Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem

During my first year at CMU-Q, I came to a powerful realization: the time we spend here in Education City is nothing short of transformative. We are young, ambitious, impressionable—and surrounded by some of the world’s finest educators. The choices we make now will shape the trajectory of our lives in ways we can’t fully understand yet. I knew I had to make the most of it.

Then, the war on Gaza shook us. It tore through the comfort of our daily routines and flooded our feeds with a brutal reality we had grown numb to. For me—and many others—it was an earthquake of awareness. Suddenly, our assumptions about the world, our identities, and what truly matters were thrown into question. The responses were varied, but they revealed something deep about human nature- when foundations shake, people search for meaning.

What we needed was not just information or analysis but truth—something that could hold its ground against the weight of reality. No human words could offer that. I turned to the Quran, the source of guidance I had been taught since childhood.

The more I read, the more I realized how little I knew. I had only been scratching the surface of Allah’s words. And the more I learned about history, people, and the systems that shape our world, the more I understood that everything worth learning is, in the end, just a way of better grasping what Allah is telling us. Life became a journey of living with His words—or wandering alone without them.

In university, we gain tools to understand the world—we’re taught the "how" and encouraged to question the "why." But often missing is the "what for?" The guidance. The meaning. The clarity that roots all our striving in something greater. Without it, even our best efforts risk becoming directionless.

That’s why the work we do at the MSA matters—truly, at a cosmic and deeply personal scale.

We’re not just organizing events or offering cultural expression. We’re bringing guidance back to the center. We’re offering a space for growth, love, and purpose—for anyone seeking it, no matter where they come from. What we’re doing isn’t new, and it certainly isn’t limited to the structure of a student club. It’s part of something much bigger.

We want to remind ourselves and our peers that beneath the pressure to perform and the rush to succeed, there is a compass that never wavers. A compass that connects us to a global community of believers, the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and to The One who created us.

At the MSA, we’re building a student community rooted in purpose. We return to the Quran not just as a book but as living guidance. We're trying, as we make countless mistakes, to create space for worship, reflection, real conversations, and sincere growth—with Allah at the center.

Because without that, all the brilliance we gather may shine—but it won’t lead us home. And we know, deep down, that we were made for more. 

-Hazem El-Sayed, CMUQ Junior 

"What Islamic value or concept do you find yourself returning to most as a student?" 

One of the core concepts in Islam that I’ve often reflected on—and that can be easier said than practiced—is tawakkul (trust in Allah) and shukr (gratitude), especially during times of hardship or when many doors seem to close. When the path we envisioned for ourselves is no longer an option, we’re humbled by the reminder that nothing is truly in our control.

Allah ﷻ is Al-Fattah—the Opener. He opens doors by first closing others, and while we may not see those openings right now, He is preparing something far greater. We plan, but Allah plans—and He is the Best of Planners.

What we may perceive as a loss or setback might, in reality, be divine protection. Allah ﷻ is Al-‘Aleem, the All-Knowing. He knows what is truly beneficial for us and what may harm us, even when we cannot see it ourselves. That’s where tawakkul comes in—trusting wholeheartedly that Allah ﷻ has crafted a path uniquely for each of us, one that allows us to grow, to be tested, and to be exposed to what is meant only for us.

With time, the wisdom behind those closed doors often becomes clearer—and sometimes, it may never fully reveal itself. Yet through it all, we are called to respond with shukr, gratitude, knowing that Allah ﷻ's decree is always rooted in mercy, knowledge, and love.

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.”

— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286)

This verse is a powerful reminder that whatever trial we are facing, it is not beyond our capacity to endure. With hardship comes spiritual refinement, deeper awareness, and the opportunity to draw closer to our Creator. Even when the wisdom is hidden, we anchor ourselves in tawakkul and respond with shukr, trusting His mercy above all. 

-Sara Mohamed, WCMQ Senior