Al-Talib provides an independent perspective on issues important to Muslim communities. Targeting a college-age audience at UCLA, we seek to create an outlet for activism and creativity on and off campus, a platform for representation of all facets of the Muslim-American communities and a safe space for sensitive topics. We believe that this sort of dialogue, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at times, is necessary in order for our community to appreciate and celebrate its diversity.
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Current Events
USC just set an alarming precedent in academia. On April 15, 2024, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Guzman announced that their class valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, will not be delivering a speech at this year’s upcoming commencement. The administration cites safety concerns stemming from ongoing political tensions amid months of atrocities and…
Following the events of October 7th, 2023, protests have erupted all over the world, with large numbers of people showing up to support the call for a ceasefire amidst the Israeli government’s relentless bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the United States, universities have become hotbeds for discussions, protests, and students organizing to raise…
“I think it is a human thing, it’s an ethical issue, it’s a moral issue, not to turn our backs on the people of Afghanistan and not to allow them to be prisoners of this country. Because the violence and the devastation is going to spill over and it already has”. I sat down for…
“Kafir!” One Instagram comment reads. Another reads, “All here to see the curse.” Is it true? Could Mohamed Salah’s rough patch be a result of a Christmas curse? If so, what could this mean for his future? Mohamed Salah is arguably one of the most revered faces in Muslim, Middle Eastern, and soccer communities worldwide.…
Campus
I spent my summer with my family, people who care about me, feeling comforted by their presence. My summer was filled with laughs and long nights, staying up so late we would pray Fajr before leaving my cousin’s house. A time of the year that is anything but isolating for me, but rather, with overwhelming…
“This is not hijab.” In a TikTok with nearly 10 million views, an anonymous user posted a series of photos of women wearing different hijab styles and outfits, labeling each photo with “This is not hijab” or “This is hijab.” The comment section is filled with either support for calling out the supposed “improper” hijab…
Dear person on the treadmill, I noticed your head perk up several times when we walked in hoards through the doors, your eyes going back and forth amongst us to discern why a mass of students not clad in activewear was making their way into a fitness center. When you spotted us making our way…
A Tribute to Powell Cat By Zachary Abbas Graphics: Anne-Fatima Syed We students at UCLA recently lost an icon on campus, a friend to all who, for many students, was a bright spot in their long days of studying and working hard. Considered by many to be our school’s unofficial mascot, Powell Cat, as they…
The Rise of a Digital World: Technology Through the Lens of Islam Written By: Konmal Ali Graphic By: Syaal Sharifzad Technology continues to reshape the lifestyles of individuals across the globe. It has created opportunities for adequate access to information and bridging community gaps. The rise of a digitized world with almost everything accessible with…
Spirituality
restless in the night vigilant to what might come to harm when darkness arrives, i toss and turn on the pink sheets of my bed that hug me when loneliness wraps and strangles me ~ a claustrophobic turn, the gold within the fairy lights blend into the air, my sight blurry from the river my…
Down the bleak cascade, I see something wither, Smaller and Smaller, It comes and goes past Down the hurricane, As time flows, Nothing remains constant. I feel as if the world is something similar, Nothing remains as is, Everything shifts, And with time comes becomes bright again, Hope I see something another, Until then, All…
Life crumbles every day, Maybe for a second or a year, No hope to be seen from afar. I can’t see anything, I try to, But I can’t. My hope crumbles As I lose everything. My family, my dreams, my desires, All of them are broken, Crumbled to the floor one by one. If only…
In the ever-evolving landscape of media, a major divide persists between Sunni and Shia Muslims, diverting attention away from what brings the two sects together. Yet, it is vital to acknowledge the differences as a pathway to enhance our understanding of different interpretations, rather than relying on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Over the…
“This is not hijab.” In a TikTok with nearly 10 million views, an anonymous user posted a series of photos of women wearing different hijab styles and outfits, labeling each photo with “This is not hijab” or “This is hijab.” The comment section is filled with either support for calling out the supposed “improper” hijab…
Al-Wadood: the most loving my Lord loves me so divinely in the ways He has gifted me a new beginning in the angelic city, i always yearned for adventure, somewhere far from the people of my hometown who would mix cultural rules with religion, i was once a young girl dreaming of living on my…