Between classes, shifts, group chats and the constant pressure to stay ahead, life can start to feel like a race with no finish line. The expectation is to already know the right major, the right career track, the right timeline. Success becomes a checklist. Progress becomes a comparison. Control becomes the illusion that keeps everything…
The first time I walked down the Tongva Steps, I knew it could also be my last. I toured UCLA for the first time as an anxious senior in high school on Accepted Students Day. My head spun with doubt, yet my heart throbbed with possibility as I contemplated being a UCLA student. The unexpected…
Growing up in Saudi Arabia, the rhythmic hum of oil derricks and the vast networks of pipelines were as much a part of my landscape as the desert dunes. The air, at times thick with the scent of hydrocarbons, carried the smell of prosperity, of progress. My education eventually led me to environmental science, a…
As the leaves turn brown and the wind begins carrying away the last remnants of summer break, the transition between seasons is yet another reminder of the beauty of Allah, the most glorified and the most high “Subhannah wa ta’alla” (SWT)’s, creation. With the 2025 Fall quarter swiftly propelling forward, UCLA’s Muslim Student Association (MSA)…
As the new school year begins and we welcome new members to our Islamic community, it is important to revisit the topic of inclusivity, especially in our tight-knit Muslim Student Association (MSA). In an environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are values being silenced, it is important for us not to be complicit and instead…
“The best of you in Islam are those with the best character, if they have religious understanding.” (Sahih, Book 14, Musnad Aḥmad 10066) As history tends to emphasize on eras predominantly influenced by Western ideologies, few regions have been profoundly contested or were culturally transformed by Islamic conquerors and scholars from Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.…
“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…