Dates

August 21
August 31-September 2
September 3
September 4
September 9-10
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 19
September 20
October 2
October 3
October 10-13
October 26
November 5
November 6
November 13
November 14
December 6
December 9-December 13
December 14
December 13-January 12

Archives

1.  Spring 2000 [news] [pics]
2.  Fall 2000
3.  Spring 2001
4.  Fall 2001
5.  Spring 2002





































































 

 

   December 13-January 12- One long month to rest and recuperate from the long and stressful semester that is now behind us.  We
                                                deserve this long and unstressful (insha'Allah) break.
December 14 (Saturday)- The MSA is sad (and yet delightfully happy in a way) to see that they will be losing some of their very
                                                important assets.  Today four members and former members, past presidents, vice presidents, secretaries
                                                and treasurers graduated.  Congratulations to those that graduated this semester and may Allah allow each
                                                and everyone of you to fulfill your education in conjunction with that of Islam.  Alhamdulillah Tarek El-
                                                Messidi, Marwa El-Messidi, Maha Ayesh, Azmat Moinuddin, and Isa Alizotti graduated from the
                                                University of  Tennessee. 

1. 2.   3. 4. 
1.  Tarek El-Messidi receiving his diploma
MSA Sisters receiving their diplomas
December 9-13 (Monday-Friday)- This is the final week of the semester.  Insha'Allah we will all do well on our final and take steps
                                                               closer into furthering our education.
December 6 (Friday)- Eid Mubarak!  The Muslim Student Association at the University of Tennessee would like to say "Eid
                                         Mubarak!" to everyone.  Alhamdulillah the MSA was blessed to have a whole lot of non-Muslims fast amongst
                                         them this Ramadan, all by the guidance of Allah. 
November 14 (Thursday)- Today the MSA held its 2nd Annual Ramadan Fast-a-Thon.  Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), 532  
                                                students/faculty pledged to fast, allowing the MSA to present the Love Kitchen with a check for $1064. 

November 13 (Wednesday)- Last day pledges made by students at one of the Fast-a-Thon pledge booths.

November 6 (Wednesday)-  The lecture by Dr. Rania Masri, Peace Activist, went well Alhamdulillah, with over half of the auditorium
                                                  packed with concerned Americans on the United States going to war with Iraq.  Alhamdulillah she handled
                                                  the people well that were against her criticisms of the United States in how they have been treating Iraq.

                                                 Also the MSA rejoiced in the celebration of the month of Ramadan.  Insha'Allah this Ramadan we will be
                                                 able to fulfill our rightful duties and be in the highest state of iman.    

November 5 (Tuesday)- All day today on the University Center Plaza, the MSA setup an Iraq Awareness booth, to make the people
                                           passing by aware of the conditions of Iraq, and to change people's mind that are for the war.  We also had
                                           many people sign the petition to end the decisions of going to war with Iraq.
October 30 (Wednesday)-Daily Beacon Front Page Article on Brother 'Isma Abdul-Lateef  Blevins Harassment Incident.
October 26 (Saturday)- A group from the MSA joined the hundreds of  thousands of protestors at a rally in Washington D.C., today
                                            to  rally against the war on Iraq.  (pictures to come as soon as I get my hands on them,  insha'Allah.)           
October 10-13 (Thursday-Sunday)- The University of Tennessee decided to let their student to take a four day rest
                                                                for Fall Break.  Although the MSA planned a separate Brother's/Sister's Back-to-
                                                                School BBQ Bash and a trip to Six Flags  on Saturday, they decided to rest
                                                                instead and catch up on sleeping and/or studying, cause they were too tired
                                                                taking exams the previous few weeks. 
October 3 (Thursday)- The MSA held an Islam Movie Night, geared toward mainly the local Muslim community of
                                          Knoxville, although we did not have a good turnout at this event we were still able to enjoy
                                          ourselves watching two videos by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Sister Amina Assilmi.     
September 20 (Friday)- Sidi Usama Cannon gave an enlightening khutba telling us how to correctly give dawah to
                                            non-Muslims.        
September 19 (Thursday)- The MSA was very enlightened by the 'surprise' visit by the venerable Habib 'Ali al-
                                                 Jifry, whom came and brought the whole mosque to tears with his moving lecture and
                                                 dua'.  Alhamdulillah, insha'Allah we will be able to benefit from his barakafied presence
                                                  in our community.


Habib 'Ali al-Jifry entering the Masjid


Habib 'Ali al-Jifry entering the Musallah of the Masjid
September 13 (Friday)- The MSA cosponsored by the local mosque invited non-Muslims to the Mosque to listen 
                                             to an enlightened khutba (sermon) by a local brother, Rehan Farooq. 
                                             Non-Muslims were also invited later that night to attend the Friday Study Circle.     
September 12 (Thursday)- The evening started out with a dinner hosted by the Heska Amuna, a local Jewish
                                                 organization, it was a splendid dinner.
                                                 Alhamdulillah, later on Thursday night we had one of our best General Body meetings in
                                                 MSA history. There were over 85 people there, our biggest turn out ever! Brother
                                                 Noman's beautiful Qur'anic recitation started our evening, on time for the first time!
                                                 President Sanjana Ahmad introduced the program and we began with Sister Maha
                                                 Ayesh's reflections on the past year. Sadaf Siddiqi then wowed us with her amazing
                                                 poetry reading skills by sharing some excellent Rumi poetry. Brother 'Isma Blevins then
                                                 brought us to tears with his poignant and emotional poem and managed to lift us up
                                                  immediately with his animated telling of Wendall Barry's poem. Brother Omar also shared
                                                  a touching poem with the group. Brother Ellis Vlasi then gave an awesome student
                                                  prespective on the past year. We had good food, really good dialogue with many
                                                  different audience members piping up. Overall, it was one of the best events in MSA's
                                                  history. Thank you to all who came and helped!


MSA's General Body Meeting article featured in the Daily Beacon

September 11 (Wednesday)- The MSA remembers the tragic events of 9-11 by hosting many different events 
                                                    across campus.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1.  Public Announcement of events being held commemorating  September 11.
 2.  MSA News Article that appeared in the Daily Beacon on September 11.
3.  Sister Maha Ayesh's Letter featured in UT's Letters on September 11 (part 1).
4.  Sister Maha Ayesh's Letter featured in UT's Letters on September 11 (part 2).
5.  Brother Tarek El-Messidi's Letter featured in UT's Letters on September 11.

The day began with Tarek speaking at an UT Interfaith Dialogue Forum.
                                                   

                                                    Then Religious Studies professor Dr. Rosalind Gwynne, speaks on Reflection,
                                                    Polarity, Regard: Muslims and non-Muslims after September 11.
                                                    Throughout most of the day the MSA had a dawah type booth setup during UT's
                                                    Activities Fair, where non-Muslims were invited to join and find out more about the  
                                                    MSA.
                                                    The night concluded with a candlelight vigil in remembrance of September 11.
                                                             

                                                           (University of Tennessee students, from left, Shabnum Quraishi, Farah Hussain, Safia
                                                           Hussain, Tayyaba Hussain and Ayesha Elias study the last verse of words to
                                                           "America the Beautiful" at the end of a candlelight vigil commemorating Sept. 11 on
                                                           the UT campus Wednesday night. Full Story)

MSA Sisters Participating in the September 11th Candlelight Vigil
September 9 &10 (Mon-Tues)- The MSA featured an Indoor Islamic Display booth, where we rented out a room
                                                         displaying the many beautiful arts of the earlier Islamic era, along with inspirational
                                                         videos of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, while enjoying some tasty baklava.  Many people
                                                         dropped by to see what was coming  (I will put pictures up as soon as I get them
                                                         scanned in, insha'Allah).

1. 2. 3.
1. The MSA put up a bulletin board expressing their appreciation to the UT Community for their support.
2.  A spectator enjoys some of the items present at the Indoor Islamic Display booth.
3.  An inside glimpse of the Indoor Islamic Display booth.
September 4 (Wednesday)- The MSA had its first of the semester Activism Booth on Humanities Plaza.  Although
                                                  this did not have much of a turnout, some people insha'Allah benefited from it.
September 3 (Tuesday)- An Activist Dinner was held by another organization, whom asked some representatives
                                             from the MSA to come and speak, two people went from the MSA, Imran and 'Isma (Sean)
                                             who also spoke at the dinner.  Although apparently the dinner did not have many people
                                             show up.
August 31-September 2 (Friday-Monday)- The MSA once again took the Barakah Bus to the 39th Annual ISNA
                                                                                Convention, enjoying each other's company on the bus, the
                                                                                enlightening lectures, and shopping at the grand bazaar.

1. 2. 3.   4.   5.   6.  6. 
6.  7.  8.   9.  10. 

11.   


1.  The entrance into China Town Located next to the ISNA Convention in Washington, DC.
2.  ISNA's first lecture welcoming all the attendants.
3.  Shaykh Hamza Preparing for his lecture.
4.  Shaykh Zaid speaking eloquently at the lecture
5.  Another picture of the Shaykh Zaid speaking eloquently at the lecture.
6.  Shaykh Hamza speaking just as eloquently at the lecture.
7.  Tarek looking mesmerized by his private conversation with Shaykh Hamza.
8.  The Barakah Riders in front of the Barakah Bus before departing the ISNA Convention to go home.
9.  Tarek conversing with a few brothers, asking them how they enjoyed the convention..
10.  Another picture of Tarek asking the others how they enjoyed the convention.
11.  The Barakah Baby that enjoyed the ISNA Convention, leaving it with a big happy smile.                                                                 

 
August 21 (Wednesday)- Get ready! Get Set! Go! The new Fall 2002 school year began at the University of
                                              Tennessee, hopefully we will be able to get back into gear and reap the benefits of an
                                              education.