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.
On Monday, October 21st, at 8:22 PM, UCLA Police Department arrived at Dickenson Court in order to tear down a sukkah, which is a tent hosted to celebrate the weeklong Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. UCLA Jewish Voice for Peace and the Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine erected this tent to peacefully protest for…
On Oct. 16, 2024, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, 61, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in the city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza. The State of Israel previously designated Sinwar as the “mastermind” behind the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, making him a high-priority military target. Footage released by the Israel Defense Forces…
On May 1st, 2024, the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment–consisting of nonviolent protests with participants from across numerous racial and religious backgrounds–was attacked. Masked outsiders set off fireworks, toxic sprays, and attacked students with weapons. Less than 48 hours later, UCLA leadership dismantled the encampment and over 200 students and staff members were arrested. In response…
When I interviewed Paul Wolff, a Holocaust survivor who has dedicated his life to spreading a message of peace and empathy, I felt the profound weight of the history he carries and the lessons he has to offer. Born in 1929 in Hamburg, Germany, Paul grew up in a world that quickly spiraled into darkness…
“It’s difficult to feel represented when the choices seem to overlook our communities, but our voices still need to be heard.” With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, many Muslim students find themselves grappling with complex emotions and difficult choices. For some, the election presents a moral dilemma, while for others, it’s a…
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violence on the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA. I attended the Palestine Solidarity Encampment with the idea that this is the best I could do for the people of Palestine. To physically show up would be my best shot at being an ally and an activist for the Palestinian struggle. And…
“I would say there are prominent communities that exist in the MSA, and mine isn’t one of them.” We have come a long way in developing and creating safe spaces on campus for our social identities, whether rooted in race, religion, or major. But at what point does creating a safe space for oneself start…
Editor’s Note: the author of this work has requested that their identity be concealed for the purpose of openly sharing their first-hand accounts of the police’s brutalization of pro-Palestinian protesters. The author does not wish for their accounts to be retroactively traced back to their identity and misconstrued with other activities that did not involve…
An ode to those who stayed. An ode to those who suffered. An ode to those who slept. An ode to those who prayed. An ode to those who stood. To the youth, the students, the alumni, the faculty. To the refugees, the immigrants, the eyewitnesses, and the delegators. To those who resided in peace…
What happened last night was nothing short of a travesty. Last night, a group of pro-Israeli agitators arrived on UCLA campus and violently attacked student protestors demonstrating at the Dickson Court Solidarity Encampment spearheaded by Students for Justice in Palestine. The assailants were seen covering their faces with white masks to conceal their identities as…
In shadows deep, where sorrow tends to dwell, Her heart found refuge in a sacred peace. Through whispered prayers and softly spoken verses, Islam’s gentle balm to her spirit clung. In moments still, the call to prayer would rise, A soothing echo ‘neath the star-lit skies. Its melody, a healing, tender grace, Restoring peace within a weary…
The room feels suffocating, so you rush to the balcony The view is dark, hazed with fog and low visibility What lies ahead is uncertain Your heart beats fast against your chest as the anxiety seeps into your mind In a moment of guidance and faith, you must remind yourself “Upon Him I rely, and…
so the time has come, spring turning into summer the crystal rivers dry upon the heat of the weather and so it is the end of an era, a goodbye to the sisterhood a laugh to the scandals and mishaps a cheers to the smiles and successes a hug for the pain and lost potential …
My best friend was a soldier. She didn’t wear camo or combat boots, nor was a gun strapped to her shoulder. But her feet spoke more than her eyes. And her smile I always found a tale unworthy of disguise. On Fridays, she would trek miles to mine, before clasping my hand in hers and…
i return to los angeles to continue my studies; to go back to the life i am building for myself in order to heal from hometown trauma, let alone leave the drama behind. orange sparkled clouds upon berry eyes, i stare out and cry for my mother to hold me once more, once more a…
The Golden Age of Islam, which spanned from the 8th to the 14th centuries, remains an amazing source of inspiration and a beacon of incredible advancements across numerous disciplines. This era inspires a deep desire in many Muslims, including myself, to have lived through such a transformative time. In this period, cities like Baghdad, Cordoba,…
