Growing up Muslim post 9/11: Standing out in North Dakota
Alaa Koleilat, a 3rd year Neuroscience major at UCLA, was living in North Dakota when the attacks happened. She shares her experience as one of the few Muslims that live in this state.
Part 2, Ramadan: Casablanca, Morocco
The taxi driver looked at me in a panicked state and exclaimed, “Quran! Quran!” Frantically attempting to communicate with me in Arabic, he hoped that we would at least understand each other through a commonality of faith. I nodded in agreement and felt a sense of relief.
Part, 1 Ramadan: Casablanca, Morocco
Somehow the stars seemed to be aligned just right, because my fortune could not have been better. I embarked on my dream to live in Muslim countries during the month of Ramadan this year.
How to NOT host extravagant Ramadan feasts
As a member of the South Asian community, I have attended numerous iftars that seem more like parties than iftar gatherings. If you’re a Muslim you’re probably thinking, “Iftar ‘parties’ and ‘gatherings’ are the same thing, dummy!” Sadly, our community has failed to distinguish between the kind of parties we host during most of the…
Success: A Test of Gratitude and Humility
Try to recall the last time you achieved something big, commendable, note-worthy. Straight A’s? A promotion? Election into a high position? Admission into a competitive university? Most of us have experienced the sweetness of success. Some of us view it as a blessing. Fewer of us recognize the Source of it and remember to thank…
HOW TO stay physically fit in Ramadan
The month of Ramadan can often become an excuse to not exercise and to overindulge in food. But this month is not meant to be used as a crutch for laziness or a reason to eat whatever we want. We forget that keeping our bodies healthy can be an act of worship and in turn,…
First Ramadan Away from Home
Between attending classes and work and studying and an internship, finding the time to make food for iftar can be very difficult for Noor Teebi, a third year at UCLA who is spending her first Ramadan on her own. Being away from home for the first time, many other Muslim students face the same unexpected…
The iPhone Effect: Overfeeding our Nafs
The month of Ramadan we have just entered is a time when we purify ourselves from our physical and worldly desires. While we curb our temptations in this month to detach ourselves from this dunya, this consumer society we live in, conversely, encourages indulging in the desires of our nafs, our ego. It’s really unfortunate…
Vela Scarves blend Western Fashion with Islamic Tradition
A young Muslim woman from O.C., Marwa Atik, has started her own business in designing fashionable hijabs. These Vela scarves stand out from the usual hijabs as they integrate Western fashion such as ruffles, pleats and beaded sequins. Though some Muslims criticize that these scarves contradict the hijab’s purpose of modesty by drawing too much…
Dr. Hamidi’s 4 Tips on Time Management
One of the lessons of Dr. Habib Hamidi’s “Academic Analysis of Marriage” class,was surprisingly about managing my time. Before attending this class, I had completely underestimated its value; I’m not thinking of marriage, nor am I ready for marriage so I thought this class wasn’t for me. Itwasn’t until I went when I realized how applicable…