Prayer Of The Month

(Holy Qur’an, 3:192)

Rabbana ma khalaqta haaza batila; subhanaka faqina azaban-nar.

"Our Lord, Thou hast not created all this in vain; nay, Holy art Thou; save us, then, from the punishment of the Fire."

From the Desk of National Ta'lim Secretary

Dear Readers:  Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

The US Jama’at is committed to promoting and facilitating the pursuit of education and knowledge. One of the ways we do this is by awarding various academic scholarships to our exceptional students. While the monetary value of such scholarships may be nominal (compared to the costs of education), the associated blessings are priceless. These scholarships signify the prayers of the Promised Messiah (as) and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih (ab).

The 2014 Academic Scholarships have been awarded (listed below). Please join me in congratulating all the awardees and praying for their success. Allah’s promises of extraordinary success and prominence are with the true followers of the Promised Messiah (as). May Allah enable all our students to become model Ahmadi Muslims and thus become the recipients of Allah’s unlimited Grace and Mercy. Ameen.

Wassalam,
Nasir Mahmood Malik
National Ta’lim Secretary

2014 Academic Scholarship Awards

Following students have been awarded various academic scholarships. May Allah bless them with exceptional success and enable them to be model Ahmadi Muslims.

Dr. Abdus Salam Talent Scholarships:

1. Ayesha Amatul Wadood (Los Angeles-West)

2. Nabgha Farhat (Central Jersey)

3. Nazeela Tanweer (Rochester)

4. Uswa Ahmad (North Jersey)

5. Basil Ahmad (Central Jersey)

6. Haris Qureshi (Hartford)

Maulana Shaikh Mubarak Ahmad Talent Scholarships:

1. Areeba Thakir (Long Island)

2. Fizza Nasir (Washington)

3. Ikha Mansoora Siddiqah (Los Angeles-West)

4. Lubna Chaudhry (Baltimore)

5. Naalia Ahmad (Richmond)

6. Hassan Jamil (Long Island)

Muzaffar Zafr Scholarships:

1. Fatuma Guyo (St. Louis)

2. Idris Aziz (St. Louis)

3. Khairul Bairah (St. Louis)

4. Lateef Oresanya (Houston-Cypress)

5. Murthada Adewole (Houston-Cypress)

6. Wasswa Kintu (Los Angeles-West)

Munir Hamid Scholarships:

1. Imanni Ahmad (Milwaukee)

2. Maryam Ogunbiyi (Houston-Cypress)

3. Najma Nasiruddin (St. Louis)

4. Zainab Agoro (Houston-Cypress)

5. Aaron Garel (Chicago-West)

6. Andrew Ameer (St. Louis)

7. Mubarak Nasiruddin (St. Louis)

Roohani Khazain Studies – Quick Quiz (RKS-QQ)

Below are some clues about one book written by the Promised Messiah (as). Can you name the book’s published title? The answer is at the end of this ITK. Are you interested in the subject matter? Write back to us and share your thoughts.

- Contains prophecy about the Promised Reformer

- Written after staying 40 days in Hushiarpur

- Printed on green paper

- Published in 1888

Roohani Khazain Studies: An excerpt from the Writings of the Promised Messiah (as)

“The better part of a person's life, before the onset of senility, can be measured at approximately 80 years, half of which is 40. Here the number 40 correlates with the first 4 months the fetus spends in the womb prior to its first physical movements. Experience tells us that when man has lived half of his productive life – the first 40 years which bear a strong likeness to the first 4 months of a fetus' existence – his soul awakens and shows nascent signs of spiritual life, provided he is blessed with a pure disposition.

It is no secret that before he is 40, a man's life is mostly obscured by ignorance. The first 7 or 8 years of his existence are passed in infancy, and the following 25 or so years are mostly spent in the pursuit of learning or frittered away on libertine pleasures. Afterwards, he is married or is otherwise beguiled into chasing wealth and honor and exceeds all bounds in doing so. At this stage, even if man turns towards God his quest is somewhat tainted with material desires. His prayers are mostly for worldly gains and his cries and supplications are sullied by worldly desires. If his desires are fulfilled he turns to God, if not, he turns to Satan. In short, youth is a critical period of one's life and without Divine grace one might well land in the pit of Hell. The fact is that this part of one's life is the root of all evil. It is at this time that one contracts most physical ailments and some unmentionable diseases. Thus, at this age he fears God but little and is driven by carnal passion and dominated by his baser self. He pays little heed to the advice of others and suffers the consequences of this age for the remainder of his life.”

(The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam)

College Corner

Six Questions on Why Choose a Career in Journalism

When you hear journalism, what words or phrases come to mind? Do you think of unnecessary sensationalism or the desire to present the truth? While the former phrases connote negative association with journalism, Sumbul Jattala still wants to become a journalist for her future career. A second year student in UC Riverside majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Political Science, Sumbul shares her thought on why she wants to pursue journalism as a career.

1. Why do you want to become a journalist and what does journalism mean to you?

Since I was a kid I’ve always had a passion for writing, accompanied with a fascination and deduction towards all the happenings in the world. A lot of people are ignorant of the current issues; and, in the long run, it is important to raise awareness of both domestic and international affairs. Journalism for me is a link between the people and those in power, because without journalism, news is not being spread. People do not know what those in power are doing with that power. Jihad of the pen is so important because journalism fights oppression and ignorance. So many people do not know about persecution or occupation. People may be given a voice to vote and to speak to their Congressman/woman but their knowledge is limited without transparent information.

2. Some people say that journalism is a dying career. What do you think of this statement?

Journalism is writing and distributing information to an audience, and it’s always evolving. This is because news will never stop or information will stop forming. It will always be there, and continue to present itself, controversial or not. Paper news might be dying, but with technology, journalism has a larger dynamic. Now news outlets broadcast their information on television, online print, radio, and podcasts. Even twitter can be journalism by presenting news with just 140 characters a tweet.

3. What is your major (or double major) and how will it prepare you to become a journalist?

My school does not offer journalism major so I am majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Political Science. Both majors come together as useful skills in journalism. Creative Writing helps you explore your style into a writing that is worth reading, in a way to grasp the reader’s attention. A background in Political Science helps in understanding the power of political change in issues, international relations, and looking at the different institutions of government. It is important to know these when you want to write about change, because understanding political theory helps form solutions rather than just going on a tangent about something that you do not agree with.

4. What steps are you taking to prepare you to become a successful journalist?

I am continuously writing, so I can always reevaluate my work and look for improvements. I write for the school’s newspaper and submit my own pieces just to build a starting career even as an undergraduate student. This builds a resume that can help you get a journalism internship which exposes you to what it is like as a journalist. Many schools offer internships for journalism; especially in the University of California system. You need to keep putting yourself out there when submitting your work or applying for an internship, no matter how many rejections, because the experience is more than adding something to your resume, it’s for you.

5. What kind of topics do you want to focus in your journalism career?

I want to have a focus on persecution, conflicts, and affairs in the Middle East and South Asia; from Punjab to Palestine and everything in between. As a Muslim and a Pakistani I feel an obligation to raise awareness of the happenings in the Islamic world and the country my family comes from. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I want to keep focus on the persecution of Ahmadis in my work because so many people do not even know about what is happening. And, if they do, they keep silent or say it is an honor to kill an Ahmadi.

6. As an Ahmadi Muslim and an aspiring female journalist, how do you think these values will distinguish you from the other journalists?

Growing up as an Ahmadi Muslim, I’ve been taught about the Jihad of the pen, and the importance of words for today’s day and age, and as a woman I have had firsthand experience of situations many of us face in regards to religion or just because of our gender. These characteristics set us up to open the eyes of the readers about being raised Ahmadi and taught the teachings of the Promised Messiah (as) and how they’re practiced today.

K-12

Ivy League Colleges - Are They Worth It?

The Ivy League refers to eight elite, privately run universities in the Northeastern United States that have the reputation of being the best in this country. This educational inner circle comprises of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale. How do you, as a future college student, know if attending an Ivy League school is right for you? There are several benefits and deterrents for students interested in attending these universities.

One great benefit of attending these eight colleges is that their reputations precede them and many people recognize their names instantly. This could mean great opportunities for graduates entering their career, as the university name alone could grab them a great interview. Aside from the name recognition, these top schools offer students a rich and vast alumni network to benefit from and contacts they can make for their future.

Another benefit of attending an Ivy League institution is the guarantee of an excellent education. These institutions employ only the most qualified professors and researchers in their respective fields. All eight of the universities consistently place in the top of college and university annual rankings, and their financial endowments rank in the top one percent of the world’s academic institutions. The endowments indicate that these schools have the financial backing to support cutting edge research and impressive faculty.

While the benefits of attending Ivy League schools are numerous, there are also several factors that students should take into account that may deter them from choosing to attend. For instance, the prestigious reputations of these institutions have long been equated with social elitism. In addition, the cost of attending an Ivy League college can be highly excessive for many students. The average cost of attendance, which includes room, board, tuition, and university fees, is about $50,000 per year. Considering the majority of state schools charge less than a quarter of the cost of Ivy League schools, and many students do not receive scholarships or financial aid to attend, financial cost should also be looked into. Unsurprisingly, Ivy League institutions are highly selective and only accept between ten to fifteen percent of their applicants. The majority of the students accepted usually rank in the top ten percent of their class.

Students should critically consider these benefits and deterrents when deciding if an Ivy League school is right for them.

Graduate Corner: How to pay for graduate school?

The importance of graduate school is not questionable. After choosing a good school, the first thing that comes to one’s mind is how to finance that degree. At this stage of career, most individuals have the option to make good money, rather to pay for graduate school fees. Obviously, opportunity cost for a graduate degree is much higher. Don't leave your motivation of pursuing your higher studies. Here we have highlighted some strategies to pay for your graduate degree:

1. Tuition assistance from an employer

In order to enhance the skills and to avoid the hassle of new hiring, employers assist a qualified worker to pursue graduate school. Sixty percent of the companies are offering some type of fee compensation to their eligible employees, according to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management.

2. Get some scholarship or fellowship

Scholarships or fellowships are an excellent source of financing your graduate degree. As we have briefly discussed fellowships and scholarships in our previous issues, you can take a look at your relevant subject in a scholarship database or fellowship database.

3. Work at the same school or work for your school

Be smart while selecting the institution for study. In some schools, office work positions are offered to the students through administrative assistantships. This kind of assistantship varies with the duties assigned and policies of the given schools.

4. Tuition fee waiver

A tuition fee waiver policy is different for every intuition and may have certain conditions. Some schools offer them to employee’s children, some to veterans, or some on the basis of financial needs. Every year 10% of graduate students are getting the fee waiver according to one report from the National Center of Education Statistics.

5. Federal student loans

To get the federal student aid you need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); it is usually due at the end of June. Gather all initial information required for the application such as your social security number, your three year tax returns or your parents’ tax returns if you are declared as a dependent on their tax return. For more details, check https://fafsa.ed.gov/.

6. Choose a Ph.D. over a Master's degree

Most Ph.D. programs give you stipend to meet your current expense during your academic session. Also you may get the opportunity to do an assistantship or other part time positions.

7. Tax incentive

You can take advantage of the tax credit for your graduate studies in different ways such as, reducing your interest on your student loans, deducting cost of your graduate school expenses, or through Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.

8. Private loans

Many private financial institution and banks provide loans for your studies. You should, however, do proper research in terms of interest charged and their repayment plan before selecting a particular institution.

9. Consider the Army or Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)

If you want to avoid all loan plans then consider the Army or the Air Force. They will pay 100% of your fee after you sign a contract with them. Your job is to serve the Army for a period of six years after completing your graduate degree. Also to become an Army officer, you need to take a one month long, fully paid Leadership Training Course.

10. Early withdrawal of your savings

The US Government allows you to take advantage of the penalty free Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to meet your educational expenses. Visit the IRA Website for more details.

11. Entice schools to compete for you

Extraordinary students and top students of undergraduate schools can choose the best financial assistance plan by applying in many graduate schools. Tell each school about your priority of financial assistance so, in competition, they can offer you the lowest fee plan.

12. Apply early

There are more opportunities for obtaining financial aid from schools by searching and applying early.

13. Talk to your undergraduate school

Some schools offer special discounts for further studies to their alumni.

Spiritual Treasure Challenge

The National Taleem Department of MKA-USA has initiated a scheme for Khuddam to read all the books of Promised Messiah (as) that have been translated in English over a period of 2 years. There are 31 books consisting of approximately 1950 pages. The books can be read in English or Urdu or listened to through the audio books. The complete book list and rules of engagement are available at www.mkausa.org.

RKS-QQ Answer: SABZ ISHTIHAR (The Green Announcement)