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.
Fleeing upon dirtied feet, Hands clutch tightly both each other and the fragments that remain. A new home is built upon the remnants, And a small suitcase of clothes and dreams, Become what survives of one’s legacy. The rest, stolen by merciless hands, And swallowed upon a parched, insatiable tongue. Young Jasmine flowers flourish upon…
On April 25, 2024, a student protest began at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to protest the school administration’s investments in Israel. Self-titled as the ‘Palestine Solidarity Encampment’, the demonstration was a part of pro-Palestine protests on university campuses campaigning for divestment from Israel. The early morning of May 2, amidst chaos and…
When I turn on the news, I see men who look like my father called suspicious, and women who look like my mother deemed oppressed. I see some protests described as peaceful and others as hateful and violent, though to me, they don’t look all that different. This type of binary emerges from a gaze…
Today, as the world is filled with economic instability and a growing demand for ethical financial systems, Islamic finance is slowly emerging as a strong alternative to conventional finance systems. Rooted in risk-sharing principles, fairness, and social responsibility, it offers a sustainable model that is attracting Muslims, governments, corporations, and financial institutions worldwide. In 2023…
U.S. President Donald Trump shocked the world when he posted an AI-generated video of “Trump Gaza.” The simulated video depicts a golden statue of Trump in the middle of a bustling city, as well as Trump seemingly basking in the sun with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The “new and improved” Gaza seems to be…
“Pause, breathe, and look around you silently for a moment. Let your heart say Subhan Allah” – UCLA Undergraduate, Sezen Musa Early Friday morning, members of UCLA’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) embarked on a lengthy, eight hour road trip to Utah for a two-night retreat. While driving across four states may have seemed arduous, the…
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…
“So remember me, and I will remember you.” The student remembers in the way his assignments come back with full marks, and then some. He remembers in the fortunate short line that one day when he needed to grab a quick lunch and run to the next class, he remembers in the way his stomach…
another air strike upon the people of gaza my heart aches for them another video displaying dead bodies the ethnic blankets covered in ash, rubble and palestinian blood. streets empty of civilization, all of home is destroyed. catastrophe after catastrophe they mock the state of gaza “gaza is a cemetery” blackened are the souls of…
Islam is a faith deeply rooted in balance and moderation. It guides us to navigate life with a sense of equilibrium, ensuring that we neither indulge in excess nor fall into neglect. This principle, known as wasatiyyah (moderation) in the Islamic context, is a central theme of Islamic teachings. It serves as a reminder that…
الحمد لله Alhamdullilah: I heard it as they gazed upon the sea of martyrs draped in white shrouds around them. Alhmadullilah: I heard it through tears amidst never-ending rubble and cries. Alhamdullilah: I heard it as they gathered scraps of food from the near-empty markets, or managed to fill their jugs with water. Alhamdulillah, “Praise…
Throughout the Quran, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) refers to His words as a guidance and mercy for all people. This divine message is described as Tanzil (تنزيل), “sent down,” a term that may appear simple yet holds profound meaning. The Quran was composed in the heavens and is revealed to humankind in spoken form. It…
Bismillah In the depths of her mind, across the valleys and over the mountain tops, a storm rages on. The water trickles through her hands, into and out of her mouth. Washing away the debris and sediments. Washing away the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. Washing away the tethers of the dunya. The water flows…
