What?! The VOU in full colour I hear you gasp? Alhamdullilah (Praise be to God) with His blessings we have taken the first step in taking the VOU ‘out there’ into the mainstream to reach all the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as) across the UK and beyond insha’Allah (God willing).

As you will see over the coming pages, we have adopted a fresh new and dynamic design to take advantage of all things colourful while maintaining the high quality content that you’ve come to expect.

Front cover image

Unbeknown to IUS members, who receive copies of this magazine as part of their membership; copies of this issue are also reaching Ahlul Bayt Societies at several universities as well as many Muslim youth groups. We hope ‘going out there’ will attract the contributions of new and talented writers from our youth as well as increasing readership.

Furthermore, the VOU website will finally arrive! This will be launched in early October 2009 insha’Allah (God willing) and will feature an interactive archive of (eventually) all back issues as well as the ability to subscribe and contribute easily. The vast collection of articles from previous issues should prove a huge beneficial resource.

Just as the VOU embarks upon its ambitious journey, many young freshers are setting out on their own adventures at universities across the UK.  This issue’s feature article aims to provide them with practical and relevant advice from fellow students who were in their position only 12 months ago. Our Religion (page 14), Faith (page 22) and Comments (page 24) articles on Irfan and Hajj also seek to advice those setting out on journeys of the spiritual variety.

Finally, let us know your events for the News & Events section, send us your articles to get published or simply send us your Letters to the Editor telling us know what you think. Please consider the VOU as for the Muslim youth and by the Muslim youth.