Eesha Rehman Sara Sadat Zena Shamli Oghli Shifaa Syed

Visuals Brooj Mishal Leona Salmic Zara Vakil Marketing Shiza Muhammad Areesha Saeed

Outreach Zeenia Malik Zara Vakil

Event Planning Yumnah Jafri Syeda Razvi

R R R

SURAH AL- AN'AM

CHAPTER 6 : VERSE 59 5

IN THIS ISSUE OF THE MIRROR, WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TIMELESS REMINDER - A BEACON OF PEACE IN THE HEARTS OF THE BELIEVERS

BY FATIMA HAROON 6

THE RUNNING OF

TIME

NOVAIRA JAVED

There is an urgent matter at hand. Time is

Bad things happen to good people

running out and very soon the life that we

all the time. Does that mean they

have been working day and night for will

deserve what is coming their way?

come to an end. This is a call for us to

The test Allah (SWT) puts them

awaken before that time comes. Before your eyes close for

whole life with

good and you are left with

seemingly no relief.

nothing but the weight of your deeds. Before the

Until they wake up in Jannah and see

worlds are destroyed and

that every tear and every

you stand in front of your

moment of grief brought

Creator with your good and

them to a place where

bad deeds in your hands.

happiness has no end.

Before the time you have left is over, it is time to take action. It is scary to think that I know nothing. That I'm insignificant. What my mind plans, what my mind wants- none of it can happen without Allah (SWT)’s plan. I can be sitting here doing what I want and planning my life out, but the next second, I might be in a completely different situation or, I may not even be alive. All I can do is wait and trust

Now I sit here and wait. While I worship Him, I watch how my life plays out with His blessing and according to His will. Knowing that everything I do, He already knows. Knowing that every breath I take is already accounted for. I am sitting here as the ‘main character’ when really, I'm not even the one controlling what’s happening around me! Yes, I adjust to anything

that everything that happens is meant to

that comes my way. But how much can I

be good for me. That is where the Tawakkul

take? Are these tests trying to show me

(trust in Allah SWT) comes in. 7

through may last their

my true limit?

Or is it showing me that as time runs

If you say yes to this question- and I

away from me the only constant in my

don’t mean a yes, I mean a true yes

life has been the presence of Allah

from the heart- then what is stopping

(SWT)? The one true God. Everything

you but yourself? You have the

else has changed. My family, my

Qur’an (Holy Book). You have the

friends, my surroundings, and even

Hadith (Prophet’s sayings). You have

myself. The one thing that keeps me

salah (prayer). It is time to stop

sane is that no matter what happens in

making excuses and get it together

the coming years, the only thing that

before we lay in regret, taking our

will remain constant is Allah (SWT).

final breath, wondering where all the time went. We see the weeks feeling

These words won’t make sense to

like seconds and the months feeling

everyone. You may read them but not

like days and in one blink our whole

fully understand, because reading

life will be over and we will be left

them is very different from living your

with nothing. We should not work

life according to this mindset. If it is

only for this world, because there is

hard to live my life according to this,

no permanent benefit. Even the best

then why are there people walking this

of the best of our times will soon be

earth as the Sabiqoon (one who is

forgotten.

speedy, or first, in doing good deeds)? What level of Imaan are they at that

Everything in your life will continue

they have been given that title? This is

to change, but Allah (SWT) will

a title that I want and a title that I am

remain constant. I hope this message

ready to do anything for. I say that but

inspires you to push yourself to be a

yet, my actions speak differently.

better Muslim and person. While I

I want to be one of the first ones in Jannah. I want to be among them. The question you need to ask yourself is - do you?

address this message to you, I speak to myself first and foremost and will try my best to live this life according to this reminder.

CONNECTING THE DOTS FATIMA HAROON The sky extending beyond the receptive fields of your eyes, The profoundness of the ocean, are phenomenons you simply let slide. The speed at which the earth rotates doesn’t leave you surprised, The pathway of blood travelling around your body is a concept you’ve normalized. The way the wind moves perfectly past each crevice, The extensiveness of air in your lungs, are not things you consider precious. The belief that the way your heart beats is simply rhythmic, The differentiation of cells in your body is just characteristic. The way nature seems to regenerate after each season The abundant change in colour of leaves happens for no reason. The way history repeats itself is only a coincidence, The feeling of enlightenment is a mere incidence. The reason you’re born is completely due to chance, The significance of your existence, you believe, is nothing too advanced. The infiniteness of space is past what your mind can comprehend, The way your nerves form detailed arrays is what you fail to apprehend. The motions of your body are often catalytic, a cascade of events you only consider instinctive Yet these matters that you observe, all of these affairs, aren't they particularly distinctive? Almost like a voice commanding their motion, Almost like a hand moulding their creation. And behind every command, is the One who commands, And behind every creation, is the One who creates. But most importantly, what you neglect to understand, Is that matters of negligence lie in your own hands. So listen carefully as I give my final premise, Ignorance is not bliss. These are the signs your conscious mind fails to identify ‘So which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?’ [55:38]

A Letter to the Children of War Sara Sadat

6 AM summer mornings. This hour always has a specific type of feeling to it, you know the mist coupled with the humidity from the preceding night? But today was different. The earth was a little quieter and the sky was a little grayer. I walk into the store I work at and attempt to clock in, but something also felt off inside. All eyes were on me and there was a crippling silence from my coworkers. Their eyes meet me with fear, but also a little regret. “What’s going on in your country?” They ask me. What is going on in my country? I continue on with my day repeating the same mundane tasks. Refund the item for the customer. Re-shelf it. Repeat. But things still felt off today. “Where are you from?” a customer asks me. I sigh, as I automatically knew where the conversation was going to go. “Oh. That country is no good anymore. It use to be, but not anymore” he replies. I come from a beautiful mountainous land called Afghanistan, but this is never how you will hear about it on TV. You might know it as the country where people clung onto the arm of an airplane to get out. Or the country where people threw their babies across barbed wire into the arms of strangers, doing anything they could to get out. That’s why today felt so off. These events weren’t historical or from years ago, they occurred literally last night. August 15, 2021. Last night was when my country was handed over to the Taliban on a silver platter. 11

My people were plastered all over media, not for awareness and sympathy, but to be made fun of. I mean how desperate could one be to cling onto the arm of an airplane? To hand over their children to strangers thinking it's the only way to keep them safe? But you have to remember that nobody runs to the ocean or the sky unless the ground isn’t safe.

I was angry. I didn’t understand why God would allow so much suffering to happen to one nation. I was jealous. I didn’t understand why my friends got to go on vacations back home without a single fear in their hearts, while I was made a prisoner from mine. I was hopeless. Generations of Duas. Countless nights of Tahajjud. But still no peace? I know I am not the only one who feels like this. Any person who comes from a country at war can relate to these feelings. Diaspora of Palestine, Syria, Iraq. How much we yearn to see our nations filled with the sounds of birds chirping and not bombs blasting. How much we pray and pray for our parents to be able to see their motherland at peace, at least once in their lifetime. How much we wish the media would show the gems of our country, rather than another hopeless headline of “X amount killed in an attack”.

It's hard being from a nation at war, especially when you don’t live in it. The feeling of guilt knowing you are safe while your people suffer every day back home. Restless nights waiting for phone calls from families, unsure if they’ve survived this attack. But the saddest experience of it all is knowing the potential your country had, or what could have been, if only things were different. “Why does Allah put some nations through so many trials while others get to live so happily?” I think to myself as I wipe the counter clean for the next customer to place their items. It’s just been too long, too many years of war, too many lives lost. When is the happy ending coming, or is there even any happy ending for my country? But I remind myself, that he is Al-Hakeem – the wisest.

“He is Al-Hakam– the giver of justice” I whisper to myself as I clock out of work This isn’t the whole story. With all these trials and tribulations, comes a nation full of resilient, sincere, and God-loving people. Some of the most faithful people I have ever met come from these nations facing war, where regardless of everything going on they still put a smile on their face and praise Allah. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the why part of things, but remember we are the creation and He, Allah, is the creator. “He is Al-Hakam– the giver of justice” I whisper to myself as I clock out of work. All these years of suffering. The corruption. The stealing. The medaling. The silent eyes who watch the evil and destruction take place. The initiators and profiters of wars. Justice will be served. Surely we all will have to meet Allah one day, and justice will be given for every soul lost to their games. He is As-Salam–the giver of peace, I remind myself on the way home. Only through Him will peace come, and only through Him will it prevail. So, children of diaspora, I want to remind you that one day we will see the people of Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq with smiles on their faces. One day we will be able to visit back home with peace in our hearts. Never lose hope in your Lord, for He is Ar-Rahmaan- the entirely merciful and only through Him will we find the strength 12 in being children of war.

Ocean’s Girl Sara Emira

Home is not a place; it’s a feeling, a state of being. I wander I know no home feel no attachment to land, But the ocean Will always have my heart What’s the use in being attached to a land That changes in the hands of its leader? I’d much rather give my soul to an ocean To a spirit too wild to be shaped by the laws of the land A beautiful rebel It’s at times like this When I’m at my lowest That I take long drives to the ocean at night As the waves caress the coast One by one They embrace me Serenading me in a language only we know Welcoming me home

Breathe in I feel my lungs filling with the cool air And I’m brought back to my childhood The bustling streets of Alexandria Eating mango ice cream in the glistening sun Impromptu karaoke in the back of a taxi cab Breathe out I open my eyes and I’m brought back to the present Looking at the ocean And longing to be home Soon, I promise myself But for now, I drive away Knowing that no matter where I go The ocean will always be my home

Author’s Note This piece embodies the struggles of growing up between two countries and never feeling 100% at home in either of them. No matter where I go, I often find myself longing to be elsewhere. My family immigrated from Alexandria, Egypt over a decade ago and this poem pays homage to its beautiful view of the Mediterranean (which is not an ocean, but I had to take some creative liberty with this piece)

Leona Salmic

A PROMISE I remember waking one morning, my soul still asleep, and despite the new day I could feel the creep... The school, the bus and my shaking hands, I didn't need much and I had friends. So why then... I cried so much, tears never came again. What am I doing here and why do I feel? For a couple of hours the world went still. Day by day and sometimes at night, how did the others feel alright? How do they walk by, how do they ignore, the pain, the war, the dead children on the shore. Dreaming of the perfect world, the one that got sold, for pocket money. Where it was alright to let others be, where dreaming was free. You can imagine my relief, when He said it will come back again.

TheJourney Exam Taima Abdel Hafiz

"It’s okay. Whatever Allah wills is good.” She whispered to herself as she exited the lecture hall after her exam. “It's over now, this day is over.” Trembling, she felt for her phone in the front pocket of her jeans. “17:56.” The screen flashed. “Eight minutes until Maghrib.” Rolling her shoulders, she began making her way across campus to her favourite prayer area. The sun sank slowly into the horizon, pink-hued clouds strewn atop the fading sky. Campus was busy for a Thursday evening; she could hear students complaining about the atrocity of marking schemes around her, their voices mingling with the calls of the geese clustered on the field. Her footfalls came faster, sagetoned hijab swinging as she dodged the bodies around her. She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her fist around her backpack tighter, the rough fabric imprinting small circles onto her palms. She burst through the door of the building and collapsed onto the prayer mat, dragging a burning breath into her lungs and exhaling slowly. The tears came then, hot and silent. She raised her hands in prayer, palms open up towards the heavens. Her eyes closed as she remembered our beloved Prophet ‫ﷺ‬. ‫ُس ْب َحٰـ َن ٱ َّلِذ ٓى َأْس َر ٰى ِبَع ْب ِد ِه ۦ َلْي اًۭل ِّم َن ٱ ْل َم ْس ِج ِد ٱ ْل َحَر اِم ِإ ىَل ٱ ْل َم ْس ِج ِد ٱ َأْلْق َص ا ٱَّلِذ ى َبٰـ َر ْك َنا َحْو َلُه ۥ ِلُن ِرَيُه ۥ ِم ْن‬ ‫َءا َيٰـ ِتَنٓاۚ ِإ َّنُه ۥ ُه َو ٱل َّس ِم ي ُع ٱ ْل َب ِص ي ُر‬ “Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”

Rejected by the Quraysh and humiliated by the People of Ta’if, it was Ām al-Ḥuzn (the year of sorrow) for Rasulullah ‫ ;ﷺ‬his wife Khadijaؓ had passed away as well as Abu Talib, both in the same year. Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬was left without the influence and protection of his uncle which allowed the cruelty against him to escalate. Like sunshine piercing through lingering storm clouds and illuminating the sky once again, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala had something unimaginable waiting for His Prophet ‫ﷺ‬.

In the midst of his crushing grief, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala took His Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬on a miraculous journey and allowed Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬to lead all the prophets before him in prayer. Separated by decades, these souls who were chosen by Allah to carry His message to all corners of the world were gathered on one timeless night in Masjid al-Aqsa to pray in congregation to The Creator. They talked, spoke of the Day of Judgement- after having been ridiculed by his community, imagine the relief that fell upon the Prophet’s ‫ﷺ‬ heart as he conversed with the fellow carriers of Allah’s Message, the only other humans who went through what he did and understood his plight. It was during this blessed night that Allah bestowed upon us our salah, the gift of our five daily prayers. Her phone vibrated to signal the Maghrib adhan, cutting through her thoughts. She switched the volume on and touched her forehead to the carpeted floor, immersing herself in the call to prayer. ‫َح َّى َع ىَل ال َّص َلوِة‬ Hasten to prayer. ‫ىَل ْل َف‬ ‫َح َّى َع ا َالِح‬ Hasten to success. Students began trickling into the prayer area, unfolding their mats. Her tired eyes met her sisters’ tired eyes and they smiled at each other. Shoulder to shoulder they stood, they raised their hands in prayer. ‫َو ُق ِل ٱ ْل َحْم ُد ِلَّلِه ٱ َّلِذ ى َلْم َيَّتِخ ْذ َو َلًۭد ا َو َلْم َيُكن َّلُه ۥ َش ِريٌۭك ِفى ٱ ْل ُم ْل ِك َو َلْم َيُكن َّلُه ۥ َو ٌّۭىِل ِّم َن ٱل ُّذ ِّل ۖ َو َك ِّبْر ُه َتْك ِب ي ًۢر ا‬ And say, “All praise is for Allah, Who has never had ˹any˺ offspring; nor does He have a partner in ˹governing˺ the kingdom; nor is He pathetic, needing a protector. And revere Him immensely.”

A Preeminent Happening Fatima Haroon I want to take you on a journey, one of entitlement and selfdiscovery. Through these words that are expressed, I want to reassure your heart and eliminate your distress. So close your eyes and take a deep breath. Feel the motion that encompasses with your every respiration, that continuousness that continues its extension. Not a whisper escapes the Divine Knower, not a sliver of sound slips past His Infinite Knowledge. Not a flake of sand moves without His Command, so why do you fear for your life when it is He, who conceives every plan? The One who is Wise, the One who is the Best of Judges, the One who is the Most Compassionate. The One who Hears-All, the One who Sees-All, the Most Merciful, the Most Magnificent. The One who is the Only One, is the very One who controls your life, so my dear why worry? Submerge yourself in the Greatness of Allah (swt). Let yourself be empowered by the One with Power. Let your heartbeat for its Creator, and let your life continue to happen preeminently, by the One who Knows the happenings of every happening. And don’t lose hope, for this continuous happening always happens in your favour. And don’t be distressed, for the affairs of life are in the hands of the Absolute Best.

JUSTICE

will be served Fareeda Baruwa

“There is so much pain and agony in the hearts of many of us. Some of it is as old as time, and some just started growing there. But the one thing that has kept me going, that has kept my head above the tides, and anchored me through the storm, is faith and a mustard seed of hope that we haven't been left behind, that He hasn’t abandoned us. He is with us every step of the way, even though we may not see Him. He is there always, and He will let justice prevail. He will put everything back in order, maybe not in this life, but surely in the other. Where justice will be served, and there’ll be no more pain, no more suffering, no more darkness, and only light will remain. And so let us be patient until that day, which I hope isn’t too far away because I don’t know how much longer we can stay, how much more we can take before we completely b r e a k into p i e c e s we no longer recognize. And so we’ll hang on tight, to His rope of hope.”

@labiqart

Novaira Javed

Another Chance My eyes wide open, the rays streamed in As the dark goes to light and the petals grin The air as rigid as a breeze that sits As the birds sing one last time, a rhythm that sticks One more day I think has come All praise to God, I will live another one Most people can’t see with the curtain pitch black But the ones who do will have their smile intact I stare at the clock as the ticking completes A deep breath as the exhale brings peace

Necessities ‫الضرورات‬ Ahmed Al Mudarris

The greatest mercy that Allah has granted humans is Islam, the message delivered by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). And within that mercy underlies another that Allah has granted His worshippers- the basic Sharia principle of “aldarurat tubih almahzurat” (necessities permitting prohibitions). This simple principle is widely agreed upon by Muslim scholars, based on many pieces of evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah, and is to be used when countering necessities that cannot be eliminated. Specifically, those necessities which cannot be avoided without committing what is in most cases haram, or not fulfilling a Fard or Waajib (obligation). This single principle is one of the greatest things about Islam as a realistic, practical religion; the One who created us knows that in certain situations, some rulings cannot be fulfilled without subsequent harm. Thus, He gives us the permission to not remain obligated to certain rulings until it’s safe to do so or the harm is removed. One of the earliest applications of this principle in Islam is the story of the companion Ammar bin Yasser (RA). He was tortured and forced to denounce his faith and instead praise the idols that the Makkan Arabs used to worship at the time. As the torture persisted, he eventually reached a point where he couldn’t bear it any longer and reluctantly praised that idol. He returned weeping to the Prophet, asking him for forgiveness. The Prophet PBUH said: Do not worry! Allah has sent down a verse concerning you: “Not, he who is compelled while his heart is at rest because of his faith.” [An-Nahl, 106]. This revelation solved the issue of Ammar (RA), as it showed him that a person is not accountable for his bad actions if he was forced into them, while his heart was not approving of them. In other words, the necessity permitted what was forbidden for him to do. But where does Islam draw the line? When can I apply this principle with certainty in my heart that I am not disobeying Allah’s commands? Different scholars have given varying rules surrounding the application of this principle, but they generally agree on the following four circumstances: the existence of the harm, knowing that this harm cannot be removed unless one commits haram, being certain that this haram-doing is going to remove the harm, and that the haram will not cause greater harm. The question now is: what is considered harmful? Is being embarrassed considered harm? Or is being mildly hungry considered harm? Harm generally can be thought of as compromising one of the five essentials in sharia: Deen (religion), life, honour, mental health, and wealth. Compromising other people’s essentials is also thought of as harmful. So doing haram, out of necessity, that may compromise another person’s essentials will break this principle unless there is the possibility of restoring a person’s rights after the harm is removed. For example, stealing from someone after being forced to by hunger and fearing loss of life due to starvation, but you should return the equivalent food or money afterwards, and you shouldn’t steal more than you need to survive. However, you cannot kill someone even if you are forced to, because your life is not more important than theirs, and because you cannot return the life afterwards. For example, if you were forced to kill someone (an innocent person), you shouldn’t do it even if it was your life against his, but you should sacrifice your life for his if faced with such a situation.

Life has become much more convenient in the modern age, especially in developed countries like Canada. We have constant access to food, water and all the necessities of life. We can safely perform many of our daily activities and are able to practice our religion openly most of the time. Because of this, we must be careful and make sure we truly have no other option left before exercising this principle. It cannot be emphasized enough: a Muslim should always be cautious about being trapped in haram. When you are faced with a necessity, you should evaluate all available options before making a judgment and arriving at a final conclusion. If you are outside and cannot pray, before deciding to skip prayer, search for a place to pray in. If you are hungry and cannot find halal meat around, you can always eat vegetables and fruits, or wait until you are home to eat what is halal. These examples demonstrate the fact that for the most part, there is always a better alternative when faced with a non-ideal situation. Sometimes, you are not certain that this haram-doing is going to remove the harm, for example, breaking your fast in Ramadan because one of your relatives died. You can argue in all these situations that there is a necessity, but a Muslim should always be looking for opportunities to practice his faith, instead of looking for excuses by searching for necessities. Piousness is a beautiful characteristic for a Muslim, so I want to conclude with this beautiful story of a pious companion of the Prophet (PBUH), who was faced with a necessity but decided not to discontinue his prayer, even though it wasn’t fard. The Prophet (PBUH) was heading back to Medina from one of the battles he fought, and the responsibility of guarding the camp of the Muslims was assumed by Abbad ibn Bishr and Ammar bin Yasir (RA). After reaching the mouth of the valley, Abbad noticed that his brother was tired and volunteered to keep watch for the first half of the night and allow him to rest. Since there appeared to be no imposing threats, Abbad stood up for prayer. While absorbed in recitation, a stranger stalked the outskirts of the valley in search of Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers. From a distance, the man saw the figure of Abbad and knew the Muslim force must be inside the valley. Silently, he drew his bow and fired an arrow that embedded itself in Abbad's flesh. Calmly, Abbad removed the arrow and went on with his recitation, still absorbed in his Salat. The attacker shot two more arrows, which also found their mark in Abbad. Abbad pulled them out and finished his recitation. Weak and in pain, he stretched out his hand while still in prostration and shook his sleeping companion. Abbad continued the prayer to its end and then said: "Get up and stand guard in my place. I have been wounded." Ammar stood up and seeing them both, the attacker fled into the darkness. Ammar turned to Abbad, blood flowing from his wounds, and asked "Why didn't you wake me when you were hit by the first arrow?" Abbad replied "I was reciting verses of the Qur'an which filled my soul with awe and I did not want to cut short the recitation. The Prophet (PBUH) had commanded me to commit this surah to memory. Death would have been dearer to me than that the recitation of this surah should be interrupted." To conclude, we must realize this great gift and mercy that Allah has given us, act upon it with knowledge, while also remaining cautious when using it. We must keep in our minds the stories of Ammar, who was tortured mercilessly before finally giving in, and of Abbad, who was badly wounded yet still refused to use that necessity to stop his prayer.

Novaira Javed

The Sky Commuting to and from McMaster must be one of my most exhausting experiences. The winter cold and lengthy bus lines really don’t help my case making the commute a lot more upsetting than it should be. Finishing my 5:30 lab, I walked to the bus stop just hoping that the line wouldn’t be too long. Unfortunately, the line had wrapped around the far-away building and I already knew that I wouldn’t make the first bus that would come. Walking to the back of the line, the cold air was freezing my body. I stood looking around just waiting for a sign that the bus was coming. With a beautiful recitation of Surah Al-Hijr playing in my ears, I closed my eyes and waited patiently while my feet and hands slowly became numb. 40 minutes later, a bus had come and gone. I stood waiting for the next one. Finally when I looked up, all my frustration vanished. The sunset was so beautiful that I had forgotten how cold I was. I had forgotten how long I was standing. I looked up and a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation had completely engulfed me. "Indeed, within the heavens and the earth are signs (ayat) for the believers". (Qur’an 45:3). For the rest of the time, the cold did not sting. The wait did not bother. Nothing else mattered but the sky. The feeling of belief inside had not only gotten stronger but had reassured the faith already there. “And he has made subservient for you the night and the day and the sun and the moon, and the stars are made subservient by His commandment; most surely there are signs in this for a people who ponder” (Qur’an 16:12). “SubhanAllah”, I thought with my eyes glued to the sky. With the sun setting and the rest of the students waiting anxiously, I was at peace.

ۗ ‫َتْأُم ُروَن ِبٱْل َم ْع ُروِف َو َتْن َه ْو َن َع ِن ٱْل ُم نَك ِر َو ُتْؤ ِم ُنوَن ِبٱلَّلِه‬

‫ُك نُت ْم َخ ْي َر ُأَّم ٍة ُأْخ ِرَج ْت ِللَّناِس‬

“You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah.” Surah Ali-’Imran (3:110)

Legacy of the Greats Emaan Qureshi

At Br. Adnan Rasheed’s event hosted by the MSA this year, something profound struck a chord within me. He spoke of the caliphate of Cordoba: how it rose from disunity under the leadership of Abd al-Rahman I and “was the most powerful state in Western Europe”, how the Muslims ruled valiantly for nearly 300 years, and how remarkably educated and influential Muslims were under this rule, to which many Christians took note of and entered the religion by the multitudes. I pondered upon this. How was it that Muslims were so influential, so upright and reputable in their cause? It became clear this was because they were bookly people. They were people who educated themselves about their religion and about the world and then influenced multitudes by implementing their knowledge. “This is something we have lost today, my brothers and sisters…we were the most bookly people in the world…today we have become the most book-less people in the world, unfortunately. We need to return back to our books” in order to “revive this knowledge of Muslim civilization which flourished” (Rasheed, 2022). We need to ask ourselves how come there was a time when the Muslim was looked at in awe, and the Muslim was known for how honourable they trekked the lands, and the Muslim was known for the beauty it had to offer the worlds, and how come we are now faced with a time where the Muslim’s very beard is frowned upon? How come we are in a time where the Muslim’s hijaab is disregarded and thought to be the works of those oppressed and maddened with religiosity?

After that event, feeling shaken, nearly every event I attended at the MSA presented me with the same line of thinking as Br. Adnan Rasheed’s. Even Hassan Wadi at 'The Art of Public Speaking' event expressed how disappointed he feels when he does not see “our kids” paving the way for others, leading at the front lines of influential activities. Dr. Zohair Adul-Rahman expressed his concerns at 'A Look into Islamic Psychology' and talked about how he doesn’t understand why we must refer to the periods of greatness in our history and say, “Oh yeah, did you know so-and-so started this concept that modern science is now using?”—as if we are taking refuge in the fact Muslims once had something good to contribute to the world as if we can take a back seat in the affairs of advancement today and keep lamenting about our Golden Age. Rather, Dr. Abdul-Rahman concluded that we need to take influence from the greats of the past and use it to extend our reach in the present. It must encourage us to be the best in our fields and 27

contribute to modern/technological advancement.

Before this event, those who were at OSP’s closing ceremony will recall how Dr. Mustafa Khattab, who is well-known for his influential translation of the Quran, encouraged each and every one of us to excel in our studies—he uplifted us, speaking of how much potential we hold to do the greatest of things. And I had already been pondering these thoughts of Muslim influence, when I attended Dr. Adnan Rajeh’s talk on How to be a High Value Muslim and it completely rebuild the very path I wanted to take in this world to my Lord. Of the profound things he said, I recall him saying: "Allah SWT says we should make a specific dua, you’ll find at the end of Surah Furqan: ‫َو ا ْج َع ْل َنا ِلْل ُم َّتِق يَن ِإ َم ا ًم ا‬ "And make me to the pious an Imam" The word Imam basically means an exemplar: someone who will lead by example. Someone who will do the work in front of you so that you can learn to do the same. Someone who is not interested in…delegating tasks…really they’re just interested in doing the right thing and being the best person when they’re doing it…and the Prophet SAW explained to us we are asked and required and encouraged to be Imams… and that’s how we can change the world, that’s how we can actually bring change to this very difficult and grim existence that we live in." (Dr. Adnan Rajeh, How to be a High Value Muslim, 2022) If anything that has been written thus far does not spark the integrity within you, you are not consciously reflecting on the state of the world we live in. Muslims used to be at the forefront of greatness: they sought to stop oppression, they were upright in the way they practiced Islam and they were at the forefront of global influence. The principles of Islam were conveyed through the characters of exemplary people, and that is why under the rule of the Cordoba Caliphate, many Spaniards became Muslim—not under compulsion of any kind, but rather they saw the purity of Islam through those who followed it, and they saw how Muslims flourished under its system. Yet today we see how our own Muslims cling to the democratic systems of the West nations, as if it will raise them from the ashes of what they once were. In fact, most of the world seeks refuge in the glamour of the western lifestyle—when it may seem glamorous from afar, but on the inside it is the foundation of every rise in suicide, every added broken home, and every hypocrisy known. When the non-Muslims with sincere hearts looking for the truth find Islam, and then as if the spirit of Umar ibn Khattab RA has sparked within them, they forge forward reaching new heights, will those of us who were blessed with the religion from birth then turn to realization? Is this not why Islam is the fastestgrowing religion in the world? When you learn for yourself the beauty of Islam, and then become an exemplar for others to follow, the very western world who calls you backwards and who labels you as a terrorist will turn to you for guidance on how to fix all that they destroyed. And they will see you rise from the ashes of the greats, whose legacy we must reawaken within our hearts, and perhaps we can be at the forefront of influence and lead the lost, brainwashed souls of the west to peace, and to what Allah has commanded. Who will hear our voice if we do not seek to raise it through excelling in education, and what difference does it make if our words do not reflect the Quran and Sunnah?

Areesha Khan

Have I Ever Told You

ofHome?

divulge the memories that hold your smiles and keep you dreaming of home

Zena Shamli Oghli 30

have I ever told you of home? syria was a memory before it ever got to be so. my heart carries the scent of floral reminiscence, and while jasmine doesn’t grow here, I smell it in my mother’s hold. I once hated arabic school, and now I cling to every letter of my father’s favourite poems; in the glisten of his eyes I see his apartment in saba’a bahraat. in alepp halab’s rubbled streets, the swings my cousins and I once clambered still creak readily and dance reliably. despite all. children still sing wholeheartedly. every laugh is blatant resistance. I do not know the words to their new songs, but the tune I never forgot. today I find myself a syrian twenty years removed, and still I dream of stray cats and sun-soaked mountains, nights full of talk, nights running from time, seconds stretching into infinity. my nation smells of delicacy eternal– hot corn on one side of the road and falafel on the other.

the flavours of syria followed me miles across the world and here I hold them close. with every nerve of my conscience I’ve memorized the few spots I can still name– the places I have locked near and dear in my heart. studying and studying so as to never forget them.

because life as I live it now is pre- and post-. one day, I loved in a nation echoing pride and prayer calls, and the next, we both stood as ghosts.

yet in the face of cruel decease, hope stood strong and nourished our weak. syria’s heart beats on beyond the grave; if her body is withering, her soul has been sowed extranational and her people have cherished her to bloom. syria was the first love of my life and we met at her death. and while I met romance in scarlet red, I have long since learned how to stitch up fear in favour of fervour. with persistence I have prayed to walk syria’s phantom streets. to whisper hope tentatively into immemorially despaired alleys. to live and love with those who live and love her. I have never been to el-lathiyeh, but I yearn to climb its greenest mountaintops and press its every flower. to lose my self in its sweeping white haze– to immortalize its beauty oft-forgotten. I want to pour bitter/sweet coffee under the looming shadow of the citadel, stubborn sunshine and children’s laughter colouring its every grand edge I want to be swarmed, in halab. I hope to never forget el-sham. not only as my keeper of barjees and konkan, of sabbara by the case; but as my home, wherein the sun shines on its trees and I stand a little taller. I will always love and dream of soorya physical, but there is boundless beauty beyond matter. if soorya now is a nation of scattered souls, then at least we have fought to weld her whole.

have I ever told you of home? there is the story they silence and the one they sell, but neither is the one my people tell. we were a nation of art and ambition before we were forced into battleground. before our pens were switched for arms, our children laughed. here, their laughter shakes bedrocks, and this itself is an unfathomable feat. kashmir, where mountains rise into the heavens. where breath is paradox; either it is taken or you cannot get enough. how can we grasp the meaning of seven skies? awe is insufficient a word. but if you revel in the vastness of this land, perhaps you could humble yourself to submission. how can air be sweet? ask me in the city of my dreams. here, we are doused in the fragrance of blossoming trees and the hospitality of the unfree. in my home, liberation is a memory I hope to make reality. one day we will find ourselves beyond open-air emancipation and in overdue embrace. one day palestine will know how liberty tastes. hawader, I imagine, are not far off. between labneh and zaatar, however, you will find olives from our trees. the oil which coats our tongues now is only as rich as those who extract it, and occupation is a cruelty of the barren.

try as they might this land is not what they make it. you can plant love and fertilize farce but you cannot uproot indigeneity. from the rooftops of my home I looked unto the world and redefined magnificence. blue is a colour reserved for this sky. song is a privilege for the sparrows of my nation; here, the earth itself is alive. there is no nuance in the roots of my people. you have clawed to the depths of our land and come up empty-handed; us, the soil touched our skin and recognized the salt of our tears. I do not know the people of my country, but in their eyes I see my history. I was not raised next to my neighbours but our dusted keys will unlock a trove of unlived memories– fate cannot be gated eternally. from the river to the sea. our beauty is awash in jhelum and winded in karakoram. the oud strums our resistance internationally and the tabla drums our demands persistently; my culture is your misery. with your every exasperation we wear down the devil. you sowed sorrow and reaped remorse— what did you hope to harvest? in all your ignorance, you’ve forgotten that victory is sugar sweet and candied from our dreams. the fruits of this labour have been ours for eternity.

The Mirror's 2022 Writing Contest WINNER: ALEEZA CHEEMA

Winnin g Submis sion!

Reflection of: To A Young Man by Allama Iqbal “What good is it if you possess the splendor of Chosroes’s kingdom, if you do not possess the bravery of Ali (RA) or the contentment of Sulayman (AS)” With great power comes great responsibility. The possession of power is futile if the powerful lack the courage to fulfill the responsibilities that come with it. What scant value does it produce when the powerful turns a blind eye to his power — when he is clouded by ingratitude and insatiability. When he (in)advertently equates his riches to zero, in the pursuit for more. To have it all, yet to believe you don’t. Perception is reality. To have it all, but to unfortunately, not.

“Do not look for this in the glitter of today’s civilization, You will find this contentment in the peak of Imaan.” Contentment cannot be found in worldly gains, for they are volatile and ephemeral, compelling us into a never-ending cycle of acquisition. Contentment can only be borne by holding onto a constant — Allah. Faith: placing your trust in Allah’s decree — by practicing gratitude for the (un)hidden blessings that He bestows upon us and by persevering through the trials and tribulations, knowing that not an ounce of discomfort or pain is ever in vain. Contentment: to accept the finite nature of man, to accept the infinite nature of God.

“When an eagle’s spirit awakens in the youth, it sees its destination in the heavens.” The Sky's the Limit. Eagle: strength, freedom, nobility. A symbol of spiritual elevation, of self-actualization. Eagles soar higher than all birds, often in solitude — a man of strong faith soars above his worldly attachments, striving to achieve freedom from all internal and external impediments. He soars, for his destination was never the world, it always was the heavens.

“Despair not, for despair brings about decline of knowledge and soul, the hope of a believer is among the confidants of God.” When the winds are gushing, and tumultuous waters are flowing, when the storm is imminent and when hope is waning like the moon’s crescent, faith in the Almighty is the solid rock we can hold onto. Our situations, circumstances and feelings are seldom ever in our control — what is however, is how we respond to them. We can seek comfort in prostration (prayer), in Ahadith, in confiding in Allah. By reminding ourselves that He tests those He loves the most. When the chapters of our life take unprecedented turns, we can remind ourselves that they were written by the best of Writers. And when confusion strikes us, we can seek solace in knowing that our understanding of life and this world is highly limited.

“Your dwelling is not in the dome of a royal palace, You are an eagle, make your dwelling on the highest of mountains.” While many people focus their lives on the acquisition of wealth, power and other worldly pursuits, some make religion the focus point of their lives — to fight their nafs, to instill good virtues in themselves and to elevate spiritually, to optimize their time in this world by maximizing their chances of making it to Jannah. And to elevate, we must let go of the things that are anchoring us down. Fear of ostracization. Fear of solitude. Fear of worldly invalidation. Above is our abode, where all the eagles soar, and they often soar alone.

See How We Have Changed Eesha Rehman Evening walks for my family are routine Summer nights where we would inhale the smell of night-flowers As I pointed out the constellations My parents are patient Even though I’ve pointed to the same ones I always do The ones they can never quite make out. Where my mother and I have a heart to heart It may seem that we always argue But evening walks are sacred Only laughter and understanding Forgiveness and grace Where my father becomes a storyteller giving me the memories of a home I have never known Teaching me the history of places time has forgotten As the setting sun illuminates his words But tonight There are no stories No laughter No forgiveness Tonight There is fear Tonight There is grief As we reminisce the lives taken And the ones left behind Tonight There are questions Ones none of us can answer and tonight There is resilience In the way my mother reminds me to be proud to wear my faith like a crown In the way my father reminds me of the dignity I uphold In the way I stand unapologetically Strength Resilience And yet Still I noticed in the way my father kept his eyes on the road, even as he continued his story As if his watchful gaze could preempt A blink of an eye I noticed in the way my mother moved me so that she was between me and the cars As if her body could be some sort of shield Protecting me from hatred I noticed in the way my hands reached for my parents as we crossed the intersection As if our hands joined together could ensure No one was left behind

WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD? By Sarah Abdellateef

FOCUS: AFRICA & ASIA 37

Definitions: Zionists: People who believe the holy land “Palestine” belongs to the Jewish population as a Jewish independent state. Diplomatic Boycott: A boycott is the refusal to have dealings with a person, organization, or place as a form of protest; in this case, a diplomatic boycott is the refusal to have a diplomat in the Beijing 2022 Olympics as a form of protest against the human rights crimes in China. BDS: The boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) of Israeli companies. It is a form of economic activism that focuses on targeting Israeli and international institutions and companies that profit from or contribute to the violation of Palestinian rights. Genocide: Intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group Ouster: Wrongful dispossession, especially of a covenant

Flip through the pages to read about some of the issues in focus *Note: this is not a detailed or exhaustive list, it is merely a summary of SOME issues - feel free to do more research* If you would like to request a reference sheet, feel free to reach out to The Mirror!

Palestine For decades -almost a century- ethnic cleansing has taken place in Palestine. Zionists have settled on Palestinian land, slowly taking over more areas that rightfully belong to Palestinians. Palestine has fought back, but Israel has the fourth strongest military and a lot of outside support, one well-known one being the United States. This issue gained significant media attention when information was shared that Palestinians were being expelled from their homes. This was seen in Sheikh Jarrah, where Palestinians were forced out of their homes, which were later given to ‘Israeli citizens’. In addition to this awful situation, innocent children and families are put at risk every day due to the Israeli forces. This is seen as children need to cross an Israeli checkpoint far from their homes to get to school. Most schools in Palestine are put under

pressure from Israel to close down, and the long distances to get to school and interactions with the military mean that some families may not let their children go to school. These issues do not portray even a fraction of the violence Israel is imposing on Palestine. There is an imbalance of power; Israel has more weaponry and resources than Palestine, and uses bo. th without reason. The BDS movement’s goal is to minimize the power being given to Israel by asking people to boycott organizations and areas that aid or support the occupation. Some of these companies include Soda Stream, Dead Sea, Pillsbury, Nestle, and Danone. Palestine gained support for less than a month, and little has changed regarding their situation. It is important not to forget that just because an issue is no longer trending, does not mean its been solved.

Yemen Since around 2015, Yemen’s humanitarian crisis has reached peak heights. 80% of Yemenis require humanitarian aid, and 2 out of 3 of them cannot afford food. Millions of children and families are starving and cannot afford basic necessities. This issue has risen with the political and economic problems in Yemen. According to UNICEF, less than half of the country’s health facilities are functioning. If we think about Canada, we have significantly more health facilities, millions are NOT starving, and yet, our facilities are still packed and busy with long wait lines. Comparing our situation to Yemen exemplifies the dire situation that they are in. Not only are children starving, but the conflict that started around 2014 (and is

still ongoing), makes it unsafe for the citizens of Yemen to go to places freely. This is a small explanation as to why most of Yemen is struggling with severe malnutrition. With the severe famine, education is even more difficult to provide. Families are too busy trying to survive, let alone prioritizing education. This means Yemen has a real risk of mass deaths caused by malnutrition. Even if aid could be given to them in time, many children in Yemen would likely struggle with literacy and have low levels of education. Food and shelter are basic human rights, and a conflict between countries should not impact citizens and children in this extreme matter. Unfortunately, this is the reality, and without help, Yemen may reach its breaking point.

CHINA If you followed the news in the past year or two, you are likely to have come across the issue of genocide regarding the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, Northwest China. It is important to know that the Uyghurs had declared independence as the Republic of East Turkestan, but were forcibly taken over by China’s government and that most Muslims in Xinjiang are ethnically Turkic. Recently, contries such as Canada and the US have accused China of genocide. The UN Human Rights Committee found proof in 2018 that around a million people were being held in “re-education” camps. The reports state human rights issues such as forced mass sterilization of women, separating families, as well cultural erasure. More violence of all sorts has occurred in these camps, and Uyghur Muslims also say they were forced to go against their religion in ways such as “being forced to eat pork”. China has denied all allegations, claiming that it released everyone from the camps (others in the region say this is false) and that their stricter measures are necessa-

ry to prevent terrorism and root out Islamist extremism. However, those who managed to escape these camps tell a different, inhumane story, one including shackling, violence, and risk of culture loss. Harming innocent Muslims simply because of a group of people who misunderstand Islam and use it for their own agenda is horrible and disturbing. The media tends to portray Muslims as terrorists when in reality, many people who fit under the label of terrorist are part of other religions. Yet these are not broadcasted in the same way as Muslims are in regards to violence, which only causes more hate towards them. Overall, as a result of these claims against China, US President Biden responded with a diplomatic boycott, recently seen by the absence of a US representative in the Beijing 2022 Olympics. While this is a good start, more effort should be placed on helping the Uyghurs escape these awful conditions and find safer areas to live in.

AFGHANISTAN [by Emaan Qureshi]

A few months back -if you recall- Afghanistan was the hot topic. When the Taliban took over, you may have heard our friend ‘Misconstrue Everything’ (aka mainstream media) say something along the lines of: “The Taliban have returned to power in Afghanistan twenty years after their ouster by U.S. troops, sparking concerns that they will impose harsh rule, neglect to provide basic services, and abuse human rights'' (CFR). You may have been afraid for the Afghan women, who supposedly will not be able to go to school or work. You may have even seen the video of the Afghan civilians desperately clinging to the fleeing US military plane and thought, “oh no, not the Taliban”. Hang on just a moment there—sift through the narrative the media is trying to tell you and focus on sound facts. Just days after the Taliban took over, “Afghan girls return[ed] to school in Herat…” (Al Jazeera). On February 25 of 2022, the UNICEF informed us that: the Taliban [has] committed To let[ting] girls back to school” (AP). Public universities have been opened; to men and women (VOA). Videos on YouTube show Taliban officials reassuring health aid workers that they will be supported and protected, similar to the folks at the 24hr news station in Afghanistan (SmiletoJannah). Social media users in China “made posts saying that the Taliban takeover was "peaceful" compared to the US Capitol riot on January 6, when a proTrump mob swarmed the Capitol, sieged the building, smashed and damaged property, and forced lawmakers into lockdown” (Business Insider). I w-

onder if anyone saw the video of the British army General Sir Nick Carter refuting Kay Burley on Sky News saying “I think you have to be very careful using the word enemy. I think people need to understand who the Taliban actually are. And of course, they are a disparate collection of tribes’ people…they happen to live by a code of honour and a standard…I think you have to listen to what they’re saying at the moment and I think you have to listen to the facts on the ground…” (Sky News). What’s astonishing is that mainstream media, such as the likes of BBC and Sky News, can never give a balanced and accurate view of any situation. All they do is shove their own narratives down our throats. The Taliban and Afghanistan is not exactly as it is portrayed. The US army is not as concerned for women going to school as they claim to be (why else would they occupy Afghanistan for 20 years and not once solve this issue?). Therefore, my dear Muslims, we must search for the truth ourselves and not be tossed between falsehoods. We must pray that Allah leaves the people of Afghanistan to the care of rulers who fear Him and act just out of obedience to Him. In the end, due to the war and constant political and economic struggles - not to mention President Biden’s action of freezing $7 billion of assets in the U.S banks - Afghanistan is struggling. People are struggling to get food and survive, and those who are displaced within the country need shelter, water, sanitation, and other types of aid.

LETS TALK: PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM In the past year, there have been multiple social media posts on “what’s going on” around the world. There was the Black Lives Matter movement, re-sparked by George Floyd's death (also inciting ACAB). There was periodic outrage dedicated to Uyghur Muslims and even protests for Palestine after so many years of violence and apartheid. So, what is common about all these issues? They all died down. Some after months, weeks, and unfortunately, even days. The great idea behind posting about issues is that a person is raising awareness. However, after a while, the person stops because they assume everyone has been flooded with information regarding the issue, just like them. Issues like the Palestinian displacement and Yemen's humanitarian crisis are not new. Yet people act like they exist only when it receives random media attention. This is a reminder that posting online helps, but do NOT stop there. Take time to research more about an issue, discuss it with friends, and if you are feeling ambitious, start a protest or website for it. If this is difficult for you, there is one simple way to support a cause. Donate.

WHERE can YOU donate?

In the end, remember this hadith: :‫ قال‬-‫رضي هللا عنهما‬- ‫فعن النعمان بن بشير‬ ‫ مثل المؤمنين في توادهم‬:‫قال رسول هللا ﷺ‬ ‫وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم مثل الجسد إذا‬ ‫اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر‬ ‫والحمى‬ On the authority of Al-Nu’man bin Bashir, he said: The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: "The likeness of the believers in their affection, mercy, and sympathy is like the body. If one part of the body is in pain, the rest of the body suffers with it." This hadith can remind us all that even if we are not living in the areas around the world where our sisters and brothers are struggling, this does not mean we should ignore and forget about them. If anything, we should remember them more, especially in the absence of media attention and support.

An Inside Look at some of the Club's Most Memorable Events & Initiatives of the Year!

Dawah Booth Outreach to the broader community that strengthens the ties between the MSA and the McMaster student body is what makes the Dawah Booth special. Through this initiative, many relationships and alliances are built that allow all participants to have a unique takeaway experience, whether it is spiritual, emotional, or a friendship. Dawah Booth is an open space for intellectual speech between a wide range of ideologies and faiths. We would love to have you participate in our booth and show your Marauder Muslim Spirit! @ponderingpurpose_

MSA Potluck The Social Services Africa team held a Potluck at the Milton Sports Park that involved a wide variety of delicacies and sweets being brought from numerous brothers and sisters in the community! It was a great day of activity with the brothers and sisters separately holding their own programming, such as sports, lively discussion and more. It was a very windy day, but Alhamdulillah the community still came out and enjoyed themselves.

OSP Bonfire Night After years of watching each other through screens, OSP hosted the first-ever in-person fundraising social signifying the launch of their 2021-2022 hybrid campaign. This was an opportunity for the sisterhood as well as the brotherhood to welcome new members and reconnect over open mic entertainment and laughs, all while seeking the reward of Sadaqah Jaariyah (charity) from Allah (SWT). @mcmasterosp

To keep up with weekly events and initiatives, follow

@MACMSA on Instagram

Open House at T13

An Inside Look at some of the Club's Most The open house was an event held early in the year to Memorable Events & Initiatives of 2021/22

introduce the MSA sisterhood to the sisters room in the T13 building! During the event, a lot of girls got to know one another, played games, got FREE cupcakes, and even studied together! It was special because it was the FIRST event that the Sisters Socials team hosted, and got us all excited to plan even more events throughout the year together with the team! @macmsasisters

Sisters' Cootes Hike The day hike at the Cootes Paradise trail was held in December and was an amazing time for the sisterhood to bond! Held in the midst of exam season, it was also an opportunity to unwind and take a break from studying while spending time with some amazing people. The sisters had a wonderful time reflecting in nature, getting some physical activity in, and sharing their experiences about the virtual to in person transition.

MOSCARS Festival Every year MacMSA holds "The Moscars: A Muslim Arts Festival" in an effort to provide Muslim youth with a platform to showcase their artistic talents, and to bring the community together for an evening of arts and entertainment. We hold many workshops throughout the year: Arabic calligraphy, Turkish paper marbling, Islamic geometric art, Islamic illumination, etc. The festival itself includes an art exhibit and performances from famous artists. This year our theme is "When The Moon Split." The essence of this theme is to ponder the signs of our maker and learn lessons of healing from the Prophetic way.

@moscarsfestival

See something that interests you? Reach out to us for more information on how to get involved with any of the club's numerous events and initiatives. At MacMSA, there truly is something for everyone! Join the McMaster MSA #channel on Slack for updates, reminders, and to connect with the community! macmsa.slack.com

The ultimate Muslim SURVIVAL GUIDE Shifaa Syed

If you’re a first-year student at McMaster (or a second-year like myself!) you’ve likely gotten lost on campus if you’ve ever had a chance to go. I definitely felt intimidated, lost, and had major FOMO from what I would have experienced last year. As a Muslim student especially, finding prayer spaces and halal food is a real concern and challenge we all have to face.

But NEVER FEAR, we’ve got your back! By exploring campus with friends, talking to upper years, and a bit of trial and error, I’ve compiled a list of everything you need to survive as a Muslim student at McMaster. From prayer spaces, campus and MSA services, to last but not least, HALAL FOOD!

Without further ado, here is your ULTIMATE MCMASTER MUSLIM SURVIVAL GUIDE!

PRAYER TIPS

1) Pocket Prayer Mats While most prayer spaces at McMaster have prayer mats available, it’s a good idea to invest in a travel-size pocket prayer mat that can easily be folded and stored. You can purchase these at your local Muslim bookstore/cornershop, or online!

2) Download a Prayer/Qibla App The easiest way to find the Qibla (prayer direction) in non-designated prayer areas is through a Qibla app. These apps also help you keep track of prayer times, and often have a digital Quran. Some popular apps include the Athan App, The Holy Quran App, Al Quran, and Athan Utility!

3) Invest in a Bidet You can find small travel-size bidets in stores like Canadian Tire for affordable prices. Having a bidet with you is an easy way to keep clean and comfortable!

There are often many empty tutorial rooms in LR Wilson Hall, The Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) building, and the Michael Degroote Center of Learning (MDCL) to pray in. There are also many quiet pockets in the McMaster University Student Center (MUSC)! For more on prayer spaces, turn to the next page!

PRAYER SPACES

1) HG Thode Library, Basement For those Go-Transit commuters, you’ve probably seen the circular building right next to the McMaster Bus station. Inside this building's basement is the small prayer space in room B113. 2) Mills Memorial Library, Second Floor This spot is a bit tricky to find, BUT the good news is that it is very secluded and private. On the second floor of Mills Library, there is an area filled with desks and tall bookshelves. Simply go through the tall bookshelves and you will find a little clearing in the corner with a brother and sister’s prayer space! 3) McMaster Children’s Hospital, Multi-faith Room You can find the Multi-faith room on the hospital’s Second Floor. Two easy ways of accessing this room are by turning left from the main entrance, or by taking the path through the Health Sciences Library! 4) T-13 Building The T-13 Building is where the MSA Offices are, and is a popular place for Muslim students to hold events, relax, sleep, and pray. T-13 is a small building beside the Engineering Technology Building (ETB) and across the street from the McMaster Children’s Hospital. Room 122 is the Sister’s office, and room 109 is the Brother’s office. Both rooms have couches, prayer mats, charging ports, and pillows, making it a safe space. Both offices are exclusive to their own gender, ie. sisters-only in the sisters' 47

room, and brothers-only in the brothers' room!

MSA SERVICES 1) Jummah Friday Prayers (i.e. Jummah) typically take place in the David Braley Athletic Center (DBAC), and are usually held in the Smith Gym. To attend, you must fill out a form to sign up in advance, while bringing your own prayer mat, face mask, proof of vaccination, and ID (while restrictions remain). There are MULTIPLE Jummah prayers that take place, which is especially useful if you have classes or cannot attend at certain times on Friday afternoons. For weekly updates and the sign-up form, you can check the MSA socials and website mentioned below! 2) MSA Memberships The MSA has Membership cards for ONLY $10 that you can purchase at ANY time! The benefits of the membership include being able to vote in MSA executive elections, run for executive roles, and receive discounts on certain local Halal food stores and local/Muslim-owned shops. Most importantly, all proceeds go directly to supporting the MSA in continuing to create amazing events and services for us all! 3) MSA App, Socials and Website The BEST way to stay connected with the MSA and the MANY services it provides is to follow their social media! (@macmsa on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Youtube and Twitter). They also have separate brotherhood and sisterhood pages on both Instagram and Facebook if you are looking to connect with the Muslim Brothers or Sisters community. The MSA also has an App (Mac MSA), and website (www.macmsa.com) with updated prayer information, halal food spots, news, upcoming events, student housing opportunities, AND MORE!

CAMPUS SERVICES

1) Religious, Indigenous, or Spiritual Observance (RISO) Form If you require an Academic Accommodation for a test, lab, class participation, or another academic component due to a Religious, Indigenous, or Spiritual Observance (RISO), you can fill out a RISO form! The Registrar's Office will send the request to the course instructor to reschedule the academic component based on your accommodations via DIRECT communication! 2) The Pulse Fitness Center & Women-Only Gym In the David Braley Athletic Center (DBAC), there is a women-only gym that Muslim women can take advantage of! The Pulse Fitness Center is a facility within DBAC and has a women-only gym area, where they offer a VARIETY of workshops and classes. 3) Night Walk Safety Services The Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT) is a volunteer service within the McMaster Student Union that will walk or bus with users during the evening hours, 7 days a week. SWHAT is located on the second floor of MUSC (The Student Center) in room 234 and can be contacted in-person at their office, via phone at 905-525-9140 x27500, or through the McMaster SafetyApp. When you call SWHAT. You will be joined by a team of two walkers wearing casual clothing. All walkers are equipped with a flashlight and a radio to allow communication with the SWHAT office and McMaster Security as required! 49

HALAL FOOD

AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS! This is the end of YOUR Ultimate McMaster Muslim Survival Guide! Living as a visible minority in the West can often be difficult, but just remember that Allah rewards us for our efforts and obedience to Him. Hopefully these tips help us as Muslim students to fulfil our obligations and help keep our faith not only surviving, but THRIVING! May Allah reward us for our efforts and grant us ease in our transition to university life!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall... Taima Abdel Hafiz

Dearest Fiona PleaseDoNotFallingbrook,

I’m super stressed about school. There’s so much going on and so many deadlines even though the semester just started. I feel confused about what is going to happen after undergrad. How do you maintain positivity when everything is so stressful? Sincerely, Fiona Fallingbrook

Thank you for writing in. I’m sorry things have been so difficult this semester- I completely agree with you on that. The transition to in-person learning has been a stressful one for sure, and, to be honest, I’d be concerned if you weren't overwhelmed! That being said, don’t be hard on yourself, Fiona doesn't deserve that. The truth is that no one is positive all the time so don’t be fooled by the calm fronts your peers may put up. Undergrad is such an exciting time but it is also one of uncertainty which can be said about our life in its entirety, really. We as humans are always looking ahead and trying to prepare ourselves for what the future holds. The beautiful thing is that God didn’t ask us about tomorrow; if we were responsible for tomorrow then we would have been ordered to cram all our responsibilities into one day. When you wake up in the morning you know to go pray fajr, brush your teeth, and have breakfast. Allah S.W.T (1) does not hold you responsible for that day’s Isha prayer, or tell you to eat that evening’s dinner. It's still Fajr! You just woke up! Dinner who?! Do you see where I’m going with this? Take things as they come, don’t give the life of the dunya more than it deserves. It’s easier said than done but it can most definitely be done by the will of Allah. In Surah At-Talaq verses 2-3, Allah S.W.T is talking to us when He says:

‫) َوَم ن َيَّت ِق ٱلَّلَه َيْج َع ل َّلُه ۥ َم ْخ َرًۭج ا‬...( ‫َأ‬ ‫َو َيْر ُز ْق ُه ِم ْن َح ْي ُث اَل َيْح َتِس ُب ۚ َوَم ن َيَت َو َّك ْل َع ىَل ٱلَّلِه َف ُه َو َحْس ُب ُه ٓۥ ۚ ِإ َّن ٱلَّلَه َبٰـ ِل ُغ ْم ِرِه ۦ ۚ َق ْد َج َع َل ٱلَّلُه ِلُكِّل َش ْى ٍۢء َق ْد ًۭر ا‬

…And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them. Certainly Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything.”

SubhanAllah, the matter of our futures is already in the Hands of Allah SWT. Make your study plan, organize your deadlines, put your trust in Allah; your tawakkul in your Lord is more than enough.

(1) Subhanahu wa ta'ala ( ‫ُس ْبَحاَنُه َو َتَع اٰىَل‬‎). The most glorified, the most high.

Ahlan Shy Not Qahwa,

I need to be more confident to stand up for myself. How can I be more direct with people? Sincerely, Shy Not Qahwa

I've been liking tea more than coffee these days so I decided to answer your question solely for that reason. You’re welcome! Firstly, it’s important to note the context in which you are referring to when you say “stand up for myself”- if you are in a situation where people are treating you unkindly, then please reach out to someone you trust. In my response, I’m going to assume you just mean everyday situations where you want to build more self confidence in your interactions with people and become a stronger person. As Muslims it is important to conduct ourselves with kindness and humility in social interactions, but it is also just as important to develop inner self-confidence so that we are not taken advantage of. Overcoming negative feelings and building self-esteem improves the quality of our interactions with others, and contributes to our overall selfconfidence. Confidence and how we carry ourselves has a big influence on how we present ourselves to our peers. Following in the footsteps of the Prophets means that we needn't be afraid to seek knowledge, get involved in society, and interact with people; we just have to stay true to our Islamic values and make them such an integral part of our being that we don’t know where they end and we start. Become one with Islam *yoga emoji*. Prophet Musa (A.S) (2) struggled with self confidence related to his speech while giving dawah to the people of Fir’oun. As narrated in Surah Ta-Ha verses 25-28, Prophet Musa (A.S) would make this supplication:

‫َر ِّب ا ْش َر ْح ِلي َص ْد ِر ي َو َي ِّس ْر ِلي َأْم ِر ي َو اْح ُلْل ُع ْق َد ًة ِم ْن ِلَس اِني َي ْف َق ُه وا َق ْو ِلي‬

Rabb-ishrah li sadri, wa yassir li ‘amri, Wah-lul ‘uqdatam-min-li-saani, Yaf-qahuu qawlii O my Lord! Open for me my chest (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness); Ease my task for me; And remove the impediment from my speech, so they may understand what I say You’ve probably heard lots of Islamic speakers say this du’a at the beginning of their talks, and that’s because it is a beautiful supplication that calls out to Allah for confidence and ease of speech. Safiyyah bint Shaybah reported: Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “How excellent are the women of the Ansar! They do not allow shyness to prevent them from understanding the religion.” In another narration, Aisha (R.A) said, “They do not allow shyness to prevent them from asking questions about the religion and seeking to understand it.” (3) In the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) time, men and women were encouraged to seek knowledge and ask questions. The type of shyness that is a branch of faith is not referring to being a silent, headdown person, but rather to possess good character and modesty in your actions. I understand the nerves that come with being more direct with people and speaking your mind, as do the Prophets, peace be upon them. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and the other Prophets had such a difficult time with their communitiesimagine preaching to narrow-minded people who call you crazy and try to kill you! Allah (S.W.T) and His Messenger (P.B.U.H) directed us to spread our religion calmly and treat people kindly, so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. I hope my response provided you with some things to think about, as well as comfort your worries. I’m really proud of you for writing in; it takes so much confidence to ask for advice and share your struggles, mashaAllah. (2) A.S: ʿAlayhis salaam (‫)عليه السالم‬. Peace be upon him. (3) Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 332. Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim. (4) Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said, "Iman has over seventy branches -or over sixty branches - the uppermost of which is the declaration: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'; and the least of which is the removal of harmful object from the road, and modesty is a branch of Iman." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Boujiest batata,

Salam alaikom! So as you probably know, this time of year is hectic with classes, assignments, labs, midterms, etc., and this is bringing to my awareness that I haven't been remembering Allah as often as I usually do when I'm walking from class to class or during my study breaks, and so on, and I know that it's because I'm stressed and overthinking. Do you have any tips on how I can keep my connection with Allah S.W.T alive? Sincerely, Boujie Batata

Wa alaikum salaam, I am writing this as I am fasting and now all I can think about is potatoes. Unless you are boiled; then nevermind. I have found that, subhanAllah, getting involved within the Muslim community at school puts you in good company which in turn influences your connection with Allah S.W.T. If you’re studying in any of the libraries on campus, go to the prayer area a few minutes after adhan and join the brothers and sisters that are usually there praying in congregation; it’s a beautiful thing to step away from our studies to worship our Creator in the company of other students. It really puts things into perspective and adds structure to the day. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‫ِإ َّن َهَّللا َتَع اىَل َيُق وُل َيا اْبَن آَد َم َتَف َّرْغ ِلِع َب اَدِتي َأْم ْأَل َص ْد َر َك ِغ ًنى‬ ‫َو َأُس َّد َف ْق َرَك َو ِإ اَّل َتْف َع ْل َم ْأَلُت َيَد ْي َك ُش ْغ اًل َو َلْم َأُس َّد َف ْق َرَك‬

Allah Almighty said: O son of Adam, use your free time for My worship and I will fill your heart with riches and alleviate your poverty. If you do not do so, I will fill your hands with problems and never alleviate your poverty. (5) The most life-changing advice that I have been given and one that, bi’ithnillah, (6) I hope you take to heart, is to plan your day around your salah/religious obligations. All too often we put off picking up the Qura’n until we have exhausted all of our academic responsibilities for the day. How often do we sprint across campus to make it to our next class, papers flying, hijab ends slapping everyone within a 2 kilometer radius, because this lecture is especially important and we cannot miss a single word that comes out of the professor’s mouth? (7) Allah, my Lord, your Lord, the Lord of all the worlds bestowed upon us the gift of 5 daily appointments with Him and the absolute least we can do is prioritize our akhirah like we do our worldly obligations.

(5) Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2466, Grade: Sahih. (6) Bi’ithnillah (‫)بإذن هللا‬. With the permission of Allah. (7) I am actually very boujie as well, I use an iPad, not paper. I’m cool like that. Save the trees!

Lucky for you I am just bursting at the seams with helpful advice today so the number one thing I recommend that you do is to set nonnegotiables in your daily schedule. This means having religious activities that you structure your day around and that you prioritize above everything else. Start small, don’t overwhelm yourself! A list of nonnegotiables can look like this, for example:

Non-negotiables I will pray fajr on time, whatever it takes. I will do morning athkar on my way to school. As soon as I hear the athan throughout the day, I will get up to pray. I will listen to Qura’n or do istighfar as I am walking to my classes. I will read a page of Qura’n after lunch. I will read ayatul kursi after every salah. On the way home from school I will do evening athkar. I will pray witr before bed. I will attend MacMSA’s Origins halaqa every week. (8)

When you add it up these things don’t really take up much of your time, but are heavy on the scales and keep your relationship with Allah thriving. The Quran and the hadith of our beloved Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬both stress the importance of remembering Allah like we see in Surah Ar-Rum, verses 17-18:

‫َو َع ِش ًّۭيا‬

‫َف ُس ْب َحٰـ َن ٱلَّلِه ِح يَن ُتْم ُس وَن َو ِح يَن ُتْص ِب ُحوَن َو َلُه ٱْل َحْم ُد ِفى ٱل َّس َم ٰـ َٰو ِت َو ٱ َأْلْر ِض‬ ‫َو ِح يَن ُتْظ ِه ُروَن‬

So glorify Allah in the evening and in the morning—all praise is for Him in the heavens and the earth—as well as in the afternoon, and at noon.

SubhanAllah, Allah reminds us so many times in both the Qura’n and Hadith to keep our tongues moist with His remembrance. Renew your intentions always and keep Allah S.W.T at the forefront of your affairs.

(8) Check out @macmsa on IG, besties.

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ck a p r e t r sta

Sawm

2:185

Literally:

To abstain from certain actions to reach a specific goal

Islamically: To abstain from food, drink, sexual relations and displeasing speech and behaviour from the crack of dawn (Fajr) until the sun sets (Maghrib)

Pillars: An-Niyyah (The Intention): resolve to carry out Allah's command to fast- the intent must be made prior to Fajr Al-Imsak (The Refraining): refraining from what nullifies the fast or is undesirable to do while in this state

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.

Az-Zaman (The Time): from Fajr till Maghrib

2:183 O Believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺

Quick Facts

Sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam

It is mandatory during Ramadan for all healthy Muslims past the age of puberty Fasting is exempt for those menstruating, breastfeeding, pregnant, travelling, physically or mentally ill, or with any other valid cause Since the Islamic calendar operates on the lunar cycle, the month of Ramadan appears to shift back approximately 11-14 days each year on the Gregorian calendar

The Importance

Checklist

The month when the Quran was first revealed Develops a person's relationship with Allah through ubudiyyah (servitude) Teaches one not to transgress limits

Increase in Sadqah (charitable giving) Establish morning and evening adhkar Frequently recite the Quran Pray on time and increase supererogatory prayers Perform taraweeh in congregation

In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah (SWT) says: “All the actions of the children of Adam are for them except for fasting it is for me and I alone will reward for it.”

The Benefits Gaining taqwa Exercise control over one's nafs, whims, & desires Developing self-discipline spiritually and physically Purification of the mind, body, and soul Develop long-lasting, positive habits Various health benefits: detoxification, blood-sugar balancing, reduced inflammation, improved cognition Empathy for those suffering from hunger Increased family & community bonding

Laylat ul-Qadr

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates for they are blessed. If they are not found, let him break it with water for it is pure.” [Tirmidhi]

The Night of Decree

This night falls on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan [Bukhari, Muslim] There is a chapter in the Quran about this night: Surah al-Qadr [97] The Quran was first revealed on this night [97:1] Worship on this night is better than a thousand months [97:3] The affairs of that year are sent forth from the Preserved Tablet, and the Divine decrees are recorded [44:4] Sins are forgiven and rewards are multiplied At the start of the last 10 days, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard), perform Salah throughout the night, and keep his family awake for ibadah [Bukhari, Muslim] Many Muslims perform I'tikaf (a Sunnah) in which they seclude themselves in these last 10 nights (or a portion of them) to engage in Salah, Dhikr, and reciting the Quran

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Sunset

Sunrise

Iftar

Suhoor Fajr

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Taraweeh & Tahajjud Isha

Whoever prays at night in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven [Bukhari]

the mirror wordsearch. The Names of Allah

AL AL AL AL AL AL

AHAD-THE ONE ALEEM-THE ALL KNOWING HAADI-THE GUIDER HAMEED-THE PRAISEWORTHY JABBAR-THE RESTORER KHAALIQ-THE CREATOR

AL AL AL AL AR AS

LATEEF-THE GRACIOUS MALIK-THE RULER MUMIN-THE REMOVER OF FEAR QABID-THE WITHHOLDER RAHMAN-THE MOST GRACIOUS SABOOR-THE MOST PATIENT

the mirror crossword. Islamic Knowledge

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Elite Muslim Edition Memorized 99 Names of Allah

Memorized Ayatul Kursi

Watch Mufti Menk Lectures

Smiled at a stranger today

Gave Sadaqah today

Prayed Tahajjud last Night

Already bought your Eid outfit

Memorized the 4 Qul's

Watch Imam Omar Suleiman lectures

Know the story of Iblis

Attended Jummah last week

Listened to the Quran today

FREE SPACE

Can name at least 10 Prophets

Been to Umrah

Have Zam-Zam water in your fridge

Been to Hajj

Own an abaya/thobe

Ate a date today

Read the Quran with translation today

Said Alhamdulillah today

Know the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W

Grabbed some Quik Chik after Jummah on campus with friends

Sent blessings upon Prophet Muhammad S.A.W today

Been to T-13

Got 'em all? Share your Bingo on Instagram and tag @macmsamirror! 65

Fun Zone: Answer Key Stumped? We've got you covered! 1

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Usman Jafer

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Issue 4 - A Preeminent Happening