October 2016
from the
runways ..............
INDONESIA MUSLIM FASHION
week TELSTRA PERTH FASHION
festival
FASHION
&BEAUTY ITALY’S
FIRST MODEST FASHION LABEL
October 2016
Contents Click Here
Cover Story
Italy’s First Modest Fashion Label
Fashion
Click Here
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AMO - Italy’s First Modest Fashion Label Indonesia Muslim Fashion Week 2017 Telstra Perth Fashion Festival Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week Autumn from drab to fab
Beauty
Autumn Fever
Inspire
Indonesia Muslim Fashion Week 2017
Click Here
Muslim Women in Europe Vocally Endearing
Food
Telstra Perth Fashion Festival
Tandoori Chicken Salad
Living
A Forgotten World
Click Here Click Here
Work
The Battle of the Apps
Travel
Why Muslims Should Keep Travelling
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TEAMG AYA Our Writers
Co-founder & CEO Editor-in-chief Juliana Iskandar juliana@gayamagazine.com
Country Editor Australia Mastura Koelmeyer
Country Editor Bangladesh Mumtahana Elahi
Aateka Samara Amal El Gharbi Ana Maria Aneesa Asma Toujani Assil Taha Atikah Amalina Ayesha Khan Aylim Duran Azrina Naimuddin Bushra Amjad Hakeemah Cummings Hanisah Maskon Hanna Begum Hajar Masri Hira Ali Idil Mohamed Ali Iqra Arif Lamaa Husseini Lamya Ayad Layla Rodrigues Lipa Hussain Madiha Ahmed Mahnoor Malik Malikah Ebrahim Marwa Samara
Mahvash Rehman Nada Alzalloum Nadia Ali Nafisa Bakkar Naseema Miah Nawal Boukir Nouhailah Regine Maryam Reham Khan Roda Abdi Rym Shamas Siddika Jaffer Safira Adam Sajeda Sheikh Saleema Shah Salma Shalaby Sana Mahmood Sanae Chakrouni Sara Dekkiche Shazia Javed Hassam Sheema Sherry Sheikha Haroon Shuhada Alauddin Unaizah Toffar Zoya Khan
Editorial Assistant Atikah Zainuddin Designer Jessalynne Woo
Beauty Editor Naira Ghanem
Marketing & Distribution Byte.ME Pte. Ltd.
join our team of writers.
magazine@gayamagazine.com
From the Editor’s Desk...
H
uman beings are funny creatures aren’t they? When you do something good, with the best intentions in mind, there will always be someone or some people who pick at the negative. I mean just look at the backlash that Noor Tagouri received when she was featured in Playboy. ‘Featured’ not posed for Playboy. You may have your own opinions on the choice of media and I respect your views but take away the title and read the content of the interview and tell me if you see it in a different view. A friend of mine put it so eloquently the other day. She said, “Jules, copy and paste the same interview and put it in Women’s Weekly and we probably won’t be having this debate.” I laughed but I knew she was right. On the surface, Playboy may not have been the best choice but let’s look at it this way. The usual audience of the magazine may not be privy to such modesty. I say modesty cos she was featured fully clothed and in a hijab a stark contrast to the usual pinups in the magazine. (Side note, the brand has rebranded itself to remove all nudes.) Her interview was powerful and showed this intelligent Muslim woman breaking stereotypes and pushing the envelope. Whatever your point of view may be on the choice of media, I encourage you to look at the context. After all the usual headlines we
see Islam and Muslims portrayed in, this is a breath of fresh air. And at least is changing the narrative. I won’t go on with this debate as you can read my full article on our website but what I am getting at with this is we need to have a little more empathy, understanding and respect in this world. Social media is a very powerful tool. It can spread love quickly but on the flip side it can also be a fertile ground for negative, degrading comments. The more we perpetuate the negative the more dark and gloomy the world will get. But if we start by being responsible about what we say and write in a very public space like social media, we may, Insya’Allah, be able to change the world. And this is the flavour of this month’s issue - from a thoughtprovoking article titled “Vocally Endearing” to a hopeful article titled “Muslims Need to Keep Travelling in this Climate of Fear. Here’s why...”. I would like to personally thank our writers for being that positive voice. If you’d like to join our pages, you know where to find us.
love to all... Juliana Iskandar @dayinthelifeof_jules
Fashion
THE FIRST I TA L I A N MODEST FA S H I O N LABEL
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...Modesty is not only a fashion value, but it applies to all aspects of our life. I like to think that we can increase its value as a common value throughout all cultures...
A
”
lice Giani Margi founded AMO with the goal of creating a luxurious yet comfortable label that empowers and emphasizes the beauty of the modern woman. As an Italian living in Saudi Arabia, Alice was driven by her passion, talent and motivation to merge quality and comfort into a luxury modest collection that reflects the changes of the modern world and the fusion of different cultures. 7
"AMO means “I love” in Italian and our collection is made with love, entirely in Italy. We are the first Italian modest fashion label, offering the highest quality of fabric and the finest tailoring in the world. Experience understated elegance with a minimal contemporary style enriched by the most precious and refined details, feel the luxury and enjoy the comfort when you wear AMO abayas.
Casual Line Casual abaya with lace embellishment and matching hooded veil.
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One of our best sellers, black and white elegant viscose abaya with pleated vest, black Italian lace and gunmetal pearl trimmings.
Elegant abaya with golden striped silk vest.
Sport abaya made with stretchy fabrics, pockets and full length zipper.
Black and grey sport abaya with functional hood, wide pockets and zipper.
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The collection is perfect for all women, is suitable for all body shapes and transformable for all the occasions. You really can approach the concept of modesty in your own personal and stylish way with AMO. "Modesty is not only a fashion value, but it applies to all aspects of our life. I like to think that we can increase its value as a common value throughout all cultures," says Alice Giani Margi.
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AMO Abayas are 100% hand-made in Italy, from the sketch to the final product. AMO range includes four different lines: Elegant, Casual, Sports and Transformable. The Elegant line is thought for special occasions and is made with fine fabrics such as viscose, silk, pleated georgette and lace, without compromising comfort. The Casual line is perfect for the everyday life of the modern woman that wants to dress modestly.
Sport Line Black and red sport hooded abaya.
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Transforbable Line Transformable abaya with a zipper that goes halfway down and twotoned bottom.
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The innovative Sports line is suitable for traveling, a busy lifestyle and light sport activities with durable zippers, stretchy fabrics and hoods with hair-lock system, a new system patented by Alice that allows you to move freely without your hair slipping out! The transformable line, one of its kind, lets you go from formal to total comfort in just a few easy steps! AMO also offers a variety of accessories such as 13
turbans, veils and hooded veils that can be matched to all models according to your needs and taste! With the new concept of transformable abayas, modest sportswear and hoods with hair locks, AMO aims to change the face of Modest fashion and provides stylish comfort to the everyday life of the modern woman.
alicegianimargi.com
Fashion
I
ndonesia Muslim Fashion Week 2017 was held in Jakarta from 1st to 3rd September 2016.
The three-day event was kicked off with a special runway show which showcased the talents of young design students from the Islamic Fashion Institute (IFI). These young designers were challenged with designing a bespoke collection that incorporated the delicacy of Japanese kimono designs into the intricacy of traditional Indonesian designs. 14
The merge between the two cultures were spectacularly displayed in each and every piece of the designers’ collections, amalgamating Japanese kimonos with Indonesian batiks. It won’t be long before we see these young talents on future runways. It was refreshing to see such young talents being nurtured and given the opportunity to showcase their collection. The growth of the modest fashion industry depends on not just the outreach but the potential and nurturing of new talent.
This year’s theme, Royal Beauty of Indonesia, saw collections that were, simply put, truly Indonesia. Each collection, each piece was modern yet still had the unique and rich Indonesian culture intertwined in them - whether it be in the batik material or the choice of colours used. You saw leather inlaid with Indonesian batik fabric; you saw baroque fabric styled with bright batik pieces; you saw minimalistic designs accented with traditional batik weaving. Modern yet quintessentially Indonesian. A spectacular showcase of Indonesian modest fashion. Here are just some of amazing designers from the show. For more photos, head down to our website at gayamagazine.com.
Photography by Jessalynne Woo.
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AYASOPHIA 16
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DELIA SEPTIANTI 18
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ENHAYE 20
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MEEMAA STYLE 22
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MOTIF HAWA 24
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NORISH KAREEM 26
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QONITA GHOLIB 28
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zuikaffah 30
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Fashion
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K
uala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week is an international event that gathers Malaysian and international designers and industry players, and is set to become the largest event for Muslim women in Malaysia. The event will increase the awareness of the modest fashion industry both locally and internationally. Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week aims to maximize the potential for female entrepreneurs, designers and business 33
leaders to market their products and services and expand their network. Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week also aims to position Malaysia as the region’s number one destination for leading fashion brands, accessories and textiles. Moslema in Style is once again onboard as the organizer for Kuala Lumpur Modest Fashion Week 2016, which will delight the Malaysia fashion calendar on 3rd and 4th December.
But this year, the organising committee set their sights higher and further beyond geographical lines. For the first time, Moslema in Style brought KLMFW 2016 on a promotional road-trip through Europe. From 30th April to 1st May 2016, the event was featured at the Muslim Lifestyle Show in London, and from 13th May to 14th May 2016, the event was featured at Istanbul Modest Fashion Week in Turkey. 34
International eyes are now all on KLMFW 2016 and the anticipation is high. And we, here at GAYA Magazine, just can't wait. This is the place to be. For more information on KLMFW 2016 or to get your tickets, visit:
klmodestfashionweek.com Photo credit: Jessalynne Woo
Fashion
Written by Mastura Koelmeyer Photos by Ryan Ammon
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2016 marked one of the best Telstra Perth Fashion Festivals and proved to be another momentous occasion for Perth’s fashion scene. This year the incredible line up of local, national and international designer talent transformed Western Australia into a hub of excitement and into a new found realm of runway delivery. As the fashion forward goers flocked to Fashion Paramount, the buzz filled the air with anticipation of what was about to grace the runway. Impeccable as always, the week was successfully delivered by the hard working teams behind all the action. 36
Seeing the hustle of back of house in addition to personally knowing some of the individuals behind making it all happen, only then you can truly appreciate the extent in which the shows are professionally produced. The main program of runway shows presenting the most dynamic calendar of events to date consisted of Opening Night, Adam Heath: 50 Years of Australian Fashion & Music, WA Designer Capsule, Myer Fashion Lunch, Manning Cartell, International Runway: Whole9Yards, Future Runway, One Fell Swoop, Empire Rose, New Generation, Flannel and Closing Night: The Art of Fashion.
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Each show baring its own highlights, the inspiring designer pieces were welcomed with gawking eyes and gaping mouths encouraging excitement as well as enrapturing the audience in a different atmosphere each time. The most talked about presentations were depicting of another spectacular year, solidifying TPFF’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier fashion events, are as follows; The refreshing unseen collection presented by International designer Daniel Ngoo of Whole9Yards complete with their signature use of lace and feminine tailored pieces. 38
Jennifer Hawkins making an appearance at the Myer Fashion Lunch with her friendly smile and her stunning persona. The ultra femme meets grunge rock chic styled bomber jackets and sequinned tailored pants in a spray of metallic hues strutted down the runway on female and male models - course the topless male models were obsessed over as they took on the catwalk extravaganza Empire Rose style, ending with a standing ovation celebrating the label’s 20th year in fashion. The impressive upcoming designers who allowed their development of designs take over Fashion Festivals
runway engulfed the audience in creativity and acknowledgement for their achievements at Future Runway with the Costume and Evening Wear categories being the most enthralling. The play between eerie stillness and movement as the room was filled with swirling smoke that created a haunting territory for silk wraps embodying the female form was the celebration of One Fell Swoop’s new collection.
The electric vibe filled air when Telstra Perth Fashion Festival came to a tremendous end after a 12 piece orchestra played, live opera sang and stunning millenary bespoke items galvanised the runway. The exhilarating week of fashion was another experience to remember and I was grateful to be a part of Perth’s fashion festival again this year.
COUNTRY EDITOR, AUSTRALIA: MASTURA KOELMEYER Eurasian by heritage, an Australian born girl who lives in the small but vibrant city of Perth. She is a mother of three beautiful children and a lover of fashion. Usually a full time worker, she juggles the upbringing of her children and her blog, as well as is the Marketing Director of Tulyss Design - an emerging fashion designer shoe label in Australia and Malaysia. Mastura is the avid blogger behind Missy-Lia, which mainly focuses on motherhood, modest fashion and lifestyle.
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@missylia
Fashion
from drab to fab As the season changes, so does our wardrobe. Autumn is tricky though. Some love it, some hate it. Probably because the colors of the season can be rather depressing. But you can always change it up with a little bit of magic. Ok maybe not magic but style and creativity. Here are my tips on looking fab this Autumn.
Written by Nawal Boukir
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You can’t really go wrong with an Abaya. Whether it’s a special occasion with family or brunch with friends, pairing an abaya with your favourite jeans and top is perfect for the chilly autumn weather. This abaya from @aishaexquisitecollections is simple yet modern. The lace detailing gives it an elegant touch. Loose and comfortable; pair it with heels and you’re good to go. 41
I have to say this is now one of my favourite essentials for this season - the long leather skirt. This skirt from Bymerci.com caught my eye from the first moment. The colour matches the autumn weather perfectly, doesn’t it? Plus I can combine it with almost anything. To add that pop of colour, it comes with a gold zipper down the back. It looks great paired with a leather jacket another essential for the autumn season. 42
Fringe is in! And again a perfect companion for your autumn outfit. These are my favourite from Zara. Autumn is a tricky season. Either you love it or you hate it. And if you hate it, then it’s probably because of the cold, the brown drab autumn leaves and this translates to your fashion where you’re all wrapped up in boring brown sweaters. But by adding accents like fringe you can still look fashionable and start to see the season through different lens. 43
While we’re on the topic of changing this season from drab to fab, another colour you can add to your wardrobe to jazz up autumn is yellow. Ok, yes, yellow is more of a Spring colour but if you pick out a darker yellow - something that doesn’t represent the sun then you’re on point. Here’s how I added yellow in my outfit.
THE WRITER: NAWAL BOUKIR My name is Nawal. I am 20 years old. I was born in Barcelona and I live in Spain. I consider myself as a fashion and beauty addict, I love to get lost on the internet searching new inspirations. My roots are in Morocco which is an amazing place to visit! I posts outfits on my instagram and one thing that stands out about me is that I love bright colors that they are usually in my outfits. I love fashion and watching the evolution of fashion.
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Beauty
Autumn
fever
For most of us, the sun has said its final goodbyes, and we are getting ready for fresh mornings, and the leaves at our feet. Although the weather may not be the best, not to worry, I have something that will cheer us all up. Make up of course! And what better way to celebrate the start of a new season than with new makeup fit for autumn. It’s time to die down on the summer glow and rainbow eyeshadow, and time to pull out those earthy eyeshadow palettes and those nude lips. In this article we will be focusing on eyes and lips. Join me to unravel some of my favourite products for autumn time!
Written by Naira Ghanem
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Wouldn’t it be amazing if we had one palette that basically sums up Autumn? Well I’ve found it in Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance. I know everyone has already had their rave about this piece, but I saved it for autumn, there couldn’t be a better time to use it. It has all the shades you want this season from creamy browns, gorgeous beige, to deep pinks and rusty reds. It has some shades that you can’t find in other palettes such as Venetian red, love letter, and red ocre. As well as complementing with essentials such as warm taupe, buon fresco, and burnt orange, take your eyeshadow from basic to a masterpiece. This palette makes eyeshadows so much less of a hassle, where all the colours you need are in one place, not to mention the lush packaging – perfect for a make up addict.
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Another autumn inspiration is the Zoeva – Cocoa Blend Eye Shadow Palette. Extreme creaminess and pigment for such an amazing price! A perfect variety of shades, from the matte base, shimmers in gold, khaki and bronze, with a unique deep purple and pink. Jazzy packaging and colours you can’t find anywhere else, a perfect item for those who love pretty makeup. 47
A little trick: You can increase the pigment by spraying some setting spray on the brush before using the eye shadow. I always use Urban Decay All Nighter Long lasting makeup setting spray. This trick can make even the cheapest eyeshadows very pigmented.
Avoid dramatic winged liner this season, its way to bold for a transitional season (save your eyeliner skills for winter time). Take it easy with a soft smoked out look. You can do this using any black eyeshadow, my personal favourite is Kiko Single Black Eye Shadow 180, which is super pigmented. Line your upper lid and then blend it out, I always add a little more black near the end of my eye to give a slightly winged look. For blending it out I use the angled real technique brush.
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Recently I came across these luxury lashes from Belle Femme Cosmetics. Check them out at bellefemmecosmetics.com.
The shape is made perfect for your eyelid and fixing them on is super easy, inner and outer corners don’t stick out! What more can you want!
They are super wispy and fluffy, and what completes them is the subtle wing effect. You can literally fly away with how voluminous these lashes are.
In terms of lash glue, you need a really strong one for these lashes as the band is quite thick, I always use kiss lash glue which you can buy from any drugstores.
What I loved most about these lashes compared to any other lashes is that they fit onto your lash line very easily. 49
Looking for something a bit different? Try Kiko Super Colour Eyeliner 113. Coloured eyeliners are definitely a way to jazz up any look, especially metallic ones. This super pigmented liner makes application very easy! 50
It can be used as a normal eyeliner, or go for a more glamorous look by applying it to your crease. This shade 113 in particular is my favourite, a metallic brown with a hint of khaki, which can be used with any earth coloured eyeshadows.
Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream - Abu Dhabi A velvety smooth Matte Lip Cream that gives you so much colour, and sets to a matte finish, that doesn’t dry out. It also is very lightweight on the lips and has such a sweet smell.
When thinking of an autumn colour wheel, what comes to mind? For me, all I can think of are autumn leaves. Picture those colours and all the lipstick shades possible. Laura Mercier - Nude Lips The perfect amount of pigment, creaminess and shine. All in one lipstick? No way! A hydrating, plumping and conditioning lip colour that glides on smoothly and evenly delivering a sheer wash of colour with a semi-matte finish. 51
Girlactik Liquid Paint - Posh Apply this richly pigmented lip paint on to your lips and within one minute it will dry down to a beautiful matte color, without the dryness or flaking. What I love about this product is that you can darken the colour by applying another layer on! With Girlactik you get 7.5ML, about twice as more than other brands.
Gerard cosmetics lipstick - 1995 Well known to be an every day , effortless lipstick. This lipstick really represents earthy colours, with its 90s theme. It is matte but creamy, It also wears really well through the day. And most importantly, cruelty free!
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Every season has hit colours and styles, what’s not to love about this season’s earthy feels. What are your favourite products this autumn? Do share! I hope you enjoyed reading this and found it helpful, even just looking at the pretty pallet colours! Winter makeup coming soon! Lots of love,
BEAUTY EDITOR: NAIRA GHANEM Hey I’m Naira, just an ordinary student with big dream! Whether its fashion, make up or daily life, join me on my journey. Whether big or small, we can take on the world, with a pretty face and a pretty heart.
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@naira_gh
Inspire
Muslim Women in Europe Written by Amal El Gharbi Photos by Maaz Khan Photography
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oday, more than ever, Muslim women must speak out and talk about a subject that concerns them closely: their image, their choices, and their perspectives, too... Currently in Europe, there is talk of prohibiting Muslim women to dress in a burkini on public beaches. Beyond any difference, I invite you all to reflect on the seriousness of the events. Where is Europe going? Reversing? 54
As a Muslim woman and as a humanist, I am saddened by these sterile debates about Muslim women. Many politicians are baffled by the scarf and consider it degrading to women and many of them still think that most of the Muslim women are forced to wear it. But is it not even more disconcerting to dictate to these "poor women" how to be and appear in public spaces? Being indignant about something and finally reproduce the same pattern?
Today, being a Muslim woman in Europe is a challenge, an existential question. Am I at the right place? With the best will in the world, am I going to make me accepted as a full citizen with the same rights and duties as my other fellow citizens?
Pain, perplexity and anger animate my being that is hurt in its humanity at a time when so many more serious problems are undermining our society. Peace...
Aamaly
THE WRITER: AMAL EL GHARBI Editor, translator, writer for Peace, born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Aamaly - alias Amal El Gharbi, is passionate about modest fashion and interested in social and women issues. Aamaly mag is a bilingual online space created after an inspirational trip to Canada to share passion for modest fashion, but also insights on women’s conditions, education and society.
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@aamalymag
Inspire
VOCALLY
Endearing “Opinion is the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.” – Bill Bullard
Written by Hanisah Maskon
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T
he other day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I came across a comment from an Instagram user. The comment criticized the Instagrammer’s dress code and stated about how her dressing made her look fat. A friend of the Instagrammer defensively replied to the owner of the comment in an equally critical way. But what was the comment of the Instagrammer? Bless her. She took the comment to her stride and replied gracefully while at the same time seek understanding towards her friend’s comment who only had her interest at heart. It is not easy to take in hurtful comments and then reply diplomatically. I remember about a year ago in my previous workplace, my team had a new department head and there was a clash of work ethics, principles and values. It suddenly came down to having our department head demanding respect and calling us ‘lazy’, ‘being a disgrace to the community’ and stated that no other employer would want to employ us. At that point in time, I was seething with anger. Not so much for myself but for my team. The team and I had gone through so much together, had sleepless nights, had taken in much verbal abuse from our clients and various stakeholders and we did so because of the passion 57
that we had in our line of work. Looking back, I realized that as much as I was angered because of the accusation and the unnecessary words used, I was also disappointed that there was a lack of empathy from the one who was supposed to be a leader.
When we face challenges and our own life turbulences, we often think that the life challenge is “custom-made” for us and other people do not experience it nor understand what we are going through. If our life-experiences are different, do we not then, have different values, habits and life principles because more often than not, our outlook in life is influenced by our life experiences. So why then are we expecting others to see life as we do.
This lack of empathy when a person thinks he/she has the right to voice out his/her opinion without any care, is disturbing. This belief that a person has his/her right to dictate, to be heard and be understood is unsettling. Everyone has their own set of values and beliefs but that does not mean we should be forcing another person to own that same set of values too. Social media has allowed the mass to voice out their thoughts. However, what social media has not taught us, is how to voice out responsibly.
As much as we are looking forward to learn to dress well and look elegant, we should also learn to use words that carry themselves with grace, regardless of the pressures that we face. While we want others to understand us, let us not forget to be understanding to others too. As a reminder to myself as well, may we always speak with sincerity and compassion and may our words always be endearing to others.
THE WRITER: HANISAH MASKON My name is Hanisah Maskon. I’m 26 years old from Singapore. My friends describe me as random and unpredictable. That’s probably true. I had always been fascinated by the human behavior and mind and believe that everyone has a story to tell. I love exchanging thoughts and ideas with people, while balancing it by seeking solitude and seclusion. And I day dream a lot too.
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@hanisahmaskon
Food
TANDOORI CHICKEN SALAD The tandoori chicken salad is paired with red onion pickle, a tomato chutney and mango. You have to try this combination. Even if you are not a fan of tandoori chicken (like my hubby), when you have it with the pickled red onion, the sweet mango and the tomato chutney IT..IS..DIVINE. I ALWAYS make red onion pickle and a mango chutney when I make tandoori chicken and I think you will too once you try the combo. In this salad, I have just used raw mango and made a tomato chutney instead and it works so well!
Written by Safira Adam
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Method
Ingredients For the Chicken 1lb chicken breast (washed) 3 tablespoon tandoori masala powder 2 tablespoon plain yoghurt 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 1 tablespoon oil For the Pickled Red Onions ½ red onion sliced very finely Juice of 1 lime ¼ tsp salt For the Tomato Chutney 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 clove crushed garlic 1 green chilli sliced finely ½ teaspoon brown sugar pinch turmeric 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder ½ teaspoon red chili powder 200g baby plum tomatoes Additional Ingredients 1 mango stoned and sliced into wedges
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Marinade the chicken in all the ingredients listed. Add the oil to a non stick pan and add the chicken. Cook over a medium heat for about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for a further ten minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes and cut into strips. In a small non-stick pan over a medium heat, add mustard seed and once they begin to pop add the garlic and green chili. Allow to cook for 1 minute and add the remaining ingredients. Turn the heat to low, cover the pan and cook for about ten minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down completely and the sauce is thick. Check midway to ensure they aren't catching. In a small bowl combine the ingredients for the pickled onion and set aside.
Assemble On a plate add the mango, chicken and tomato and red onions and enjoy!
Living
A FORGOTTEN
WORLD I’m going to start off this article with simple and cold hard facts. There is an estimate of 143 million to 210 million orphans in the world according to the current research statistics by UNICEF .
Written by Zoya Khan
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hese alarming numbers prove that there are currently a large number of children who have no family members and no one to call their own, who have lost both their parents and many of whom which never knew their parents since birth.
outrageous. Children in numerous developing countries such as Africa, South America, South East Asia, are not given the adequate needs including food, water, warmth during winter, and proper hygiene and care under the institutions responsibility. Many children are neglected and in extreme cases that occur, they are sexually and physically abused by their carers.
While there are those that are under the care of their grandparents or other family members, there are a majority I don’t know how you feel about this as that have no living relatives and no a reader, but I for one feel absolutely place to call home. Children that are helpless, disgusted, pained, grieved, and not only in need of basic rights such as outraged by such treatment, inflicted shelter, food, water, and proper care, upon these children. these children also require a nurturing, “If we all had this empathy Children that educating, and safe and loved for our brother what undergo sexual environment during abuse in many their childhood. we love for ourselves just as Islam teaches us to, the world cases are then forced to be a part The proper would be a much better place” of sex trafficking upbringing and care and child slavery, would pave a future stripping them off their innocence, their with opportunities and possibilities for childhood, their free will, and their the vast number of children as they human rights. rightfully deserve. Early neglect of their learning and development causes them They are given no choice and are to have limited growth emotionally, treated in harsh and unjust conditions mentally, intellectually and in extreme on a daily basis. Imagine that child cases physically. Growing into their teens in foster care and institutions most being our brother, our sister, our own child, our nephew, niece, cousin, or of these children are not given the friend. It upsets me to even think of opportunity to reach their full potential. a loved one being so helpless and for them to be enduring such treatment, The harsh conditions in which many because that is exactly what these children are brought up in some of children are…helpless. these institutions are inexcusable and 62
Reports by the Sate of the World Children show us that an estimate of 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, 2 million of these children the majority being females are sexually exploited in the multi billion-dollar sex industry. Since birth or a very young age these children have been placed in a situation in which they have no control over due to their unfortunate circumstances. They are dependant on complete strangers to take care of them and give them the future they deserve. So when the child is faced with such appalling treatment by the people in whose care they are in, they don’t know any better and are given no other option. Imagine being placed in severe conditions since very early on and being taken advantage of by the very people that have claimed to be responsible and take care of you. I’m left speechless by these statistics and facts, knowing that young children are exploited in such unspeakable ways on a daily basis. Instead of receiving love, nurturing, and the proper care in a safe environment as every single child should, they are stripped off their childhood and innocence by people who falsely claim to take responsibility for them. This is no way to treat any child, let alone any human being. These adversities cause trauma in a child’s mental and emotional state as they are vulnerable and less resilient, 63
which further along causes stress and depression in their life affecting their development. Studies have also shown that 10% -15% of these children commit suicide before they reach the age of eighteen. Not only do children raised in orphanages that treat them harshly have no place of belonging, but their future is also bleak as they are not given many opportunities and are faced with tough choices. At the age of 18, teenagers age out of the system and are turned out by the institution to live on their own. Having no support or role models many of these young people face many hardships living on their own out in the real world for the very first time. Every single day 38,493 children age out of the system. In order to survive many of these young people turn to crime to fend for themselves and make ends meet. Studies by the State of the Worlds Children show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys turn into hardened criminals. These statistics are heartbreaking. Children are exploited and abused in institutions under care as well as the children that are orphaned and live on the streets. There are a vast number of children that fend for themselves on the streets, as 92% of orphans are situated in developing countries due to extreme
circumstances such as poverty and war in their country. Many parents are left with no choice but to relinquish their children to institutions due to these circumstances. In developing countries large numbers of families lack employment and education with no support or welfare systems. According to recent study by Borgen Magazine, each day 39,000 children are forced to leave their home due to violence, family illness, poverty, and war.
Every single child counts and deserves a fair chance. These heartbreaking statistics of the exploitation of innocent young souls that live in institutions, foster care, and those that fend for themselves at a very young age in order to survive on the streets are alarming.
Alarmingly in some parts of Asia the strict population control measures have lead families to leave female children on the streets or at orphanages in the hopes of having a male child.
Our world lacks empathy. We are ignorant to those that are suffering in the world, because it’s not brought to our attention daily. We haven’t widened our minds to the injustice that is taking place in our world. The purpose of this article was to raise awareness of this dire issue and to raise an emotional response from readers, that is filled with empathy and compassion for others.
Orphaned children and the children left to fend for themselves on the streets then work as child slaves to be able to survive and gain access to the basic rights such as adequate nutrition, food, water, and health care. In many cases children work for as little as a $1 a day in factories and mines, enduring long hours and poor working conditions. According to anti child slavery, there are currently 8.2 million children working as child slaves in the world.
We need to broaden our horizons and raise awareness of the injustices taking place in our world, we need to speak up for them and take as much action as we’re capable of to help change the situation. We’re so caught up in our own worlds, we neglect to see what’s happening around us. We can’t change the world entirely but striving to help those in need and changing and saving one life at a time is a push towards the right direction.
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If we all had this empathy and love for our brother what we love for ourselves just as Islam teaches us to, the world would be a much better place. If the instruction in the Quran and Sunnah were to be followed there would be no such thing as poverty in our world. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was an orphan himself, and he said “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in paradise like this,� putting his index and middle finger together (Sahih Al Bukhari, book 78, hadith 36). Wealthy Muslim leaders and Muslim royals have evidently failed humanity as they are capable of doing much more due to their privilege and influence but instead they misuse these blessings by spending money on women, lavish parties, lavish homes and lavish lifestyles. People of power, wealth, and influence have the ability to do so much for those in need, yet there are some that choose to do nothing. You can help orphans and children in need by donating to the reputable sites here.
The money goes to providing these innocent young souls with basic human necessities such as food, water, education, warmth, and health care. The children mentioned in the article are from ages birth to 18 years. Regardless of race, religion, and origin, it does not matter where you are donating as all these innocent children need your support. Humanity comes above all. These children are our future, we need to provide them with our love, support, care, and empathy to raise the next generation and give them a fair chance in life. Humanity is what matters the most in order to change our world for the better.
helpfororphans.org savethechildren.org.au unicef.org.au islamic-relief.org
THE WRITER: ZOYA KHAN I love being a fashion blogger as I have always been passionate about fashion. I also want to show and inspire other women that you can wear the hijab and still be stylish, modest and look amazing.
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Work
THE BATTLE OF THE APPS IG STORIES VS SNAPCHAT Written by Juliana Iskandar
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hen IG announced their new Stories function, the digital geek in me was filled with excitement. Sadly I was among the last of my friends to get it on my app. I was suffering from serious FOMO, I tell you. As I sat and watched my friends play around with this new function I was thinking, “how would this affect Snapchat?” On a side note, I do have snapchat and use it from time to time. But I still haven’t gotten my hands on IG stories yet to make a fair comparison. Then a month later (yes, I waited that long!), tadaaaaa it arrived to my iOS. Like a kid in a candy store I was filled with glee and excitement to start using it. 66
My bubble burst though as I realised there wasn’t much of a difference between the two. Ok I felt the pen in IG stories was fairly smoother than Snapchat’s and the camera quality seemed clearer to me. But meh, pretty much the same sans the fun filters in Snapchat. As with any new app launch I decided to do further research online to see what the experts were saying about it. Gary Vee, for example, on his IG stories said he preferred it over Snapchat and I was struggling to find out why. Perhaps my one-day of using it wasn’t enough to come to a solid conclusion.
I stumbled upon a site that created an info graphic on the difference between the two and which should businesses opt for. As a digital marketer who manages all my clients’ social media, this was definitely for me. One point stood out glaringly at me from the info graphic. It said “Is your target audience under 35? If yes, Snapchat. If no, IG stories.” I was like wait a minute that can’t be. I’m 35 (opps I revealed by age here)! My friends and I use Snapchat. With GAYA magazine, where I’m Editor-inchief, my audience range from 18 to 40 and the use of Snapchat versus Instagram wasn’t based on age at all. I know people who were above 35 and using Snapchat. I found this quite bewildering. So here’s my two-cents. I don’t think age really matters. I think it depends on the TYPE of audience rather than the age of the audience. If you’re a lifestyle brand like my magazine and your audience are fashionistas and fashion bloggers, or even foodies and food bloggers then Instagram would be their hideout. I know for a fact that foodies, when they hit a new restaurant or cafe, they check out food posts on Instagram to decide what to order from the menu. Instagram becomes more of a reference point. I know this for a fact because I do it too.
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So if your brand falls in this category and majority of your audience are on Instagram then I say stick to IG stories. Because driving your audience from IG to Snapchat can be a bitch. You may lose some audience along the way. Since you’ve built and nurtured your audience on IG already, stay there. Before IG stories, I had to toggle between posting on IG and Snapchat when I was at fashion events. It was so annoying not just for me but for my followers as well. Now I can’t wait for my next fashion event to use IG stories. I’m going to take a few more months to play around with this new feature and also wait for the upgrades that will be coming in (at the time this article was written IG Stories have added some new features to rival Snapchat) and I’ll be back to write more and give you more tips on how to use it for your brand. Till then, enjoy building your stories!
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Travel
Muslims Need to Keep Travelling in this Climate of Fear. Here’s why... Written by Atikah Amalina
“I want to travel to the UK too, but I’m scared.” “Scared of what?” “You know. Bombs and stuff. I could die.” “Well, you can die anywhere. Even in your own home.” We were talking about future travel plans but I didn’t know how to resume normal conversation after that. I was in between feeling flabbergasted at such a reasoning, and feeling the need to straighten things out. I understand the sentiment, I truly do, but I believe in a reaction greater than this, and I wanted to say it out loud. 69
Fear is what they want... When I got to know of the Ankara bombings, my heart sank a little. Barely saw the news of the attacks in Ivory Coast. Then Brussels came. And then, Lahore. I’m not sure what an appropriate reaction is anymore. Especially as a Muslim. Do we continue to stand outraged? Do we extend sympathy or try empathy? Do we let out a sigh and hastily move on with life? I understand how the heart can get desensitized and cold to such news, especially when they seem so distant. People care for a while, and then continue with their daily grind.
But if after getting through the initial shock we are still holding on to fear subconsciously or otherwise - then it is very troubling, because fear is exactly what the terrorists want!
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...I have had many women travelers ask me to teach them how to wear the hijab, and I’d gladly oblige...
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Technically, you are more likely to be killed by mundane things than in terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks are organised attempts to sow panic and make terrorists seem more powerful than they really are. Why do we keep giving it to them? I remember being in Manchester during the aftermath of the Woolwich (London) terror attacks, and receiving plenty of emails and texts from well-meaning people who tell me to stay home, to go out only in groups, and to stay away from the public eye for my own safety. But I refused to hide - I still walked to the mosque 10 minutes away from my dorm for evening prayers, I still went to Curry Mile for biryani, and I still wore my hijab proudly to classes. I knew then that that was the time to let love and light shine through, to let others know that the attacks do not define my faith, and to assure them that there is nothing about me to fear. Travel On... In a world where ignorance and terror reign free in the mainstream narrative, it is never a more important time to 70
provide a counter-narrative. The loud language of violence and hate needs to be silenced by a clearer rhetoric of love, understanding and shared humanity. I also believe that there isn’t a better time than now to travel. Travel fosters understanding and empathy for people whose lives are different from us. It opens our eyes (and hearts) to differences, including other cultures and religions. But more importantly, it allows other people to know who we are. They get to see actual people, in
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...So this is something that I have realised ‐ it is important to allow other people in...
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sign of my faith. I carry it proudly, and I strive to carry myself well. Even though my faith is a crucial part of who I am, I am more than just a label conveniently tossed around. I love making connections with others as we make eye contact and indulge in thoughtful conversations and dialogue. I have had people telling me that their perception of Muslim women as being submissive and trodden were shattered after knowing me. One of the best responses I’ve gotten was one after having dinner with some hostel mates: “Hey, you’re really smart. You’re just like the rest of us.”
flesh and blood, instead of the caricature of the ‘Other’ propagated by fearmongers. Keeping behind the safety of our own doors and community isn’t going to be helpful. Insularity isn’t the answer - it’s the reason why and how hardliners come to play in the first place. It’s keeping people ignorant. We need to let others in... As a Muslim woman who travels solo, I am very aware that my hijab (tudung is hijab in the Malay language) is a clear 71
So this is something that I have realised - it is important to allow other people in. Besides travelling, brilliant initiatives such as “Ask a Muslim” and “Islam Awareness Week” (these are normally held in universities) are alternatives that can encourage dialogue and increased awareness. The way other people treat us depends a lot on how we show up... People will naturally mirror our actions. I have learnt that if you are open, friendly and genuine, then other people will treat you the same way. I don’t make my hijab an issue, so they don’t make it an issue. Most of the time, the travellers I meet on the road barely bat an eyelid about my hijab.
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...he handed me a handful of caramelised macadamia nuts and ushered me along to go my own way...
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To them, I am what I am - a fellow traveller, trying to figure things out as I go along. I have learnt that I need to teach people how to treat me, by doing exactly how I would like to be treated. When you greet others with a smile, with an open posture and with a glint in your eyes, you invite others to treat you the same way. When you close yourself off to others, well, people are too caught up in their own lives to bother prying their way in. They fall back on stereotypes and ingrained beliefs. I’m not saying that all is easy and well. I have met people who say to my face to take off my hijab. Once, an elderly man accosted me in a park in Sevilla, but all I could do in shock was to smile and walk away. I had to keep telling myself to send love his way. 72
Barely 5 minutes later, I walked past a stall where the owner motioned to me to come near. All the while having a huge smile on his face, he handed me a handful of caramelised macadamia nuts and ushered me along to go my own way. Despite all the hate and cautious stares I’ve received, I’ve also met so many beautiful souls who see beyond the hijab and embraced my presence. Other people are genuinely interested in Islam... Let’s face it - all the media attention Islam is getting is causing many people to be curious. The hijab is a very real symbol of my faith, and people often get curious. Especially in today’s media-saturated
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...So this is something that I have realised ‐ it is important to allow other people in...
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world, it is not surprising how little people actually know about what Islam truly stands for. Instead of being a hindrance, my hijab has led to many wonderful conversations about faith, religion and humanity. In the common spaces of hostels, I have spoken about Islam with people from different walks of life and of different faiths. Each time, I walk away with a renewed conviction in my faith and a stronger desire to keep learning about it. It has also made me realize the importance of open dialogue. 73
We are, after all, all humans to begin with. I have had many women travellers ask me to teach them how to wear the hijab, and I’d gladly oblige. The wonder in their eyes the very first time they try on the hijab is something I will always hold dear to my heart. Travelling is very much a part of the Islamic tradition – from the Prophet’s travelling for business pre-prophethood to the migration to Madinah, to scholars crossing great distances to learn and to teach.
Imam ash-Shafi’i, one of the four great jurists, believed in travelling for both the body and soul and lauded the benefits of travel in the following poem: The Benefits in Travelling Leave your country in search of loftiness And travel! For in travel there are 5 benefits, Relief of adversity and earning of livelihood, And knowledge and etiquettes and noble companionship Travel therefore is not an anomaly in Islam. There are plenty of verses in the Quran that instruct us to walk the earth, observe His creations, reflect upon past civilisations, and get to know different nations and people. There is a call to acknowledge and appreciate diversity amongst people. Islam does not advocate one culture, nor does it eliminate all forms of culture from its believers.
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. [al-Hujurat: 13] 74
In a world where interaction amongst diverse cultures is becoming the norm, it is unfortunate that divisive lines and prejudice are also becoming more rampant. Instead of getting to know one another and respecting differences, the world is becoming more ill with fear and injustice. So we travel to understand and to learn to respect differences in Creation. This is aptly worded by Mark Twain when he wrote:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” In a world filled with bleakness, we must be brave in shining light. Today, more than ever, I am convinced that we have the power to do what is right, to stand up for the weak, and to always be a blessing to others. “The goal of terrorists is to inspire terror, because that’s all they’re capable of. And the most important thing our societies can do in response is to refuse to give in to fear.” - Paul Krugman, The New York Times So please, keep on travelling. Travel far, and travel wide.
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...Today, more than ever, I am convinced that we have the power to do what is right, to stand up for the weak, and to always be a blessing to others...
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THE WRITER: ATIKAH AMALINA Someone who loves to unravel life’s wonders, TheTudungTraveller, or Atikah Amalina, is a life enthusiast who believes in the power of the mind and soul. Living by Mark Twain’s advice to “‘throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”, she takes on life as a traveller constantly learning new things. She is passionate about inspiring and pushing others to go above and beyond their potential. She writes at www.thetudungtraveller.com
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