battuta Halal Travel Magazine | August 2022 by Halal Travels

EDITOR IN CHIEF Dr. Mehmet N. Akkurt

MANAGING EDITOR Haifa Hussein

ART DIRECTOR Vefa Yabanigul

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Yusuf Tezel

GET IN TOUCH Advertisement & Enquiries hello@HalalTravels.com Editorial battuta@HalalTravels.com General info@HalalTravels.com

EDITOR’S LETTER Salaam, and welcome to our ninth issue of battuta. Every battuta issue is unique to us, but this one was extra special. After getting approval for this issue in April, I was ready to move forward as usual. But my once-predictable plans—like all of yours—slowly started to change as we moved into May. I had to postpone some of the features and even cancel some. Once the dust settled, it was time to refocus and take a different perspective since the positives always outweigh the negatives. Humans plan, and Allah swt plans, and indeed He is the best planner. Looking at all the pieces coming together now, my reaction was Alhamdulilah. I wouldn’t have this issue any other way. Inspiration and sincerity are at the heart of what we do at battuta. This content represents conversation starters that teach us more about life. I dedicate this issue to those who contributed to it, namely Karim C. Benvenuto, Stefano Valente, Arianna Francese Chiappetta Italy Muslim Friendly Network, Ali Mohammed Ali Al-Harazi (A.M.A.A.H) Designs, Hussein Musa - PaliRoots, Kuhyar Karimian ( Ku ) - The Sound of Reason, Madiha Saeed, MD - HolisticMom MD, Mamadou Ndiaye & Diane de Saint Chamaran - Wasabih, Aatif Majid & Shabana Kausar - Halal Expo London, Isra Amin, Um Akram, Muhtar Emirguliyev, our HalalTravels Experts and the battuta team. Thank you. Enjoy, and I hope to cyber meet you in our battuta community on battutamagazine.com Insha’Allah. Haifa Hussein Managing Editor

SOCIAL MEDIA

@HalalTravelscom

Dear valued readers, On behalf of the HalalTravels family, I want to thank you all for your continuous support and interest in the fantastic work accomplished by the HalalTravels team. I also want to thank the Battuta team since Battuta has served as an outlet that keeps allowing us to share our journey with you. The HalalTravels team continues to grow to provide you with the best service possible. New members have recently joined our marketing, operations, and software development efforts and are excited to serve our valued customers. We are forever grateful for our new and returning customers. This year, our reservations have significantly increased as predicted Alhamdulillah. We are honored to continue to assist Muslim travelers in finding hand-picked halal hotels. HalalTravels closely follows the travel trends, and to respond to the need of our customers, we have increased the number of city hotels available on our website. We also increased the number of exclusive contracts we have with popular hotels so that we may provide you with the best rates possible. Let me conclude by sharing more exciting news. We are thrilled to announce that HalalTravels’ mobile app with car rental and flight booking features will commence operations in 2023. Be on the watch for this exciting announcement. Thank you for being part of HalalTravels’ journey. Safe travels. Mustafa Selitektay CEO, HalalTravels

CONTENTS:

Amir Shakib Arslan Mosque Explore the intricate geometry and the spiritual symbolism embedded in this award-winning Mosque.

Spotlight: PaliRoots A

multi-million

dollar

start-

Islamic Architecture From Around The World: Amir Shakib Arslan Mosque

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Southern ITALY

Travel in Style A.M.A.A.H Designs

SPOTLIGHT: PaliRoots

Traveler’s Trivia:

Q&A with a Muslim Influencer Kuhyar Karimian

Food Corner Madiha Saeed, MD.

Reflections Isra Ibrahim

Halal Tourism News The Maldives Floating City Project

Halal Tourism News Halal Expo London

Halal Business News Wasabih

up nominated for 2022’s Top 100 Muslim start-ups by The Center for Global Muslim Life has the words “Success goes hand our

hand

with

serving

community

and

serving

the world” inscribed on their webpage. Come along to learn more…

Q&A - Kuhyar Karimian

Our guest influencer for this issue is Kuhyar Karimian, most popularly

We have shared some links but Battutamagazine.com is only responsible for its own “content” and not the information, content or product(s) found on third party web sites.

known as Ku, from the Music group, The Sound of Reason.

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

ARSLAN O

B y :

M u h t a r

Explore the intricate geometry and the spiritual symbolism embedded in this award-winning Mosque. Amir Shakib Arslan Mosque does not follow the usual Cube, Dome, or Minaret aspect of typical Mosque construction. Its design conveys a much lighter and more modern expression of a Mosque’s traditional architectural typology. The Chief Designers, Makram el Kadi, and Ziad Jamaleddine embarked on a journey of studying sacred Islamic architecture in 2013. Never in their wildest dream did they imagine that they would be allowed to build a Mosque two years later until a client walked in requesting them to construct a small Mosque of 100 m2 in Moukhtara, a village with a Muslim minority in the southeast of Beirut, Lebanon. During their study, they were impressed with how Mosques served as a bridge between the sacred spiritual interior space and the exterior space representing everyday life. The generalized view that a Masjid or Camii means a gathering place was a good starting place for these two architects tasked with converting an existing cross-vaulted space into a Mosque.

E m i r g u l i y e v

SYMBOL ISM EMBEDD ED I N TH IS AWA RD -WI N N IN G MOS QU E.

EXP LORE TH E I N TRI CAT E GEO MET RY AN D THE S PIR ITUAL

The project consisted of renovating a hillside structure consisting of 2 floors: a ground floor built in the 18th century and the top floor at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to adding a Minaret, the main challenge for these architects was ensuring the Mosque’s orientation aligned with Mecca. They did this by adding a new skylight that illuminates the direction towards the Kaaba, fixing the carpeting, and adding an angular external white steel structure that partially covers the existing stone building. On top of this steel structure, which serves as a Minaret, you can see the word “Allah” written in a pixelated pattern symbolizing Divine presence in the vast sky. On the bottom, at ground level, you can see the word “Insan” or “human” inscribed in Arabic. The symbolism is not lost on anyone since the word “Allah” is an integral part of the structure and reinforces the steel. The minaret would collapse structurally if not for the Calligraphic words “Allah.” The same holds for us all humans; if you take away Allah swt from your life, then we are lost souls that would collapse just like the building. These two essential words remind worshippers coming to the Mosque of the dialogue and relationship between them and their Lord.

M O S Q U E A R S L A N A M I R

S H A K I B

M Y S T E R Y A E X P L O R E

The architects converted the space outside into a plaza with seats, fountains, an ablution area, and a cool shaded area under a fig tree. An Olive tree already existed before, and thus, they subtly highlighted the first verse of Surah Al-Teen, alluding to the “Fig and Olive,” which is also crucial in Christian traditions. Depending on the angle you sit outside, you can see the white metal structure as steel stacks that fully enclose the Mosque. Or, these stacks disappear due to their thinness and blend into the existing natural background if viewed from the front, reinforcing the idea of how there is nothing permanent in this world except Allah swt and that we are just a tiny piece of a larger whole.

The Mosque accommodates men and women in the same space, and entry to the prayer hall is through glass facades with wooden doors that seem to float. The architects maintained the inside of the existing structure, except they painted it all white with a unique lime mix imported from Aleppo, Syria. The new skylight and the white surfaces give it a pop of so much natural light that exudes a feeling of peace and serenity for anyone entering the prayer hall. The skylight above and the carpet with its gray and white gradient patterns appear as reflections onto a concave stainless steel curve that seems like a mirror in the Mihrab area, which points towards Mecca.

I T I S S O I M P O RTA N T T H AT W E N E E D T O R E A D T H E Q U R A N C R I T I C A L LY , T R Y I N G T O U N D E R S TA N D W H AT I T S AY S I N S T E A D O F J U S T R E C I T I N G I T B L I N D LY .

A MIR S H AK IB ARS LA N MOS QU E

The vertical steel elements found outside are duplicated again on the inside towards the back of the building, but this time with wooden features and with the word “Iqra,” meaning “Read” in Arabic, taking prominence here. Again, the symbolism is evident. This area usually is where people would sit to read the Quran. Still, the way the word “Iqra” is emphasized is a reminder that “Read” was the first word revealed from the Quran, and there is a reason why it was chosen to take that honor. It is so important that we need to read the Quran critically, trying to understand what it says instead of just reciting it blindly.

A mosque of contrasts with heavy stone walls on the one hand and a light steel structure on the other reinforces Islam as a balanced way of life, with moderation being the norm and not the exception. Our Islamic creed is built on the middle path or “wasat” Arabic for moderation in all our affairs. Every element of this Mosque is functional as it is decorative, teaching us that the simple things in life are beautiful. We must think about how to achieve and maintain that beauty. Beauty in all its simplicity fits the natural aura of this Mosque. No wonder it is an award-winning Mosque, an award that is truly deserved.

B AT T U TA , T H E WO R L D ’ S L E A D I N G H A L A L T R AV E L M AG A Z I N E

To p 5 R e a s o n s t o Visit Southern

I TA LY

Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan, with their heritage, architecture, scenery, cuisine, and climate, are the top destinations for travelers worldwide. The Amalfi coast has garnered celebrity status, and the rugged Dolomites have majestically captured the hearts of many. However, Sud Italia - Italian for Southern Italy, including the island of Sicily - deserves no less attention. For Muslims especially, this region is a rare gem, and uncovering its hidden beauty and history helps us have a stronger appreciation of the heyday of the Muslim civilization. Interestingly, Southern Italy is the heel on Italy’s boot, which is evident when you see a map. It is also called “Mezzogiorno” of Italy, derived from the old habit of connecting the cardinal points to the winds that blow from that direction. The sun, at noon, can be observed in its maximum splendor only from the Mezzogiorno or the South. 10

History 1 Towards the end of the 7th century, the Arabs had conquered the whole of North Africa. With the capture of Carthage, the Muslims had a strong fleet and were able to control strategic maritime routes. In 805, Ibrahim l Ibn Aglab, ruler of the Tunisian dynasty of the Aghlabids, signed a ten-year treaty with the ruler of Sicily. The Byzantines didn’t fulfill the treaty’s terms, so in 812, the Aghlabids sent a fleet and captured several small islands that were part of Sicily. They couldn’t capture the main island of Sicily, though, at this time. In 826, a mutiny arose amongst the Byzantine commanders. One of them fled to North Africa and offered his terms to capture the island for the Muslim Caliph in exchange for protection and the title of commander. The Aghlabids agreed to his terms, and they requested that he pay an annual tribute to the Muslims. Once the terms were finalized, an army was sent to conquer the island, led by Asad Ibn Al-Furat, a 70-year-old Muslim commander. The first battle occurred in July 827 near Mazara and ended with an Islamic victory. The Muslims could not fully capture the capital city of Palermo, Bal’harm, in Arabic, until 831. It took more than 100 years to conquer the whole island fully. Two short-lived Emirates existed in Apulia during this time, namely the Emirate of Bari ( 847 - 871 ) and the Emirate of Taranto ( 840 - 883 ). The Emirate of Bari had its powers conferred directly by the Caliph of Baghdad and not the Aghlabids. In 965, the fall of the Byzantine fortress of Rometta marked when Muslims fully controlled all of Sicily. From 901 - 956, Sicilian Muslims also ruled Calabria.

Initially, the Emirate of Sicily was the seat of an emirate dependent on the Tunisian dynasty of the Aghlabids, who ruled it with their emissaries, followed by the Fatimids from Egypt. The Fatimid Caliph appointed Hassan Al Qalbi as Emir of Sicily, who founded the Calbit dynasty, detached himself from the Fatimids, and became independent. This Emir started attacking mainland Italy. However, his progeny entered dynastic strife by 1017 - 1037, and the Emirate disintegrated into tiny princedoms. During the 200 years of their domination, the Arabs divided the land into three administrative districts, namely the Val di Mazara, Val Demone, and Val di Noto. The Arabs helped increase land productivity, introduced irrigation systems, and planted many fruit trees. The city plan of Palermo today is what it was from the times of the Arabs. They also brought oriental culture, poetry, arts, and sciences to the island and embellished their kingdom with great monuments.

In 1060, a Norman Knight called Roger invaded Sicily. His brother after him, Roger l, also conquered Apulia, Calabria, and then Palermo. In 1091, the last Muslim cities of Noto, Butera, and Malta surrendered, and the Emirate ceased to exist. However, unlike the situation in Andalucia, the local Muslims survived the Norman conquest. The Norman Kings allowed the Muslims to live and flourish because they appreciated their knowledge and hard work. Interestingly, around 1145, King Roger ll of Sicily hired Al Idrisi, the famous Arab Muslim cartographer and geographer, as an adviser and commissioned him to prepare an updated map of the world. Religious uprisings led to the Muslims being expelled from the island in 1224 and transferred to a controlled environment in Lucera. This colony also thrived until it was totally destroyed in 1300.

Islamic Heritage Now 2 Italy is one of the only two western countries besides Spain that has physical proof, in other words, historical evidence of local Islamic presence in its history. Sicily offers countless sites for the Muslim tourist, such as the Arab-Norman castle in Calatabiano, the summit of Taormina, the Fortress of the Saracenni in Monte Tauro and the bridge of the Saracenni, the KASBAH in Mazzara del Vallo, and the Mosque of Segesta in Trapani and so much more. Palermo boasts a Museum of Islamic Art, in addition to the very famous Arab baths of CefalaDiana. Lecce, one of the main cities of Apulia, has two crucial historical residences - Villa Himera and Villa Bray - where there are many demonstrations of the Arabian influences on Italian architectural style. The Adriatic coast of Apulia, especially the cities of Tricase and Otranto, exhibit the Moorishstyled proof of Arabian existence. A must-visit is the Islamic University of Casamassima in Apulia. It was conceived in the 1980s by Michele Tridente, an Italian entrepreneur who reverted to Islam. The University was never opened due to financial issues, but the campus with its classrooms, laboratories, halls, gardens, farms, and a Mosque was built on two and a half hectares of land. The year of construction is registered in the Gregorian and Islamic calendars, namely 1984 and 1404, respectively.

This University’s Arabesque-style buildings still stand today. The facilities are made with white stones with domed minarets, culminating in crescent-shaped iron candelabras. The tower has the word “Bismillah” engraved on a marble circle. There is also a colonnade with a Moorish vault. The campus has an impressive garden with a long tree-lined avenue in the middle. From the second floor, you can see part of its interior facade with a massive slab with various passages of the Holy Quran engraved. On the opposite side is another high slab made from marble with Surahs inscribed, but the most beautiful one had red bricks with Surah Al Baqarah written on it. Traces of Islamic presence are still evident in San Nicola Cathedral in Bari, where the mosaic surrounding the abbot Elia’s chair is composed of a pseudo-Kufic motif whose characters take the form of the “Allah” monogram.

Unique & Authentic Italian Experiences 3 As Aristotle said, “the more you know, the more you know you don’t know” when visiting towns, villages, and beaches in this part of Italy. The beautiful stretches of dramatic coastline, picture-perfect beaches, charming coastal islands, and more historic cities, towns, and villages other than previously mentioned leave you in awe and make you come back to visit again and again.

The beautiful lighthouse, Faro Di Punta Palascia, is exactly where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. It is the best spot to experience unforgettable sunrises or sunsets by the coast. If you go up the staircase, you can see the Albanian and Greek coasts.

The city of Alberobello has the most extensive collection of Trulli white-washed stone huts with conical roofs that have been around for ages. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the prettiest time to see them is early morning or evening when all the Trullis light up. While there, you can visit an olive oil farm and bond and appreciate the hard work that farmers put in to achieve the most refined olive oil that is a source of pride and joy for the local Apulians.

An astounding natural phenomenon by the coast is the Grotta Delle Tre Porte, a beautiful cave with three doors or openings. Make sure to swim in the refreshing waters of the Ionian Sea. Boat tours are offered along the coast at any time of day.

With its white-washed buildings sitting on top of a hill, Ostuni is quite the sight. Built like a maze, you may come across alleyways, stairs, and arches. You may turn one way and end with a view of the sapphire Adriatic Sea, but if you turn the other way, you may come to a dead end. The city was intentionally designed this way in the past to push away any invaders who would get lost in confusion. The stark whiteness of the buildings is interrupted by the green, and blue doors, pots of red geraniums or cacti.

You can swim with your Burkini in Italy, so get ready to sample the Baia Delle Orte, a secluded bay that allows you to connect with nature. The clear water, with astonishing views, is even perfect for scuba diving. It is so easy to slide into an authentic pace of life when the locals would sit on benches and catch up, drinking espresso and eating traditional food, which is simple in its ingredients but rich in taste.

Cuisine 4 Talk about Italian cuisine, and the thoughts of pasta, pizza, gnocchi, lasagne, cannoli, and gelato engulf one’s mind. Italy offers dishes that are recognized and appreciated worldwide. Now, you as a Muslim have an opportunity to fully experience the traditional local cuisine with its extraordinary culinary delights prepared in a purely halal way if you book a trip with us. The city of Puglia already offers a wide range of typical products that Muslims can safely consume, such as “pasticciotto,” mozzarella, taralli, frise, and others. In Sicily especially, famous dishes like arancini, cannoli, and other fish-based dishes are also prepared in compliance with halal standards, to be consumed without any doubt. To satisfy the halal food needs of local Muslims and other catering establishments, an Italian company has recently launched the first halal “ragu” named Maria to the market. “Tagliatelle alla bolognese” will now be a halal experience for Muslims to enjoy and may be taken home as a souvenir.

Muslim-Friendly Community 5

Despite its tremendous tourism resources and attractiveness, Italy’s lack of tailored itineraries and services for Muslim tourists was holding back the development of Muslim tourism in this region. Recognizing and aiming to fill this gap, K&S Travel and Business became the first and only local operator in July 2018 that offers Muslim-friendly tour services in Italy. Karim C. Benvenuto, one of the top experts on Islamic culture and tourism in Italy, has created the first network of qualified Muslim-friendly resources in Italy. This includes accommodation facilities, catering, and restaurant establishments, specialized travel agencies, tour operators, and tourism enthusiasts to ensure a genuinely halal experience. A Muslim tourist has the option to stay at villas with private beaches.

The openness to having local institutions such as the Higher Institute of Halal Science and Technology (Instituto Superiore di Scienze e Tecnologie Halal) is a testament to how welcoming and open-minded the locals are Masha’Allah. There are various courses to better equip the local tourism industry with a wide range of knowledge regarding Halal certification and audit, food preparation and customs, and commercial and cultural awareness. Prof. Peppino de Rose, based in Calabria, offers educational tours to promote cultural and academic exchanges supported by the Chambers of Commerce in Vibo Valentia and Cosenza, The University of Calabria, and the local association of hotels. Recognizing all the hard work that K&S Travel and Business have put in, HalalTravels.com is delighted to partner with them. We are excited to offer you all types of tours whether you visit Italy for business or pleasure. Whether you seek sightseeing, sports, culture, wellness, or any other customized tour, get in touch via reservation@halaltravels.com and learn about Italy and your halal travel options. We invite you to come and support our fellow Muslims and taste the authentic and fulfilling experience of “La Dolce Vita” here in the South of Italy.

Is there any Reward for Good - other than Good? (Quran 55:60)

It is widely recognized that the “warmest,” meaning friendliest and kindest people live in the south of Italy. It is no surprise that in 2018, the first 360-degree project to promote Muslim Friendly Tourism in the “Bel Paese” or “Beautiful Country” of Italy was launched. The aim was to promote the culture of Halal with a particular focus on catering, accommodation, and operators in the sector. Clearly, promoting the Halal culture and integrating Islamic etiquette in services was fundamental for attracting future Muslim travelers. “Italy Muslim Friendly” network guarantees the quality of service with in-depth training of kitchen and dining room staff on all the standards to be respected for correct interaction with the Muslim customer.

TRAVEL IN S T Y L E Ali Mohammed Ali Al-Harazi Designs offered women’s wear destined to the Gulf region, particularly the United Arab Emirates, where many women would naturally wear Abaya over their collections. As of 2022, they decided to offer entirely modest women’s wear that doesn’t need Abaya on top. They are seeking partners in the Modest fashion sphere.

For collaboration inquiries, please reach out to A.M.A.A.H-Designs@outlook.com

S POTLIGHT: By: Um Akram

A multi-million dollar start-up nominated for 2022’s Top 100 Muslim start-ups by The Center for Global Muslim Life has the words “Success goes hand in hand with serving our community and serving the world” inscribed on their webpage.

A m i n ah Musa

CEO,

PaliRoots was set up by a brother-sister duo, Hussein and Aminah Musa, in 2016. As children, they were part of the medical food program administered by their school since they hailed from a low-income family. Their grandfather, Sidi Hussein, instilled Palestine’s roots, culture, and love in the siblings’ hearts to preserve the beauty of the Palestinian culture amongst future generations. Constant reminders to the siblings about their opportunities in this beautiful country to do what they want, make a positive impact, and help back home were firmly cemented. PaliRoots was created to humanize the Palestinian people and offer people a platform to learn about the unique and beautiful Palestinian history, culture, and heritage. CCO,

H u s s e i n Musa

Come along to learn more…

PaliRoots, owned by the two Palestinian Americans, started its journey in San Diego and has recently expanded to Los Angeles. Hussein is the company’s CEO tasked with overlooking finance, innovation, and website development, in other words, the day-to-day operations. Aminah is the CCO (Chief Creative Officer) tasked with making all the fantastic designs, clothing, and accessories you can see on their website. She ensures that every product created is specially crafted with a meaningful story based on months of research and development. In addition, Aminah is the face and spokeswoman of the company, who graced the Top 40 women of the year accolade from Forbes Middle East.

3• A broad customer base from 16-year-olds to 55-yearolds loves the products, be it Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslims in general. A solid Jewish community supports PaliRoots as well. This may sound surprising, but this is a perfect moment to learn about the difference between Judaism and Zionism. The PaliRoots brand is associated with a cause. Those who support Palestine have been able to get an outlet to express their support by purchasing from PaliRoots, ranging from the youngsters at the Universities who want to represent Palestine on their campuses to the elders who want to instill the passion and love for Palestine in the minds and hearts of their little ones, thereby, preserving the Palestinian identity.

What started as a little t-shirt line that sold t-shirts and brought attention to Palestine through their social media impact, has become a massive movement for all ethnicities to be a part of. Several factors contributed to this:

1• The product line, be it t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, or hoodies, is made with the softest cotton, trademarked as “zibda soft” or “butter soft.” 2• After conducting months of research with 501c3 non-profit partners MECA (who work on the ground in Gaza), on the topic of food and nutrient deficiency in some of the poorest areas of the Gaza Strip, the results showed that many children in Gaza are malnourished, suffer from growth problems, anemia, stunting, and have severe issues with their diet. With the population of Gaza reaching close to 2 million and over 50% under the age of 18, it was the duo’s duty to help ease the living situation due to the ongoing siege in Gaza. Their work primarily focuses on children as they believe they are the future hope for Palestine. PaliRoots launched its signature program, a meals program that would nurture children and support families simultaneously. They implemented 22 campaigns since the brand’s launch, where they raised funds to feed children at their schools. Meals are also donated to children based on the order value. For example, if you spend US$ 100 at PaliRoots, five meals are offered to children in Gaza. In May 2021, they raised over 2 million dollars which helped expand the meal program ensuring funding for up to 4 years for over 861 kindergartners and 25 teachers. To date, PaliRoots have partnered with 7 organizations to raise and donate a total of US$ 3.2 million in the last 5 years.

4• A staple piece that every Pro-Palestinian purchases from PaliRoots is the infamous Palestinian Hirbawi Kufiya made in non other than Al-Khalil, Palestine. Keeping tradition alive, the Hirbawi Kufiya is the only kufiya to be authentically made in Palestine. The Hirbawi factory is more than a place of production: it is a symbol of resilience, resistance, and strength in the face of overwhelming odds. It is a place to celebrate the Palestinian culture authentically, and a reminder as to the need of supporting domestic economies whenever possible. Passion and perseverance are sewn into every thread of each Hirbawi Kufiya. If you don’t own an AUTHENTIC Palestinian kufiya, PaliRoots is the source to trust. 5• The younger generation is always open to new ideas, and they challenge the status quo. More and more people are learning about the Palestinian people, and they have started to sympathize with them as Palestinians represent the largest refugee population in the world. People worldwide are attempting to support and uplift the Palestinian cause, which is why you see people from all walks of life showing some love to the Palestinian people. Enter the PaliRooter movement... A PaliRooter is a person who roots for Palestine. A PaliRooter could be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, trade worker, union worker, influencer, or all different kinds of people united with a mission to uplift Palestine. The PaliRooter community accepts everyone for who they are. They have an open mind and stress the importance of love, unity, and family because these are the things that give us purpose in life. A PaliRooter is someone who respects others’ rights to be a human and says no to seeing people being oppressed. This PaliRooter movement has increased the visibility of the PaliRoots brand because ordinary people are promoting PaliRoots. They love the product and tell their followers or friends to show some love too.

One piece of the puzzle that keeps PaliRoots growing, is their diverse family-oriented team. A team made up of different backgrounds & ethnicities on a mission to preserve the Palestinian culture and identity. Their CMO Zenah is Palestinian-Jordanian, and their Lead Project Manager Cokab is Lebanese-Palestinian. The extended Marketing team has its origins in Greece. Their designers and photographers are from Brazil, Puerto Rico, India, Pakistan, and many other countries around the globe. To develop a brand made up of Palestinians on a mission is an accomplishment by itself but to have a brand made up of diverse ethnicities on a mission to preserve the Palestinian culture & identity is clearly a movement.

Hussein and Aminah traveled in 2018 to Jericho, Turmusaya, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Al Khalil. They documented their travels in the Palestine Travel Series uploaded on their youtube channel.

and beautifully. You can directly donate to the meal program or become a monthly donor. Every penny raised doesn’t even go to PaliRoots’ bank account. It goes immediately to the non-profit.

Hussein’s advice for other start-ups is to be genuine, show that you care, and be ethical. Your passion will ignite the fire that is inside of you to be that extra person wanting to change the world.

Raised by two Palestinian parents, Hussein and Aminah; Palestinians of the diaspora, whose true goal and mission is to further their impact in Palestine for generations to come. Needless to say that their mission is not yet complete, as the movement to a FREE PALESTINE continues. Wishing them all the very best in their future endeavors, we conclude by saying that in this issue of Battuta, PaliRoots stole our hearts!

During the interview, their gratitude and thankfulness for being in the Top 100 Muslim start-ups were evident, and they were humble, too; crediting everything to the power of God, their hardworking team, and the PaliRooter community, we found them inspirational. What can you do to help them with this mission? They are open to collaborations with brands/companies in the “change making space!” You can follow them and interact on social media to meet new people and begin everlasting friendships. You can be a PaliRooter without buying any merchandise; it is all optional. The inventory is there to help present Palestine uniquely

What was the original purpose of the leaning tower of Pisa?

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Q&A Kuhyar Karimian (The Sound of Reason) Our guest influencer for this issue is Kuhyar Karimian, most popularly known as Ku, from the Music group, The Sound of Reason. (@soundofreason) Welcome Ku! It is the first time Battuta has delved into the halal entertainment industry, so it is pretty exciting for us to interview you. I will begin by quoting a line from your song entitled “Traveler.”

“In the rearview mirror of my life, the future comes so clear to see….” Taking you back to the beginning; Who is Ku? Ku, born Kuhyar Nathaniel Karimian, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. My father was Persian, and my mother was half German, half British. I was raised Christian by my mom, but I later converted to Islam in high school. I started The Sound of Reason in 2005 with my childhood friend, Francis Fitzgerald. In total, we released two fulllength Albums and 1 Single. We traveled the world performing our music for about eight years, finally ending it in 2013.

What has your journey been like? My journey has had many ups and downs, sometimes more downs than ups. I had a rough childhood, both at home and at school. I really don’t like to reveal too much about my home life because deep down I know my parents were good people just trying to make it, but for me as a kid growing up in that environment, it felt like a war zone. I just remember constantly being in fear. Life at school was pretty much the same, a war zone. I would get bullied and beat up regularly at school. And I had no one to tell or seek help from. My parents worked, so they weren’t home and had no interest in my life. So I was alone. It was hard going from war zone to war zone. I was also awkward and looked funny because we were poor and I wore incredibly thick glasses, to such a point that they looked like novelty joke glasses someone would wear to a costume party. I had no friends. I never understood why I was alive, to be in pain all the time. My first real friend was Francis, whom I met when I was 13 or so. He was also kind of an outcast. I truly love him like a brother. He’s been a source of support and goodness in my life ever since I met him. I don’t know where I’d be without him. I’m sure he was a Godsent. I’m sure of it.

All the concerts/tours must have allowed you to visit many new places. How many cities/ countries have you seen so far? Any eye-opening moments during your travel? While traveling the world, we performed in many different countries, including Spain, Germany, England, Scotland, France, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and many more. One significant takeaway from traveling to so many places and experiencing so many cultures is you come to see how Islam is practiced in so many different ways. So much variance, so much color. It humbled us for sure. It makes you more accepting and embracing of other people and their take on Islam. Seeing so many versions, you can’t help but become less judgemental, less condemning, and more open to variation (within reason, of course). Losing luggage due to backlogs and malfunctioning at the airport has characterized travel this year. What would you do if you experienced such inefficiencies? What are your favorite travel tips? Qadr Allah. No use in stressing over things we cannot control. We do not control what happens to us. We control how we respond—pack light. Go over your checklist of essentials before leaving the house.

Your songs and lyrics resonated with many, so why did The Sound of Reason have to end? Well, we wrote about important things to us as idealistic youth. The focus was social commentary based on an Islamic understanding of the world, without being overtly Muslim or preachy, so that it can be listened to by both Muslims and non-Muslims. “Help me change the world,” “Comfortably Crashing,” and “Empty World” are all examples of this on our first album. We wanted to make good music with Muslim morals without outright saying words like Allah swt or Islam, which would confine our music only to a Muslim audience. We also had many political songs like “Palestine,” “The Revolution will not be televised,” or “Rise.” We also had some very heavily religious tracks like “Living to die,” “It’s all a dream,” and “Traveler.” Just contemplating the afterlife, the meaning, and the purpose of this life. I still love those tracks because the content is timeless. Then my version of a Muslim love song, “Cover,” was inspired by a verse I read in the Quran ( Surah 2: 187) that spoke of how a husband and wife should be like a cover unto each other. The tafsir explained that we should not only cover and protect our spouses from the harshness of the world, but we should also cover up and conceal our spouse’s shortcomings to the outside world. I loved that idea. So, I wrote “Cover.” That’s still one of my favorite tracks. We wrote most songs together and we each wrote a few songs alone. We even wrote a few portions of our songs for other people outside of our group. For example, we have a song entitled “Traveler” which was inspired by a hadith where the Prophet PBUH said “Be in this world as a traveler”. I wrote the 3rd verse of that song for Isam from Outlandish, but sadly that never came together. There are dozens of songs that never made it out of our studio walls.

Our fan base was primarily in the U.K. and the United States. In 2013 as we were traveling to the United States to do a concert, we were stopped for a “random search”, as we were every single time we traveled. This time they said that they saw a picture on our Facebook page of us with a bunch of fans at one of our shows and apparently, somewhere in the photo was a “person of interest” to the U.S. government. We obviously had no idea what photo or what person they were talking about as we take tons of photos with tons of fans all the time, and don’t know who most of them are. However, this was enough for us to get banned from entering the United States indefinitely. Traveling to the United States for concerts was our main source of income at the time, so when we couldn’t do that anymore, we weren’t able to financially survive anymore. That was pretty much the end for us. Years later, the U.S. government reversed its ban on us, apparently it was all a case of mistaken identity with that mystery person, and we are now able to travel back and forth to the United States without a problem, but so much time has passed, and The Sound of Reason has been retired for many years now.

Are you at peace watching the waves at the beach, the serene yet majestic mountains, or both? I love the mountains and waves at the beach. I love nature in general—swimming in Oceans, hiking mountains. In fact, my name Kuhyar in Persian means “Friend of the Mountain.”

Tell me more about the halal entertainment industry?

“I’m so down, and tired I, wonder if it’s worth the time; it’s kind of hard to get by, getting paid with smiles.”

‘‘

The first lyrics of our song entitled “Share the World” goes like this:

That was pretty much our experience, especially with Muslim organizations. They would promise one thing and then, after the concert, say, “sorry, we can only pay you half of what we agreed on.” We got robbed, tricked, and scammed by so many Muslim organizations, Muslim promoters, and managers. Indeed a cutthroat industry. Sadly, it was the non-muslim shows that never scammed us. It was also very eye-opening as we saw the behind-the-scenes of all these “Muslim events” and Nasheed superstars. Some superstars portraying themselves as devout, pious Muslims are the exact opposite. And when we were alone with them after the concerts, they would show us a different side of them. It was unfortunate to see many of them use the title “Muslim artist” as an act.

The same goes for the people behind some of the world’s most significant Muslim events. In real life, away from the cameras and fans, many are terrible human beings taking advantage of the “Muslim Arts” to make tons of money despite not having any Muslim characters themselves. It wasn’t very encouraging for me and Francis to witness this, as we are both converts and looked up to many of these people thinking they were who they portrayed themselves to be. The same applies to the Muslim Superstar Sheikhs. Very sad. However! Some are exactly as amazing as you would imagine! We made friends with many incredible people, artists, musicians, shuyukh, etc. Some of them are, in fact, more impressive in person behind the curtains.

Adversity brings out the best in people. Do you agree with this statement? How do you handle adversity? Yes. I agree. It’s a harsh reality. Adversity has the potential to refine and improve one’s character. But it also has the potential to break a person. But that is life. A test. Not an easy one. And sometimes, there are so many downs. You think you’ll never see another up again. I’ve been there many times. That’s where “Shoulder to lean on” came from, from pain. I had a very rough childhood, riddled with medical problems since birth. I spent much of my life in the hospital. But then, after I embraced Islam, I started to connect with the Muslim community and found that many people were also struggling in life, going through adversity and pain. I became the go-to guy for those in need, especially the outcasts. Many of these Muslim youth had been outcasts by their family and the community because they were “sinning .”I would be there for them because I knew how much it hurt to go through struggles alone. And I could not accept that others go through the same pain I did. My phone was always on, night or day, always on, and I would regularly get calls in the middle of the night. Someone needed me to come to get them because they did something they knew they shouldn’t have, and there was no one else they could call. Alhamdulillah, I think that’s why my life was filled with pain so that I could truly understand and empathize with others when they would go through pain. There’s nothing more annoying to someone who is genuinely living a tormented life than to get advice from someone that’s never been through that level of pain. They only respond to someone that’s been there, seen the dark, lived in it, and survived it. So that’s what I spent my teenage years, and early 20’s doing. That’s why I wrote “Shoulder To Lean On,” which goes as follows: And when you’re low, you know that you can hold on me In a heartbeat, I can be there, The fears and tears you cry, I’m by your side so dry your eyes And let me provide peace of mind in time. I know you’ll be fine And if it’s heartbreak, I can take some off your plate, Replace the lies and hate with smiles of faith...

Concern about eating Halal and Tayyib foods is at an all-time high. I came across the concept of “Eat your water” and “Natural immune boosters” on your Instagram page, which I think everyone should also pay attention to. Please walk us through this concept. My health journey has taken me on many diets, testing and trying different things and listening to my body to see how it responds. My lack of hydration led to many health problems. Still, I felt so much better when I started incorporating water-dense foods. The same goes with eating immunity-boosting foods. I believe a Muslim’s ideal diet should go beyond just how meat is slaughtered. Foods can not only impact one’s health but also one’s mood, energy levels, mental state, hormones, and much more. I think it should be every Muslim’s duty to take the time to research the impacts of different foods and diets and to try to be the healthiest they can be. Allahu Aalim. You wear the Kufiya on your arms in many of your concerts. Where did this love for the Palestinian terrirories originate from? I also know you released a song entitled “Palestine,” how did that go? Where I got my love for Palestine, well, it’s actually from my love for any oppressed people. Anyone who is innocent and being unjustly oppressed, I have a love for. Particularly the Palestinians, because of how their circumstance came to be. I empathize with the oppressed. The song “Palestine” ended up being one of our biggest releases but was also why ALL major radio stations in Canada and the United States refused to play our music. Because of that one song. Francis and I had a long talk about whether or not to add Palestine to the album, knowing there was a chance we would get blacklisted from the mainstream media for having it. We decided to go for it in hopes that the support from the Muslim world and the proPalestine community would be enough. Sadly the gatekeepers to the mainstream media were NOT pro-Palestinian, so we got blacklisted immediately. Qadr Allah. So because of it, we were restricted to mainly doing Muslim events and now and then a nonMuslim event. I contemplate that choice a lot. Would it have been better to remove that song initially, give ourselves a chance to gain popularity in the mainstream, AND THEN come out with a song like Palestine once we were already there? Allahu Aalim. Maybe it wasn’t the most strategic move. Still, at that time, we were very young and idealistic and refused to censor our morals or values for anything. So, surely with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease. (Quran 94: 5 - 6) If you are grateful, I will give you more. ( Quran 14: 7 ) Hope and gratitude permeate the very essence of Islam, which is complete submission to Allah swt. How have these states of mind impacted your life?

Despite knowing and believing in these verses for decades now, the older I get, the more I realize how far I am from fully embodying these concepts. I sometimes get discouraged, saddened, and even embittered when hardship befalls me, especially when multiple problems befall me one after the other, etc. Sometimes there are so many hardships for such extended periods that you start to think there will be no end to it. It’s hard. I understand people who feel hopeless. I’ve been there and still struggle with it today. And as simple or generic as this advice might be, the one thing I felt helped me when I reached my lowest point was praying—pouring out my heart to Allah—telling Him how lost and hopeless I felt. I then try to find the lesson I need to learn before I can move on from this test. Gratitude and complete submission to Allah are a lot harder than simply agreeing with the concept. If you find yourself trying to force yourself into acceptance, I think you might not be addressing the underlying problem. Accepting Allah’s will, I think, is more about surrendering... Gratefully surrendering. Not simply accepting fate but loving it. I believe there is a hadith that states something to the effect of a Mumin is someone who says Alhamdulillah in good times and challenging times. This is a heavy concept. And I’m still working on it myself every day.

When I first approached you for an interview, I distinctly remember your response was, “Sure! Although I am not much of an influencer anymore.” You and Frances set out on a journey to change the world for the better, and that is no easy feat to be handled alone. The Sound of Reason may not exist anymore, but your songs and lyrics do, and that is your legacy. We at Battuta are also on the same path of changing the world one person at a time, and we felt joining hands could make the journey a little easier. Looking at the Ummah now, the lyrics to your hit song, Light the Globe, seem so relevant. What is the light that you seem to refer to? We were thinking of light in terms of Noor. Like, the divine light that is inside of all of us. The light of truth, goodness, and positivity. If we were all to be the best version of ourselves, the light of our noor (good character, good actions etc.) would brighten up the world (make it a better place). “Light the globe ( your light ) (yeah c’mon)... Keep on shining your light yeah… Starts with your light (Light the globe)...” The best takeaway from this Q&A will be to ask ourselves about our relationship with the Most High, Allah swt. No one is perfect, but if we are mindful of Allah at all times, our mannerisms will be the same, both in public and private. Our relationships will also improve for the better insha’Allah. Our Prophet PBUH described the Ummah as one body; if one part hurts, the whole body hurts. The logic behind if you seek to be happy, help others is very evident. Don’t judge; just help. Thank you for your sincerity and for taking the time to respond to our questions. Please feel free to share any final thoughts. The Journey was a difficult one, both financially and business-wise. Still, the experiences we had and the friends we made along the way were priceless. A rough ride, but simultaneously, an incredible ride.

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is it if Allah, to grateful be and you for provided have We

[indeed] Him that you worship.” (Quran 2: 172)

things good the from eat believed, have

Tayyib is a comprehensive word with an important place in the Quran and Sunnah. In Surah Baqarah, Allah (swt) has clearly defined “tayyib”. Allah (swt) commands us to eat of which that is tayyib from what He has provided for us. The word “tayyib” means to be pure, good, clean, wholesome, gentle, excellent, fair, and lawful, so it’s good, on top of more good and, no doubt about it, this is good for you. In contrast, its opposite “khabith” means impure, genetically modified, artificial in terms of colors and preservatives, toxic, etc. Tayyib is often paired with “halal,” as in “halal and tayyib,” and is also mentioned alone.

who

What Is Tayyib?

you

Learning this ayah changed my world and allowed me to help people get back into balance. Over and over in the Quran, Allah (swt) references “tayyib,” so let’s dive deeper into what exactly is “tayyib” and why does Allah (swt) connect it with gratitude, and if we truly worship him? Why is it the overlooked key to heaven, success, and consequently our health – a key piece in putting our bodies back into balance?

“O

“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Quran 2: 172)

which

A Tayyib Diet to Balance Us and Reinstate Hope

to Allah (swt) has equated eating pure foods with truly believing in Him if you are truly enslaved to Him! So if we don’t eat pure foods, what does that say about us as Muslims? Who are we truly following?

worship Me.” (Quran 51: 57)

create

the

jinn

and

mankind

except “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51: 57)

not

Then Allah (swt) says, in verse 172, that “eat from the good things (tayyib) which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” Allah (swt) uses the word “taabudoon,” meaning if you truly worship Allah (swt) or if you are genuinely enslaved to Allah (swt). Who are we enslaved to? We are enslaved to our desires when our only purpose on this planet is to worship Allah (swt).

did

“[And they should consider that] when those who have been followed disassociate themselves from those who followed [them], and they [all] see the punishment, and cut off from them are the ties [of relationship]. Those who followed will say, “If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us.” Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire. O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say what you do not know about Allah. And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided? The example of those who disbelieve is like a flock [of cattle and sheep] not comprehending the calls and cries of the shepherd – [They are wilfully] deaf, dumb, and blind, so they have no understanding. O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Quran 2: 166–172)

Let’s examine this passage. In verses 166–168, Allah (swt) describes a scene of people standing next to Hellfire, with multiple regrets (hasarat) of following a social norm blindly, wishing they had dissociated themselves from these people. After which, Allah (swt) then takes the reader to the solution on how we can prevent that outcome. Allah (swt) says, O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy (Quran 2: 168). Then in verse 170, Allah (swt) says they will ignore revelation and stick to what their forefathers have done, showing cattle herd mentality. They are deaf, dumb, and blind and will never understand.

When trying to understand “tayyib”, this passage of the Quran sheds light on the importance of tayyib, what society will say, and what to do to succeed if we truly believe in Allah (swt):

“And

Diving into Tayyib - Surat al-Baqarah Verses 166-172

“O mankind! Eat the lawful and good things out of what is in the earth, and do not follow the footsteps of the shaytan; indeed, he is your open enemy.”(Quran 2: 168)

We are following Satan (Shaytan) as not eating pure food opens doors that may lead us down the wrong path, a path away from Allah (swt). If we go down that path of impurity, we are opening doors in our hearts for Satan to enter. We are no longer slaves of our Lord but slaves of the sugar companies, the fast-food companies, the pesticide companies (Monsanto), the pharmaceutical companies, and even the worldly goods companies. It’s time to get back to the Quran, to a tayyib life, and to our Creator.

The Two Keys to Optimal Success and Characteristics of a Believer Halal and Tayyib

Living pure (tayyib) lives is one of the hidden, overlooked keys to ultimate success (falah) in both lives in this world and the hereafter. But what is important to realize is that in addition to the verses mentioned previously namely Quran 2:168 and 172, you will find it’s all over the Quran and He has equated it to being believers who truly worship Allah (swt). “And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allah, in whom you are believers.” (Quran 5: 88)

“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the impure things and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him, and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be successful.” (Quran 7: 157) “Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Quran 16: 114)

Allah's Equation for Success In Quran 7: 157, Allah (swt) provides humankind with a formula for Success: Following the Messenger pbuh + who live tayyib (purely) + prohibit the impure = Success Allah (swt) has made following the unlettered Prophet pbuh equal to living tayyib and staying away from impurities. This means that if we don’t follow one or the other, we will not be successful. If we follow the Prophet pbuh but we eat artificial or GMO-ridden food or live an impure lifestyle, we will not be successful, and vice versa. This describes precisely what is happening to the Muslim Ummah currently. Allah (swt) has prohibited impurities since He knows they can cause harm.

The Relationship between Tayyib and Allah's Anger and then Hope “Eat of the good things we have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest my wrath should justly descend on you, and those on whom descends my wrath do perish indeed.” (Quran 20: 81)

In Surah Taha, after instructing the children of Israel, Allah (swt) then turns to educate the general population regarding the consequences of breaking His laws. Allah (swt) requires us all to eat tayyib foods from what He has provided and not to cross any boundaries; otherwise, His anger will come down, seize and overwhelm us. And whoever Allah’s (swt) anger comes down upon, that person falls hard and fast. But then Allah (swt), being the Merciful and Compassionate Lord, He also gives us Hope: “But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.” (Quran 20: 82)

Allah (swt) is Pure and Accepts Only What is Pure - Tayyib as a Prerequisite

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O people, Allah is pure, and He accepts only what is pure. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He commanded His messengers. Allah said, O messengers, eat from good things and act righteously, for I know what you do (23: 51). And Allah said, O you who believe, eat from good things We have provided for you. (2:172)” Working for Allah (swt) goes hand-in-hand with the lifestyle we live. In these two areas, Allah (swt) and His Prophet pbuh have dictated that we eat pure food; otherwise, the work that we do will not be accepted, and we will be among the losers. In the hadith, the Prophet pbuh said that Allah (swt) is pure, and He will accept only what is pure. In the following sentence, He quotes the Quran about the qualities of one that is pure – that he eats pure food. Through his messengers, Allah (swt) has told us what he wants us to do, to eat pure food, to act righteously, and quoting 2:172, stating that we should only eat which is pure. In this verse and this hadith, the emphasis is on eating and living purely and working righteously. One must be pure for our righteous acts to be accepted, a prerequisite for an acceptance of our good deeds.

Tayyib the Hidden Key to Taqwa Allah has sent this book, the Quran, “a guide for those who are mindful of Allah” (Quran 2:2) for the muttaqeen. Taqwa is the balance of the love of Allah (swt) with the concern of breaking his commands. If we genuinely have Taqwa, we will be in balance and harmony with everything around us. How we live our lives determines the state of our Taqwa. Allah describes one of the hidden keys to obtaining Taqwa in Surah Maidah (Quran 5:88). Allah is telling us that a way of expressing our Taqwa and putting it into action is to eat halal and tayyib. The Arabic language is so beautiful. To have Taqwa, you have to express it by eating halal and tayyib. The root meaning of Taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes. `Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra) asked Ubayy bin Ka`b (ra) about Taqwa. Ubayy said, “Have you ever walked on a path that has thorns on it?” `Umar said, “Yes.” Ubayy said, “What did you do then?” He said, “I rolled up my sleeves and struggled.” Ubayy said, “That is Taqwa.” Taqwa has to do with prevention, building a barrier from sins. In this ayah, Allah (swt) has combined it with halal and tayyib, pure food, again equating it to being believers. Taqwa isn’t stagnant but constantly changing depending upon our lifestyles.

“And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and pure And fear Allah, in whom you are believers.” (Quran 5:88)

“This Day [all] Tayyib/Pure food Has been made lawful…And whoever denies the faith, his work has become worthless, And he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Quran 5: 5)

Allah (SWT) Knows Impurity Surrounds and Tempts Us

Tayyib and Being a Believer, If You Truly Worship Allah

“Say: Evil and good are not equal, even though the abundance of evil may be pleasing to you. Have a fear of God, you who is endowed with understanding, so that you may triumph.” (Quran 5: 100)

“O you who have believed, eat from the pure things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Qur’an 2:172)

Allah (swt) knows that we are bombarded all around us with impurities. But he constantly tells us to use our brains and understanding, to know they are not the same. And those that use this understanding will be successful. Insha’Allah.

“And eat what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and pure And fear Allah, in whom you are believers.” (Qur’an 5:88) “Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and pure. And be grateful for the favors of Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” (Qur’an 16:114) Over and over, Allah (swt) has connected our belief in Him, and if we worship him to food!

Conclusions from the Quran and Sunnah From all the verses in the Quran and evidence from the Sunnah, one may conclude that eating pure foods that Allah has created, and living a pure lifestyle, are directly linked to our faith and true success in this life and the next. On the other hand, eating anything impure (artificial, GMO, toxic) is prohibited and opens the doors for Shaytan and wrongdoing.

A u t h o r ’s B i o : M a d i h a S a e e d , M D Madiha Saeed, MD, also known as HolisticMom, MD on social media, is a practicing board certified family physician in the USA, international speaker and a best-selling author. Her best-selling books are The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease, Adam’s Healing Adventures, The Quranic Prescription: Unlocking the Secrets to Optimal Health and The Holistic Rx for Kids: Parenting Healthy Children to Save Our Future empowering the world towards healthier living. https://www.amazon.com/Quranic-Prescription-Unlocking-Secrets-Optimal/dp/1847741614

Dr. Saeed is the director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell. She sits on multiple medical advisory boards including being the president of Nagamia Institute of Islamic Medicine and Sciences (formally known as International Institute of Islamic Medicine), and Wellness Mama. Dr. Saeed and her children speak internationally in the most prestigious holistic conferences, summits, TV (ABC, NBC and CBS), radio and newspaper. She is a regular on MindBodyGreen and the international Emmy winning medical talk show the Dr. Nandi Show.

And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], “Eat from the pure things with which We have provided you.” And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves. (Qur’an 2:57) “Eat from the pure things which we have provided you.” And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves” (Qur’an 7:160)

What happens when people raised within a different social landscape ultimately emigrate to a new locality? How does one first begin to traverse a new social terrain when there is no language to explain the complexities of their identities, ones that seemingly and metaphorically belong to an old place and life? As the eldest daughter of two Sudanese immigrants to the United States, this question was a central interlocutor in many formative experiences regarding race, religion, and culture. While attending Florida International University, I was selected as a student speaker for the 2016 TEDxFIU conference, with the highlighted theme being “Unexpected Discoveries.” I sought to share and attempt to address the complexities of Sudanese identity within the rigid racialized American landscape.

Reflections: An Experience

When a person migrates to a new society, the society, from its institutions to its actors, expects the migrants to navigate the socio-cultural terrain of their new home. They expect them to accept the imposition of social categories to fit into their new society. Social categories of race, gender, and other markers are constructed based on society’s historical and current fabric.

Looking back, I often chuckle at my early experiences. It was marked by the awkward innocence of childhood as I clumsily sought to make sense of who I was in relation to my surroundings. I’ve come to articulate my Sudanese identity as a Black Afro-Arab. However, translating these words is difficult, particularly as each word has its own social life and history, marked with cultural nuance. It’s important to note that social identities are precisely that - constructs shaped by a history that continues to progress and adapt.

What does it mean to be Black? What are the political dimensions of this identity? What does it mean to be Arab in the panethnic sense of the word? As such, one can note the difficulty in capturing the unique story of Sudanese ethnicity and how American racial categories, while assumed to offer a universal box for everyone to check, are captive to their histories and simply force social impositions on migrants. One could say this is the inherent struggle of the migrant’s story. While preparing for my TEDx speech, I struggled a lot with how to express these ideas in a limited form. Do I begin with an introduction to American racial history? Or do I start with a bold statement to hook my audience? My incredibly insightful speech coach stated, “Why don’t you start with a story? If you think the topic is complex, take us from the beginning with you. And don’t be scared to be funny. “Yes! That simple but illuminating direction was the start I needed.

A u t h o r ’s B i o : I s ra I b ra h i m Isra Ibrahim Amin received her Masters of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. She works as an executive assistant at Miami Modest Fashion Week (MMFW). Here is the link to the actual talk, have a listen and see if you can relate. https://youtu.be/qkcl3A7ga0k

TEDxTalks, at its core, is a platform to connect with others by sharing stories. Slowly, my script transformed from a critical lecture into an engaging life story of how I, as a little girl, grew up in America and shared unique insights into my family and Islamic school experiences. I performed my piece when I was 19 years old. Years later, as I look back, I’m met with awkward contentment and a desire to evolve my performance piece to make it more meaningful and play with different artistic directions.

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The Maldives Floating City is, in its essence, an attempt to provide housing for the local Maldivian people but was shortlisted for the MIPIM Awards, an internationally recognized prestigious award for development projects. The Maldivians strongly bond with the sea; thus, living on water fits into their culture and history. The inspiration behind this project is the brain coral. These common and slowgrowing coral species resemble a human brain and usually serve as a strong foundation for coral reefs.

With over 200 ha, the lagoon is situated near the capital city, Male, and the international airport. The city’s primary means of transportation will be boats with canals serving as the primary foundation for networking and coordinating the various sections of the city. No automobiles are allowed, only bikes and electric noise-free buggies/scooters. Expect to be biking and walking on natural white sand streets.

By adopting this environmentally friendly floating construction project, the Maldives has again reaffirmed its commitment as the global center for coral protection. The city’s roadways and water canals are designed to mimic the beautiful and efficient way actual brain coral is separated.

A one-of-a-kind metropolis that protects blue habitats and encourages coral growth above and below the water’s surface. The developers will add artificial coral banks to encourage natural coral growth from underneath. The coral reefs will serve as natural wave reducers or breakers, allowing occupants peace of mind and making the Maldives a global climate innovator. Living in harmony with nature and learning to respect normal coral and other marine ecosystems will allow the Maldives to have the world’s first truly floating island city that serves as a benchmark for the rest of the world. With perfect weather, tropical surroundings, all waterfront homes, and a legal framework to buy a home in the Maldives and get residence permits, tourism is bound to have an upward trajectory as more and more will ditch everything for a taste of the Maldivian lifestyle.

HalalTourism News Halal Expo London December 2nd - 3rd 2022

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Halal Expo London is one to watch out for this coming December 2nd - 3rd insha’Allah. London is fast becoming a significant player in the Halal Industry. Over 8000 professionals will partake in this exhibition at ExCel London, which will represent a unique opportunity to meet with government agencies, businesses, and direct consumers. This event will represent various categories: food & beverage, travel and tourism, pharmaceuticals, business/e-commerce, cosmetics, technology, start-ups, logistics, media, finance, fashion, education, wellbeing, and luxury. With crucial decision-makers present at this expo, the probability of concluding and finalizing important business deals is relatively high. Different exhibiting solutions are available for anyone interested in becoming part of this event. You can rent the space only and build your stand, or you may prefer to choose the shell scheme that is already built in and ready to serve your purposes.

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Considering the high potential that the halal economy presents and the increasing number of start-ups emerging to meet this untapped economy’s demand, the Halal Expo London organizers have been proactive and developed start-up packages specifically and other packages to suit different marketing budgets. Well-established brands also can stand out and connect more with existing and new consumers of their brands by becoming a sponsor. There are options here as well, with platinum and diamond packages, or you may opt to be a headline sponsor. The choice is up to you. Whether you are already engaged in the halal economy or are thinking of tapping into this economy and you are not sure where to start, the Halal Economy Conference at the expo will highlight the different facets of this religiously bound market with in-depth discussions, debates, and analysis by trailblazers in the halal economy. For more information, reach out to the Halal Expo London team at enquiries@ halalexpolondon.com or call them on + 44 (0) 7787 329 340.

Halal Business News WASABIH Connecting the Global Halal Business Economy

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Halal is a way of life. It transcends all sectors. The Halal Economy is even bigger than the 2 billion Muslim world population. Indeed, more and more Muslims and non-Muslims now endorse the universal values of Halal, for a sustainable and equitable way of doing business. We are French, Senegalese, Ghanaian, Malaysian, and Moroccan. Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians. Living in 3 different continents, but united by this shared vision: to create a world where business is fair, equitable, and sustainable. That is why we created Wasabih at the end of 2021, ready to live the start-up life with its ups and its downs. With 2 billion Muslims on the planet, who are more and more conscientious of including Islamic values in their daily life, and with all the people believing that we, humans, have the key to making the world a fair place, why can’t we make this vision come true?

From a global vision to a down-to-earth practical solution

But beyond what one would see as a utopia there is also a practical reality. Muslims, who represent ¼ of the world population, still feel left out by the mainstream economy, brands and even in their workplace. They expect brands and employers to understand their needs and provide specific responses. It is often believed that providing Halal food is enough to be respectful of Islamic values, when Halal touches every aspect of life: fashion, charity, housing, finance, travel, education, work, business, pharmaceuticals,… This is the Halal Economy.

Therefore, if we want to realize our vision of a fair society, let’s start by bringing together professionals and companies who have a desire to be more respectful of Islamic values in the consumer experience and in the working environment, regardless of countries and religions, in one place, Wasabih. Wasabih, the Business Community for the Halal Economy. We have a proprietary Business Smart-matching Technology, that helps businesses connect with the right people at professional events.

Do LinkedIn and Facebook foster a higher sense of fairness and sustainability in business and professional relationships? Is it easy to connect with professionals who believe in the same vision? Do Muslims feel included by these platforms? Is there any concrete step taken by these platforms to address the specific needs of Muslims? Is it easy to meet and do business with companies who show an interest in the Halal Economy? From the recent developments, we can answer that quite the opposite is happening. We knew we were in the right direction when both these giant mainstream platforms decided to ax the targeting of religious interests in early 2022. Halal, although carrying universal values, is considered a religious word. You will simply not find any more keywords like Halal, Muslims, Islam, Quran or Ramadan in the suggested targeting of these platforms. On the other hand, people joining Wasabih want to connect with the Halal Economy by default and we qualify their motivation for joining the community. In the long run the information collected about their profile is what will be used to smart-match them.

Wasabih, an unprecedented networking solution for the Halal Economy

It sounds like LinkedIn for the Halal Economy, right? People could think: for professional purposes, why not stay on LinkedIn? Or on career-related groups on Facebook?

A diverse community with a common interest powered by our smart-matching technology

Mamadou Ndiaye, CEO of Wasabih

Wasabih currently hosts many different profiles - Conventional companies wanting to provide a safe space for their Muslim employees, - Professionals looking for Halal business events to start addressing Muslim consumers, - Key Opinion Leaders willing to share their knowledge and participate in conferences or events as speakers, - Influencers believing in the vision and are ready to advocate it, - Event organizers looking for sponsors, exhibitors or attendees for their next Halal-related events or who are looking for a Muslim-friendly community to build their Halal event communities, and more. With more than 30 countries represented on Wasabih from several religions and industries, we are very proud to be able to bring together such a growing variety under the Wasabih roof.

Thanks to our proprietary technology and deep understanding of event organizers’ pain points, we were able to sign and partner with international event organizers. We brought this technology on the map of both conventional and Halal professional events around the world, working on the one hand with international Halal event organizers like MIHAS, Halal Expo Canada, Penang International Halal Exhibition and conference (PIHEC), Saudi Halal Expo, Halal Expo London; and on the other with conventional event organizers like SME Corp Malaysia, to name a few.

Our ambition is to leverage this distinctive technology and the set of solutions we put in place to support Halal Event organizers. Not only do we help them power up the ROI of their events with our Smart-matching Technology, with higher satisfaction and enhanced business opportunities, but we also help them build a community of professionals prone to networking and doing business on a platform respectful of Islamic values. This will ensure a regular inflow of active members to Wasabih. From there, this technology will be expanded to more applications within the platform, to ensure relevant connections are suggested to new members, to help them do business and increase members satisfaction and ROI on Wasabih Team.

The investment will be mainly used for technology improvements and marketing efforts simultaneously. Not only do we plan to improve our MVP to ensure the platform and the app cover the gaps identified in the Halal Economy and to expand our smart-matching technology to more professional uses, but we also want to attract more members and start implementing new revenue streams through targeted and meaningful advertising for businesses. To reach out to Wasabih team, write to peace@wasabih.com or hit us up on Wasabih and on our social media pages. Wasabih team

T O R E A C H O U T T O WA S A B I H T E A M , W R I T E T O P E A C E @ WA S A B I H . C O M O R H I T U S U P O N WA S A B I H A N D O N O U R S O C I A L M E D I A PA G E S .

Wasabih is investment-ready As we graduated in May 2022 from an international accelerator, we are now ready for a round of funding. This is a crucial step for us to comfort and secure our first-mover advantage and to help us scale fast and efficiently.