EDITOR’S LETTER Salaam battuta readers, and welcome to our sixth issue of battuta, our halal travel e-magazine. One of my happy moments was finding out that our readers will now have access to all our issues in one place. We are officially launching our website, battutamagazine.com, where you can access all our previous magazine issues, our blogs, and our itineraries. Indeed, with every issue, battuta has rightfully executed the goal set for it at the time of conception. It serves as an inspirational and educational platform for all matters related to Muslims and travel. Battuta blossoms this issue with our Team Lead, Dr. Mehmet N. Akkurt updating us about HalalTravels.com’s activities. Our theme for this issue is Africa, and Nadia A. reveals exciting details about the oldest higher education institution in the world, namely Al - Qarawiyyin Mosque and University.
Managing Editor Haifa A Hussein
Um Akram is on a quest to shine the spotlight on Global Muslim companies and inspiring people, and Ramadan Tent Project has taken the limelight this time. Please join me as I welcome our Sister in Islam, Ellie Quinn, who happens to be our featured Influencer. Our Q&A with her is very inspiring. Malak Ouza has some interesting thoughts about Nature. Her article sets the perfect backdrop for our featured story about Halalfriendly destinations in Africa by Sharon Gilbert-Rivett from New World Safaris.
Editor in Chief Mehmet N. Akkurt
Our Food Corner section by Inspire_Ihsan (Excellence) has certainly become sweeter with Heavenly Desserts, the UK’s fastest growing luxury dessert company.
Art Director Vefa Yabanigul
In our Halal Business News section, the HalalTravels Experts unveil the valuable contributions of CrescentRating, credited for developing a system for rating how Halal a hotel is. In addition, Muhtar Emirguliyev, who is always keeping tabs on Halal worthy Tourism News, will share two special ones. Enjoy battuta, our gift to the Muslim world, and stay in touch via battuta@halaltravels.com.
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Managing Editor Haifa Hussein
Graphic Designer Yusuf Tezel Writers Nadia A. Um Akram Inspire_Ihsan Muhtar Emirguliyev Contributors Ellie Quinn Malak Ouza Sharon Gilbert-Rivett
CONTENTS:
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University The story was initiated by the arrival of a Tunisian immigrant of Arab Quraishi descent, called Fatima Al Fihri, to Fez in Morocco.
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Explore a Mystery: Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University
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Spotlight: Ramadan Tent Project
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Q&A with a Muslim Influencer: Ellie Quinn
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Nature Malak Ouza
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Amazing Africa Sharon Gilbert-Rivett
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Heavenly Desserts Inspire_Ihsan (Excellence)
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Halal Tourism Business CrescentRating
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Halal Tourism News Muhtar Emirguliyev
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Spotlight: Ramadan Tent Project The “battuta” Spotlight section always presents noteworthy Muslim companies to our readers. Join us as we celebrate these companies who embark on presenting Islam with Ihsan - in the very best possible way.
G E T I N TO U C H Advertisement & Enquiries hello@HalalTravels.com
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Editorial battuta@HalalTravels.com
General info@HalalTravels.com
Q&A - Ellie Quinn
Our guest influencer for this issue of Battuta is Ellie Quinn ( _equinn ), a digital creator - a travel and lifestyle influencer. Join us as we try to learn more about Ellie.
IN SOCIAL MEDIA @HalalTravelscom
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HalalTravels.com - Company Updates Dear valued readers, Please accept my warmest greetings and thank you for being part of our journey, a journey filled with inspiration, dedication, and gratefulness. As usual, our team has done an incredible job and brought you inspiring content from all over the world. To add to that, I wanted to share some good news and wonderful updates from HalalTravels. With the recovery of the travel industry, HalalTravels assisted Muslim Travelers to visit halal-friendly destinations with a piece of mind. Our well-trained customer agents provided 24/7 support to our customers before, during, and after their travels. Our valued customers praised our efforts on several channels. The feedback we received from you reinforced our plans to further develop our Individualized Customer Service approach. HalalTravels has received 5 stars on Google reviews and 4.4 stars on Trustpilot. We will continue to work hard to provide you with the best service that you deserve. HalalTravels is MashaAllah expanding. Our Headquarters is in the UK, but we have opened regional offices in Istanbul and very soon in Antalya insha’Allah. We have tripled the size of our tech department, and our new website with more user-friendly features will launch within a couple of weeks insha’Allah. So, watch out for a new look and smoother navigation on our website, HalalTravels.com. We have also expanded our inventory of Muslim-friendly accommodations, which means a higher selection of handpicked Halal properties to choose from for the upcoming travel season. We are also making the necessary arrangements to offer one-stop-shop travel services to our valued customers. HalalTravels team will keep working hard to “make travel accessible for all Muslim travelers.” Hope to serve you on your upcoming journey with our one-of-a-kind Hotel and Airport transfer packages. HalalTravels.com’s Team Lead Mehmet N. Akkurt, PhD
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Explore a Mystery: Al - Qarawiyyin Mosque and University By: Nadia A.
Sadaqah Jariyah is a long-term charity that supports people for years to come. This article explores a Sadaqah that has helped Muslims for the past 1162 years. The story was initiated by the arrival of a Tunisian immigrant of Arab Quraishi descent, called Fatima Al Fihri, to Fez in Morocco. Fatima and her sister, Maryam, had lived with their father in the Tunisian city of Kairouan. Still, they fled their hometown when many Arabs were fleeing Cordoba, fearing reprisals after the riots in Cordoba. The father became a very wealthy businessman in Fez. He had raised both his daughters to be religiously devout. They were both well educated in Fiqh and Hadith. Fatima and Maryam had inherited a lot of money from their father. The massive Arab migration to Fez had put a lot of pressure on the existing mosques. Hence, both the sisters decided to build Mosques to give back to the community that had welcomed them and their families. Maryam built a Mosque in Fez called Al - Andalus named after the immigrants who fled Andalusia in the south of Spain. Fatima built a Mosque in 859 AD called Al - Qarawiyyin, named after the immigrants from her home city of Kairouan.
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Al - Qarawiyyin initially focused on religious studies but quickly expanded to include other fields like medicine, logic, math, astronomy, and others.
Fatima had vowed to spend her entire inheritance building a Mosque appropriate for the community she had settled in. Initially, the focus was on the Mosque, which was around 30 meters long, and it had a school or madrasa where Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir were taught. The minaret of the Mosque was towards the rear of the Mosque, similar to the Mosques in Cordoba and Kairouan.
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Explore a Mystery ~ Al - Qarawiyyin Mosque and University
It was soon apparent that the school space was insufficient as it emerged as a place for higher education. Fatima went ahead and bought much of the land surrounding Al - Qarawiyyin. She supervised the construction of the higher educational institution. She didn’t want to appear extravagant, so she requested that the ground be dug deep to see what resources she could find for construction use. Al - Qarawiyyin initially focused on religious studies but quickly expanded to include other fields like medicine, logic, math, astronomy, and others. The diversity of the topics offered and the high quality of education made it very popular with scholars and knowledge seekers from all over the Muslim world. It was so popular that they had to implement strict selection criteria for enrollment. You had to know Arabic, the Sciences, and the Quran by heart to be eligible for acceptance. It also started awarding degrees according to different study levels in various fields. Fatima Al Fihri herself studied here, and her diploma is still on display.
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Fatima hoped Al - Qarawiyyin to be a place where intellectual debates and discussions could take place to progress the teaching and learning process, particularly in the sciences. Al - Qarawiyyin became the center of academic life, attracting Muslims and non- Muslims who sought knowledge. Notable among them is Ibn Khaldun, the father of modern-day Sociology. Mohammed Al Idrisi, the cartographer whose maps were used by the Europeans during the Renaissance period, and Pope Sylvester ll ( 946 - 1003 ), who was highly interested in math and astronomy. Although the different eras were full of many rivalries since its existence, Sultans of various dynasties and periods supported the expansion and continuous growth of the institution well after Fatima. Gifts, subsidies, books, and manuscripts were generously donated to it. As a result, approximately 4000 valuable manuscripts in different fields, including historical copies of the Quran, have been preserved in the libraries located in the primary and side buildings. The Historical Library is open to the public.
Al - Qarawiyyin Mosque and University ~ Explore a Mystery Contrary to common belief, the oldest university is not in Europe. It is actually in Africa, specifically in Morocco. Nevertheless, Europeans were impressed and influenced by the professionalism and structure instituted by Al - Qarawiyyin. The Universities of Bologna in Italy and Oxford in the UK began operating in 1088 and 1096, respectively, following similar operating guidelines like Al - Qarawiyyin, which existed practically over two centuries ago.
Students still sit in a semi-circle around their instructor to receive their educational instructions. Then, they work to achieve diplomas and degrees. The 1990’s saw attendance shrink since many students chose to learn abroad in western countries. However, to this day, it is still operational with students attending from Morocco, West Africa, and Muslim Central Asia.
UNESCO and the Guinness World Records proclaimed Al Qarawiyyin to be “the oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world.” It is such an honor for all Muslims to know that the sincerity and dedication of a Muslim woman led to this worldwide recognition. Al - Qarawiyyin was made part of Morocco’s state education system in 1947. In 1957, it increased its course offerings to incorporate physics, chemistry, and foreign languages. In 1963, it became part of Morocco’s state university system. In 1965, it was officially called the University of Al - Qarawiyyin.
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Explore a Mystery ~ Al - Qarawiyyin Mosque and University In Surah 39:9, the Quran rhetorically asks: “Can they who know and they who do not know be deemed equal?” Knowledge constitutes the heart of Islam and our civilization. The first word revealed to our Prophet PBUH is “Iqraa” or “Read.” To bring about an unprecedented change in our society, we have to seek knowledge, which is prescribed upon every Muslim, male and female. Islamic History is so rich and diverse, and with current levels of technology, information is at our fingertips. Fatima Al Fihri is said to have fasted during the construction period of Al - Qarawiyyin. When it was completed, she prayed and thanked Allah SWT for his blessing. Fatima was married but lost her husband and child and didn’t have any descendants to carry her name. Yet, Allah SWT maintained her legacy throughout the years.
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Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) relates that he heard the Prophet Muhammed PBUH say, “Verily actions are judged by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. ( Hadith Nawawi )
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S POTLIGHT: By: Um Akram
Ramadan Tent Project
The “battuta” Spotlight section always presents noteworthy Muslim companies to our readers. Join us as we celebrate these companies who embark on presenting Islam with Ihsan - in the very best possible way.
For many, the month of Ramadan is associated with fasting and creating a deeper connection with our Lord, Allah SWT, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. In this Spotlight article, we highlight the contributions of a non-profit organization called the Ramadan Tent Project ( RTP ) who took it a step further to show that Ramadan is about intentionally connecting with Allah SWT and the communities that we live in, thereby establishing harmonious relationships wherever we may be and shining a light on the beauty of Islam. It is a breath of fresh air to come across selfless people. Omar Salha, the Founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project, happens to be such a person. In 2013, a fateful Ramadan evening in the UK, a trolley full of snacks and drinks and a group of kind-hearted students extending invitations to international students to join them as they break their fast marks the very beginning of the flagship event, Open Iftar, which has now become the UK’s largest annual community and cultural event in Ramadan.
Omar Salha Founder & CEO Ramadan Tent Project
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Open Iftar is an experience that welcomes anyone regardless of age, race, and faith background. It is free of charge. Sponsorships, grants, and generous donations have allowed RTP to continue on its excellent path. Since its humble beginnings in 2013, the in-person Open Iftar events have allowed over 100,000 people from all backgrounds and faiths to converge and develop relationships over a meal.
Open Iftar is an experience that welcomes anyone regardless of age, race, and faith background.
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Spotlight ~ Ramadan Tent Project
Before the pandemic, Open Iftar was held in over 20 cities across the UK and the world. Some were in iconic locations across London, such as Trafalgar Square, the British Library, Wembley Stadium, Westminster Abbey, and so many more. Free “hot meals” and water were also offered at these in-person events to every guest to break their fast and to help support vulnerable community members. Global Iftar launched during the pandemic and has set a record as the first-ever world’s largest Virtual Iftar. The Virtual Open Iftars were conducted across all five continents within 24 hours to accommodate for time differences. In addition, guest speakers from the different regions were on hand to mark this momentous occasion. It allowed for some deep virtual connections and had a whopping turnout of 250,000 people.
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Ramadan Tent Project ~ Spotlight The mission of RTP is “building bridges of understanding, solidarity, and compassion whilst softening hearts and minds to bring about good relations between people for a more harmonious society,” and this seems to be going from strength to strength, Masha’Allah. Over the past eight years, a total of 350,000 people have affirmed that they believe in creating this feeling of belonging and understanding that they are just one small part of this global village, our planet Earth.
Volunteers are an integral part of many non-profits. To express gratitude to their dedicated volunteers that work tirelessly, RTP has set up a Leadership and Training Academy. This six-month program allows youngsters to develop their leadership and organizing skills to be agents for social change and cohesion within the communities they hail from.
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Spotlight ~ Ramadan Tent Project
In addition, RTP is eventful with its Welcome Ramadan Conference and its RTP podcast - Real Models. Are all the activities limited to the month of Ramadan, you may ask? RTP attempts to instill the spirit of Ramadan throughout the year with the Sunnah fasts of Monday and Thursday, including special fasting days of Arafah and Ashura. In addition, RTP is eventful with its Welcome Ramadan Conference and its RTP podcast - Real Models. However, its significant contribution has to be commissioning research into “belonging, faith, and positive social impact.” With a higher global emphasis on diversity and inclusion, RTP has also taken the initiative to train businesses, corporations, arts & cultural organizations, and nonprofits on the importance of faith engagement.
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Open Iftar events aim to return in 2022 insha’Allah, but the following are some of the ways you can support RTP:
Indeed in a world swamped with negatives, it is constantly refreshing to experience random acts of kindness that eventually evolve into something big. So, praying for more barakah in their future endeavors, we conclude by saying, “In this edition of battuta “Spotlight,” the Ramadan Tent Project ( RTP ) stole our hearts.”
1. You can follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @openiftar and @ramadantent. 2. You can donate all year round or even set up a monthly payment via their website www. ramadantentproject.com/donation. 3. You can always check out their latest work and / or events by going to https://www. ramadantentproject.com/our-work/ What started as being courteous to students living far away from home has evolved to provide a safe space where people meet, eat together, and celebrate their differences.
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Q&A Ellie Quinn Our guest influencer for this issue of Battuta is Ellie Quinn ( _equinn ), a digital creator - a travel and lifestyle influencer. Join us as we try to learn more about Ellie. Ellie, welcome! We are all so curious to know more about you. Please feel free to introduce yourself more to our readers. Hello! Thank you for having me as your guest influencer for this issue! I’m 31 years old, I’m from the UK and although I grew up between the Midlands and South Wales, I am now living in Manchester.
‘‘I am an 11 year travel addict and I managed to turn my passion for travel and sharing my travels into my job.’’ I have worked for myself travel blogging full time since 2018 which I still have to pinch myself about sometimes! My blog is called The Wandering Quinn and my travel Instagram account is @thewanderingquinn. I became Muslim in 2020, Alhamdulilah and I’ll talk about this more later as travel had a huge impact on this decision. I love visiting new places, even if that is an area near my home I haven’t been to before, and I am a lover of the small, beautiful things and moments in life.
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The HalalTravels Team believes traveling starts with inspiration. How about you, when did you start traveling, and what inspired you to travel? I did my first big trip in 2010 when I was 20 years old. In my late teens I was desperate to get out of where I was living in the UK and see more! Back then social media wasn’t that big so I only knew of a few people who had travelled via Facebook and I was so amazed by the places they were visiting which were mainly Australia and South East Asia, and I used to order lots of travel magazines to browse through. On 1st January 2010, I remember thinking that I didn’t want to spend another summer in the UK, I wanted to do something fun and memorable! I searched Google for ‘how to work abroad’ and Camp America appeared. This seemed perfect for me, it was the chance to go far away to the USA, (a dream place to me then after all the American TV I grew up watching!), a chance to work and earn money so I didn’t need to save as much, and a chance to do it with a company so it was all organised and I was supported. I applied that day, got a confirmed placement a few weeks later and I started that summer teaching Horse Riding at an all girls summer camp in North Carolina.
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Q&A ~ Ellie Quinn
This experience really opened up my eyes and gave me the travel bug. Especially after backpacking some of the USA after I finished Camp. I loved visiting these huge cities and was happy and confident travelling by myself and staying in hostels which opened up a lot of possibilities for me. A year later after working at home and saving money, I went to Thailand for a month which made me fall in love with South East Asia, then I started my working holiday visa in Australia which quickly turned into 2 years working and living there!
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How many countries have you visited so far? Any favorites, and do you still get excited every time you are about to travel? I’ve been to 61 countries. Most of them I’ve been to just once but Thailand, India and Indonesia are countries I have returned to multiple times. I really love South East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East! I still get excited before I start to travel, yes. Depending on the trip, I do also get nervous, especially if I’m travelling on my own but I do really love the mixed feeling of excitement and nervousness. I really hope that feeling never stops.
When did you start blogging? Have you blogged about all your trips? Any essential travel tips that you would like to share with our readers? I started blogging in 2014 documenting my first trip around South East Asia after living in Australia. I was using travel blogs to help me plan this backpacking trip, they helped me so much that I decided I wanted to share my experience to help others too. Unfortunately I didn’t start out on the right platform so they didn’t get read by many people and it wasn’t until 2015 that I started to learn how to actually write a blog so it will be viewed by readers through Google.
Q&A ~ Ellie Quinn
My biggest travel tips are to pack as light as possible, even though I know it’s incredibly hard! I am a huge fan of planning and researching but many of my best and most memorable experiences have come from surprise moments so I do encourage people to not over-plan and to leave room in the itinerary and trip for something spontaneous to happen. I am a big fan of hostels and I’ve met so many amazing people in them. Hostels offer good value accommodation with friendly and helpful staff and they are a brilliant chance to meet other travellers. These days hostels are pretty fancy so I encourage people to forget any negative stories or opinions of hostels they have and give it a go next time to travel, even if it’s within your home country!
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Covid 19 travel restrictions have allowed you to discover the United Kingdom more. Any surprises? I have really enjoyed seeing more of the UK this year and it has made me love Wales even more. I’ve done so many hikes in South and North Wales this year and visited so many beautiful beaches, I also didn’t realise what a diverse city Cardiff was and I really recommend it for a UK city break.
Ellie Quinn ~ Q&A
Do you prefer flying or going on road trips? What are your travel plans for the rest of the year and 2022 insha’Allah? I haven’t done that many road trips, especially outside of the UK as I’ve never been confident driving by myself abroad and the cost is usually more, so I’d say that I prefer flying. There are many big countries like Canada and New Zealand that I’d love to road trip around in the future though!
My upcoming plans over the next few months are to visit a few countries in Europe as travel from the UK starts to open up. I’m going to Norway this week and hope to visit some countries like Spain, Morocco and Turkey again soon inshaAllah. Right now I’m not planning any trips much further than Europe but I hope that the end of 2022 will open up that possibility.
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In addition to your various travels, I know you have embarked on a spiritual journey. Tell us more about your journey to Islam? Did the countries you visited have any impact on your decision to become Muslim?
Yes, I’ve been on quite a journey recently in more ways than one. I became Muslim in August 2020 Alhamdulilah. My travels definitely impacted this and enabled me to learn more about Islam. I’ve always loved visiting Mosques when I’ve travelled and for many years I’ve loved Muslim Countries but it wasn’t until I went to Saudi Arabia as a tourist at the start of 2020 that I got interested in learning about Islam as a religion. I loved seeing people in Saudi stop everything to pray and after living with a Saudi family for a few weeks I felt like I saw Islam in practise which is something I hadn’t seen before.
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Ellie Quinn ~ Q&A
Madinah really made me interested in learning more and not long after my visit the Pandemic started. I was in Indonesia on an island that I loved called Gili Trawangan, it’s actually an Islamic Island and I ended up staying there for 4 months during the start of Covid and the first lockdown. It was a great place to learn about Islam as I had a mosque outside my villa and could hear the Adhan 5 times a day, and as a travel blogger, my work came to a halt which gave me time to learn. I fasted for Ramadan in these 4 months, learnt to pray and left Indonesia knowing I wanted to do my shahada which I did a few months later back in the UK in London Central Mosque.
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...I wanted to do my shahada which I did a few months later...
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Whilst I was in Jeddah, I decided to go to Madinah as I saw online that non-Muslims could go, so at the last minute I got on a coach from Jeddah to Madinah and spent 2 days seeing Madinah which had a huge effect on me. It was amazing seeing Muslims from all around the world in one place and Madinah does have such a serene feel to it.
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Q&A ~ Ellie Quinn How has the journey been? Exciting or challenging? Congratulations on your engagement, by the way! Masha’Allah, we wish you all the very best. The journey has been really lovely, Alhamdulilah. I do feel lucky that Covid gave me the chance to spend time learning and researching. I had some Muslim friends to turn to and ask questions to but because of the situation of not being able to meet people, I didn’t have any outside opinions or pressures on me which I still really appreciate. I started my second Instagram account @_equinn in September 2020 after doing my Shahada and moving to Istanbul for a few months. Via this channel I have met and connected with so many amazing women who have really helped me, supported me and given me a sense of community even though it has been online up until now. I know a lot of New Muslims feel lonely but I haven’t had that thanks to an online community. I did get engaged recently, yes, thank you! I am excited to start this new chapter with him living in Manchester and going on trips together, inshaAllah, as he loves to travel too!
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Ellie Quinn ~ Q&A
“When I started this journey I was aware that I didn’t want to suddenly change into a new person, I still wanted to be myself but with different beliefs and Alhamdulilah, I feel like I have done this well.” I get comfort in the Hadith that says, “the most beloved of deeds to Allah SWT are those that are most consistent, even if it is small.” (Bukhari) Have you experienced the happiness associated with taking these small, consistent steps along this beautiful journey?
Therefore, when I started this journey I was aware that I didn’t want to suddenly change into a new person, I still wanted to be myself but with different beliefs and Alhamdulilah, I feel like I have done this well. I have made changes slowly and I have noticed how my mind has changed a lot too in the last year which I thank Allah for.
That is a really lovely Hadith and I can really relate to it. Whilst I was looking into Islam I watched and read many revert stories and realised that many reverts come to Islam and suddenly change their lives - how they dress, how they socialise, how they are around their family and non-Muslim friends, and often this can result in loss of identity.
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Q&A ~ Ellie Quinn I know you are currently on a “seacation” onboard a cruise, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to respond to our questions. Any final thoughts you would like to share? Thank you! The cruise has been really wonderful although it has left me wanting to look into Halal Cruise options so inshaAllah I will experience this soon! Like you, I am just a huge advocate of travel. I think it opens our mind in such a lovely way, enhances our character and gives us a wider understanding of the world, as well as many beautiful memories. I understand many people are worried about travelling and if that is you, I really encourage starting small, for example going on a trip in your own country to a new city first to build confidence, then visit a country closer to home. I also know a lot of people don’t travel as they don’t want to travel alone and don’t have friends or family to go with. In this case I really recommend group tours! I love group travel and group tours because they offer full support before and on the trip, and best of all, pre-made friends! Before Covid, I started running group trips for women in India and I plan to continue these when the situation improves inshaAllah so be sure to follow me for updates on this if you want to travel with me and an amazing group of women!
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NATURE By: Malak Ouza
Salam/Hello beautiful souls, I first want to state I hope you all are doing well… I know it hasn’t been the easiest year for many of us, if not all! Which brings me to my next topic … grounding & nature.
Oh, the beauty of being in nature, it’s something I can’t describe. Being a solo traveler myself ( 30 plus countries and 26 plus states in the USA ), I always find myself wanting to explore outside, whether it’s hiking or a simple adventure in nature. Not only is being in nature soothing to the eye but also soothing to the soul. Nature is truly healing in many ways.
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Truly, find what works for you. Is it the forest? The ocean? Mountains? Something else? Explore a new spot each time until you find your happy place. Maybe it’s a little bit of all, and that’s amazing too! I also want to introduce you to something called grounding. Grounding is also known as earthing. It’s a therapeutic method that includes activities that “ground” or connect you to mother earth. According to HealthLine.com, “this practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on your body.” Grounding can include gardening, walking barefoot on grass, cement, sand, swimming, etc. Grounding is known to help reduce pain, stress, depression, and fatigue, just to name a few!
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NATURE
I want to leave you with something I recently wrote that was inspired by nature: Strong Like the mountain, gentle like the sea, best of both worlds & despite the season she’s in, she is complete, like the moon. #WordsByMalak aka #KalamMalak All in all, if this tells you anything, it’s go outside, take a walk, even if it’s five minutes, let the sun bask your skin, enjoy it, and visualize the future you want while soaking in God’s beauty! SubhanAllah, it all serves a purpose.
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NATURE Peace & love from your soul sister & fellow citizen of the world & remember, through our journey, we empower and inspire others. Malak Ouza *Lets Connect* » Instagram » Facebook » Sign up for occasional high vibe content, . tips, resources, and more here!
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Amazing Africa!
A guide to Muslim-friendly Safaris By: Sharon Gilbert-Rivett New World Safaris
Filled with mystery and magical adventure, Africa is so much more than iconic wildlife and incredible landscapes... Forget everything you’ve ever been told about Africa. It’s mysterious, mesmerizing, and incredibly beautiful, with fascinating cultures and jaw-dropping wilderness areas. There is so much to discover as an intrepid Muslim traveler and even more to enlighten and enjoy. So you need an open mind and a blank page on which to write Africa’s unique stories. If you’re keen to take the plunge and plan a trip to Africa, there’s no better place to start than the traditional home of the Safari - Kenya. With a 10% Muslim population, Kenya is accustomed to being Halal-friendly.
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From the vast, sweeping plains of the Masai Mara to the powder-fine white sands of its coastline, it’s both possible and relatively easy to have a Halal vacation that takes in the best this country has to offer.
So you need an open mind and a blank page on which to write Africa’s unique stories.
Neighbouring Tanzania is just as beautiful as Kenya, and with a large Muslim population, it’s most definitely Halal-friendly. Kenya’s intimate tented safari camps and luxury lodges with superlative levels of one-on-one service and exemplary attention to detail make exploring the African wilderness a breeze. The Masai Mara, of course, is the prime wildlife viewing destination and home to one of the wonders of the natural world - the Great Wildebeest Migration, which happens each year from the middle of July to roughly the end of August. Further north, on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, the Laikipia region is renowned for its outstanding game viewing and breathtaking landscapes, as well as the chance to visit traditional Masai and Samburu homesteads and find out more about these interesting tribal cultures and their traditions.
Combining a traditional safari with a few days on Kenya’s beautiful coast is the perfect way to end your trip. The port city of Mombasa is the gateway to Kenya’s gorgeous coastline, with an array of wonderful resorts and hotels dotted along some of Africa’s most alluring beaches, lapped by the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Neighbouring Tanzania is just as beautiful as Kenya, and with a large Muslim population, it’s most definitely Halal-friendly. Tanzania’s history with Arabic traders and merchants dates back to the early 800’s AD, and in the 10th century, the Kilwa Sultanate was established here.
Private safari guides are readily available to allow a personalized experience that can be tailored to meet your needs, and many lodges offer luxury suites and villas with their own exclusive swimming pools and facilities.
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Amazing Africa!
When it comes to pristine wilderness areas, look no further than the Serengeti, which shares the Great Wildebeest Migration with the Masai Mara over the border in Kenya. The wildebeest gather from May to July each year before moving across the Mara River to fresher pastures, shadowed by predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Tanzania is also home to the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera - the renowned Ngorongoro Crater - which has developed its own unique ecosystem and is home to incredible wildlife and sensational vistas. Combine both on one safari, and you can tick two of Africa’s biggest “bucket list” safari experiences on a single trip! A good selection of Tanzania’s safari camps and lodges are geared towards meeting the needs of Halal travelers, from offering 100% Halal food to intimate, private suites and villas that are perfect for both couples and families traveling together. As with Kenya, private safari guides with private open game vehicles mean you can tailor your safari experience to meet Halal requirements. There’s something very special about prayers said in the African wilderness, surrounded by the Creator’s finest work. It’s a faith-affirming experience that’s not to be missed.
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When it comes to beach escapes, Tanzania’s coastline is dotted with picture-perfect tropical islands, complete with swaying palm trees and deserted white sand beaches. The biggest of these is Unguja, known across the world as Zanzibar. Zanzibar has a rich history dating back to the 25th century BC when evidence shows it was an Assyrian trade hub. By the 1st century AD, it was known by Arab traders from the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf. It was in the 6th century AD when the first African settlers arrived and made the island their home. By the 10th century, Zanzibar had become a thriving trade hub, with a strong Arabic influence that continues to color Zanzibari culture to this day.
Amazing Africa!
Colonized by the Portuguese in the early 1500s, in the mid 16th century Zanzibar fell under the control of the Sultanate of Oman before becoming a British protectorate in 1890. Zanzibar is now an autonomous region that falls under the auspices of Tanzania. Some 95% of its population is Muslim. This diverse history is best explored in the ancient city of Stonetown, Zanzibar’s capital. Take a tour back in time as you discover the roots of the spice trade that put the island on the map, visiting vibrant markets where spice is still sold and absorbing the unique atmosphere of this cultural melting pot.
Zanzibar is perhaps best known for its stunning coastline surrounded by pristine coral reefs. It’s this coastline that attracts travelers from across the world who come to experience the soft white sands and crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. With some truly exceptional beach resorts as well as private islands like Mnemba to choose from, visitors to Zanzibar are spoiled for choice. The Indian Ocean that laps the shores of Zanzibar is also home to some of Africa’s bestloved offshore destinations - the idyllic islands of the Seychelles and Mauritius.
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Amazing Africa!
The islands of the Seychelles are renowned across the world for their immaculate white sand beaches, perfect azure seas, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. Some 1600km from the Kenyan coast, the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles include some of the most recognized images of “paradise” on our planet. The largest island is Mahé, home of the island nation’s capital of Victoria - voted one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. Along with Praslin, Silhouette, and La Digue, Mahé is the center of tourism in the Seychelles and its main travel hub from where you can reach all of the outlying islands. Seychellois culture is a curious mixture of French, British and African influences, and while French and English are official languages because both nations once colonized the islands, Seychellois Creole is the
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most widely spoken native language. Indeed, the Creole culture has given rise to the fabulous flavors and rhythms of Seychellois food and music. The islands of the Seychelles are renowned across the world for their immaculate white sand beaches, perfect azure seas, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. Some of the best hotel brands in the world have built outstanding resorts on the main islands of Mahé and Praslin, all of which offer intimate, romantic, and exclusive accommodation options that make them perfect for the Halal traveler.
Amazing Africa! Further south, the island of Mauritius has an equally chequered history and heavy influences from both France and Britain as colonizing nations. A culturally diverse island with some of the most beautiful beaches and dramatic, volcanic landscapes to be found off mainland Africa, Mauritius is home to some exceptional resorts and hotels and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most family-friendly vacation destinations as well as being one of its most romantic for couples and newlyweds. Its capital city, Port Louis, is a vibrant commercial center and a snapshot of the island’s history, with its covered, souk-like market a nod to the early Arab traders who discovered the island in 900 AD. With bustling tourism centers like Grand Baie, Flacq, and the stunning Le Morne Peninsula, the choices of where to base yourself in Mauritius are endless. To help you with your African travel plans, HalalTravels.com have partnered with New World Safaris - a South Africanbased destination management company that specializes in tailoring itineraries across Africa and the Indian Ocean islands for discerning travelers. So get in touch with us via reservation@halaltravels.com to find out more about Africa and your Halal travel options!
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HEAVENLY DESSERTS By: Inspire Ihsan
Are you craving some sweet and heavenly delights? A new way to treat yourself and your loved ones has emerged from Birmingham - UK with franchises in different parts of the UK ( 40 stores ) and very soon internationally in the USA, Canada, Hongkong, Denmark, and Pakistan insha’Allah. Heavenly Desserts was established in 2008 by Mohammad Imran and Yousif Aslam. With a strong background in the Food & Beverage and Retail sector, the founders identified the need to create an excellent social venue offering Halal desserts & drinks in a family-friendly environment. 2008 is associated with the Great Recession that hit the world, and Heavenly Desserts were not immune to its effects. However, doing whatever you do with Ihsan ( Excellence ) pays off. Passion, Creativity, Authenticity, Perfection, Meticulousness, and Dedication are their recipes for success as the fastest-growing Dessert restaurant company. The menu includes products such as Waffles, Tarts, Pancakes, Crepes, Cake Creations, Kunafah, Mochi, Gelato, Fondue, Custard, Sundaes, Artisan Tea & Coffee, Milkshakes, Smoothies, and Mocktails, but prepare to be amazed at the art that is displayed on your plate. Pure luxury and finesse that melts in your mouth.
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With a 25 page menu, it is best to download their app and earn exclusive offers and rewards. Heavenly Desserts view themselves as Playful Artists committed to bringing a smile to all their patrons with trendy styles. Their playfulness and fun vibes are reflected in their menu items. To mention a few: 1. 2. 3. 4.
I’ll Have What He / She’s Having One Last Time… I Promise Sinful! But Oh So Heavenly Secret Sensations
You can also create your own style of artisan dessert by mixing and matching your base, sauces, and toppings. With plans to be the No. 1 Dessert brand restaurant across the globe, it is apparent that they strive to take everyone’s interest to heart. With Vegan & Gluten-Free options and a choice to dine in or take away these “Handcrafted, Artisan Desserts,” you decide how and where to enjoy these “Heavenly Desserts.” On top of all the sweetness, you will feel good spending your money here knowing that a percentage of the profits goes to charitable causes like providing clean drinking water. Islam encourages entrepreneurship, and Heavenly Desserts provides an opportunity to have a piece of the “pie” through franchising. Fairness, transparency, and “both sides win” are the principles we expect all Muslim companies to uphold, and Heavenly Desserts does not disappoint in this regard. In addition, depending on capabilities and performance, a franchisee can enjoy a sweet Return on their Investments. So, suppose you have what is necessary, then it may be time to join Heavenly Desserts and allow Muslims to indulge in this pure delight worldwide. Well, I am craving some “heavenly desserts” right now. :) Till next time insha’Allah, stay blessed.
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Halal Tourism
BUSINESS CrescentRating By: The HalalTravels Experts
It is so common to mention a hotel by specifying what “star” hotel it is, but did you know that Muslims also have a rating system to identify how Muslim-friendly an entity is? Necessity happens to be the mother of all inventions, and this necessity triggered the establishment of CrescentRating. As a corporate executive for a multinational company, Fazal Bahardeen traveled a lot over the years. However, the hospitality industry, in general, did not know how to cater to a growing segment of Muslim travelers like him. In the past, many people experienced difficulty primarily in finding Halal food in different countries. Still, in 2006, he decided to do something about it, and the idea of developing a system to rate hotels slowly started to “take root”.
Fazal Bahardeen Founder & CEO CrescentRating
The domain “crescentrating.com” was registered in early 2007, but it became an entity by 2008. During this time, Fazal undertook a lot of research to replicate the “star” rating system, but with criteria relevant to Muslims. The initial objective when the company started was to develop an algorithm that would rate the Muslim friendliness of hotels on a scale of 7 by analyzing the services offered at the hotel. Let us fast forward to 2021, and we will see how CrescentRating has evolved with changes in the market and specific demands from the Halal industry. Rating hotels has now become a tiny portion of what CrescentRating does. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss their product line.
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“
However, the hospitality industry, in general, did not know how to cater to a growing segment of Muslim travelers like him.
”
We can categorize CrescentRating’s services into three groups: 1. Education & awareness: involves educating and enhancing the know-how of the Halal market to all stakeholders with leveled courses offered through their training academy. CrescentRating also publishes periodic research publications & reports and organizes Halal and Travel related events.
b. CrescentRating partners with higherlevel institutions and relevant government entities to conduct research & analysis. For instance, Murdoch University in Australia participated in the study of the millennial Muslim market. Depending on projects, they are willing to partner with other organizations to collect data and analyze them. Approximately 3 - 4 reports are published annually.
a. The training and certification courses have three levels. Level 1 programs are self-learning programs that are entirely online. Levels 2 and 3 were in-person programs. However, due to the pandemic, Level 2 is also offered online. Level 3 was temporarily halted but will resume shortly insha’Allah. Level 1 and 2 programs train service providers and managers to be able to cater to Muslim travelers. Level 3 programs are the Executive programs offered to top management. It is a 5-day comprehensive program held in Singapore with top academicians.
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Halal Tourism
BUSINESS 2. Capacity and capability building: involves research and consultancy for hospitality companies, tourism boards, and even countries. The rating services are also incorporated here. What started as rating hotels has now expanded to include restaurants, airlines, malls, hospitals, travel agents, activities, spas, attractions, ferries, and, more importantly, countries. a. Country-wide rating: The Global Muslim Travel Index looks at approximately 40 data points to rank countries on how Muslim Friendly they are. This joint Mastercard CrescentRating publication released annually is targeted at governments to prepare their country better to welcome Muslim travelers. The initial report ranked ten countries, and now it incorporates and ranks more than 140 countries. b. Hotel ratings: based on seven levels, this rating is valid for one year. It is a subscriptionbased model, so you must undergo an annual inspection of your services to renew your halal star ratings. The rating methodology hasn’t changed much since the Muslim traveler requirements identified initially hold today too. CrescentRating carries out the onsite audits in collaboration with their local representatives or the respective Governments. During the pandemic, the audits were held virtually via video calls. c. Travel touchpoint service ratings: each business segment, facility, or establishment to be accredited has a different set of rigorous criteria to meet.
“What started as rating hotels has now exp hospitals, travel agents, activities, spas, attract
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3. Destination marketing: involves developing, distributing, and promoting digital content for different destinations and creating Muslim visitor guides. The Halal industry has made significant strides since 2008. Before this time, there was not much awareness of this market or its importance. However, halal consciousness has grown amongst the Muslim community, especially in countries where Muslims are a minority. Despite there being many positive trends in terms of the Halal market growth, unfortunately, there still is a lot to be desired to make this market segment sustainable with enough consumers looking for this particular service. Countries in the Middle East believe that everything they provide is halal, so there is no need to bring some level of benchmarking or rating to enhance their services. However, Muslim majority countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan realize that they have a Muslim majority. Therefore, they are Muslim friendly, yet they stress the importance of the Halal industry and feel that benchmarking and rating encourages establishments to “up their game” in terms of the facilities and services that they offer to Muslim visitors. Over time, thanks to the efforts of CrescentRating, Muslims are starting to understand what countries are offering them better facilities. The exciting surprise is to see countries with a Muslim minority like Singapore, Taiwan, etc., put in an extra effort to enhance their services in anticipation of the growth of the Halal Tourism market.
panded to include restaurants, airlines, malls, tions, ferries, and, more importantly, countries.”
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Halal Tourism
NEWS By: Muhtar Emirguliyev
Halal Certificate Application Made Easy in Malaysia Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh, Director-General of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), says the belief that applying for halal certification is complicated, time-consuming, and expensive is wrong. So far, 3,117 indigenous companies have obtained Malaysian halal certifications, and they are still active. Speaking at a virtual roundtable meeting with Entrepreneur Mentoring agencies, Abdul Aziz stressed that businesses that meet the certification requirements have their applications successfully processed in less than 30 days. According to Abdul Aziz, Jakim worked with the State Islamic Religious Departments to promote Malaysia’s Halal industry, especially indigenous entrepreneurs. The development of small and micro-enterprises with Malaysian halal-certified product packages was a result of this coordination. Setting up correct information channels and giving appropriate guidance will be vital to promote the development of the halal industry and boost Malaysia’s halal certification in the global Muslim sphere.
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Halal Food Tourism in the Philippines The Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT) has launched a Halal Culinary Tourism video series to exhibit Mindanao’s unique culinary discoveries and experiences. You can view the video series available on the Department’s social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. According to the Tourism Secretary, Berna Romulo Puyat, the development of Halal Culinary Tourism aims to promote Mindanao’s culinary heritage and the destinations found in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of BARMM (Muslim Mindanao). This video series highlights Halalcertified and Muslim-friendly businesses across Mindanao. The Government’s commitment to promoting the Philippines as a Muslim-friendly and Halalfriendly country is portrayed in the Secretary’s words where he says, “Halal, which means “permissible” is something that is clean and good for your health. Halal is not exclusive to Muslims. It is for everybody.”
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2021
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