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S T WARNING: PLEASE respect and dispose of this newsletter properly AS IT CONTAINS THE NAME OF ALLAH “sometimes, all you need is a new perspective” ISSUE two term 4 As the end-of-year exams creep closer, it’s difficult not to get swept up in all the chaos, stress and anxiety. We spend hours and hours flicking through textbooks, memorising concepts, answering questions and making notes as our brains slowly and painfully turn to mush. is draining process is endured in the hope of obtaining an ‘A’ or perhaps even a 90+ score. Geing anything lower than your dream score can make you feel as though you are simply not smart enough, not bright enough, not good enough. But hold on a second. Let’s get one thing straight. You are more, much more, than just a test score. Standardised tests are essentially tests that are ‘administered and scored in a consistent or “standard” manner’. ey may be useful in some aspects, but what about the intangible forms of intelligence that no number can encompass like the talent, creativity, determination and effort that cannot be tested with a pen and paper? Standardised tests have been labelled as “poor yardsticks of student knowledge”, as they are not a measure of intelligence and do not serve as indicators as to how successful you may become in the future. ey are simply a measure of our test-taking abilities. Our capacity to cram in as much information to short-term memory through rote learning (memorising and not necessarily understanding), and then regurgitating that information as quickly and as accurately as possible during a given time-frame. read more on page 2... YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST A TEST SCORE contents news and opinion K the burning questions K the inside story K the straight path K student artworks K the sports scoop K gaming K the bibliophile K the ilim funnybone K overheard K embarrassing story K want to be featured in our next edition? Do you have Articles, opinions, poems, stories, artwork, QUESTIONS, advice or suggestions? email us at: [email protected] Q Graphics by NurAisyah Rosman and Farhana Ismail R

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Page 1: Ilim Rant issue 2

S TWARNING: PLEASE respect and dispose of this newsletter properly AS IT CONTAINS THE NAME OF ALLAH

“sometimes, all you need is a new perspective” ISSUE two term 4

As the end-of-year exams creep closer, it’s difficult not to get swept up in all the chaos, stress and anxiety. We spend hours and hours flicking through textbooks, memorising concepts, answering questions and making notes as our brains slowly and painfully turn to mush. This draining process is endured in the hope of obtaining an ‘A’ or perhaps even a 90+ score. Getting anything lower than your dream score can make you feel as though you are simply not smart enough, not bright enough, not good enough. But hold on a second. Let’s get one thing straight. You are more,

much more, than just a test score.

Standardised tests are essentially tests that are ‘administered and scored in a consistent or “standard” manner’. They may be useful in some aspects, but what about the intangible forms of intelligence that no number can encompass like the talent, creativity, determination and effort that cannot be tested with a pen and paper? Standardised tests have been labelled as “poor yardsticks of student knowledge”, as they are not a measure of intelligence and do not serve as indicators as to how successful you may become in the future. They are simply a measure of our test-taking abilities. Our capacity to cram in as much information to short-term memory through rote learning (memorising and not necessarily understanding), and then

regurgitating that information as quickly and as accurately as possible during a given time-frame.

read more on page 2...

YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST A TEST SCORE

contentsnews and opinion K the burning questions

K the inside story K the straight path K student artworks K the sports scoop K

gaming K the bibliophile K the ilim funnybone

K overheard K embarrassing story K

want to be featured in our next edition? Do you have Articles, opinions, poems, stories, artwork, QUESTIONS, advice or suggestions?

email us at:[email protected]

Q Graphics by NurAisyah Rosman and Farhana Ismail R

Page 2: Ilim Rant issue 2

continued from cover page...

Their role is to group, label and discriminate to differentiate between the ‘good’ and the ‘not-so-good’. It’s a ‘one size fits all mentality’ as we are treated as one collective body rather than individuals with unique abilities and talents. As Ken Robinson, English author, international advisor and speaker on education described, we are “naturally different and diverse” and standardised tests show “what children can do across a very narrow spectrum of achievement”. They’re

irritating and pretty annoying, to put it simply. Unless you plan on living at school for the rest of your life, know that these tests do not prepare you for a life outside the classroom. In most cases, marks do not matter as much as communication skills, time management, team working, problem-solving, self-motivation, initiative, perseverance, as well as organisation and coordination. Silently scribbling on a piece of paper for three hours at a tiny desk, will never prepare or acknowledge these skills. Yes, your marks still matter to a degree, but not as much as you may think. So take

a deep breath and relax a little. Studies have shown that high test scores don’t correlate with adult accomplishments, and that there is “no substantial body of evidence demonstrating that students with high scores on standardised achievement

tests will perform well in the workplace”.

Don’t get the wrong impression. I’m not saying you should stop caring about tests and exams altogether. I’m saying you should do them to the best of your ability. Work towards a goal but try not to get too caught up in it. Don’t ever think for a moment that this number is the be-all and end-all. If you want to travel down a path, but a number has stopped you in your tracks, know that there are always other pathways to get you to where you want to be. If you have a dream or a passion, follow it and you’ll achieve it, by the will of Allah SWT. So next time you get a mark you aren’t happy with, don’t beat yourself up about it. Your grades do not determine your future. As Winston Churchill once said, “continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our

potential”.

by amira ismail

NEWS AND OPINION

Media Censorship by Louay Elmustapha

We all love this modern, westernised world we live in. I can’t deny it, nor can most of you. I mean, how could we possibly live our lives without coming home sitting on the couch and turning our TV on? How can life go on if we don’t look at our Facebook daily? How could anyone live without the western

laws and regulations that make us free in mind and soul?

Let’s track this back a little. We all know that there are different channels on our televisions. And most of us would favour one over another. Now if I was to tell you that they were mostly owned by a single news corporation, we’d be having half of Ilim college inventing their own conspiracy theories to blame some US government official or other for robbing us of our liberty. The fact that the so called “unfilterable” social media is filtered so thoroughly, that Palestinian pages are shut down permanently the moment they mention the state of Israel. I mean, even these Western laws that we idolise for their freedom, when analysed past surface value, are found to be moulding our thought processes to a point. The point being, “Repeat after us; ‘This Is The West.

We Are Free.’”

Before any of you reading this start pointing fingers, ask yourselves, WHY? Why are we having everything we say and do monitored and at times censored? Well, to start with, look into history. You will see that whenever people start to open their eyes and find something better then what they’ve been given, they will always tend to follow what they perceive to be best for them. So if another, better system comes along, then it is our nature to attempt to follow it. That is the reasoning behind hiding us from all other ways of thoughts

and the reason behind media censorship.

And the biggest and most complete guidance in this world which humans have at their disposal is Islam. That’s right, we’ve been gifted by Allah swt with a perfect way to live our lives yet we neglect it. Rasulullah (saw) has taught us all we need to know to live contently. We need to throw off the bounds set upon us by our selfishness and the condition of the world we live in, and reach to our deen to finally rid ourselves of the shackles of this world. If we can re-embrace our deen, and take a step towards integrating it to our daily lives and giving Dawah to the world, spreading Islam to the world, then people will view Islam as the true way of life which is being

hidden from us. We may have been deceived and deluded at a stage of our lives by what we are taught and how we are taught, but insh Allah, we can stop letting this westernised world around us control us if we return to the religion of Allah swt that we neglect, and continue to neglect. Islam is the only way to attain true freedom in this life and the hereafter. Whether from the corrupting influence of censorship or just to improve our everyday lives, Islam is the answer, and returning to Allah SWT is the Key to the best of the Dunya & the Akhirah. Allah SWT knows best.

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How do you think I look in this, society?You’re getting ready to head out; you’ve put your hijab on and have thoroughly eyed the image in the mirror. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Am I really as plump as the figure I’m observing? Does the colour of this dress do my figure justice? Maybe I should change into something else. Would it make much of a difference if I slip out of this cardigan? How about a little bit more lipstick… Subhanallah! Many a time we strive to seek conformity with the conditions of the hijab. Ever so senseless, we have fallen into society’s trap and its pressure to ‘liberate’ women. As a result, we have fallen to the streets with no memory of what is true to our lives. More importantly, we have forgotten that we represent

something special.

More often than not, the principles of akhlaaq (character) conflict those of the hijab and hence, belittle its significance. Having read this, you may have recalled looking down upon the hijab, simply due to its disorder or irrelevance in today’s society. Undeniably, many of us have considered the effects of this worldly life rather than what ibadat (worship) itself has to

offer.

The word ‘hijab’ means to hide from or conceal, which is the main spark of confusion for sisters of Islam. It does not only refer to a veil wrapped around one’s head, as the correct term for that would be “khimaar”. In this case, a hijab refers to ‘whole body’ attire, meaning: 1. That it must be loose and long, and not tight nor short. Sister, there is no point in wearing a khimaar, if your figure is exposed, and it should be long, and covering the entire body except that which is exempted. 2. It must be plain. It shouldn’t be a form of beautification with its bright colours and adornments on it. It shouldn’t be grabbing the attention of others. 3. Unfortunately, some of us bathe in perfume. Come on sister, really? I mean, if you don’t smell that good, there’s always deodorant!4. It must not resemble men’s clothing! The Prophet (SAW) cursed men who wear women’s clothing, and women who wear men’s clothing. Subhanallah, may Allah (SWT) protect us from being amongst those people. 5. It shouldn’t be a garment of fame and vanity. Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) once said, “Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity in this world, Allah will clothe him with a garment of humiliation on the Day of

Judgement and then he will cause

the fire to flame up around them”.

Listed above are not the easiest of all rules to be complied with, especially having considered the expectations of today. However, my dear sisters, we must always keep in mind that this is merely a test. Allah (SWT) has assigned us certain tasks only in show of His compassion towards all beings. By denying respect and obedience towards these certainties, we only call upon others to contribute to

the sin.

Every female individual must be mindful of the manner by which they choose to conceal themselves. Within the timeframe that is spent attempting different ways to wear the hijab, it is also of great importance to recall upon the intention. Never underestimate the importance of pondering. Consider the value of the soul you posses, against the criticism you may receive. You must put your faith in Allah (SWT) as the form of attire expressed in the Holy book, will determine the attire we are to wear in the hereafter.

the next covergirl

by ruweyda ibrahim and firdevs derya

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Converse: 87%

Vans: 13%

Best Friends: 60%

Enemies: 40%

CONVERSE OR VANS?

The burning`questions`

by izzah zulkefli and belinay uyar

IF YOU HAD A TWIN, WOULD YOU BE BEST FRIENDS OR ENEMIES?

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED A PEANUT BUTTER AND NUTELLA SANDWICH?

BOOKS OR MOVIES?

CHOCOLATE OR LOLLIES?

Books: 10%

Movies: 90%

No: 67%Yes: 33%

Invisibility: 37%

Flying: 21%

Laser Eyes: 22%

Super Strength: 20%

WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE?

Unicorn: 58%Pegasuses: 42%

UNICORNS OR PEGASUSES?

Yes: 75%

No: 25%

HAVE YOU EVER PRETENDED TO BE SICK SO YOU COULD SKIP

SCHOOL?

Yes: 75%

No: 25%

WOULD YOU PRESS ALL THE BUTTONS ON AN ELEVATOR AND

RUN OUT?

Chocolate: 52%Lollies: 48%

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`questions`by izzah zulkefli and belinay uyar

teacher exposed!ms. ozgethe

inside

story

Hello readers of the Ilim Rant. For this edition, we decided to interview someone who although isn’t

technically a teacher, is still much loved as the school’s caring librarian. She has left our school and we wish her all

the best for the future.

What was your first day as an Ilim College librarian like for you?It was completely overwhelming. The students just asked me so many things; they wanted the key to this and the remote for that, they wanted to know where this was and where that was, but I didn’t know; I thought I was just here to shelve books. It was just a blur of phone calls and noises, it was pretty crazy. Now when they ask me I just sort of push the key to them and continue with what I was doing,

but on my first day I was like “What key? What remote?” What’s the best thing about being a librarian?THE BOOKS. And the students that read them. Nothing makes me happier than a student coming up to me and asking me for a book. The books and the students are THE

BEST part of my job.

What’s the most annoying thing about being a librarian?Wet day timetables. Or when the library is full and nobody listens to me, and then I have to bring out the megaphone, I kid you not. One day I counted over a hundred students and there were only two staff members to supervise them. That’s insanity. And that’s the most annoying part-

standing at the door being almost a bouncer.

If you weren’t a librarian, what would you be?

An author.

What’s your favourite book?Harry Potter. I’m just a big Harry Potter fan. I re-read those books all the time but see I actually have a personal favourite book that not a lot of people know and I’d really like to recommend it. It’s called Les Misérables . There’s a musical based on it and my dad knew that I was a really big fan of the musical and he got me tickets to go see it

when I was sixteen, and I’ve loved it ever since. If you just want a good book you should read it. It has everything in it, from humour to romance, to deception and chasing. It’s just one of those books that you’d really

want to read before you die.

How would you describe yourself as a teenager?I was very nerdy. I am still very loud, I honestly spent more time outside of the classroom than I did in it because I talked a lot, but I was very nerdy. Over four years my GPA was 3.9 and I graduated fifth in my school. I talked a lot and I was a nerd and I loved being on stage. I’m very

happy with a microphone in my hand.

What is your favourite memory of Ilim College?Ok this was in 2010, and there was the bell on the counter. So one day I hear this bell going “ding, ding, ding” incessantly and I look up to the counter and there’s no one pressing the bell. But I’m still hearing it and I can’t figure out where it’s coming from. So I’m walking all around the library, and I found that the year 12s went and bought a bell and were just going “ding, ding, ding” with the bell…and they were looking at me and just laughing like it was the funniest thing to ever happen. That was one of the

funniest moments in this library.

What was your childhood nickname?It was İnek, which means cow in Turkish and it’s sort of a derogatory term for someone who studies a lot, but I was called İnek endearingly. As a joke, somebody actually brought a small bell like the bells cows have around their necks to try and bully me, but I thought it was the funniest thing so I just wore it around my neck and walked around like that for the rest of the day because I thought that was

hilarious.

What is your favourite sports team?GO BOMBERS! I go for the Essendon bombers, the Houston Rockets for basketball and the Green Bay Packers in American football. “Go Pack Go!” We won the Super Bowl in 2010 and I am from Wisconsin so I am kind of

Page 6: Ilim Rant issue 2

obliged to go for the Packers.

Favourite Superhero?I always liked the Hulk. There’s just something about [the Hulk] becoming like crazy, but then Spiderman is also

hilarious. So I’ll go Hulk/Spiderman.

If you had a super power what would it be?I’d like being able to freeze time. I’d just sit read my books, because I never have enough time to read my books. I think

freezing time would be an awesome super power.

Favourite Food?

COFFEE.

Coffee’s a food?

Yeah coffee’s a food group.

If you could be anyone else who would you be?Oh my, I really like myself. I don’t know, it would have to be some awesome author maybe, but I think I am quite

awesome.

You’re stranded on an Island, what four things or people would you bring?This is from Cast Away, there was a package that he never opens and someone said “what if there’s a solar powered satellite phone in that package”, THAT’S WHAT I’M TAKING WITH ME! A solar powered satellite phone, and a solar powered sort of Kindle thing with ALL my books inside. And people. Gosh probably just my husband and maybe a stand up comedian

to entertain us. Or a juggler maybe.

Any special talents like Juggling?

(Replies immediately) I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Favourite Childhood TV show?Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I couldn’t get enough. And He-man, but I watched it dubbed in Turkish so the first time I watched (both) in America I was scandalised. I’m like, “this is all wrong, what is this?” Because when it was dubbed it would be “Gölgelerin gücü adına (By the power of grayskull)!!!” Pshht, what is that?My Dad remembers I used take my mom’s things, like rolling pins, and run around the house and pretend to be

He-Man.

Favourite Teenage Mutant Turtle?The purple one. The one who was good with computers, uhh… Donatello. And I love the Smurf one (I think

Leonardo), the papa-Smurf-looking turtle.

Any last messages you want to leave to everyone?Juuuustt keep reading. Keep reading books. Not because it’s good for you, not because your teacher wants you to, not because anyone else wants you to, but just because

READING IS FUN.

Interview by: Abdulaziz Mume, Muhammad Adib

Zulkefli and Furkan Erbasi

Why debates are better than drugs. by an anonymous debaterDisclaimer: I myself have NOT taken drugs; the effect I write about is based on factual evidence about the effects of usage.

Greetings fellow debaters; it has come to us, senior debaters’, attention that there are quite a few budding debaters in lower sec-ondary. So you decided that you want to start debating? You convinced a couple of your friends, though they weren’t very will-ing, and joined with a couple of randoms to form a team. Well done on the effort; forming a team is never an easy thing to do but debating is definitely worth it. Debating is like nothing you will ever do at school. To be able to debate and represent your school is a privilege beyond measure. I have loved every bit of debating in the past couple of years and definitely would say it

has a lot of benefits. Debating gives you confidence and it also gives you a sudden boost of energy, kind of like drugs I suppose. The first and foremost important thing in debating is that, it is okay to lose. Losing really does teach you skills. Even if you lose your first debate, it’s fine! Just keep on going and don’t worry about what has happened. Do not get demotivated or quit debating just because you lost one debate. It’s unfortunate that you lost but it really does not matter. Also, debating naturally gives you confidence. You suddenly have much better speaking skills and you aren’t ever afraid to express your opinion. People (all my aunties and uncles) are often shocked when they find out I do debating and public speaking. They all seem to think I am quiet and shy; little do they know how passionate I get in debates when I’m speaking. Now on to the issue of nerves; personally, I get really bad pre-debate nerves. But the weirdest thing is that I am not nervous, I am not dreading the debate but I am actually really looking forward to it. So then why, why do I feel unwell before every debate? The answer: it’s kind of like a craving to get up there and express yourself; you know what to say and you feel what you are saying too. Even if you don’t always like the side you are on for a debate, you end up being a passionate speaker. From having shaky hands and hosting a thousand butterflies in my stomach, I become the speaker who thinks the opposition is ‘ab-solutely ridiculous,’ and that they are ‘completely misinformed’. That debating environment causes you to lose all your ‘nerves’ and just be an awesome debater! So don’t do drugs… do debating! Good luck and have fun. :)

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department spotlight: it department

by alisha rawal and zehra sert

Welcome to the Department Spotlight for edition two. This edition, we decided to interview our handy IT department. Truth to be told, I don’t think any of us know much about them apart from the fact that they are the people to turn to if our teacher needs an extension cord, the AC remote in D block or there is a problem with the computers. Below you will find the answers you have been searching for your whole life about those guys who constantly deceive us with apparent

“Ilim- wifi” that doesn’t actually connect. 1. Who are you? Introduce yourselves (names)- Mac or PC?Husam. Kadir. Muhammad. Sait. Our work computers are all Mac with Windows & OS X installed, so while we appreciate the hardware aesthetics of Macs we are platform agnostic.

2. What do you do?Plan, build, manage and fix the schools technology stack (network infrastructure, services, servers, computers, security, accounts, etc…).

3. Funniest moment?A few years ago we installed a tool on the IT lab computers which would randomly interrupt a user’s mouse movements and insert random characters whenever they were typing. The teachers were just as mystified as the students. Some thought it was hacking, while others thought it was jinn.

4. Geekiest thing you’ve ever done?Used deauth frames to mitigate rogue APs (aka hotspots) on our network which resulted in clients of those access points to lose connectivity to the internet.

5. What made you choose IT?The promise of technology to make a difference and to somehow be a part of that goodness.

6. Favourite gadget(s)?Smartphones.

7. Why do you like what you do?There’s always something new and exciting to look forward to. Challenges aplenty.

8. Stupidest calls you’ve ever gotten from teachers?████████▓▒░ REDACTED ░▒▓███████

9. Most annoying thing about your job?Dealing with tech support from other companies.

10. Biggest achievement?Watch this space…

11. One gadget you wish existed? Time machine.

12. What is that light/button/thingy outside your door?Until this day a lot of people mistake it for a doorbell. It’s a lock that requires a special key to open. The light was later installed to provide visual feedback.

13. Misunderstandings about the IT Department?We don’t read your emails. We don’t log your keystrokes. We are not anonymous.

14. Favourite (fictional) books?No single favourite, though Frank Herbert’s Dune is up there.

15. What subjects did you study in uni? The usual engineering subjects, sciences, maths, programming as well as a few entrepreneurial subjects such as business analysis, market domain, etc…

16. In your opinion, what is the greatest goal for the muslim youth? To apply themselves in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure. Pick a discipline, a calling and pursue it with excellence and sincerity. Help the poor. Teach something. Stand up to injustice. Care for the environment. Build a service. Write an

article… That’s all for this edition folks. Now you know more about those guys we all see going into that mysterious room in the middle of the D-block. They are our intellectual, sometimes scarily smart, YouTube-blocking, IT department; without whom, we would have no working computers, no internet and no printing at school. So thank you Br Husam, Br Kadir, Br Muhammad and Br Sait for keeping our school updated with technology and occasionally giving us free wifi.

?

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bthe

straight

PATH

Abu Mas’ud reported that the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said:

“Among the things that people have found from the words of the previous Prophets was: ‘If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.” [Al-Bukhari]

One of the biggest characteristics that mankind has lost since the dawn of its civilisation is modesty. One of the biggest concerns that we as Muslims have is the possibility of heading down

the same path.

In a world where people have “absolute freedom” to express themselves, our lives blend in with the system of the Kafiroon. And that is not a favourable outcome we Muslims should want, for we will end up abandoning one of the most emphasised issues in our deen. Indeed, the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said: “Verily, there is special morality of every religion. And the morality of Islaam is modesty.” (Ibn Majah). And that’s why it is not surprising to realise that the word for modesty in Arabic is actually derived from the term al-hayah, which literally means life. So the one who does not have modesty, is like the one who is dead, or the one who has lost absolute control over his own desires. When the concept of al-hayaa (modesty) is carefully considered, it may be broken into three distinct parts; the way one chooses to clothe oneself, one’s manners when communicating, and the presence

of Imaan in private times.

As for the first section, it involves one’s appearance in the public, especially when in the presence of the opposite sex. For our choice to impress them with the way we look is what determines our dress-code. And the shaitan will forever whisper into the hearts of humans, to beautify oneself excessively in front of the other gender. That is why we have this concept of Awrah, the idea of veiling certain areas of the body, and they are different for the males and

females.

Furthermore, lowering of the gaze when in front of the opposite sex also helps one to establish modesty, and this is especially emphasised for the men. This is because due to the beautiful nature and temptation of women, as Rasulullaah (SAW) said:“I have not left a Fitnah more harmful on the men of my Ummah than the women.” [ Bukhari & Muslim]

So both parties must try their best to achieve modesty, the sisters must not expose their natural beauty or excessively attract attention from their clothing, and the brothers must always lower their gaze when in front of our beloved sisters.

For what greater dishonour can a woman face than to be stripped of her modesty? And the way we choose to communicate with people around us, and our manners in interacting with them, is likewise another portrayal of

hayaa.

We find that one of the greatest traits to possess is the trait of shyness, or being humble, and it is the people who have these traits that are greatly admired by society. Conversely, those who are arrogant, haughty and feel superior to the rest when they are interacting with the people are actually perceived less by the society as honourable.

And the last part of hayaa, is our faith and actions when we are alone with Allaah (SWT). Verily, Allaah (az-za wajjal) have rights over His servants in all matters, and it is one’s faith in private that truly resembles one’s level of Imaan.

For it is only hypocritical for one to portray oneself to the world as humble, modest and deserving of respect, but when all alone, one loses all sense of reasoning, all sense of modesty, all sense

of faith.

The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said: “Being modest to Allah as one should be is that one should guard his head and what it contains, his belly and what it consists of and that he should continuously remember death and the decaying (of the bones), and whosoever desires the Hereafter should abandon the adornment of the World and should prefer the Hereafter over the World. Whoever does this, he is modest to Allah as he should be”.

modesty by iskandar zulfikar

Page 9: Ilim Rant issue 2

the story of prophet idris by Hafsa Chao

Prophet Idris was the first prophet (that we know of) that was sent after Adam (AS). According to Ibn Ishaq, Idris (AS) was the first man to write with a pen and he was born while Adam (AS) was alive and still had 308 years of life in this world. “And mention in the Book Idris, he was a truthful Prophet. And We raised him high in the heaven.” (19: 56-57). Ibn Jarir narrated from Hilal bin Yasaf, who was present when a con-versation between Ka’b and Ibn Abbās occurred regarding the ayah mentioned above, Allah had revealed to Idris that he will raise for him (Idris) every day the same amount of deeds as all of Adam’s children (possibly his time only), so Idris wanted to increase his deeds and devotion. A friend of his from the an-gels visited him, so Idris told the angel that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such, and asked the angel if he could speak to the angel of death so he could increase his deeds. The angel carried him on his wings and went up into the heavens. When they reached the 4th heaven, they met the angel of death who was descending to seize Prophet Idris’s (AS) soul, he was ac-tually told to seize Idris’s (AS) soul in the 4th heaven, and he seized the prophet’s soul then and there. Imam Bukhari said that it is narrated from Ibn Mas’ūd and Ibn ‘Abbās that Elias (Iliyās) was Idris, but this isn’t strong as the narrator could’ve remembered it incorrectly or he may have said it out of humiliation and affection.

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The voice of hidayah: The Virtues of Muharram and ‘Aashooraa’

by the male student Islamic Enrichment Committee All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings are upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and upon all his family

and companions.

Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):”Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves

therein…” [Al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” [Reported by al-Bukhari,

2958]

Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) said that this phrase “so wrong not yourselves therein” referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more

serious and good deeds bring a greater

reward.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) also said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘what is this?’ They said, ‘this is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Musa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded (the Muslims) to fast on that day.”

[Reported by al-Bukhari, 1865]

“This is a righteous day” – in a report, narrated by Muslim, (the Jews said) “This is a great day, on which Allah saved Moosa and his people, and

drowned Pharaoh and his people.”

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madina. When he migrated to Madina, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadith quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadith of Abu Moosa (may Allah be pleased with him), who said, “The Jews used

to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival. [According to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear jewelry and symbols on that day] The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘so you (Muslims) should fast on that day.’” [Reported by

al-Bukhari]

Evidently, the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. [Summarized from the words of al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar – may Allah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-

Bukhari]

We ask Allah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. We ask Him to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who

are pious and fear Him, Ameen. Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid, Source: Islam-QA.com Text adapted from www.A2Youth.com

student artworks collected by omer hassan

Page 11: Ilim Rant issue 2

Dua In Times Of Worry And Grief by aishah chao

O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. You have control over me). Your Judgment upon me is assured and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge

of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness and the reliever of my distress.

Ahmad 1/391, and Al-Albani graded it authentic.

daily dua’s by zikry joffri

You are most Forgiving, You love to Forgive, so forgive me…

Ask Allah for sincere forgiveness as he is the Al-Gafuwr and Al-Ghaffar. Al-Ghaffaar is the one who continues to forgive,

again and again. So Allah (swt) forgives you regardless of how many times you have sined, he gives you continuous

forgiveness.

Page 12: Ilim Rant issue 2

the sports scoop by zakariya isaaq

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUEHot Topics:Asmir Begovic’s 97 ½ yard goal against Southampton, and Arsenal is still beast, Joe Hart still recovering from his out-of-form-ness and Man U have finally recovered. Is the Premier League getting better?Surprise, Surprise! :Newcastle beat Chelsea, Man C kill Norwich 7-0, Chelsea have won their last 5 home games and United have won 3 of their last 5 away.

LA LIGADe Latest! :Barca is still unbeaten after making it 10 for 11 (thanks to a draw with Osasuna) in La Liga by beating Espanyol 1-0, Messi has a mouse-trap on his boot after not scoring in the League for the past few weeks and Real Madrid getting ready to beat Man C in the Champions League.

NBATop of the table:The Warriors finally step up to bring the Sixers back to earth (110-90), the defending champions Miami having some chem-istry issues (Record 2-2), Philadelphia, Phoenix and Orlando have combined for a record of 8-4 whereas Miami, Chicago, Brooklyn and New York are 6-10 and Allen Iverson retires.

AFLHeath Shaw joins GWS on a 5-year deal for Taylor Adams to go to Collingwood.Hawthorn star Buddy Franklin has left the Hawks for their 2012 Finals oppo-nent the Sydney Swans as he hopes to lift them to glory.

TENNISNovak Djokovic says that Roger Federer is too slow as they advance to meet up.Aussie Sam Stosur wins the Japan Open by beating Euge-nie Bouchard 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

TRIVIA:How many Italian football leagues are there?

___________________________________________

Hello there Dudes and Dudettes, and welcome to the Ilim Rant Gaming Section. For this edition we will talk about League of Legends and Skyrim.

Starting off with League of Legends there has been a recent patch 3.13 and here is the summary on the changes that will be happening on the next patch.

Aattrox has some changes to his Blood Well where the attack speed is gained as you level up.Blades of Torments damage has been reduced.

Ahri has a minor change in her Essence theft and with Fox-Fire the mana cost has been reduced, Diminishing returns effect on same target increases which in turn reduces the same-target damage. Charm has an increased magic damage and mana cost changed to a flat 85. Spirit Rush Base damage reduced and which reduces the max damage per target. Fizz had a little bug with his playful/trickster where when descending he would become targetable and Seastone Trident’s active ability power ratio reduced.

Heimerdinger has some Massive changes where you can check it all out on the official LOL site.

Jinx’s Switcheroo!-Minigun’s total attack speed bonus reduces and Zap’s base damage is reduced, mana cost increased and it no longer reveals stealthed units.

Kassadin’s Null sphere Base damage reduced, silence duration changed and mana cost reduced.

Morgana General Attack range increased and base attack speed increased. Tormented Soil Damage per second changed , damage increased by up to 50% based on the enemy’s missing health. Damage application cadence increased.

Olaf’s Undertow slow duration is increased and mana cost changed to a flat 60. Vicious Strikes attack speed increased and Reckless Swing’s self-damage reduced.Sivir, Ziggs and Zyra have some massive changes where you can check it out on the official LOL site.

Zed’s Death Mark now spawns the living shadow at Zeds starting point, increased the time Zed remains untargetable, Death Mark shadow duration increased and increased the range at which Zed can switch places with the Death Mark shadow.That’s all for LOL.

Now moving onto our final piece is Skyrim. A little ‘hack’ has been found on Skyrim where you could improve your smithing level by 10, 20, 30, 40 levels and more depending on how much money you are willing to spend. So if you’re willing to give up around 2000 gold on Skyrim buy some leather strips and iron ingots go to the forge and make as much iron daggers as you can this will change your smithing from around level 30 to around level 45-50.

If you have any other games that you would like to be displayed or talked about, any ideas or comments please e-mail us at [email protected]. That’s all For this edition and we will Cya later next time.

And That’s Mystique Out!

gaming by mystique

Page 13: Ilim Rant issue 2

othe bibliophile**A person who collects or has a great

love of books.

An Explanation of Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s KITAB AL-TAWHID

By `Allamah `Abd al-Rahman al-Sa`di

Reviewed by Aishah Chao

The fundamentals of our religion is tawhid, but how can we call ourselves Muslims when we do not even know what it truly means, when we do not do what we must do, and when we do what we are not to do?Sheikh Muhammad bin `Abd al-Wahhab’s Kitab At-Tawhid has been respected by our scholars since it was written. But alas, not many of us pay attention to it. Perhaps it is too concise for us; maybe we need more explanation that calls directly to us. If this is truly the case, then `Allamah `Abd al-Rahman al-Sa`di has done an excellent job at that.Whilst keeping Sheikh Muhammad bin `Abd al-Wahhab’s original work, `Abd al-Rahman al-Sa`di has inserted beneficial commentary throughout; elaborating and explaining where needed, and even summarizing and simplifying sometimes when called for. This commentary brings the Muslim reader important ideas and concepts, and not only helps in under-standing, but also in practice and implementation.In the edition published by Al-Hidaayah, there are footnotes from the translator, which is an added bonus for the English reader. It is available from many bookstores, priced nicely at around $30.

The 39 clues

reviewed by zehra sert

The 39 Clues is a series of adventure novels written by a collaboration of authors. The books chronicle the adventures of two Orphans, Amy and Dan, who discover they are part of a rich and powerful family related to nearly everyone import-ant in history. When their grandmother, Grace Cahill, dies,

the Cahill family from around the world are present to collect their portion of her estate. However, Grace throws a curveball and offers each heir $1 million or the opportunity to join an epic treasure hunt in which the winner will receive power be-yond his or her wildest dreams. Grace leaves 39 clues spread across the planet, to a treasure that will make the finder im-mensely powerful. All the relatives compete to find and solve the clues while trying to eliminate their competition. Dan and Amy, favoured young relatives of Grace, accept the challenge despite the threats of their guardian, Aunt Beatrice. With the help of their au pair (nanny), Nellie, they fly to Paris and bat-tle their quirky, scheming relatives to follow up on clues. The first book is called “The Maze of Bones, by Rick Riordan” and can be found at Ilim College’s library.

Page 14: Ilim Rant issue 2

Studying with the ‘Pomodoro Technique’ by amira ismail

Finding yourself lost and confused when it comes to efficient studying? Scratching your head as to how an entire week has gone by with not a single task accomplished? It sounds like you need to try a different approach to studying, one that uses

kitchen timers…

For those who are unaware, a Pomodoro is just a type of tomato, and the technique is named after it because of the use of a tomato kitchen timer. The ‘Pomodoro Technique’ is fast becoming a popular and effective way to manage time. Developed by a team of people in the late 1980’s, the simple technique has been published into a book and even earned itself a website. It doesn’t involve boring timetables or hard-core sleepless study nights. Rather, it’s about short bursts of study with lots of breaks in between, using a kitchen timer. These instructions have been taken from the website:

www.pomodorotechnique.com

This technique is sure to prevent any study burnouts whilst assisting in the management of distractions. Now you’ve got no excuse. Grab that kitchen timer (after politely asking Mum first) and GET STUDYING!

TIPS FOR STUDYING:I Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.I Have realistic goals but say “yes I can” as often as possible.I Studying in silence improves marks.I Be organised!I Delay the fun stuff until study is finished.I Make lots of lists, take notes and be prepared.I Remember, everyone makes mistakes.I Ask for help when you need it.I Eat well, sleep well.I Don’t forget to exercise.

I Make dua! Don’t underestimate its power.

TIPS FOR WHEN STUDY GETS YOU FEELING DOWN:o Find some positive quotes and print them out and stick them on your wall or on the front of your folder.o Say “alhamdulillah”, take a deep breath and write down everything good and wonderful in your life right now.o Go for a walk and be in the moment – take in some fresh air and appreciate the blessings Allah SWT has blessed you with.o Make a list of things you really enjoy and do one each day for a week.o Take a whole minute to eat a tiny square of chocolate.o Relax and listen to some soothing Qur’an.o Make dhikr and ask Allah SWT for help.o Buy yourself a stress ball and squeeze all your negative energy out.o Play sport or do some strenuous physical activity.o Take time out from study each day to look at your goals and focus on your dreams. o Remember that you need to work towards success in the Hereafter, and not just success in this world.

Sources: Adapted from ‘School Psychology Services’ and ‘The Leader’.

Page 15: Ilim Rant issue 2

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Page 16: Ilim Rant issue 2

QoverheardRreal people. real situations. all, overheard.

I"Are you fasting?" "No i'm slowing." -Students

I"We're in here three periods of the double." -Teacher

I"Do you do human?" -Student asking another student

if they do the subject 'Health and Human Development'

I"Maybe I can babysit your pencil case next week." -Student

an unexpected call to prayer a true story

Well it all began like this… My friends and I were at a large biology lecture of around 300 people, all motivated to walk out of the place with heads full of information (definitely no scarring images of embarrassment that are sure to haunt us for the rest of our lives).

We were sitting in our seats absorbed in the lecture about homeostasis (or something like that, I can’t really remember) when suddenly my bag sitting at my feet began to vibrate, making me jump. “It’s just my phone”, I thought. And then it started. The adhaan began to sound at full volume, echoing around the spacious hall. “Allahu…” Oh no. My eyes grew wide, and blood rushed to my face. I must have forgotten to put the phone on silent. I quickly reached for the bag only to find the zipper stuck fast, and it wouldn’t budge. The adhaan got louder with each syllable, and my friends and I were freaking out. Dear, oh dear. My brain whirred, and the only option left was to ignore the impossibly loud sound and pretend it wasn’t me. “Just act normal”, I

thought.

Heads began turning as I continued to stare at the board in attempt to make it look as though I had nothing to do with the ‘strange melody’ blaring out of my bag. My face literally set on fire and began to melt off my skeleton. I could feel the glares and sharp nudging from my friends sitting beside me. They stared angrily, their furious eyes yelling at me as they flickered from my bag to my red face. “Pick up the phone!” “Man, you are dead meat.” Their thoughts were loud, but not nearly as loud as the adhaan. They tried to act cool, but the horrible acting wasn’t doing us any good. I mean it was bad enough that we were a bunch of giggly hijabis in a room full of Caucasians and studious Asians, so the unexpected call to prayer took the meaning of ‘embarrassment’ to the next level. And the constant jabs I was receiving from both right and left didn’t help either.

By this time the teacher had also taken notice and looked rather perplexed, while students sniggered and others sent conde-scending glances tinged with annoyance. The guy sitting beside my friend just stared, and you could tell he was asking himself how he had ended up next to us, of all people. During the break, he actually moved seats. I don’t think an explanation for that is necessary.

My friend had classmates from her old school, sitting in the row in front of us. They peered over and stared in annoyance, and let’s just say it amped up the ‘embarrassment metre’ even more for her. The adhaan kept going, ringing as clear and as vivid as ever. My pulse was still out of control and the gazes of those around us felt like laser beams burning into our flesh.

But alhamdulillah, the app was designed to only blast the first two “Allahu Akhbar’s”, and so it finally died down after what felt like an eternity. It was definitely the longest and perhaps the most awkward fifteen seconds of our lives. As of yet.