.

.
The Word The Muslim Magazine at UC Irvine
The Word The Muslim Magazine at UC Irvine

The Cost
The Cost of
of Success
Success in
in America
America

.
alkalima The
alkalima The Word
Word . .
Winter Winter 2011 Volume
2011 Volume i. Issuei.2Issue 2
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 contents Volume I . Issue 2

3 islam through the lens

Social issues
5 The Funny Thing About Being Funny 3 5
7 Floating Over Troubled Waters

Feature
9 Creative Submissions
7 9
12 Ask A Muslim: Why Do You Pray?

Student Issues
12 13
13 Good Evening UCI
14 Q&A With Tiffany Herard
15 The Dream Act

Student health 14 15
21 The Etiquette of Sleep
22 Miracles of the Quran

Opinion 21 22
23 When I Grow Up
25 Islamophobia

29 the last word 25

23

1 the word | WINTER 2011

 editor’s

Volume I . Issue 2
DESK
EDITOR IN CHIEF Tolerance. From a very young age, we have fect environment to move beyond the mechani-
Madiha Shahabuddin
been taught to take great pride in our apparently cal method of learning to instead engage in the
MANAGING EDITOR universal practice of this ideal. It has become our expansion of our knowledge particularly through
Anum Arshad shining beacon of hope for societal progress. Our embracing what has historically been built up as
SECTION EDITORS
claims for modernity, morality and maturity hinge “the other.”
Anum Arshad upon the principle of tolerance. It is that word we In these pages you will find stories about the
Sahar Jahani throw around to create a sense of unity, the word resurgence of Islamophobia in America, across
Sumayya Khan
Mehwish Shakeel we drill into children in school, the word call for in the country and in our backyards. You will see the
Shabnam Sheikh the face of injustice, and the word cling to in times importance of alternative media, both on this cam-
of social turmoil. pus and on the national arena. And you will experi-
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Zaid Ibrahim But what exactly what are the implications of ence the triumph and tribulations of the fight for
Emad Kazi being tolerant? Have we truly reached our full po- the DREAM Act, an opportunity undocumented
Anam Iqbal
tential as a society in sincerely accepting each oth- immigrants to realize the American dream.
Sana Iqbal
ers’ differences? In the Qur’an, the book revealed to the Proph-
ADVERTISING The word tolerance is defined as “the power et Muhammad (S) by Allah, we are told, “And of
Adnan Ismail
Sahar Jahani or capacity of an organism to tolerate unfavorable His signs is the creation of the heavens and the
Anas Qureashi environmental conditions.” While many of us cel- earth and the diversity of your languages and your
Madiha Shahabuddin ebrate tolerance of diversity, there is a possibility colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowl-
Mehwish Shakeel
Yusuf Siddique that this concept, if improperly applied, can augur edge” (30:22). It is a goal of Alkalima Magazine to
Hamza Siddiqui negative implications upon the fabric of our social provoke thought, encourage dialogue, and inspire
interactions. At its very core, the root of the word action. With that in mind, questioning ourselves
Writers
Owais Ahmad tolerance comes from the concept “to tolerate” and the status quo is the first place to start on this
Safa Ahmed something or someone. Thus, even in the practice journey of social understanding.
Sarah Barakat
Sana Farooque
of tolerance, one’s guards are up and the boundar-
Aminah Galal ies between oneself and the other, whether they
Sana Iqbal are religious, cultural, or social, are still intact.
Yasmine Mahida
Meena Malik As students at UC Irvine, we are in the per-
Nasir Malim
Madiha Shahabuddin
Ali Mansouri
on the
cover
Madiha Shahabuddin
Sabreen Shalabi
Hamza Siddiqui
Umer Waris
A young boy looks up towards the sky, symbolizing the hopes
SPECIAL THANKS
Rayan Fakhro
and aspirations of undocumented students around the nation
Hamza Siddiqui
Mohamad Galal who are fighting for the opportunity to establish their lives in

CONTACT ALKALIMA America. Though he stands against a towering library meant

alkalima.magazine
@gmail.com to signify the challenges that these undocumented students

face, in his upward gaze there still remains a sense of hope

and motivation to remain steadfast in this struggle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS | alkalima 2

 Image by Emad Kazi
3 the word | WINTER 2011
I S L A M T H R O U G H
“O mankind, indeed We
have created you from
male and female and made
you peoples and tribes that you
may know one another. Indeed, the most
noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most
righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing
and Acquainted.” -Surah al-Hujurat (49:13)
In essence, we are all the same. As human beings, we
are all of the same makeup, and have the same hearts
beating in our chests. Yet at the same time, we are differ-
ent in so many ways. Our family backgrounds are differ-
ent, the emotions that we feel are different, the paths we
tread and the sights and perspectives through which we
see are very different.
But nothing that God does is without reason. He cre-
ated everything for a purpose and Muslims are encour-
aged to use every aspect of life as a means of getting
closer to Him. He has made us all look different. And
while people use these differences for political purposes,
causing controversies, fights, and animosity towards cer-
tain groups, this purposeful variation of people is not
meant to perpetuate a basis of superiority of one people
over others. Why then would God divide people into na-
tions and tribes? How would this ever facilitate familiar-
ity?
Muslims believe that life in this world is temporary,
a test to attain the favor of their Lord. One of the tests
we face is the very fact that we have all been created dif-
ferently. Instead of pinpointing minute differences be-
tween one another to create barriers, we can use them as
strengths and tools to connect with one another. Man’s
job is to do good works, and to help others from all walks
of life. As the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi
wa sallam (peace and blessings be upon him) once said,
“Truly the faithful are to one another like components
T H E L E N S
of a building—each part supports the other.” (Bukhari
& Muslim)
One man’s weakness can be another man’s strength.
All are equal in the eyes of God, and the best in the
eyes of God is the one who does righteous deeds. We
were, after all, made into nations and tribes in order to
know one another better. Had the world been filled with
clones, people of the exact same thinking, nature, and
habits, there would be no reason to familiarize oneself
with the ways of others, no need for interaction. The
challenge is to get out of your comfort zone and explore.
We know better in this country, and on this campus, of
the benefits that come with broadening your horizons.
But sometimes we even take for granted how blessed
we are to have so many different kinds of people around
us all the time.
Our experiences in life are what bring us together as hu-
manity. No matter how different we are, whatever race,
background, affiliation, or inclination--in the end, we are
all human. This division is actually a means for unity, a
path to harmony, concord, and wholeness. We must not
forget our purpose, and our true place in the eyes of
God.
______________________________________
SAFA AHMED is a third year Business Econom-
ics major at the University of California, Irvine
YASMINE MAHIDA is a third year Psychology major
at the University of California Irvine.
ISLAM THROUGH THE LENS | alkalima 4
 Image by Emad Kazi
5 the word | WINTER 2011
 funny
the funny thing
about being
Perhaps it’s the iron-gray hair above his
ears—it assures us he’s wise for his years. Or
maybe it’s that straight-laced suit and tie he
dons during every show—it that tells us he
can be trusted.
It might just be that pseudo-serious look
he wears as the intro music for The Daily
Show with Jon Stewart blares in the back-
ground, but the popular “fake news show”
on Comedy Central and its host Jon Stewart
have certainly gained quite the reputation in
recent years.
From his infamous “rivalry” with Ste-
phen Colbert (the host of spin-off The Col-
bert Report) to his “Rally to Restore Sanity,”
Jon Stewart has fashioned for himself a per-
sona that is undoubtedly recognized for its
wry, tongue-in-cheek humor.
But lately, it appears as a result of increas-
ing mistrust and skepticism of traditional
news sources, shows like Stewarts’ and Col-
bert’s are beginning to be recognized for
more than their puns and gimmicks; they’re
starting to become bona fide sources of real
news.Satirical news parody shows like The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Col-
bert Report have evolved from the realm of
mere entertainment and have traversed into
the world of international, political, social
and economic discourse.
The hosts of these shows, ostensi-
bly “pundits” on a mock news show, have
crossed over to the side of “real” news me-
dia and have become—in many ways—
a more trusted news source than
traditional broadcast and
print sources. Strangely
(or perhaps not-so-
strangely, consider-
ing the quality of
news reporting to-
day), that’s not so
difficult to believe.
In 2009, when
Time Magazine
asked America
who they thought
the most trusted
By Madiha Shahabuddin
newscaster was after the death of Walter
Cronkite, with 44 percent of the votes, Jon
Stewart beat out Brian Williams of NBC
Nightly News and Charlie Gibson of ABC
World News.
That’s interesting, considering he isn’t
even really a newscaster, but an entertainer
and comedian. Right?
While some would argue these shows
are more palatable to the young, hip, large-
ly liberal crowd (I can’t recall ever hearing
a conservative sing the praises of Stewart
or Colbert), according to a PEW Research
Center done in 2002, “among the programs
regularly cited as a rising source of politi-
cal information is Comedy Central’s mock
news program “The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart” (“The Daily Show: Discursive In-
tegration and the Reinvention of Political
Journalism” by Geoffrey Baym, 2005).
Video clips from their shows are posted
and reposted on Facebook, accompanied by
captions and comments raving about their
sharp wit and cleverness on topics ranging
from the immigration debate to the Park 51
Mosque Controversy.
But it’s not just the masses that are catch-
ing on. Aside from popular support for the
show as a legitimate source of news infor-
mation, it has garnered critical acclaim as a
credible and worthy news show, winning a
Peabody Award and being nominated for
TV’s “Best Newscast” by the TV Critics As-
sociation back in 2004 (Baym).
Precisely what is it about the “Stewart/
Colbert effect” that, at face value appears
to be lowbrow comedy, but actually ends
up coming across as intellectual, critical and
analytical? Geoffrey Baym, Ph.D. and author
of From Cronkite to Colbert, offers an ex-
planation.
Based upon the assumption that these
news satire shows are primarily parodies of
traditional news shows, “the parody pieces
may generate a laugh, but their deeper thrust
is subversion, an attack on the conventions
and pretensions of television news” (Baym).
In a very concerted effort, these shows
are targeting those traditional news shows
and parroting their—dare I say it—preten-
sion, self-aggrandizement, and oft-times
narrow-minded biases.
Nearly every moment of these shows is
dedicated to bringing to light the absurdity,
ignorance, and superficiality of many news
shows.
In an effort to point out folly and igno-
rance that has pervaded mainstream media,
essentially measuring up to “shallow info-
tainment to try to ensure ratings points, The
Daily Show offers instead a version of news
that entertains,” according to Baym.
The show’s host has garnered an influen-
tial following based upon this trust between
the show and its viewers, the understand-
ing that as comical as things become on
the show, under all the mock pretensions,
there always remains a kernel of truth to be
gleaned.
Perhaps the only person to surpass vet-
eran Jon Stewart’s newsworthy influence is
his counterpart Stephen Colbert, who has
in recent years shot up unprecedentedly in
popularity.
The apparent ultra-conservative, Colbert
and his show have also enjoyed a similarly
positive reception amongst most Americans.
But what really tipped the scales, what
truly illustrated his power, influence, and
clout was when, in September 2010, Ste-
phen Colbert actually testified for Congress
on behalf of migrant farm workers, accord-
ing to NBC News.
After having spent one day working as a
farm worker, Colbert offered a sincere testi-
mony in support of the farm workers, while
still injecting his well-known humor and in-
famous deadpan satire.
It was just what it appeared to be: a ce-
lebrity attempting to raise awareness and
support for a worthy cause, but it was inher-
ently blurring the lines between a fictitious
television show character and the reality of
his testimony.
In a world where the “real” news source
is dismissed and the “fake” news source is
not just trusted, but avidly followed, what
does this say about our society and our abil-
ity to internalize information?
How reliable are our traditional news
shows? Are we moving in a new direction
in how we gain and interpret our news in-
formation?
And if so, is it a good one?
_________________________________
MADIHA SHAHABUDDIN is a third year
Political Science major at the University of
California, Irvine
SOCIAL ISSUES | alkalima 6

waters
Society has periodically withdrawn away
from or towards morals, values, and ultimate-
ly humanity. Progressively, as we become a
more technologically advanced and perfec-
tionist society, are we forgetting our roles as
human beings? Plastic surgery, tabloid sub-
scriptions, and cosmetic lines advertise their
products on a daily basis and we, as consum-
ers, actively participate in this type of brain-
washing. In doing so, we must ask ourselves
whether such an exposure from the media
has made us so caught up in our own selves
that we’ve in turn forgotten who we are as
a collective group. Individualism is a very
7 the word | WINTER 2011
floating over
TROUBLED
common aspect of American culture. How-
ever, this individualism is quickly taken a turn
for complacency. As the largest humanitarian
crisis hit Pakistan late July, many Americans
turned a blind eye to the situation. This crisis
went ignored due to rising anti-Islamic senti-
ment, lack of trust in government agencies,
and economic tough times.
Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on
the World Trade Center, American Muslims
have often been misunderstood and ostra-
cized. Taking into account the actions of
a few extremist Muslims, a war on terror
ensued, resulting in the occupation of Af-
By Sana Farooquee
Photo Couresy of Islami Relief
ghanistan and Iraq. Soon after, airport regu-
lations were increased tenfold, especially for
those citizens travelling to the Middle East or
South Asian countries. In more recent news,
a New York taxi cab driver was stabbed after
being asked if he was Muslim. Following the
“Draw Mohammed Day” came the contro-
versy over “Burn a Koran Day”, both days
ignited by hateful groups on the popular net-
working site, Facebook. The recent events
taking place around the country signify the
increased intolerance towards Muslims. A
poll conducted on August 29 by the San
Diego, California 760 KFMB AM talk radio
station indicated that 70% were in favor of
forced registration of American Muslims in
a national database. Another poll conducted
by MSNBC indicated that more than fifty
percent of Republicans hold a negative at-
titude towards Islam.[1] Regardless of the
negative opinions spread against Muslims in
our society, we must differentiate between
a religion and humanity as a whole. Ac-
cording to the United Nations, 20 million
people were affected by the flood rains that
began on July 26, 2010 in Pakistan. The lack
of response by Americans was due to the
growing biased against Muslims. Pakistanis,
Whatever our race or religion may be, our spe-
cies remains the same: human. We must continue
to better the human race and help one another in
times of need.
although alienated, are still human beings.
Is it just to judge a whole community based
on the actions of a few individuals? It is
as if accounting the KKK for embodying
the ideals of every Christian. Is it possible
to justify how this catastrophe remained ig-
nored on the grounds of religious discrimi-
nation? It is important to educate ourselves,
regardless of what the media promotes or
infiltrates in us. Hate for another is a stab at
humanity. Socially, we believe in similar ide-
ologies; only our cultures differ. This differ-
ence should not be a dividing factor.
A lack of trust in government agencies
also caused a decrease in aid response. Fo-
rums under news articles indicated as such.
However, one must wonder where this lack
of faith was when Haiti was struck with an
earthquake. Some of the comments stated
that they were not interested in donating to
a “terrorist state” or that the people were
worried their money would be used to “fund
terrorism”. Logically speaking, when a fifth
of a nation is underwater, this argument
seems ignorant and less than well informed.
The United Nations secretary, General Ban
Ki Moon, stated that this was the worst na-
tional disaster he had ever seen. With 2,433
miles of highway and 3,508 miles of rail-
way completely dismantled and 70% of the
population not having the means or funds
for food, this is an atrocious claim. This is
a simple matter of sociology, Maslow’s hi-
erarchy. If a person is not meeting the bare
essentials, how can he possibly think of any-
thing more? The population is becoming
weaker, with millions having to drink pollut-
ed water. Malaria, dysentery, along with star-
vation is taking a toll on many lives. Thou-
sands are dying with no aid and no sign of
incoming aid. And with the infrastructure
of the country completely damaged, there
is no validity in the argument to say that the
money is being donated to a terrorist state.
However, it goes to show how comfortable
we, as Americans, have become in our luxu-
rious lifestyles. We simply find it hard to see
beyond the bias we were brought up in. The
media has alienated Muslims to the decree
that they are no longer seen as human but
only as “terrorists”. However, looking at the
mortifying pictures of dying men and wom-
en, it is not possible to give such a label to an
entire population. Thus, it is vital to under-
stand matters on our own terms, rather than
taking an ignorant pathway.
Lastly, the matter of the recession plays
an important part in people’s inability to
donate. Relief efforts were climactic for the
Haiti earthquake, which shows why some
may want to opt out on a second time. Con-
sidering all the negative energy associated
with Pakistan it might not also seem like
a “bad idea” for many. However, this was
the largest natural catastrophe to have been
noted, with more people displaced, starv-
ing and homeless. As a supreme power, we
already have a lot more than most others
could even dream of. Something as simple
as clean water is unavailable for these flood
victims. There are large convoys leaving dif-
ferent parts of the state regularly. The lack
of funds is no reason not to contribute.
Everyone can give something, whether it is
water bottles, food, or even old clothes. Any
and all types of donations are viable. It is
easy for Americans to be caught up in our
busy lives to not think about that old shirt
that won’t be worn again. However, that
very shirt could serve for someone in dire
need. It is important to start thinking glob-
ally and more of a collective union rather
than an individualistic person.
The crisis in Pakistan was ignored in large
part due to complacency issues. People were
largely ignorant, less informed, and took a
bias perspective to the situation. Standing as
an individual, it’s vital to think of a positive
for the whole group. As a community, it is
important for us to realize what truly mat-
ters to us. It is our responsibility as citizens
to learn tolerance and respect for everyone.
Whatever our race or religion may be, our
species remains the same: human. We must
continue to better the human race and help
one another in times of need.
__________________________________
SANA FAROOQUEE is a third year Crimi-
nology, Law and Society major at the Uni-
versity of California, Irvine
 cr dEATH

e
The strongest five letters that each one of

a
us has to face
Mother, father, husband, wife, brother,
sister, friend.

tiv
Target unnamed, time unknown
Strong, weak, rich, poor, sick
A process where discrimination is purely
nonexistent
To continuously remember those that
have died would be death of hope
To continuously remember what comes
after death would be death of humanness

e
To remember death at every moment of
every day would be death of life
Therefore we have been blessed with the
greatest blessing of them all
The ability to forget yet be constantly
reminded.
________________________________
Sabreen Shalabi is a second year
Political Science major at the University
of California, Irvine

s u b m i s s i o n s
9 the word | WINTER 2011

whispers
They try to break me.
They use every stick and stone
Every word, to try and break me
To define me as someone other than myself
They’ve told me where to gather and where I
couldn’t
What to wear and what I shouldn’t
You can build, but not here
It’s not you; we’re just trying to be fair
Call yourself this name, but not that
Talk about this topic, but don’t go near that
And if I step out of line
I suddenly find myself on the frontline
Defending myself as public enemy number one
You’re either with us or someone to be shunned
And as I walk down the street, I can hear their
whispers
But I don’t even need to hear every word they
say
Because sometimes a look in the eye
Can tell stories longer than any novel you can
buy
And even if I don’t hear them at all
Just by the way they step aside
Photo by Sana Iqbal
I can tell all the thoughts they have inside
As they try and avoid me at any cost
I can tell that they think that I’m scary and weird
Intellectually challenged, and someone to be
feared
Yet, they call themselves tolerant
You can stay, but I’ll avoid you like the plague
Unless you agree to change
Be the person society has defined for you,
shaped for you, ingrained in people’s minds for
you
But I won’t change to fit their shallow conformi-
ties
I won’t let them make me question my loyalties
Because it’s not them that I seek or fear
It’s my Lord, the One who created me
So whisper all you want
Because if I listen to what you say, or give it
second thought
Not only will I lose this world, but the one I’ve
always sought.
______________________________________
Aminah Galal is a fourth year History
major at the University of California, Irvine
FEATURE | alkalima 10
IN THE Creative Submissions

playground Shirt tucked, hijab secured –I swing my legs up onto the

playground bar and quiver into balance. Awkwardly perched
on the peak, I look down before I let myself fall backwards.
Every fiber in my body yells a prayer that escapes as a whis-
per through clenched teeth. Bismillah-hir-rahman-nir-rahim.
“In the name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.”
I circle around the bar. I feel my stomach swoop into my
throat. One, two spins around. At the third I slip and fall to
the ground, my face burning red with confusion.Am I really
ready?
A girl comes over and asks if I am hurt. I shake my head
and brush away woodchips. Bailey is six years old. Megan,
her eight-year-old sister, joins us. I teach them some bar
tricks. They are curious, but Megan is curious about some-
thing else, too.
“Why do you wear that on your head? Do you want to
wear it?” Panic.
“Oh, this? It’s ‘cause of my religion. And I chose to…to
wear it.” Trepidation.
“Oh, I guess that you don’t belong to the same religion as
me.” Apprehesion.
“Nope, I guess not.” Okay…?
“Bailey, she looks kinda like Gracia, huh?” Relief. Con-
nection.
It was as simple as that. That is when I knew that within those
ten minutes we had become friends. There was something
about them accepting me that made me accept myself. For
many years, I fought to muster the courage to start wearing
the hijab. Finally I let go; all my reasons built up to one mo-
ment in senior year. But I also fell; it had been a challenge
adjusting to my drastic change in identity—until that point
in the playground. It was an epiphany. If two little strangers
I met could see past my veil, then there was nothing for me
to be afraid of. My encounter with them gave me the push to
make it over the bar.
_____________________________________________________
MEENA MALIK is a second year Undecided/Unde-
Photo by Madiha Shahabuddin
clared major at the University of California, Irvine

11 the word | WINTER 2011

Photo by Sana Iqbal
Ask a Muslim:
why do Muslims
pray?
“So give glory to Allah, when you reach
evening and when you rise in the morning;
for to Him belongs all praise in the heav-
ens and on earth; and also in the late after-
noon and when the day begins to decline.”
(Qu’ran, 30:17-18)
During the past 1400 years, millions of
Muslims have been born and died, in every
corner of the world and in every walk of
life. At first glance, one may see very little in
common between them; after all, how many
similarities could there be between the life of
a Bedouin nomad from the ninth century, a
Persian philosopher from the sixteenth, and
a Malaysian professor from the twenty-first?
However a closer look into the lives of de-
vout Muslims, regardless of time and cul-
ture, reveals an interesting similarity; every
day they recite the same words and perform
the same actions at five specific times, part
of a ritual known as salah (prayer).
By Ali Mansouri
When Abdullah bin Masud, one of
Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu `alayhi wa
sallam’s (peace and blessings be upon him)
companions asked him what was the best of
deeds, the Prophet responded, “To offer th
prayers at their early stated fixed times” 1.
In another occasion the Prophet referred
to salah as one of the pillars of faith. Fur-
thermore, unlike other major obligations in
Islam, like sawm (fasting) and the pilgrim-
age to Mecca, which under certain condi-
tions can be deferred, under no conditions
is a Muslim relieved of their responsibility
for salah. It is clear that salah is given utmost
importance in Islam, but one wonders, why?
What is the reasoning behind the salah?
The Qu’ran commands, “Recite what
is sent of the Book by inspiration to you,
and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer re-
strains you from shameful and unjust deeds;
and the remembrance of Allah is the great-
est (thing in life) without doubt. And verily
Allah knows that which you do” (Qu’ran,
29:45). From this verse, it is evident that one
of the benefits of salah is preventing a be-
liever from committing sins. The root cause
of all sins is forgetfulness of God’s presence.
If an individual is truly conscious of their
Lord’s presence, he or she would never fall to
temptation. However as one gets consumed
by the never ending affairs of this world, it is
easy to lose focus of one’s ultimate purpose,
submitting to God. Salah is a protection
against this downfall; it is a constant remind-
er for humanity of the presence of its Lord.
Hence the first action a Muslim performs ev-
ery morning and the last before going to bed,
as well as during the noon, afternoon, and at
sunset, is salah. In each prayer, the believer
twice recites “You alone do we worship, and
your aid alone do we seek” (Qu’ran, 1:5). By
constantly reminding his or herself of this, a
believer trains oneself to be wary of tempta-
tion and ready to do the right thing, no mat-
ter how difficult the circumstances may be.
There are of a number of additional rea-
sons to perform salah. It can be to show
gratitude towards God for all the infinite
blessings he has provided, to achieve tran-
quility, or to promote greater unity in the
Muslim community (in the case of congre-
gational prayers). Indeed, there may be many
hidden benefits to salah that humanity is not
yet aware of. Verily Allah knows best.
__________________________________
ALI MANSOURI is a second year Aero-
space and Mechanical Engineering double
major at the University of California, Irvine
FEATURE | alkalima 12
 By Sarah Barakat
GOOD
evening
UCI
An audience cheers. Drums and saxo-
phones are paired with the sun setting be-
hind the Newport pier. If you look closely,
you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the best lo-
cal crab joints in town. It’s the catchy start of
another Good Evening UCI episode, which
offers quality news updates on the latest
events and entertainment, making it one of
the most popular independent news sources
on campus.
Mainstream news outlets have left many
students at UC Irvine craving for a fresh
and more creative approach at quality news.
But how do students at UC Irvine stayed
informed on current events and school up-
dates? I had the opportunity to get to know
Logan Frick and Steve Scifo from our very
own video news show on campus, Good
Evening UCI. With their insight, I have
come to understand that most students such
as Erin Lambie, a second year Biological Sci-
ences major, “have found nothing of interest
in mainstream news sources at UC Irvine.”
Frick, a fourth year Political Science ma-
jor and Scifo, a fourth year International
Studies major, are two fellow anteaters who
have a passion for reporting what students at
UC Irvine truly want to hear. Food reviews
from local restaurants and updates on UCI
sports are two of their many areas of exper-
tise. After disappointment in what the New
University newspaper and other mainstream
media outlets had to offer, Frick and Scifo
decided to launch the first video news source
on campus, feeling a definite need for alter-
native forms of media on campus. Following
weeks of hard work, a few creative sparks,
and partial funding from Student Affairs,
13 the word | WINTER 2011
Good Evening UCI’s once “amateur hour,”
became a reality. Reporting from various
locations on campus, in Irvine and around
Newport Beach, the cast of Good Evening
UCI has been presenting students with qual-
ity news and entertainment, with a hint of
comedic undertones, since October of 2009.
Frick and Scifo revealed to me what
seemed to be a profound enthusiasm for the
many events we have on campus; from con-
certs and song festivals to sports and poli-
tics, no aspect of news is put down due to
its controversy. According to Scifo, “there’s
nothing wrong with telling people what’s
happening, as long as you tell both sides.”
Additionally, he believes that unlike other
media outlets, Good Evening UCI provides
“a perspective on what the average anteater
wants to see from people just like them.”
Scifo also expressed that other news sources
on campus are catering to a much more for-
mal audience: “The New U is trying to play
for the audience that reads the NY times or
the LA times, students aren’t interested in
that sort of print writing and content,” in-
stead, most students want to know what’s
happening on campus and within the com-
munity, where we can get some good grub,
and updates on entertaining events that are
taking place close to what most of us call
home.
One student, a 4th year psychology and
social behavior major, who did not want to
reveal her name, agrees, and feels the New
U “advertises things that are wrong, like
eyelid surgery for Asian Americans.” Fur-
thermore, she goes on to explain how ads
like these contribute to her lack of interest
Photo courtesy of
Good Evening UCI
and support of the school newspaper. Good
Evening UCI has tried to approach news
in a more fun and entertaining fashion, like
featuring guest chefs and exploring local cui-
sine, generating greater interest and excite-
ment for the local gems of Irvine.
Xavier Baltazar, a second year engineer-
ing student, looks to independent media out-
lets because when coming across other news
sources around campus, he claims, “every-
thing looks the same.” Shows such as Good
Evening UCI entertains a variety of students
because no matter what their interests may
be, there is always something for everybody.
Good Evening UCI is comprised of a
group of friends who enjoy being together,
an element that definitely gives them an edge
over other news sources. Frick claims they
would love to partner up with other indepen-
dent media outlets on campus, “if people are
in line with what we want to do, and they
want to help us out with a good story.” Incite
Magazine, KUCI, along with Anteater Tele-
vision are a couple of the many independent
outlets on campus that share the same pas-
sion as the young men of Good Evening
UCI. For instance, the campus radio show
KUCI features a segment titled “health mat-
ters” which discusses alternatives practices
in mainstream medicine. At some point, if
you are inspired to start your own alternative
media outlet, Frick advises students to run
with their ideas because “you never know if
you don’t try.”
__________________________________
SARAH BARAKAT is a third year Crimi-
nology, Law and Society major at the Uni-
versity of California, Irvine
 tHerard
By Nasir Malim
iffany
Tiffany Willoughby Herrard is a Professor in the African American Studies Department at UC Irvine’s school of Humanities. She received her
undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and her Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara in Political Science. Her current research examines the
international dimensions of race, identity, and the racialization of poverty. Hear her thoughts about issues on Islamophobia, racism in America
and the contemporary meaning of tolerance.
Q: Looking at more recent history, what are some
of the main concepts and ideas people should be
able to recognize and understand about tolerance in
America?
T.H.: In terms of a definition of freedom or
emancipation, tolerance, while necessary, is
certainly not sufficient to achieve something
like freedom. Because, it is about coping in
that situation and not so much about having
enough of a historical understanding of how
power works and about how domination and
subordination work-and the mechanism as-
sociated with them- but to actually be able to
engender the compassion, or reparation for
harm or remedy for injury. So tolerance is a
pretty low, low humanist standard for sort of
a universal notion of what human is and hu-
man rights might be.
Q: How do you feel about the current climate of
Islam and how it is being portrayed, propagated, and
perceived by the American public?
T.H.: I like using the word “Islamophobia”
[to describe it]. I think that’s a really power-
ful frame for talking about the current cli-
mate. The first time I went to South Africa
I became very good friends with someone
named Burma Chu. She was the first person
who ever said to me the word “Islamopho-
bia” and we had a really long talk about what
it meant for her to see a woman veiled and
how proud she was and how she articulated
that as a feminist consciousness...I started
to think about Muslim American women-
their role in women of color feminism, and
their role in critical race feminism, and what
kind of resistance was being mounted by
Q
&A with
feminists during the early 1900s that would
help us understand better, and put in longer
termed context this contemporary Islamo-
phobia.
Q: What direction would you want to see that work
to be going towards?
T.H.: Instead of saying let us talk about
[women] and decide for them what their
meanings of their dress should be and how
they should look in the world and let us
merely analyze the social function of their
performance of dress, right? That’s an im-
portant thing to do, to analyze what the
ramifications of a particular person’s dress
are but it’s far more important to actually let
women speak for themselves about the roles
they want to have in society and about the
ideas of who they are, it’s really important
to actually talk to women and ask them how
does this make sense to you?
Q: In terms of the current state of Islam in Ameri-
ca especially with the “Ground-Zero mosque” debate
and the pastor burning the Qurans, what is fueling
all this supposed anger and hate?
T.H.: Some of it is about distraction and
confusion because some of the reported
information about the Ground-Zero debate
that I had access to about the different fund-
ing sources are really interesting. So when
you look at Rupert Murdoch’s relationship
to the funding, it’s sort of like huge media
elites being able to manipulate the public and
confuse people, which is just like this sort of
power for the core’s racial vigilantism. That
is the American identity, racial vigilantism
STUDENT ISSUES | alkalima
and people’s ability to participate in it. So
that’s part of what’s motivating it and I wish
I could say it was just about simply an atti-
tude of hate or something we can measure in
public opinion polls but the Qur’an burning
I think was just meant to you know thwart
provocation to incite and legitimize and pro-
vide cover for violence.
Q: What is the most important lesson Muslims
should be able to be able to learn from history in
order to better their situation?
T.H.: Avoid the analogy [between African
Americans and Muslims] and be about resis-
tance, on every front. The analogy piece is
really important because the way anti-black-
ness has worked historically in this country,
in the way that racialization has worked in
this country is that there is a process by
which other groups are co-opted and then
pitted against each other and then left for
survival. I mean it just happens over and over
again, so the analogy piece is really important
because you don’t want to look up ten years
later and realize that ‘oh my god,’ the state
and social norms have enabled you to not
advance human freedom for Black people,
but that’s what the history has been, so that’s
why the analogy piece is really critical and
the other piece about just knowing African
American history backwards and forwards
and being about the work of resistance, you
know, it’s not a survivable society unless you
figure out how to resist.
__________________________________
NASIR MALIM is a third year Biological
Sciences major at the University of Califor-
nia, Irvine
14
 By Hamza Siddiqui and Madiha Shahabuddin

Photo by Madiha Shahabuddin

15 the word | WINTER 2011
They had no say in their immigration, but the illegal status
of nearly 1.3 million undocumented children in the United
States will be a hindrance their entire lives. They cannot
qualify for financial aid to attend colleges, nor can they legally
work after they graduate.
By Hamza Siddiqui and
The DREAM Act would provide them a path toShahabuddin
Madiha legalization.

It’s the place where you grew up, where your family lived, where
you went to school, where you made your first friend, where
you remember walking to the local store, where you played,
where you prayed, and where you fell in love. Ever since you
can remember, this is where you have always been, where you
felt most at home.
It’s all you’ve ever known.
When you start to consider settling down and creating a life for
yourself, the reality hits you. As an undocumented immigrant
whose parents brought you to America illegally as a child, you
face financial, educational, and social roadblocks that prevent
you from establishing a life of your own-the “American dream.”
STUDENT ISSUES | alkalima 16
 Recently college students across the na-
tion were glued to their TV screens wait-
ing to hear how their future would pan out,
only to see that dream disintegrate.
The United States Senate was deliberat-
ing on the DREAM Act, a bill which would
allow children of undocumented immi-
grants a path to citizenship.
The act had already passed in the House
of Representatives and many DREAM Act
activists were hoping to get the bill passed
during the lame duck session, before the
arrival of newly elected congressmen and
senators in January 2011.
Much to their dismay, the DREAM Act
did not pass in the senate.
The bill garnered only 55 votes, failing
to secure the 60 necessary to overcome a
republican filibuster. So for now--the fate
of undocumented students remains un-
changed.
Every year nearly 65,000 undocumented
students graduate from high school to the
reality that their illegal status affords them
neither jobs nor a realistic chance at an edu-
cation.
According to a 2008 study conducted by
the Pew Hispanic Center, these immigrants
come from all regions of the world includ-
ing the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa.
9.6 million come from Latin American
countries including 7 million from Mexico
alone. Asia ranks second with 12% of the
population, Europe and Canada with 4%
and Africa with 4% according to study.
Those who choose the path of higher
education have to face the reality that they
do not qualify for financial aid, forcing them
to pay extravagant fees without financial aid
and in most cases as an out-of-state student.
17 the word | WINTER 2011
Upon graduating college, financial bur-
den and all, their illegal status is once again
a hindrance, prohibiting them from work-
ing for a profession in America legally.
Approximately 1,700 undocumented
students currently enrolled in California
higher education institutions face this real-
ity today.
Although they were not born here, “a
lot of these students have been raised in the
United States,” according to Dr. Ana Rosas,
a professor in the Chicano Studies program
at UC Irvine.
“Some of them did not know they were
undocumented until they started filling out
forms and realized that they had to start
identifying that way.”
These students may have been able to
attend high school because of the United
States Supreme Court case Plyler vs. Doe,
but without a means to legalize their status,
they are seldom able to finance a college
education, nor can they work legally.
Even if they do decide to go to college,
“they have to pay exorbitant fees or resort
to loans that are outside the purview of
regulations…Their families are in debt with
people who could be potentially abusive
with the terms of the loan.
So you have that psychology of feeling
like--‘I’m taking on this education and my
family’s taken on more of a burden than
they probably would if I had a subsidized
loan. I have to do well, and when I do well
and graduate, I can’t apply for a job because
I’m not legally entitled to do so,’” empha-
sized Professor Rosas, when highlighting
the tremendous challenges faced by these
students.
Professor Rosas believes that the
DREAM Act is an opportunity to make
“accessible something that should auto-
matically be available to a population of
students who through no fault of their own
are being denied a right to afford an edu-
cation, the right to feel that they will have
access that would result to ideally a living
wage.”
Growing up in America, these students
have been “oriented to think that education
is the pathway to success,” and by allow-
ing them to access financial aid and federal
work-study programs, the DREAM Act
would give them an “opportunity to access
education on terms that are a bit more hu-
mane,” according to Professor Rosas.
Enacting the bill would not only afford
undocumented students the same opportu-
nities of affording higher education as their
peers, they would also have the ability to
work legally after college.
Currently, undocumented minors are
not only unable to work or qualify for fi-
nancial assistance to attend college, but the
judicial system also holds them accountable
for illegally migrating to the US with their
parents--a decision in which many had no
say.
This exposes them to the threat of being
deported at any moment to countries they
hardly know.
As a result of this predicament, in 2001
a bipartisan initiative called the Develop-
ment, Relief, and Education for Alien Mi-
nors Act (DREAM Act) was introduced on
the Congressional floor to help remedy this
issue.
Aimed at providing these immigrants a
path to citizenship, the DREAM Act would
allow undocumented immigrants who were

brought to the United States as children the
chance to obtain legal permanent resident
status.
To qualify for the act, individuals must
meet the following conditions: they must
have entered the United States before their
sixteenth birthday, have spent five con-
tinuous years in the country since the en-
actment of the bill, have obtained a high
school diploma or its equivalent and have
demonstrated good moral character.
Upon meeting these prerequisites, un-
documented students can apply for a six
year “conditional” legal permanent resident
status.
“If, within this six-year period, the
DREAM Act beneficiaries complete at least
two years toward a four-year college degree,
graduate from a two-year college, or serve
at least two years in the U.S. armed forces,
they would be able to change their condi-
tional status to permanent and would be-
come eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship,”
according to Roberto Gonzales, a former
UC Irvine graduate student and author of
Young Lives on Hold, a research paper on
undocumented students which was pub-
lished by the College Board.
The DREAM Act would also amend
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi-
grant Responsibility Act of 1996, repealing
the provision that makes undocumented
Heriberto Meza, second year Political
Science major. “The US prides itself
on being the place where dreams come
true, and education is the key to that
kind of success. Denying someone an
education would be contrary to that
idea and the idea of America being so
open to diversity.”
Photo by Anum Arshad
immigrants ineligible for higher education
benefits.
This would allow them to apply for fi-
nancial aid, student loans and federal work-
study programs.
But the intent of the DREAM Act is not
just restricted to legalization and education-
al accessibility. Arguably one of the main
reasons for drafting the DREAM Act is its
military component.
In repeated attempts at passing the Act
both in 2009 and 2010, proponents of the
bill cited the tremendous benefits that the
US Armed forces would stand to gain if the
bill were to pass.
In 2010 the bill was even attached to the
STUDENT ISSUES | alkalima 18
 -Andrea Gaspar, sophomore, president of DREAMs at UCI
19 the word | WINTER 2011
 National Defense Authorization Act be-
cause of its strong linkage with the military.
The DREAM Act would make accessible
to the military a pool of potential recruits
who are educated, have lived in the US for
at least 5 years, if not spent their entire adult
lives here, most of whom have participated
in their high school ROTC programs, are bi-
lingual, and are a population who is already
inclined to join the military.
So this begs the question: What is the pri-
mary purpose of the Dream Act?
Is it to give undocumented students, who
through no fault of their own, are stuck in
social, economic, and educational circum-
stances from which they have no way out?
Or, is it a means for the military to tap
into potential recruits in hopes to remedy the
recruiting, educational and behavioral short-
falls they are facing?
On college campuses, we often hear about
the tragic stories of Ivy League students who
are either unable to attend college, or can’t
make anything of their education even after
they graduate.
But the reality is that not only has the Pen-
tagon worked on the Act, but high ranking
military officials have also come out in sup-
port of the bill. Bill Carr, the Acting Under-
secretary of Defense for Military Personnel
Policy, said that the bill was “very appealing”
and would be “good for military readiness.”
Military expert Margaret Stock, a pro-
fessor at the U.S. Military Academy at West
Point, agreed when she said that the “pas-
sage of the DREAM Act would be highly
beneficial to the United States military.
Conservative military scholar Max Boot
sums it up quite succinctly when he remarks
that the DREAM Act would allow the mili-
tary to tap into “a substantial pool of people.
I think it’s crazy we are not tapping into it.”
The DREAM Act promises to enlarge
dramatically the pool of highly qualified re-
cruits for the U.S. Armed Forces...passage of
this bill could well solve the Armed Forces’
enlisted recruiting woes.”
Senator Dick Durbin, one of the authors
of the bill, continuously cited the military
benefits of the act on the senate floor.
According to the Senator, “The DREAM
Act creates a strong incentive for military
service…many DREAM Act kids come
from a demographic group that is already
predisposed towards military service.”
For Durban, the military benefits of the
Dream Act are tremendous, but the bill can-
not mandate military service.
The senator believes that “it would be
inconsistent with the spirit of our volunteer
military to force young people to enlist as a
condition for obtaining legal status.”
Cue the educational component of the
act.
Considering that only five to ten percent
of undocumented high school graduates at-
tend college, it is hard to ignore the reality
that the DREAM Act would serve more of a
military goal than an educational one.
Although education is a part of it, it is
clear that the DREAM Act is designed for
and targets a group that would more likely
join the military than pursue higher educa-
tion.
And from listening to the bill’s authors
and seeing its main proponents, this inher-
ent bias towards military benefits is clearly
intended.
Andrea Gaspar, a second year Inter-
national Studies major at UC Irvine, is the
president of the club DREAMs at UCI, an
organization that supports and promotes the
DREAM Act.
She believes that despite the clear military
motives which drive the act, “at the end it’s
politics. They have to get something out of
it, so we can get something small out of it
[too].”
She understands the reality of the military
component and says that if the DREAM Act
gets passed, a lot of people will join the mili-
tary because it is “an easy way…the less ex-
pensive way to be able to get a citizenship.”
But Andrea believes that it’s still worth it.
“As a person of color, I don’t support the
military, but I do believe we need to fight for
something like the DREAM Act because it’s
not a perfect world.”
STUDENT ISSUES | alkalima
Although not a Dreamer herself, she be-
lieves that ultimately the decision to support
the act falls on the shoulders of undocu-
mented students.
Gaspar continues by saying that from an
outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to criticize the
military component, but for undocumented
students who have not seen immigration
reform in 24 years, the DREAM Act is the
only opportunity that allows them to im-
prove their condition.
For Professor Rosas, the military compo-
nent of the DREAM Act is essential for the
bill to pass.
She believes that it serves as a transfor-
mative tool that changes the general public’s
perception of undocumented students from
“products of their criminal parents,” to in-
dividuals who are contributing positively to
society.
By highlighting the military benefits,
DREAM Act advocates can now diffuse any
claims that illegal immigrants simply use up
resources designated for citizens by portray-
ing them as committed members of this
country.
Those of us not made to suffer the fate
of an undocumented student who struggles
with exuberant financial burdens, faces the
threat of potential deportation and looks
towards a thoroughly uncertain future, may
stand to learn a valuable lesson about the
value of education--a right for everyone.
Whether we agree with the Dream Act
or not, it is time for us as students to see
our struggle in the undocumented students’
struggle, and it is our duty to demand acces-
sible education for all.
_________________________________
HAMZA SIDDIQUI is a Political Science
major in his final year at the University of
California, Irvine.
MADIHA SHAHABUDDIN is a third year
Political Science major at the University of
California, Irvine.
20
 senger (swt) said: ‘In the last third of every

Islamic
night our Rabb Allah (swt) descends to the

sleep
lowermost heaven and says; “Who is calling
Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking
Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking
ETIQUITTE OF forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive
him?”’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi].
When this beautiful opportunity exists for
us to establish this relationship with Allah
(swt), how can we allow ourselves to choose
the comfort of our beds over the comfort of
our foreheads in sujood?
By Sana Iqbal The second important aspect of sleep is
following the sunnah (path) of the Prophet
(saw). The sunnah is to sleep on the right
side. The medical benefits of this act leave
us in awe of our Creator.
The heart of a human being is located
on the left side. So if a person sleeps on
the left side, the heart and all the organs
in the thorastic cavity (i.e. lungs) end up
falling on top of the heart. In addition to
pumping out blood throughout the entire
body, the heart now has external pressure
to deal with.
While sleeping on the left side, all the
organs compress the heart. However,
when an individual sleeps on the right side,
the heart stays on top and the other organs
are pulled downward towards the force of
gravity resulting in minimal weight on the
heart,which decreases the pressure This
is just one of the Fawa’ed (benefits) of
sleeping on the right side. However, the
true benefit of this action lies in imitating
the actions of our beloved Prophet Mu-
hammad (saw).
Photo by Erum Khalili Lastly, the most contemplative aspect
of sleep is the time for reflection. When an
As human beings we strive to maximize malistic, whereas the natural tendency of the individual lies down to sleep, it is an oppor-
our production. We desire to excel. We are soul is to be connected to Allah (swt). tune time to reflect on our relationship with
defined by our accomplishments. We set So how can we reduce our sleep to maxi- Allah (swt). This provides us with a special
schedules, make lists, and prioritize our re- mize on our life? There are three key compo- time in our day to reflect upon the immense
sponsibilities to expand our efforts in attain- nents in gaining the blessing of Allah (swt) blessings of Allah (swt).
ing success. through sleep. First, in order to gain any type Remembering Allah (swt) before sleep is
But how many of us use the time to sleep of barakha (blessings) in our sleep, it is im- something that will only increase our Iman
as a means to worship rather than a means portant to restrict the body in order to el- (faith). It is a beautiful interaction that oc-
to rest. evate the soul. Thus, we must limit our inter- curs. We should reflect about how sleep is
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (the Exalted actions with this duniya (physical world). By the sister of death and remembering this
and Glorified) created sleep for us so that we limiting our interactions with this duniya, we should increase our humbleness and taqwa
may derive rest from our day. According to will be able to increase our interaction with (god consciousness).
the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad salla Allah (swt). For Allah knows what is in our hearts
Allahu `alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings The best way to create this beautiful rela- while we walk through the day and lay in our
be upon him), even our sleep should be pur- tionship is through the Tahajjud (vigil night beds at night. And He is the most Magnifi-
poseful. prayer) Prayer. It is the prayer where Allah cent, most Merciful.
There are two aspects of beings; the physi- (swt) provides us with the ultimate opportu-
cal body and the soul. The physical body is nity to interact with Him. __________________________________
composed of bones, flesh, and skin. Our Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu (may Al- SANA IQBAL is a third year Biological Sci-
body is merely a vehicle for our soul. The lah be pleased with him), one of the proph- ences major at the University of California,
natural tendency of our body is to be ani et’s companions, narrated that Allah’s Mes- Irvine
21 the word | WINTER 2011
 Photo by Salman Jafri

Quran
where two different seas When these drops of water and hail be-
MIRACLES OF THE meet, there is a barrier
between them. This bar-
come too heavy for the updrafts to support
them, they begin to fall from the cloud as
rier divides the two seas rain, hail, etc.” (“The Atmosphere” p. 269
so that each sea has its and “Elements of Meteorology” pp. 141-
own temperature, salin- 142). This explains the process of how rain,
By Sabreen Shalabi ity, and density” (Prin- hail, and snow fall from the sky.
ciples of Oceanography We have just now reached enough ad-
-Davis, pp. 92-93). This fact was recently vancement in technology in order to dis-
I cannot recall how many times people
discovered, due to advancements in technol- cover something like cloud formation, yet in
have come up to me and questioned me
ogy. the Qur’an, revealed centuries ago, it states:
about the miracles of the Qur’an or even of
Despite the strong waves and currents “Have you not seen how God makes the
the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu `alayhi
both of these bodies of water, they remain clouds move gently, then joins them togeth-
wa sallam (peace and blessings be upon him)
separate. It is a wonder how this discovery er, then makes them into a stack, and then
This may not seem like a tough question,
was mentioned in the Qur’an fourteen hun- you see the rain come out of it...” (Noble
but as a matter of fact it is.
dred years ago without the use of any tools Quran 24:43).
There are innumerable miracles present
or technology, a true testament to the divine It is incredible that the information of
in the Qur’an, and it is difficult to sum up
nature of the Qur’an. how clouds form has been available for
all the miracles of this divine book in a few
In reference to the very same scientific many years prior to the advent of modern
paragraphs but I will attempt to illustrate
discovery quoted in Davis’ textbook/book, scientific knowledge and technology.
just some of them here.
the Qur’an reveals how “He [God] has let In succinct and poetic words, the
For those who are not familiar with the
free the two seas meeting to gather. There is Qur’anic ayah or verse is able to relay what
Qur’an: it is the holy scripture of the Mus-
a barrier between them. They do not trans- would need overly technical and elaborate
lims sent down through the Prophet Mu-
gress” (Noble Quran 55:19-20). processes of explanation in our modern day
hammad (S) from God.
This verse from the Qur’an states just vernacular.
The Qur’an’s revelation started in 610
what the previous quote mentioned. What There is no way the Prophet (S) or any-
A.D., dating back one thousand, four hun-
stands to note, however, is the fact that they one who knew the Prophet (S) could have
dred years ago. It is evident that the people
both come from completely different time fabricated such an accurate of natural pro-
of this time possessed none of the contem-
periods. The Qur’an made this fact apparent cesses, without the need or use of any cur-
porary technology known to man today.
even before there was scientific evidence to rent technology.
What’s more, the Prophet (S) was an illiter-
“support” it. There are many more of these countless
ate man.
There are other examples of similarly vi- miracles, and many that we have yet to dis-
The Qur’an was sent down in a distinct
sionary scientific references found through- cover.
form of poetry, which humans haven been
out the Qur’an. Recently, meteorologists It appears that while the Qur’an, dating back
unable to replicate to this day.
discovered that when “water vaporizes from to an era of pre-industrialism and pre-mod-
The fact that Qur’an has not been modi-
the oceans and rivers forming tiny clouds. ern civilization, has maintained a consistent
fied for 1,400 years is one form of direct evi-
The small clouds join together and the up- and accurate voice on natural scientific pro-
dence that the miracles recorded have been
drafts within the larger cloud increase… cesses, the realm of modern science has only
sent down by a divine being.
these updrafts [that] cause the cloud body to just begun to explore the full potential of
Islamic scripture incorporates many ele-
grow vertically, so the cloud is stacked up. scientific knowledge in this world.
ments of science; in fact, quite a few of the
This vertical growth causes the cloud __________________________________
miracles explained in the Qur’an are rooted
body to stretch into cooler regions of the SABREEN SHALABI is a second year
in scientific knowledge relevant to modern
atmosphere where drops of water and hail Political Science major at the University of
discoveries.
formulate and begin to grow larger and California, Irvine
To expand upon these miracles, recently
larger.
it has been discovered that, “in the places
STUDENT HEALTH | alkalima 12
 UP
By Khwaja Owais Ahmad

when I
GROW
What motivates, drives, and sometimes pressures young people to choose
the careers they pursue

In Islam, there is a concept known as Ihsan, or excel-

lence. In a spiritual sense, it means excellence in the way

we worship. We are told “…to worship God as though

you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He

sees you." (Bukhari and Muslim).

Our supplications and prayers should be from the heart,

and should contain our utmost effort to achieve excel-

lence in offering them.

Likewise, in matters of day-to-

day life, a Muslim is expected to

behave with Ihsan by having good

moral conduct, impeccable manners,

and the courage to do what is right

even when it is against him or

herself.

In fact, there should be

Ihsan in everything a Muslim

does, whether it be running a

clinic or a hotdog stand.

Photo by Emad Kazi

23 the word | WINTER 2011
 When it comes to choosing a career, the
concept of striving for excellence some-
times gets confused with choosing only the
career with the most excellent salary.
The problem at hand is not the fact that
so many people are choosing careers like
medicine, engineering, or law because these
are all very necessary and noble professions.
The problem lies in the fact that people
are often pressured into choosing from
among the three without considering other
options that highlight their true strengths
and abilities.
This leads to the production of doctors,
engineers, and lawyers that are not striving
for excellence, but rather looking to drudge
through their careers for the sake of a high
salary until retirement.
This mentality is prevalent among immi-
grants who are trying to quickly establish
themselves or their children so that they
can survive in their adopted homeland.
While understandable, this way of think-
ing only extends a community’s immigrant
status, and prevents it from becoming a
secure component of its adopted society’s
infrastructure. The collective concept of
trying to excel in every field is painfully ab-
sent. Rather, the prevailing idea is to stick
to these few professions that are sure-fire
ways to become successful.
This lack of a true effort to be excellent
must change if Islam is to become an inte-
gral part of the American fabric.
If one looks at groups in America that
came before Muslims, it becomes clear that
they all came as foreign entities and after a
certain amount of time and struggle, they
emerged as indispensable identities in the
melting pot that is America.
If Muslims expect to become essential
members of American society, then this
trend of choosing the same three careers
must end.
There are many creative career oppor-
tunities in America, so a person’s career
choice should be one that allows him or her
to practice Ihsan.
That means knowing one’s strengths
and weaknesses and choosing accordingly.
If people do what they are best at, they can
strive for excellence in that field, and in that
way they only benefit themselves as well as
society.
Muslims believe that on the Day of
Judgement they will be asked how they used
their strengths.
People will be asked if the strengths
given to them were used to their utmost
potential for the benefit of mankind, or if
they lay stagnant where no one could ben-
efit from them.
Choosing a career without your own
strengths in mind is choosing a career
where your strengths are squandered, and
one in which your true potential remains
untapped.
One of the biggest obstacles towards
choosing the career that is best for you is
the unfortunate fact that other professions
are simply looked down on as not serious
enough or as lacking in a certain amount
of prestige.
These usually refer to fields in arts or
humanities, such as careers in history, phi-
losophy, writing, art, or social sciences.
Rather than shunning these fields, parents
should encourage such intellectually invigo-
rating careers.
The myth is that only high profile pro-
fessions such as lawyers, doctors, or engi-
neers can deliver prestige and success.
It is not impossible to find success in
other fields, but the problem is that they
involve a greater amount of risk than medi-
cine, engineering or law do, and to an immi-
grant that risk is often not worth the effort.
Nevertheless, that risk is taken time and
time again by plenty of other people, who
find satisfaction in their work, as well as
success. Why do they find satisfaction?
Simply because they can work towards
excellence by working according to their
strengths and interests.
When people are looking for prestige
rather than satisfaction in their career, they
will most likely find just that.
One can try their hardest to become a
doctor even if they don’t particularly like
science, simply because the promise of a
prestigious title is enough to remain driven,
but prestige can only satisfy a person so
long until he realizes that he may hate his
job.
This is precisely the pursuit of careers
such as medicine, law, or engineering should
originate from a genuine interest or passio,
for their own sake, and for the sake of the
integrity of the profession itself.
A career is something that will, at the
very least, partially define the direction of
a person’s life.
It is not a choice that should be subject
to other peoples’ will or be influenced by
how it will appear in the eyes of others.
Still, at the end of the day, people will
have their own perspectives and reasons by
which to choose a career.
Even if it seems that they are being
pressured into a career, we should not look
down on them for giving in to that pres-
sure. Rather, the best we can do is make
sure our own “reasons” and “perspectives”
are not skewed by unnecessary pressures,
and are truly our own.
Perhaps through this we can live out the
ideal of Ihsan, and through our own efforts
achieved.
_________________________________
KHWAJA OWAIS AHMAD is a third year
Biological Sciences major at the University
of California, Irvine
OPINION | alkalima 24
 By Umer Waris

Photo by Anum Arshad and Emad Kazi

25 the word | WINTER 2011

 It seems hat according to some, the
constitutional guarantees of the ‘equal pro-
tection of the law,’ ‘due process of the law,’
‘the free exercise (of religion) thereof,’ and
many more should not apply to the Muslim
citizens of America.
Efforts to prevent the building of
mosques not only 3 blocks from Ground
Zero, but all across the United States (for
reasons other than traffic or noise con-
cerns), the disruption of Friday prayers by
Tea Partiers in Temecula, the emergence
of groups brandishing names such as ‘Stop
Islamization of America’ and the ‘Burn a
Quran Day’ organized by a Florida pastor,
are just a few examples implicating how
some people believe that Muslims and their
faith should to be excluded from the pur-
view of our Constitution.
As foolish as it was in 1960 for some to
believe that a Catholic running for Presi-
dent could only be a papal ploy to control
the American Government, such xenopho-
bia has not grown old with the passage of
time.
Today, it is that same prejudice being
held against Muslims and their religion.
Now, it has taken form in the argument
that a mosque being built three blocks away
from Ground Zero in New York City can
only be an attempt by Muslims to rule the
American people and further, to desecrate
the memory of the lives lost on 9/11.
Really, now? In speaking of “desecra-
tion,” they however show no anguish over
the strip clubs thriving within a few feet,
not even blocks, of Ground Zero. Upon
examining the facts, it’s clear which institu-
tion is more of a desecration.
A mosque near Ground Zero also in-
cluding accommodations for people of
other faiths to join and worship God to-
gether would boldly announce the triumph
of our American freedom and unity over
the hate and division that inspired 9/11.
On the other hand strip clubs are far
from what any decent American would
consider a consecration and honor to the
victims of 9/11.
Opponents have also failed to mention
that amongst the brave men and women
who gave their lives that day, nearly 100 of
them were Muslim Americans.
Ground Zero is hallowed ground for
Muslim Americans just as much as it is for
any other American. To protest now that
OPINION | alkalima 26
 Muslims shouldn’t worship so
close to this site is far more of a
desecration to the memory of those
who died on that day and the Con-
stitutional principles of liberty and
justice for which they died for.
It is in these times that our na-
tion’s commitment to our Constitu-
tion and its democratic principles is
most arduously tested.
It is in these times that we must
preserve our commitment at home
to the principles that nearly 3000
Americans died for on 9/11 and
many more continue to die defend-
ing abroad.
It is our Constitution that reminds
us today, as it did in the case of John
F. Kennedy, that freedom denied to
one is freedom denied to all. There
are those today, despite what our
Constitution has ordained, who in-
sist upon all Muslim Americans be-
ing denied their Constitutional rights
and all Muslims being convicted for
the crimes of the 9/11 hijackers.
For them, Islam as a whole is now
guilty because of the few who dis-
torted it to be something it never
was, and something its never been.
An entire religion has now been
passed a guilty verdict even after the
vast majority of its adherents have
consistently denounced the actions
of that fringe minority.
For these certain few, every Mus-
lim is now to be held under higher
restrictions--restrictions that go so
far as to deny Muslims their Consti-
tutional right to build a place of wor-
ship or peacefully practice their faith.
Also contrary to what some may
27 the word | WINTER 2011
propagandize, Muslims are also ones
who grieve just as much for the loss
of innocent lives at the hands of
radicalism as all other Americans.
Opponents, such as the Stop Is-
lamization of America, should know
that when they call for the suppres-
sion of Muslims’ rights, they ulti-
mately attack the foundation of their
own rights just as forcefully.
Indeed, this principle resonates
again--freedom denied to one is free-
dom denied to all.
These groups forget, however,
that our Constitution has no excep-
tions -- the principles of our Con-
stitution stand for all and can never
be deprived because of the myths,
gross generalizations and nonsensi-
cal misconceptions that others may
perpetrate against another’s religion,
or race.
It goes without saying that in a vi-
brant pluralistic society such as ours,
any one person’s rights are as justly
also his neighbor’s, irrespective of
the faith he or she subscribes to.
As Americans, we like to believe
that our Constitution is the source
of wisdom meant to serve all gen-
erations, and indeed it has been since
its inception.
This Constitution which we as
Americans hold so dear can only
endure if it is obeyed honestly and
without exceptions carved out from
its principles.
Muslims are certainly no excep-
tion to the laws and protections of
this hallowed text, even if some ar-
gue otherwise.
1.5 billion people claim Islam as
their religion, 8 million of whom
reside in the United States. These
individuals contribute to the greater
American society on a daily basis,
and consist of government officials,
doctors, engineers, lawyers, activists,
artists, and more, who are proud to
call themselves Americans.
Our work does not end in just
remembering and reciting the great-
ness of our Constitution.
If America is going to be the na-
tion that promises “liberty and jus-
tice for all,” Muslim Americans must
do more in securing their rightful
positions and liberties within this
country.
It has been warned that “all that
is needed for the triumph of evil is
that good men do nothing.” Because
freedom can not defend itself, our
rights are only protected so far as we
are willing to protect them.
Such a belief is tantamount in our
Islamic faith. In one of the Hadith,
or sayings of our Prophet Muham-
mad (include proper citation) we
are taught that, “Whosoever sees an
evil action, let him change it with his
hand; and if he is not able to do so,
then with his tongue; and if he is not
able to do so, then with his heart –
and that is the weakest of faith.”
In fixing the wrong with our
hands, let us fill the newspapers and
blogosphere with articles educating
others of the beautiful character of
Islam, and defend the true principles
of America.
We must volunteer, participate in
our community and extend our hand
in friendship to all our neighbors.
 In simply conveying kind greetings
to our fellow American neighbors, we
can go far to dispel the suspicion and
mistrust that isolation breeds.
By actively engaging in interfaith
dialogue and sitting with our friends
to discuss the true tenants of our reli-
gions, we can marvel at how they hold
much more in common than what is
conventionaly known and portrayed.
That much can be simply done with
our tongues.
If any of the above is unachiev-
able, we must at the very least make a
continual effort to rid our own hearts
of any prejudice and hate we may
have towards others.
We must make the iron will to
stand up for justice and equality
whenever and wherever it is denied
to anyone, regardless of their faith
and nationality.
Racial profiling and xenophobia
didn’t just begin after 9/11 and have
not only struck at the rights of Mus-
lim Americans; indeed, their terrible
histories have taken their tolls against
minorities long before Muslim Amer-
icans were at the epicenter.
African Americans, Irish, Hispan-
ics, Catholics and Jews to name a few
have all felt and some continue to feel
the sting of prejudice and hate.
We must make the commitment
in our hearts to stand for justice re-
gardless of who the victim may be or
what the circumstances are if we are
to carve a new future that does not
echo the ills of the past.
Indeed it is in these times, our na-
tion’s commitments to its democratic
principles are the most arduously
tested. Without doubt, it is in these
times that the strength of every Mus-
lim’s faith is also being tested.
As Muslim Americans, we are guid-
ed by both our Islamic and American
principles to collectively take the un-
relenting stance to fix what is wrong
and defend what is right whenever,
wherever and for whomever.
I have no doubt that as Muslims
and Americans, if we hold fast to and
act on our Divinely ordained teach-
ings of justice, we can not and will
not lose.
America will only be a stronger na-
tion because of it, and Muslims will
always be firm components and con-
tributors to that strength.
____________________________
UMER WARIS is a first year Biological Sci-
ences major at the University of California,
Irvine
OPINION | alkalima 28
 Image by Emad Kazi
29 the word | WINTER 2011
 LAST
wordthe
At this moment, we as college students stand
with an opportunity at our fingertips; the opportu-
nity to expand beyond our static modes of think-
ing, and expose our minds to the new and different.
Indeed, as we get caught up in our daily rou-
tines, we often forget the bigger picture: every
lesson we learn, every action we take, ultimately
shapes the world that we and our future genera-
tions will live in.
If we strive for a world of understanding and
unity, then this must start from ourselves. Sure, we
hear the word “diversity” often thrown around as
something that colleges pride themselves in, but
true diversity goes beyond the surface level.
True diversity is not just the mere existence of
different ethnicities, religions, and perspectives, but
rather, the appreciation and active engagement in
what these differences have to offer.
Only when we expose ourselves to different
systems of belief, modes of leadership, and other
societal fundamentals, will we begin to foster a
more dynamic and compassionate humanity.
Such compassion and empathy can only grow
from education.
As students, we are by definition, learners; by
the privilege of our circumstances, we have the
benefit of having access to interdisciplinary cours-
es, professors from a variety of disciplines, and vi-
brant campus organizations, all by which we can
challenge ourselves to new ideas and perspectives.
But most of all, our greatest strength lies in
each other.
As a student body, we each have our own set
of experiences, skills, and strengths that we can
share with our fellow students, and it is through
active dialogue and teamwork that we can see the
beauty in our differences.
Whether one student may be a proficient pho-
tographer, another a skilled orator, or another even
a passionate bioethicist, each student brings to the
table a unique and invaluable palate of ideas that
can ultimately help build a more dynamic and em-
pathetic world.
I stand optimistic and confident that together,
we can break free from our static shells of what we
think we know, and become resolute in gaining an
awareness and appreciation of our differences as a
strength in the race to do good deeds.
Our inherent diversity can only bring us good,
if after all, it was a Divine decree for us to be
“made into nations and tribes, that (we) may know
one another” (Qur’an 49:13).
Let’s get to know one another, if not just for
ourselves, then for the sake of something Higher.
-ANUM ARSHAD
THE LAST WORD | alkalima 30