battuta Halal Travel Magazine | December 2021

EDITOR’S LETTER Salaam, and welcome to our seventh issue of battuta, our halal travel e-magazine.

Inspiration and hope have always been battuta’s underlying themes ever since its launch in May 2020. Our sincere wish is for all our issues to encourage you to look forward with a positive mindset, find inspiration in the stories we share, and greet each day with a grateful heart and a pat on your back for the new ideas/habits you have embraced.

We recently launched our forum for Muslim travelers, a battuta community on our battutamagazine.com website, where our travel community can connect and grow daily. Do join us and claim your travel badges.

Following the footsteps of our inspirer, Ibn Battuta, we take you on a journey with our articles that emanate from different parts of the world.

We begin with our Team Lead, Dr. Mehmet N. Akkurt, who informs us about all the exciting updates that allowed HalalTravels.com to come back in a newer and better form. Muhtar Emirguliyev introduces us to the standard-bearer of religious buildings, namely, the Cambridge Central Mosque. This piece of Islamic Architecture espouses green energy and sustainability.

Managing Editor Haifa A Hussein

It may be winter soon in the Northern Hemisphere. Still, it is sunny in the Maldives as Maldives Halal Travel explains in our featured article.

For our readers who prefer city breaks and may brace the winter cold, our Modest Fashion partners, Modanisa, are ready to help us Travel in Style with their winter collection. The Spotlight is on M.I.N, a marketing and advertising agency who are definitely going places.

In addition, I strongly encourage everyone to read through our fascinating Food Corner article “Beyond the Clinic: Health and Food systems”

by Dr. Marium Husain. An article that touches the heart and inspires us all to do our part to make this Earth, our home, a better place for all.

Our guest influencer, Neollene A. ( neollene ), is an architect by training who is passionate about photography and travel, definitely a fascinating read. I also highly recommend reading Amine Dyane’s Reflections entitled “Traveling completely transformed my life. It can do the same for you.”

The Halal Business News section features Marwan Ahmad, founder of the American Halal Council, U.S. Halal Consultants, and Halal Expo & Summit, who takes us on America’s Halal Journey. Halal Tourism News highlights Expo 2020 that is currently ongoing in Dubai, U.A.E and Halal Dining Options in Hong Kong.

Lastly, I encourage comments and feedback via battuta@halaltravels.com as we continue to aspire to bring you the best of the Muslim world.

Enjoy!

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Editor in Chief Mehmet N. Akkurt Managing Editor Haifa Hussein Art Director Vefa Yabanigul Graphic Designer Yusuf Tezel Writers Muhtar Emirguliyev Um Akram Contributors Marium Husain, MD, MPH Neollene A. Maldives Halal Travel Amine Dyane Marwan Ahmad

CONTENTS:

Cambridge Central Mosque The Central Mosque in Cambridge is the first ecological Mosque in Europe and the first custom-built Mosque in Cambridge, England. It began operating on 24th April 2019.

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Islamic Architecture From Around The World: Cambridge Central Mosque

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The Maldives For Halal Seekers & Conscious Travelers!

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Winter Collection Modanisa

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SPOTLIGHT: The Muslim Influencer Network

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Beyond the Clinic: Health and Food Systems

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Q&A Neollene A.

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Reflections

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Halal Tourism BUSINESS

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Halal Tourism News

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Spotlight: The Muslim Influencer Network In this issue, the Spotlight is on none other than M.I.N, a marketing and advertising agency that aims to connect brands to a global Muslim audience of nearly two billion people through their creativity...

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 - Neollene A.

Our guest influencer for this issue of Battuta is Neollene A. (neollene), an architect by training who instead followed her passion for photography and travel.

IN SOCIAL MEDIA @HalalTravelscom

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HalalTravels.com - Company Updates Greetings, Once again, I am honored to be sharing great news with our valued readers. As we are approaching the end of the year, it is only fair that we look back at what the fantastic HalalTravels team has accomplished in 2021.

This year was the year we called “back to traveling” as the COVID-related travel restrictions eased and travel was, once again, made possible. The Halaltravels team made every effort to make sure all the concerns of Muslim travelers that chose us were answered promptly by a live agent.

This service in itself became the highlight of the year 2021 as we received an immense amount of positive feedback from customers. We will continue providing personalized services to our customers in 2022 insha’Allah.

HalalTravels’ mission to provide Muslim travelers with the most user-friendly website comprising an extensive inventory of handpicked Muslim-friendly properties worldwide is now a reality. You can enjoy a sneak peek of the new look at our website, HalalTravels.com, and we will soon announce the launch of our new website with more user-friendly features.

We are ready to meet the demand for the year 2022 insha’Allah and provide Muslim travelers with the best service possible. We want to ensure your travel experience is pleasant from the get-go.

Our professional team of customer service specialists is ready to assist you in providing a hasslefree booking process.

On behalf of the HalalTravels team, we are happy to serve you.

HalalTravels.com’s Team Lead Mehmet N. Akkurt, PhD

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Book now with exclusive early booking prices & save up to 35% for summer 2022!

Islamic Architecture From Around The World: By: Muhtar Emirguliyev

Cambridge Central Mosque

Read along to find out more about an award-winning Mosque in Europe.

The Central Mosque in Cambridge is the first ecological Mosque in Europe and the first custom-built Mosque in Cambridge, England. It began operating on 24th April 2019. Its mission is to meet the needs of Muslims worldwide by promoting good practice in religion, community development, social cohesion, and interfaith dialogue.

With a focus on sustainability and heavy dependence on green energy, the Mosque is the first ecological movement in Europe around a central theme of a “calm oasis” with “trees” to mimic Jannah, the Garden of Paradise.

The hallmark of the Cambridge Mosque is its wooden structure made from timber. Sustainable timber is an entirely renewable resource and significantly reduces the carbon footprint of any project. The pillars made in the form of “trees” are sufficient to support the roof in an interlocking octagonal domed structure reminiscent of the familiar English fan vault-and-gothic architecture as in the nearby King’s College Chapel of Cambridge. The timber used is bent and laminated, and these pillar trees are visible throughout the building.

The skylight is above the “trees” and illuminates the prayer hall with natural light. The octagonal geometric patterns have strong symbolism in Islamic Art, denoting abstractions and beautiful proportions. Complex geometric patterns made using simple but repetitive patterns can infinitely grow. Yet, the simplicity, symmetry, and proportions are balanced. These geometric patterns symbolize Allah’s swt infinity and perfection.

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The hallmark of the Cambridge Mosque is its wooden structure made from timber.

The Mosque utilizes LED lights and solar panels. Renewable solar energy, along with highly efficient heat pumps, is used for heating and cooling purposes. The Mosque teaches the wider community to be responsible and protect the environment entrusted to us by the Creator by reusing water, rainwater harvesting, and natural ventilation.

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Islamic Architecture From Around The World ~ Cambridge Central Mosque

Gardens with cascading fountains and domed prayer halls were used significantly throughout Islamic history.

As Abdal Hakim Murad, chairman of the Cambridge Mosque Trust, remarked, the Mosque has developed the concept of the British Mosque in the 21st century, a union of the historic and timeless with today’s technology. At the Cambridge Central Mosque, the goal was to build something unique using Islamic and British architectural traditions. The architects cleverly used yellow bricks that are common in Cambridge as tiles. The tiles were arranged in different patterns and with rotational symmetry conveyed a message in Kufic calligraphy: Say He is God, the only one.

Gardens with cascading fountains and domed prayer halls were used significantly throughout Islamic history.

It reminds us of the bond between man and nature.

Worshippers who visit the Cambridge Central Mosque also transition from the street through an Islamic garden.

Then they go through a covered foyer and an atrium that mentally prepares them to contemplate on the upcoming prayer and the bond with their Lord.

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Cambridge Central Mosque ~ Islamic Architecture From Around The World

Besides the Mosque’s dedicated areas for ablution, teaching, etc., there are cafes and meeting rooms that the local people can use. If you wish to pray or go to Jumu’ah, keep in mind that the Mosque can accommodate up to 1000 worshippers.

When this project began, support came from the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Still, most of the donations came from Turkey.

One of the project’s goals is to create one of the leading femalefriendly mosques in the UK. Marks Barfield, the chief architect, also considered this aspect when designing the space. “The Cambridge community hopes that it should be a very womenfriendly mosque, and its design allows it to be used flexibly,” Barfield said.

The Mosque, recently nominated for the coveted Stirling Prize by the Royal Institute of British Architects for 2021, won the People’s Choice and Client of the Year Award for 2021.

For instance, the “mashrabiya” panel screens separating the men and women in the main prayer hall are not permanent fixtures. They are movable. There are specific sections for women and children on the first floor as well. If the women are not comfortable praying behind the “mashrabiya” screen, they can pray upstairs.

Global warming and Climate Change are the burning issues of our time. The Cambridge Central Mosque has led the way with its sustainable design.

It is now becoming a model for other religious buildings around the world.

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The

Maldives

For Halal Seekers & Conscious Travelers!

Home to secluded beaches and beautiful lagoons, the Maldives has always been known as a romantic getaway destination for honeymooners. Located in the Southwest of Sri Lanka, spanning across the equator, the archipelago offers a private and personalized holiday like no other, making it a perfect destination to unwind, relax, and have some fun.

For first-timers, traveling to the Maldives will be an exciting experience and one to look forward to.

Unmatched luxury, stunning white-sand beaches, and an amazing underwater world make the Maldives an obvious choice for a proper holiday of a lifetime. A few reasons to motivate you to consider making the Maldives your ideal holiday destination are as follows:

By: Maldives Halal Travel

Choosing the right island to visit during your holiday can be tough as there are currently over 150 resorts being operated by leading local and international brands as well as boutique hotels scattered throughout the atolls.

100% Muslim country

The Maldives is a geological marvel made up of 1,190 coral islands that together form an archipelago of 26 major atolls that stretch like a string of pearls across the Indian Ocean. This archipelagic state in South Asia has been a 100% Muslim nation since its conversion to Islam in 1153AD.

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The Maldives is perfect for any conscious or Muslim traveler. It offers a sanctuary for soul searchers, people seeking a retreat, or just needing a break from the routine.

The local laws encourage travelers to dress modestly while visiting the capital or the local islands.

Culture and Heritage The Maldives boasts of a proud history and rich culture evolved from the first settlers in the country, seafarers from different parts of the world who traversed the oceans in the olden times.

Over the centuries, people from other countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Arabia, and Persia, settled in the Maldives.

You can easily spot some of the traditions they brought and shared with the Maldivian people.

This cultural fusion is reflected in some Maldivian traditional drumming and dancing (known as ‘Bodu Beru’), which has African influences, with rhythmic beating of drums and some songs in a language resembling that of East African countries.

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The Maldives For Halal Seekers & Conscious Travelers!

Local Islands

To truly see the beauty of the Maldives and experience island life, travel, and stay at a local island. Guests can stay at premium guest houses that offer glimpses of local life along with the perks of luxury. Fuvamulah is the smallest of the atolls, with just one island. However, it is the largest island in the Maldives and is a famous vacationing spot. Its dive spot, ‘Farikede Faru,’ a marine site in Fuvahmulah City, is best known for an area on a rocky limestone plateau known as Thresher Point, named after two species of thresher sharks that frequent the area.

Uncompromised Extreme Privacy

Maldivian resorts offer extreme or maximum privacy for guests to enjoy their vacation in tranquility and peace. Most villas are built in a neat array that ensures privacy for all guests. For instance, at LTI Maafushivaru, the luxury villas are intimately complete with chic touches and must-have modern conveniences. Extremely private, the resort’s five different styles of villas, ranging from 99 sqm to 151 sqm, are among the exceptional luxury villas in the Maldives, and all beachfront villas have a private beach.

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Another sanctuary that offers uncompromised privacy is Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives’ Beach Spa Pool Residence which is the epitome of luxury, privacy, and seclusion. Unwind and sink into the tranquility of the Maldives in your private three-bedroom beach residence or cool down in your private plunge pool. Sprawled across 230 sqm, this rustic-chic fort of dreams is where your idea of the ultimate island escape instantly becomes a reality.

The Maldives For Halal Seekers & Conscious Travelers!

Personal Butlers Ready to impress even the most discerning traveler, Maldivian resorts have introduced revolutionary butler programs to help you curate your perfect holiday itinerary and cater to your every whim.

For instance, Como Cocoa Island assigns a private butler to each COMO villa, who will show the guests around their residence, take them for a walk around the island, take orders for your meals, and such. Similarly, the “Exclusive Islanders’’ of Kihaa Maldives will assist guests in curating the best holiday experience.

One-of-a-kind Experiences The Maldives has a variety of experiences in store for its visitors. Get up close with the colors of the reef without getting wet at all. Anantara Dhigu Maldives’ motorized vessel offers 360-degree wildlife spotting, with a transparent bottom that reveals pufferfish, octopus, and bright schools of angelfish darting in and out of the coral, which is the ideal experience for families with children and non-swimmers.

For those who have a sweet tooth, Mövenpick Chocolate Hour at Kuredhivaru offers a selection of decadent delights on the house every day for their guests! Unwind with a dose of café culture in the Maldives and a variety of top quality Mövenpick products, including coffee, chocolate, and ice-cream.

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The Maldives For Halal Seekers & Conscious Travelers!

Gastronomical Experiences

Experience the best tropical paradise with the delightful gastronomical experiences available at the resorts. There’s something for everyone! Dine underwater at H20 – Underwater Restaurant. A fully submerged, all-glass undersea restaurant that offers a fine dining experience with a multi-course tasting extravaganza garnished with a state-of-theart location.

Visit the Maldives and discover the beauty of the destination for yourself!

For something exceptional, make reservations at Tai in COMO Maalifushi; one of the finest Japanese restaurants in the Maldives. With only fresh produce and local seafood, each set dish is a delight for your gastronomical experience. Tantalize your taste buds with the delights Tai has to offer as you enjoy the stunning views of the Maldivian sunset.

To help you with your Maldives travel plans, HalalTravels.com has partnered with Maldives Halal Travel. Get in touch via reservation@halaltravels. com to learn more about the Maldives and your Halal travel options.

Discover the sunshine, explore the white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of a thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands with tranquil lagoons of infinite shades of blue that together make up the ultimate combination for an ideal tropical halal holiday destination. Nonetheless, there is so much more to the Maldives than just that.

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Whether you are a solo traveler seeking some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle, or honeymooners seeking to enjoy their dream vacation, or a family trying to enjoy activities specialized for children, Maldives caters to all.

Winter Collection Modanisa Winter Collection offers us a striking glimpse into modern and urban women’s closets, complete with maximal assertive patterns and tonal silhouettes.

Though the sun peeks behind the clouds once in a while, it doesn’t warm us up like it used to. The leaves are falling one by one, downpours and strong winds are here to stay for a while. So it’s time to prepare your wardrobe for the chilly days ahead. You’re in luck!

Modanisa has been adding new pieces to its winter collection. The story of soft textures and warm fabrics is being rewritten this season with oversized items and never-ending layers. Let’s look at the standout styles for winter 202122.

Cozy Ponchos Cozy winter ponchos that wrap us up like a swaddle are among the outerwear pieces to invest in.

Perfect to layer with oversized sweaters and wool knits, they add a bit of warmth with their soft hues. Create an elegant look with knit sets and dresses - the ultimate winter staples.

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Effortless Elegance Have you been told not to wear white in winter? It’s just not true. The trend is showing up everywhere, from shawls to boots, creating headto-toe ecru for maximum impact. If you want a pick-me-up on gray and gloomy days, you can always opt for some beige and ecru in different patterns and fabrics.

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Modanisa ~ Winter Collection

Soothing Green Green is taking over the scene this season. Not only a companion to earth tones, but it also pairs well with navy blue, ecru, and beige. Plus, it is the color you need in your wardrobe when it comes to winter layering.

Pair your wool knits with a raincoat to achieve a weather-ready look.

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S POTLIGHT: By: Um Akram

This article highlights the “storytellers who bring the message, meaning and magic out of your brand.”

In this issue, the Spotlight is on none other than M.I.N, a marketing and advertising agency that aims to connect brands to a global Muslim audience of nearly two billion people through their creativity, thorough knowledge of faith & culturebased communities, and their influencer network that was built over time.

You may say that this is very ambitious, but knowing Saiful Islam and Omar Shahid, the cofounders of M.I.N, ambition is second nature to them.

Saiful Islam is an accredited Diversity & Inclusion specialist from Yale University, also recognized as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Influencer Marketing.

Saif also oversaw strategy and digital transformation for global organizations, including Primark and the U.N. Omar Shahid, a former journalist for the Times, Guardian, and the Independent wrote about Religion and was named Forbes 30 under 30.

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“The Muslim Influencer Network’s original mission was to help Muslim Influencers utilize the power of their influence in a positive way.”

M.I.N was established in 2017, and it stands for Muslim Influencer Network. In this age of Social Media, there is no escaping Influencers especially considering the low barriers to entry that this industry has. More and more Muslims made up a growing percentage of this sector. They quickly identified the significant power these Influencers wielded if channeled the right way.

The Muslim Influencer Network’s original mission was to help Muslim Influencers utilize the power of their influence in a positive way.

The aim was to create more empowered influencers, meaningful social media engagements, and relationships, thereby overcoming the perception that Social media is absolutely disconnected from reality. When working with this advertising agency, influencers know that they have someone to fall back on. They are supported during challenges, and the diverse portfolio of mainstream brands that M.I.N handles means an opportunity to gain credibility and exposure sooner than later.

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SPOTLIGHT ~ The Muslim Influencer Network

Micro and Macro Muslim influencers with a minimum of 30 40,000 followers, up to 1 million followers, are the primary contributors to the Muslim Influencer Network.

Influencers can easily manipulate their follower numbers.

Hence, differentiator criteria allow the experts to find the gems within the Influencer space.

M.I.N have their own formula for what truly makes an influencer, such as scanning through their engagement rate, clicks, communication skills, and the influencer’s ability to demonstrate that they really have a community. This rigorous criterion allows businesses to rest assured that they are not wrongly misled to work with Influencers with false follower numbers and “likes” that unfortunately plague the Influencer industry.

On the other hand, we have brands that would want to understand the Muslim market and would like to connect with people from faith and cultural backgrounds. The Muslim / Halal / Islamic economy has undoubtedly gained prominence. It presents a substantial untapped opportunity with more and more global brands hoping to get a slice of the pie.

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With 16 team members based worldwide, this global marketing company offers consultancy, strategic support, social media management, content creation, and Influencer marketing services, thereby allowing brands to meaningfully engage with minority communities that are now fast becoming majorities, particularly Muslims.

These services are highly advantageous specifically for visionary founders who want to scale their start-ups and benefit from the creative marketing support offered.

Prominent brands that have utilized M.I.N are Apple, the United Nations, Primark, Rubicon, Co-Op, Anchor Butter, Tesco, The Southbank Centre and several charities who raised over $5 million for their particular causes.

The Muslim Influencer Network ~ SPOTLIGHT

The Muslim / Halal / Islamic economy has undoubtedly gained prominence.

O humankind, We have created you male and female, and appointed you races and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most God-fearing of you.

God is All-knowing, All-aware (Qur’ān 49:13).

With the above words, the Qur’ān highlights the importance and necessity of diversity and the fact that it needs to be celebrated.

M.I.N portrays Islam with Ihsan (excellence), and they embody the harmony that our Creator prescribed by expanding to work with different faith and cultural communities.

Despite the various challenges that businesses typically face and the recent pandemic, M.I.N has continued to grow MashaAllah with the establishment of Creed and Culture and One Studio and eventually Inclusiv, the holding group, to work across many different cultures and faith communities.

The vision for this Muslim pioneer company is to be a global brand in their own right. As Saiful said, “We are in the business of creating meaning for people and in people.”

Working on this article kept reminding me of a verse from the Holy Quran.

So, whether you want more sales or awareness or are looking to build your brand from scratch or drive engagement, you know who to contact.

Wishing them all the very best in their future endeavors insha’Allah, we conclude by saying in this edition of “battuta” Spotlight, M.I.N stole our hearts.

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Beyond the Clinic: Health and Food Systems By: Marium Husain, MD, MPH

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose) and that you would not be brought back to Us?” (Quran 23:115) When I was a second-year, inexperienced resident learning the art of medicine in the United States, I had a challenging patient. His sugar levels were always uncontrolled in the clinic. At every visit, I had to increase his insulin to ungodly levels. One day, I just lost it with him and blurted, what are you doing?

Why are your sugar levels so terribly controlled? I can’t keep treating you like this if you’re not going to take care of yourself! He paused, looked down, took a deep breath, and then told me: “Doc, I know, but what can I do? I have a fixed income, my social security. I live in a trailer. My wife was sick on and off this year and in and out of the hospital.

The only place I can afford food is the food pantry, and all they have is bread. What else can I do?”

All the culture and life perspectives I had at that time changed instantly. I have never felt more ashamed of myself than in that moment, but I was also never more enlightened than I was than in that moment. For the first time, I truly understood a patient’s story and the importance of their story. My patient had diabetes, yes.

He had a medical condition, yes. But his disease, and more importantly, his health, was so much more than the science of his blood sugars. His health was linked to his surroundings, environment, struggles, and pain. As physicians, we learn much about science, which is undeniably important. But, there was only so much I could do for my patient with science. His environment played a more significant role in his health than I ever could.

For the first time, I truly saw what food insecurity looked like, not just what a textbook said.

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Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. (Qur’an, 13:11) This incident opened my eyes. I witnessed the inequities in the healthcare system and how commercial interests drive many of our food decisions and behaviors. There are numerous social/commercial, and environmental determinants of health. The COVID-19 pandemic caused devastating impacts on the food system, with astronomical food insecurity worldwide. I also witnessed the sacred lands that were stolen and ancestral/indigenous/faith-based practices that were deliberately ignored for profit gains. But, what I didn’t anticipate learning from my patient was another dimension of health. At the end of our visit, after profusely apologizing, he tried to reassure me: “We’ll be alright. The Lord will look out for me.”

This patient of mine, and the countless that have passed on to the next life, each with their own unique story of joy and hardship, showed me how integral faith is to health. The Qur’an stresses the importance of pure food. Whenever the Qur’an mentions who a believer is, it’s very frequently joined with statements about those who eat good things that God has provided and who are grateful to Him. The Earth and all its resources are presented as blessings, not possessions. A believer is one who feeds the hungry, and not just with any food but pure, healthy food for which there are numerous examples.

My patient had an undeniable faith in God while living in a human-created system that was designed against him, and maybe that faith was the only thing that kept him going all those years. He helped me realize that it doesn’t have to be this way. We created this food system, so we can change it too.

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Beyond the Clinic: Health and Food Systems

Islam shows us what a food system could look like that is harmonious with health and our place in our environment: eating what is halal and pure, feeding the indigent and poor, avoiding waste. There is much wisdom in what the Qur’an prescribes, and science is consistent with that wisdom.

I increased my participation in IMANA (the Islamic Medical Association of North America), which focuses on direct medical relief worldwide. I wanted to integrate faith into my science career better where I could serve in this world but ultimately for the sake of Allah swt. At IMANA, we are committed to fighting climate change and its health impacts, including improving our food systems. We partnered with the Faith and Food Coalition to host dialogues with indigenous and faith actors on how to change our food behaviors and improve our food systems. By using Islam AND science, we can revolutionize how we produce, distribute, and consume healthy, equitable, and Earth/tradition-conscious food.

“Say: Travel through the Earth and deeply observe how God did originate the creation; then God produces the next creation; surely God has power over all things”(Qur’an 29:19-20)

How to help: Join IMANA’s initiative: email marium.husain@imana.org For more information: Islam and Food Systems: UN Environmental Programme Position Paper Food as Medicine Collaborative Health Care Without Harm Feeding America and Food Pantries Marium Husain, MD, MPH The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hematology/Oncology Fellow IMANA, President www.imana.org WAPPNA President Founder, Science Jummah

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Q&A Neollene A. Our guest influencer for this issue of Battuta is Neollene A. ( neollene ), an architect by training who instead followed her passion for photography and travel.

Neollene, welcome! Please feel free to introduce yourself more to our readers.

I was an architect by training and currently a TV Director and Producer by passion. My interest in visual arts, films, and cinema has opened up many opportunities beyond what I initially envisioned. Besides my love for traveling and filmmaking, I have encountered several assignments that have sent me to explore various genres of videos in many parts of the world. My architectural background has helped me visualize arts, graphics, photos, and videos into cinematic experiences on screen.

‘‘I am trying my best to be honest in creating my art and what I post on social media’’ I’m passionate about living a very calm yet meaningful life. I aim to create content that is meaningful and to capture memories. I’ve been capturing the world for the past 12 years, and the curiosity and passion in me will always be loud while staying creative keeps me happy. Knowing new cultures and exploring new places are the things that I look forward to.

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I have to confess. I had to put in more thought and read between the lines when preparing for this Q&A. You are a very private person, Neollene, yet you are a public figure and an influencer. How do you strike a balance between the two?

To be honest, I never see myself as an influencer or a public figure. I am trying my best to be honest in creating my art and what I post on social media. I consider myself an ordinary girl and normal human being who’s just doing creative things and sharing my expression, knowledge, and experience with the world. Being a private person by nature isn’t that difficult. I know I need to be more outgoing when it comes to work or show something only when it has a particular purpose.

Otherwise, I think I’ll just be myself.

Q&A ~ Neollene A.

We at HalalTravels, believe travel begins with inspiration. What inspired and continues to inspire your love for travel and photo/videography?

I reckon what inspired me the most is my high level of curiosity, the urge to explore something new. I always believe that we can fulfill our dreams when working hard and believing in our abilities. I am a girl with a lot of dreams. I was raised by parents who believe in their daughter’s ability and support what I do in life. Growing up, I had to move from one place to another due to my father’s occupation that required shifting locations within a certain time period. I was brought up to believe that distance means nothing when you have purpose and good intentions in life. My passion for art, photography, and filmmaking has also inspired me to capture memories and places as I travel the world. Seeing the positive impact that I unintentionally created when I managed to capture them beautifully and how it could touch people’s hearts motivated me to create, shoot, edit, and share more. So I guess, as long as I am happy with what I do, and when the intention is pure, I will keep doing that.

Neollene A. ~ Q&A

“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” (Einstein) What are your thoughts on this?

As a Muslim, setting an intention is paramount, followed by working hard and praying for it to work as we plan.

‘‘

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As a person who believes in hard work and dreams, we need both in life. If we see nothing as a miracle in life, we will work hard to achieve what we want in life, and after we work hard, we need fate or a miracle to bring us to where we would like to be.

We only need a miracle or luck to happen after working hard and believing that God will help us achieve it.

Life is not measured by fame or money, but moments that take our breath away. Having visited over 40 countries, tell me of the places that have taken your breath away?

As a visual person who’s so into nature, I would say places that have taken my breath away are the picturesque and mountainous views that I spent with the person I love because those were the places that I managed to create fond memories at.

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Q&A ~ Neollene A.

Does your architectural background still make a comeback whenever you travel?

I couldn’t forget how astonishing it felt to drive along the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada, or to hike to the viewpoint of Mount Fitzroy in Argentina with my close friends and how breathtaking it felt to see the Sunset in between the ridge at the top of the mountains in the Dolomites, Italy with my mother.

It was truly mesmerizing to see the northern lights dancing in the sky of Tromso, Norway, and Akureyri, Iceland. These are among the places where I would like to spend my time again with my loved ones.

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Most people might not know, my long studies in Architecture had brought me to many places during my early travel days. Architecture and filmmaking have always been my passion, but we can only choose one path to walk in life. I reckon the knowledge that I got from my architectural studies has helped me develop the love of sightseeing not only in nature but also in the cities. It encourages me to see, and study and criticize buildings in their architectural aspects more than other people who don’t have any background in architecture. Architectural studies have helped me recognize the certain style and history of buildings and helped me compose my photography and videography even better.

“It’s about how we see things but from a slightly different perspective.”

Neollene A. ~ Q&A

I know Poetry is very close to your heart, and I had to mention the poem that you captioned during your trip to Turkey. How do you relate to these words and poetry in general?

Kalp deniz, Dil kiyidir, Denizde ne varsa, Kiyiya o vurur.

The heart is the sea, The tongue is the shore, Whatever is in the sea, Is what is found on the shore. ( Rumi )

Whatever we utter from our mouth comes from the condition of the heart. This highlights how important it is to have a pure and gentle heart because then only good and kind words will come out of our mouths. I love how Rumi relates it with the sea, where we can see the sea is full of concurrent waves with varying magnitudes and amplitudes. And there are a lot of things living or dying beneath it. It is similar to the heart.

What kind of trips do you prefer? Plane trips or road trips and why? Are there any travel tips you would like to share with our readers? As a Hijabi, what have your travel experiences been like?

I think the best method of transportation will depend on the places that we would like to explore. Some are better to be experienced by car or road trips because by doing that, we could experience driving the scenic routes through the mountains, and rivers and lakes such as in Banff and Jasper National Park, or the scenic route in Arizona, or Arthur’s Pass in New Zealand, where we can stop by the road any time we want to take pictures or drop by any attraction places along the road. It will be nice to travel by train, such as taking a Trans-Siberian train to travel from Beijing to Moscow.

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Q&A ~ Neollene A.

If there’s any tip I would like to share, always study the places you wish to go to ensure you get the best experience. Some of the parks or routes are closed in certain seasons, like in winter, and the closing time is different for each country. Study about the weather too, because it affects the activity you can do. For instance, if we travel far enough to Iceland in the hope of seeing the Aurora, studying the weather, KP index, and cloud movement would enhance the chances for us to see it. Always subscribe and look for airline promotions to significantly reduce the cost of traveling to a faraway country.

Search for unique and picturesque places through social media using hashtags. You’ll be surprised to find a lot of beautiful places.

As a hijabi, I feel grateful for not having any bad experience other than a curious glare by strangers on the street or the train. Think positively about it, and continue to show good examples such as smiling and being kind and warm to anyone you meet, and you’ll be good.

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Neollene A. ~ Q&A

You say, “Dare to dream!” You have dared by switching careers and visiting countries off the beaten path. Tell me whether there is more to this dream?

I want to thank you for taking the time to respond to our questions despite your busy schedule. Any final thoughts that you would like to share?

Always and will be more. There are still a lot of places that need to be discovered, and my actual dream is to direct my first feature film with my own original story. And my personal goals in life are to help as many people as possible with my arts, photos, videos, and writing, embrace kindness and make people feel loved and happy.

My last words to the readers will be; Life is a beautiful journey. Set a good intention, have a good heart, dare to dream and just do it. If we don’t believe in ourselves, no one will. Life changes the day you start doing it.

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Reflections: Traveling Completely Transformed My Life.

It Can Do the Same for You. By: Amine Dyane

Traveling connected me to myself, and ultimately, to Allah.

I still can’t believe how much I have changed.

It is like taking one person and swapping it with another one.

What was overwhelming became easy to vanquish.

I had strength where I used to show weakness.

Energy replaced lethargy.

All the blessings I’m enjoying today — closeness to Allah, serenity, and even writing — started with traveling.

But, how did it take so long for me to change?

When it’s time to change, live up to our responsibilities, and fix our relationship with Allah, resistance shows up.

Resistance is the repelling force that prevents us from doing what we need to do.

No one is happy when you’re planning to change your life for the better.

Your lower self doesn’t want it, your mind is scared of the time and effort it might take, and shaytan (devil) doesn’t want to lose a good client.

Under pressure, we end up putting everything we need to deal with in a special closet.

Self-delusion helps to do so.

‘Tomorrow will be different”, we might say.

It sounds like a good strategy, but there’s only one problem.

The things we ignore have a life on their own.

They keep growing and growing until the closet is no longer big enough to contain them.

Resistance comes with a price.

When it gets the best of us, we feel unhappy, unsatisfied, guilty, or hate ourselves.

We don’t want to feel this way, so we start adopting some vices that relieve us.

Ultimately, we realize that we can’t suppress those feelings, so we enter depression, aggression, or despair.

No one wants to reach the final stage. It’s a dark place to be.

But even if you do, there is always hope.

Whether you lose your way or lose yourself, they’ll always be an opportunity to move in the right direction.

For me, the opportunity was traveling.

I flew to Australia with one thousand euros, a hundred words of English, and a million fears.

Some of my fears did happen, but the outcomes were not as catastrophic as I imagined.

I ran out of money, got scammed, my belongings were stolen, and I got disappointed by some people. That’s pretty much everything.

On the other side, I did countless jobs not matching my profile, received help from perfect strangers, skydived and scuba-dived, trained martial arts in a Shaolin school, crossed China for a month with a broken rib, hiked in Nepal and reached 5400m despite altitude sickness, volunteered in Sri Lanka, fell in love with Indonesia... but most importantly, I renewed my connection to Allah.

I particularly remember a dua (supplication) I made on a desolate Australian beach.

In the middle of the night, I went out of my tent, sat on a massive rock, stared at the full moon, and started weeping.

That night, I told Allah everything. My weaknesses, my failed attempts to change, and my desperate need for help and guidance.

Immediately, I felt my chest less tight.

Soon after, new people came into my life; others were leaving it.

In between, I had a period of solitude.

Solitude can be scary–you might not like what you see– but it is necessary.

I shifted from looking outward to looking inward.

My choked inner voice became more and more audible.

And what I couldn’t accomplish in years took very little time while traveling.

There is an ayat capturing my state well before and after traveling: “When the earth, for all its spaciousness, closed in around them, when their very souls closed in around them, when they realized that the only refuge from God was with Him, He relented towards them in mercy in order for them to return [to Him]. God is the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful.”

[Quran 9:118] But guess what, I realized?

I wasn’t the only person with a closet.

On the road, I met many individuals with closets of fear.

And this is where traveling gives its utmost value.

It helps you get in the closet with fear, and I came out with strength and new possibilities.

Traveling leaves us no place to hide, no work to keep us busy, and no routine to distract us.

It breaks our inner structure. Progressively, we get to know ourselves and our potential.

In the end, the closet is not the place to run away from but the one to go towards.

As Carl Jung wrote: “That which you most need will be found where you least want to look.”

Amine Dyane regularly publishes on his blog, The Muslim Shepherd. He writes to revive curiosity in Muslims following his motto: Learn everything from everyone.

Halal BUSINESS

NEWS

Our Halal Journey in the United States of America By: Marwan Ahmad

Every time I visited a local Muslim store, I noticed different halal logos and labels on them. There was a level of inconsistency and confusion about the difference between them and who issues these halal labels. That realization led me to organize the first United States Halal Expo and Summit. The idea was to bring halal businesses and consumers together.

Since then, slowly but surely, things started to change.

The U.S. halal market’s popularity has skyrocketed among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The U.S. has become one of the largest exporters of halal meat to the Muslim world. More and more U.S. companies are certifying their products as halal.

The industry’s growth is not limited solely to food products. More than ever, people care that their cosmetics, medical supplements, and even finances meet halal standards. However, the U.S. halal tourism market has yet to catch up to many other nations.

To learn more about the halal industry and market, I traveled to Malaysia, Turkey, and Dubai, where I met with several halal producers and distributors. It was an eye-opener because of the sheer size of the halal market and its potential, especially in the U.S. Later I realized the need for education and advocacy work for halal in the U.S. This inspired me to grow the halal industry in the United States and sought to create an organization to advance and advocate for the halal lifestyle in the U.S. That’s when the idea of creating the American Halal Council, a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating and advocating for halal came to life. It also promotes halal through research and halal verification of existing halal products and services. The AHC board is comprised of the world’s top halal experts. Today, AHC is the only nonprofit organization that serves halal consumers and businesses in the U.S.

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As I continued to organize the Halal Expo and Summit every year, I learned so much about our market and its many aspects. I also had the opportunity to conduct several meetings with government officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

These meetings were instrumental in learning the current policies and the ways to help advance them on the federal and local levels.

Last year, unfortunately, we were faced with the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced us to divert our attention towards the various challenges this created for halal businesses around the world. In order to protect halal stores and consumers, we launched a program to supply over a hundred stores employees with face shields in five major cities in the U.S. We also launched an education program to update halal store owners on best practices of protecting their employees and customers.

During the first days of the epidemic, we launched halal food distribution to seniors in our community. With the help of countless volunteers, we helped deliver hundreds of meals to seniors at their homes. We also worked with local governments and food pantries to provide halal meals to families who were impacted economically by the pandemic.

Last year we had to make a difficult decision whether to host the third annual Halal Expo and Summit or not. Once again, we decided to face the challenge instead of running from it.

We held the event on a newly created visual platform called Hopin at a time when many other events were canceled or postponed indefinitely.

As we worked with businesses, consumers, and government officials we realized that hosting an annual event was not enough to grow this important industry. That’s when we decided to form the U.S. Halal Consultants with a dozen experts in the halal industry. The idea was to provide a platform for businesses who are seeking help in various areas such as business development, marketing, market research, certification, and training. Today our team of consultants provide services to many halal companies in the U.S. and those coming from outside.

Fortunately, we were able to accomplish many goals in a short time. However, there is so much more work to be done since the demand is higher than the supply in the domestic market. We are working diligently to create more awareness and transparency in the U.S. halal market. We are also working with local and international partners to create a U.S. based halal standard.

The halal industry is still a growing market, and our work has only just begun. We believe that people deserve to consume halal and tayyib products and services. We continue to work with many partners to advance our work and achieve our goals. This is what keeps us going, and we strive to offer the halal and tayyib way of life to every American.

Footnote: Marwan Ahmad is the founder of the American Halal Council, U.S. Halal Consultants and Halal Expo & Summit.

Halal Tourism

NEWS By: Muhtar Emirguliyev

Halal Dining Options in Hong Kong Before we discuss halal restaurants in Hong Kong, let’s look into the word “halal.” In Arabic, the term “halal” simply means “allowed” but is often used to refer to what can be eaten. Muslims have certain dietary restrictions that ban the use of alcohol, all pork-related products, and meat that has not been slaughtered through Islamic regulation (“Zabiha”).

Hong Kong has around 40 restaurants certified by the Islamic Board of Trustees. Still, Hong Kong also has authentic local halal cuisine and a Disneyland that offers halal options.

The top 3 restaurants in Hong Kong that offer halal meat dishes are: 1) 375 Chicken ‘n Fries: Initially from New York, this fast-food event began in early summer and checked off all the halal boxes. The restaurant offers fried chicken in vegetable oil, free of hormones and antibiotics. (Location: 375 Chicken’ n Fries HK, 79-83 Queen’s Road Central, Man Hing Commercial Building, Central, Hong Kong)

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2) Bengal Brothers: This scenic eatery serves Bangla-style wraps, rice and chaat bowls, and lassi.

Everything cooked with chicken or lamb is halal in Bengal Brothers. (Location: Bengal Brothers, G/F, 6 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)

3) CHAAT: guarantees a sophisticated and contemporary take on Indian food. The restaurant boasts carefully designed cuisine inspired by the entire subcontinent, with sublime street food and slowly cooked classic menus evolving. (Location: 5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong) During your visit to Hong Kong, a good rule of thumb is to always inquire about and look for the Halalcertified sign in the different establishments. Whatever you desire, be it a bowl of spicy noodles, steak, or curry, eating Halal in Hong Kong has become so much easier with the Food Panda App where you can also order Halal food online from a restaurant near you.

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Halal Tourism

NEWS Expo 2020

Expo 2020 is a world fair held in Dubai - UAE, from October 1st, 2021 to March 31st, 2022. It shines with outstanding architectural achievements and a focus on the future of the planet. Since its establishment, the Global Expo has told its story through structure, planning, and expertise.

The Expo aims to build new partnerships and inspire innovative solutions in critical industries around the world. It is all about communication, healing, and building a better world. “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” is the official theme. At the same time, the event has equally relevant subthemes on sustainability, mobility, and opportunity.

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Dubai won an international competition in 2013 organized by the Bureau of International Expositions to host the first Global Expo in the Middle East.

The original master plan of the site, designed by the architecture and planning company HOK, remains almost unchanged.

The 1,000-acre site has petalshaped areas representing sustainability, opportunity, and mobility. Each area, in turn, has a prominent theme pavilion. Larger pavilions are usually located on the periphery to allow enough space in the center to mix. The other two “petals” extending from the central square contain more public spaces, such as stages, amphitheaters, lounges, dining areas, and more parks and playgrounds.

The primary focus of the World Expo is to connect people from all over the world. A few years ago, this area was a barren desert. There are now a series of parks, trails, wide arched boulevards, loops, alleys, and public works of art, all of which encourage interaction, easy navigation, open sightlines, and exploration. In addition, there is a sky garden, a 180-foot-tall viewing tower, and a “flying park.” If you are passing by Dubai for business or pleasure, it is well worth a visit.

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