contents 4-5 Heeman’s 6
The Everest Challenge
7
#WinterRefugee Campaign
8
Of Kings and Queens
9
Artbeat: The Dangling Canvas
10
Cupcakes for Syria
11
Surviving Tax Season
12
Smile the Pain Away
13
Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario
14
A Carnival in the Sky
15
Appi’s Closet
16
Family in Focus
17
Mariam Hashmi // Book reviews
18 Recipes
As salaam u alaikum (peace and blessings be upon you), As we start our fourth year at London LINK Magazine, I am happy to attribute all its goodness and success first to Allah SWT and then to the wonderful talented people who have contributed to make this into a worthwhile initiative. I am really grateful to my creative core team members: Ahmed, Lina and Naira for their sincerity, passion and amazing hard work which they put into London LINK. I am also thankful to all of our talented contributors who love to work on this project with us. Teamwork works! Alone we can have ideas but you need like-minded people who can carry it forward. Alhamdolillah for having that. I wish to thank our readers for your encouragement and kindness in making London LINK grow from a dream to an initiative read globally, presenting a positive image of Muslims in these times.
editor’s note
There’s more to come. May Allah SWT put blessings in all our efforts, Aameen. Sincerely, Naeema Farooqi founder / editor-in-chief
founder / editor-in-chief: Naeema Farooqi ; business development/ advertising manager: Aayjay ; the design team: Naira Ahmed & Lina ElShamy (studio-noon.com) ; contributors: Najwa Zebian, Dalal Dahrouj, Diana M. Sleiman, Saud Inam, Nadia Janjua, Asma Ahmadi, Naved Altaf, Madiha Salman, Alexis York Lumbard, Razia Hamidi, Fahim Khan, Saleme Fayad
editorial board
Photo details: (left-to-right) Rezki Awulia and Hanny Fitrisia. Thank you for being part of our anniversary issue! Cover photography: Saleme Fayad; Dress: Elle Couture; Hijab styling: Cleopatra hijabs; Flowers: Murree Flowers; Venue: The Windermere Manor Cover photography concept and direction: Naeema Farooqi, Contents photography: Naeema Farooqi
Welcoming our fourth volume
Your thoughts on London Link I live in the small town of Athabasca, Alberta. As one of few Muslims living here, I especially love sharing London Link through social media with the friends I have made here. I find the magazine has a special way about it which exudes confidence, positivity, and diversity among Muslims who have contributed to the articles. It is a cool compilation of creativity I am proud to share, especially with my non-Muslim friends, as it enlightens the reader with an eagerness to learn a little more about real-life people. It highlights a real sense of community through sharing success stories, struggles, exploring different cultures, promoting women through their achievements, showcasing small business owners, and telling stories through images. In a world of contrast, the smiles through their pictures speak the same language. Forever a London Link sharer, Hadla Assaf Athabasca, AB
The London Link is a magazine that highlights the positives of the Muslim community. I enjoy reading it for several reasons: to learn through articles and presentations led by influential speakers, such as Yasmine mogahed; to be informed of latest issues; to be on top of fundraising; and of course to appreciate the promotion of Islam. I live in Lac La Biche, Alberta and look forward to reading and sharing with my Muslim community. Reading it online makes this accessible. I look forward to each new issue. Mariam Abougouche, Lac La Biche, AB
Being a Londoner who lives abroad, I look forward to reading the London Link online. This magazine keeps me updated of current events happening in the city, as well as public and professional changes in the London Muslim Community. I can take pride in watching the growth of my community, even from a distance! Hifa Fayad Aurora, Colorado
I love London Link because it keeps me connected to my community. With 3 homeschooled kids who each have various outside activities, plus my own commitments, I don’t always know what’s going on in the world beyond my family. London Link let’s me know what’s happened, what’s happening and what’s going to happen so I can stay connected. Its also nice to read about family and friends and things they’ve done. My daughters have been in 2 issues and its nice to have those moments of events they’ve been involved in. Thanks London Link! Melanie Fayad, London, ON
page 4 // volume four, issue one
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Three Generations Strong Every great story starts with a simple dream, and every dream evolves into a beautiful reality when risks are taken and when genuine care for others is taken as a principle. The dream of Bill and Susan Heeman to come to Canada after their marriage in search of a new exciting life is a perfect example of this. In an effort to find a stable job and settle, they purchased 25 acres of land on Nissouri Road in 1963. Little did they know that this was the beginning that would lead them to opening the Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, or that this dream would become the dream of their children and grandchildren. While Bill worked at International Harvester, an agricultural machinery company, Susan picked strawberries from the half-acre field with the help of local students. This expanded the strawberry field to ten times its original size within five years. Year after year, more acres were planted and more workers and equipment were needed. This is where Bill put his creative technology skills to work, designing machines that would facilitate picking while ensuring the comfort of his workers. In effect, Bill Heeman was the first person in Canada to use a hot water furnace in a commercial greenhouse. In 1985, Bill and Susan’s son, Rudy, took over the management of the strawberry farm. In collaboration with his wife, Florence, the land increased from 14 acres in 1985 to an astounding 50 acres currently. The farm is home to 190,000 ft2 of greenhouses, including over 1500 varieties of annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs. The third generation joined the work team in 2012,
which contributed to the continuous growth and success of the business. Have you ever heard of the term daymaker? Yes, that literally means that your job is to make someone’s day. “We deal with things that people love,” Will Heeman, Chief Daymaker said. Heeman stressed that the passion present within the family for what they do is infectious and central to the success of the business. “We have a complementing skill set that focuses on the same goal,” Heeman stated when asked about the factors that made the business grow stronger with each generation. He added that trust within the family that each member will fulfil the duty that he or she is passionate about is essential. To ensure that the business continues on to the next generations, Heeman emphasized eliminating any kind of pressure on family members to join the business. However, “it should be made clear that being the next generation at Heeman’s is the best choice for success,” Heeman added, reflecting on his own experience. For those with new business ideas, Heeman’s advice is to keep in mind and staying true to the reason for opening the business. “If you allow yourself to deviate from the values that you started the business with, it won’t be the same. For us, there’s a commitment to quality, price, and service. We will not compromise any of those things that we were true to from day one and we want to continue on,” Heeman concluded. —Najwa Zebian Photo credit: Heeman’s
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volume four, issue one // page 5
page 6 // volume four, issue one
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Photo credit: Dalal Dahrouj, Humaira Saleem
The Everest Challenge Despite the hours of physical training and preparation, thoughts of suffocating from the thin air, and forever being lost in the bowels of Mount Everest filled my mind. Inspired by those who supported my mission for the Islamic Relief Orphan Sponsorship Program, I overcame these thoughts and boarded the 30-hour flight to Kathmandu, Nepal without looking back. This was the start of my gruelling hike up to Mount Everest Base Camp, reaching 18,000ft altitude. I embarked on this journey with a diverse group from Canada and England. Bonded by our common goal of making a difference with Islamic Relief, we shared meals, many laughs and challenging times, becoming a tight-knit Everest family. Such camaraderie was key to conquering the physical and mental challenges associated with this trek. Our journey started with flying into Lukla, home of the most dangerous airport in the world. This was followed by an 8 day ascent to Base Camp and 4 day descent. Each morning
started by feeling the rush of ice-cold air seeping in at Fajr. The cold would be quickly replaced by the heat and sweat of our hikes. With our heads pounding, chests tight, and breathing as though sucking honey through a straw, simply putting one foot in front of the other became a challenge in itself. Nevertheless, it was worth it! Having witnessed the fiery sunrise amidst the mountainside, walking through clouds, awe-inspiring landscapes, and drinking fresh glacier waterevery moment was one to be remembered and relived. And once we reached Base Camp, we felt like we were on top of the world! Before we left Nepal, I visited an orphanage to put my mission into perspective. Each child had the brightest smiles and strongest eyes. Meeting them under the starlit sky was the highlight of this journey, as it re-affirmed the intention of my trip. Only two-thirds make it to Base Camp, and our team succeeded! You don’t need to be a hardened mountaineer to achieve this goal. I
encourage every reader to consider this journey of a lifetime that makes a difference in other people’s lives. We all have many opportunities to serve Islamic Relief, including participating in one of their many Challenges. In fact, London’s next challenge will be an Islamic Relief team running 5k, 10k or half-marathon at the Forest City Marathon on April 27th. You will not want to miss being part of this team! For more information regarding the Mount Everest Base Camp trek or the Marathon, please email dalal.dahrouj@ medportal.ca. Also, donations accepted through crowdfunding.islamicreliefcanada.org What will be your challenge!? — Dalal Dahrouj
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volume four, issue one // page 7
Photo credit: Alaadeen Hammoudeh
#WinterRefugee Campaign: Reaching out to those in need
The #WinterRefugee campaign is a humanitarian initiative that sprung to life as a result of one student’s attempt to raise awareness of the harsh conditions experienced by millions of Syrian refugees during the winter months, after they have been forced to leave their homes and belongings due to ongoing civil war in their homeland. Halim Sbenati, a fourth year dentistry student , embarked on a one-man mission to recreate a day in the life of a Syrian refugee , by camping out on his own on a cold Canadian winter day in London, Ontario . It is estimated that over 2 million Syrian refugees have fled their homes and are now living in specially designated camps in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, among many others. However, with the start of the cold winter months and the lack of adequate living conditions, millions of families are forced to bear the harsh weather conditions, with nothing more than the summer clothing on their backs and a tent over their head, causing many children to literally freeze to death. Halim Sbenati was one of the many people who were deeply affected by the Syrian crisis and after watching two Unicef videos portraying the suffering of Syrian refugee children as they pleaded for help, he decided to do something about it. So on December 22,2013, amidst a cold Canadian winter day, he finally set out on his mission. For his setting, Halim chose an uninhabited area of London Ontario behind home depot on Southdale and Wonderland, where he set up his camping tent with a tripod-mounted camera inside to capture his entire experience . Halim’s initial plan was to spend 12 continuous hours inside the tent without a jacket, blanket or heater on. He was even forced to take his shoes and socks off, after they got wet during the setup .In a sense, he fully immersed himself into the harsh reality that millions of refugees experienced everyday inside the camps. However, as time started ticking by, the struggle to stay warm proved to be harder than what he had ever anticipated. Within only 20 minutes, Halim lost complete sensation in his toes, followed by an excruciating pain in his feet, but he still insisted on completing the experiment. Each passing hour seemed to last forever as he was trying to endure the harsh weather, but after about 3 ½ hours, Halim could no longer take it and was compelled to stop the experiment. Towards the end of his experiment, Halim shared some of
his thoughts and feelings by saying, “ If I can’t handle not even 3 ½ hours…what about them! “ Later on, his video was posted online and received over 28,000 views from different parts of the world. The response was overwhelming, as people expressed their sympathy, encouragement and willingness to help support the cause. As a result, the #WinterRefuge campaign established a goal to help 800 Syrian families this winter, by collecting $80,000 in funds to provide blankets, heaters, and weatherized tents for survival. Only a $100 is needed to support a single family through the winter. To find out more about how you can contribute to this cause, please contact Halim Sbenati through his email at: Halim.Sbenati@gmail.com —Diana M. Sleiman
page 8 // volume four, issue one
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Of Kings and Queens On family and the pursuit of marriage
— We must start finding out who we are, what we want, what our values are, what our priorities in life are and do some deep introspection into who we are as a whole at every level. —
As I grow older I’ve begun to realize the importance of family in particular the power and impact of a strong mother in one’s life. One of the greatest gifts one can receive in life is a strong education by a strong mother. I don’t mean education in the sense of traditional education (language, grammar, math, science, history, and art), but an education in character, morals, ethics and values. If one is given this foundation then they’ve given an invaluable gift that helps not only oneself, but their family, friends, classmates, work colleagues and society as a whole. At the foundation of society is the family, if we lack morals, ethics and values then society as a whole will become corrupted by immorality and shamelessness. In today’s world we praise or give attention those who do wrong, those who are immoral, and those who do hideous acts. It has become extremely rare to find stories in our media about positive role models who exhibit great character, morals, and values. Watching the media sometimes can become extremely disheartening with the amount of negativity in the world today, however thankfully we have strong women in our community who are bringing up great children. I’ve become a strong believer in the impact of a mother’s upbringing, presence and education in a child’s life. Many of the problems we see today I believe can be traced back to the quality of one’s upbringing. Yes, there are plenty of other factors: socio-economic, life’s circumstances, environment, and others, but the fact of the matter is no matter what environment one is in
a strong mother can and will help her child succeed with a firm education in character, morals, ethics and values. Now when it comes to the “marriage crisis” in the Muslim community what is the core cause of people being unable to find a compatible match? Some say we need to change our way of getting to know the opposite gender, others say we need to allow dating, and the list goes on and on
— The question is: are men pursuing the right women, for the right reasons? —
about how people can get married or find their significant other. However, before we even think about that the problem of the “marriage crisis” can be pointed primarily to the individual. We must start finding out who we are, what we want, what our values are, what our priorities in life are and do some deep introspection into who we are as a whole at every level: spiritually, emotionally, socially, etc. With that said, we need to ask our men if they’re pursuing women of character, values, and ethics. Our women are the ones who will be bringing up generations of Muslims and will have a long term impact
on our community. The question is: are men pursuing the right women, for the right reasons? Men must realize that a woman should not be married due to solely for how a girl looks. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, for her rank, for her beauty, and for her religion (and character), so marry the one who is best in the religion and character and prosper.” (Bukhari and Muslim) We must realize that as men we must have noble characters and be kings who marry queens who bring up future kings and queens. Pursuing a woman for the wrong reasons will make us and our families miserable. We must also realize that having children shouldn’t become a burden upon us, but rather a way to improve the world around us. We must ask ourselves are we or will we leave behind children of strong character, values, and ethics who will change the world for the better or are we leaving behind children who will become a burden upon society? Thus, men must be kings who choose queens of character, values and ethics. “Women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity.” (Quran 24:26) — Saud Inam
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volume four, issue one // page 9
ARTBEAT: THE DANGLING CANVAS
by Nadia Janjua
Three years ago, one of my mentors was browsing through postcards of my paintings and she said to me, very nonchalantly, “You should think about making resin earrings out of your postcards.” So, I went home that night and googled “how to make resin earrings.” A couple of focused days in Studio and many instructional Youtube videos later, I had bulk-produced my first batch of earrings – never mind that they were made out of illustration board and that they melted if you left them out in 95 degree weather too long (imagine: your car’s dashboard on a hot July day). Learning from the flaws of the initial batches, I began to refine my jewelry production methods and choose more durable materials. Eventually, I expanded my line to include handmade rings and necklaces, and continued to showcase and sell my work at various venues. I even sold a pair of earrings to Malaysian pop singer Yuna through Twitter – one of the perks of selling through social media! Three years later, reflecting on how my handmade earrings have become one of the most popular and unique products in the “Nadia J Art” retail line, I owe a lot to that curious passing comment my mentor made to me that day. It planted the seed for rethinking the conventional idea of a painter’s canvas. As a painter, I have worked on traditional surfaces such as canvas, linen and wood; I had never thought about an earring surface being my next canvas, but that’s exactly what it had become. My process involves pasting snippets of painting reproductions on pre-cut shapes of wood, then glazing them with coats of resin. Each earring front and back features a different detail from the same painting, aiming to create more aesthetic value. In essence, wearing a pair of handmade Nadia J Art earrings is like wearing a moment in a painting – a dangling canvas, as it were. COUPON ANNOUNCEMENT For our special London Link readers, here is a coupon code to receive 10% off any purchase of the Salaam Love Earring designs from Nadia J Art Etsy shop (shopnadiajart. etsy.com): COUPON: LondonLinkLove
Right: Salaam Peace staggered teardrop earrings by Nadia J Art
Above: Salaam Love cube earrings by Nadia J Art
Left: Yellow Salaam Love cube earrings by Nadia J Art
Below: Abstract Multicolored Necklace by Nadia J Art
Assisting Syria as easy as eating cupcakes: Islamic Relief Canada set to raise donations for all the refugees that are suffering from the Syrian crisis London, ON – January 20, 2014 –Islamic Relief Canada® (IR Canada) hopes Canadians will open their hearts and help raise much needed funds to help those affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria. The crisis has left thousands of refugees scattered in Northern Iraq, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon as well as internally displaced millions from their homes. Islamic Relief Canada with an inspirational idea will fundraise for Syria by selling cupcakes! Islamic Relief Canada® strives to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy, and diseases worldwide regardless of colour, race, religion, or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Our priority for this campaign will be to sell as many cupcakes as possible so that proceeds can go to assisting the Syrian people through the Winterization project. Islamic Relief will be partnering with Beyond Sugar, a local specialty shop in London, Ontario that has been generous enough to donate fresh specialty cupcakes to assist Syrian refugees. Ms. Meyada Halbouni is the owner of Beyond Sugar and an enthusiastic supporter of Islamic Relief’s campaign to assist Syrians. “What people do not realize is that temperatures have dropped to -7 degrees in Syria, we have the luxury of coming into a warm home, whereas they do not,” Ms. Meyada explains why she wants to help the cause. “I am just trying to give from what I have, and I hope the campaign can help those in need.” Beyond Sugar has agreed to sell half-dozen cupcakes for $12 and all proceeds will be donated to Islamic Relief Canada’s Winterization project in Syria. Please give generously to Islamic Relief Canada® so that we may able to go forward and
assist those in need. We are dedicated to assist women, children and the most vulnerable at very turn. To order cupcakes please contact Beyond Sugar: E-mail: beyondsugar@live.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsugar Telephone: 1 519 281 6509 Cupcakes for Syria will run till February 28th, 2014 For further information please contact Umair Malik (Islamic Relief Canada Media Representative, Tel: 1 855 377 4673) Email: publicaffairs@islamicreliefcanada.org Website: http://www.islamicreliefcanada.org Islamic Relief® (IRCanada®) is a registered charity and is the largest Muslim charity in the world. Founded by a group of medical students in 1984 in response to the famine in East Africa, today we have offices in over 40 countries. IRCanada strives to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy, and diseases worldwide regardless of color, race, religion, or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. We aim to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects allowing communities to better help themselves. We provide emergency disaster relief and spearhead development projects in multiple sectors, including education, income generation, orphan support, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation. IRCanada directly supports projects in these sectors in dozens of countries around the world.
Donation hotline: 1855 377 4673 | email: info@islamicreliefcanada.org Web page: www.islamicreliefcanada.org | Charity No. 821896875RR0001
181 Foster Ave London, ON N6H 2L2 • (519) 452-1322
Surviving Tax Season Taxes maybe irritating, and in some cases frightful, but it’s a fact of life that cannot be avoided and they do necessarly have to be so terrible after all (As long as you know what you are doing). When you are thinking about filing your taxes, the number one rule that everyone should follow is to find a professionally educated accountant, instead of the local big franchise cookie-cutter tax filing companies. Big box companies generalize each person using prewritten questionnaires and never cater to your unique situation. Professional accountants are worth every dime when filing your taxes. After finding the lucky accountant, here are some tips to successfully “WIN” this tax season. FOR STUDENTS — If you are a student, common expenses you should claim are your tuition, moving expenses, rent, interest on student loan and public transit costs. Even if you do not have any income, you should file your income tax return every year, you may be entitled for a GST/HST credit that will be great extra cash to have around. If you are a student, file your student return with us for only $27.99.
FOR FAMILIES —
FOR SELF-EMPLOYED —
Having children and sometimes a spouse may be harsh on your bank account, but they are a blessing when it comes to taxes. Having a spouse and children gives you the privilege to more around your income and tax credits to reduce your taxes payable. Here is a list of expenses and benefits you can claim for your family that you may do not know about before:
Self-employed are encouraged to keep a thorough record of their original expenses and income, in order to properly determine their tax owing and support the benefits that are claimed. Self-employed individuals can claim a portion of their automobile and even their home expenses! Every business is different so come into our office to learn more about keeping your money in your pocket!
•
Children’s fitness and Art activities (So get your children off the TV and out there!)
•
Child care expenses (School, nursery, babysitting)
•
Universal child care benefit UCCB (you are eligible to receive $100 payments per child per month)
Another way to reduce your tax payable is to contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan which will only be taxed when your child goes to college at the lowest tax rate and it will help your son/daughter immensely by eliminating their student loans. Come into our office to learn more about the RESP program and help them jumpstart their future!
Canadian Accounting & Financial services Inc. (CAFS) has been operating on 181 foster Ave. (Directly infront of Cherryhill Mall) since 1998. Our success is because of our integrity, superior service and accuracy. Tax season ends on April 30th, 2014 for individuals & June 15th, 2014 for self-employed individuals, so book an appointment before the rush at (519) 452-1325 or visit www.canadianaccounting.org —Walid Abu Daia is an accountant at CAFS who takes pride of the value of his work and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and a future Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
page 12 // volume four, issue one
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Smile the ‘pain’ away It’s not easy to be a kid. It was never easy to be a kid. But now more than ever it’s not easy to be a kid. Perhaps it is because “other” kids are mean and self-centered. Or perhaps it is because “other” kids laugh at kids. Or maybe because “other” kids are so disconnected that they become apathetic. I am not sure, maybe it is for all these reasons or none. Or maybe it is a combination of these. It’s just not easy to be a kid today. But I cannot focus on or control “other” kids, and how other kids behave. I can only focus on myself and how I raise my child. In my first year of teaching I facilitated an icebreaker activity with the students. This activity was similar to musical chairs. During this activity a boy thrust backwards with his back to the seat on to the floor. Most of the kids laughed at him. Some laughed hard at him. I felt bad for him. I was embarrassed for him. How does a child recover when almost everyone laughs at him? A few years ago I was on yard duty and I saw two team captains selecting kids on their teams. Each team captain picked one player at a time. I noticed one girl was picked last. In my subsequent duties, I noticed that this girl was picked last every time. I felt bad for her. How does a child navigate through feelings of rejection? As an educator on duty, I do not like to interfere with the kids’ games unless it’s a safety or wellbeing issue. I usually allow the kids to sort out the problems themselves; to navigate through issues is an essential quality for kids to develop. So I decided to observe, instead. I have come across many stories like the ones above. I am sure many educators can recall such stories without any prompting. However, the reason why I remember these two stories so vividly is because both the boy who fell backwards
and the girl who was rejected chose to let go of the pain as opposed to harbouring it. The natural feelings for the girl were embarrassment, failure, rejection, non-acceptance, anger, self-doubt …and naturally so. The natural feelings for the boy were embarrassment, loss of composure, clumsiness, loss of respect of his peers, anger… and naturally so. But in both those cases they CHOSE something odd, something not so natural. The boy chose to laugh at himself, and the awkwardness dissipated. He regained composure, grace, and respect. He got up and gave some kids high fives while laughing and then sat back down. This time carefully on his seat. In my subsequent encounters with him, he laughed each and every time he was pushed accidently, or the ball hit his face, or he fell on the ice. He let go of the pain by laughing. Kids consistently get hurt physically and emotionally. It is a fact. Certain ‘pain’ is inevitable, no matter how much we try to shield them. We cannot protect kids from everything. But we can guide them to navigate through pain. Some complain, others harbour those feelings but the successful ones choose to let go. The girl who was picked last smiled a beautiful smile. And hopped towards her team. I still remember it. The swing in her hop and the smile on her face rewired her brain to overlook this rejection. Her choice of smile and hopping recalibrated her brain connections. Her brain lit up. This girl is the shy type, so she did not laugh hard like the boy did, but she smiled a genuine smile. And I noticed her every time I was on duty that year. She smiled each and every time things
— “Teach” your kids to let go. One way is to laugh or smile in the face of pain, or rejection. “Teach” them to rewire their brains to overlook the “minor” rejections of childhood so that they are not jaded in the future. — got awkward or painful. (Later that year, we suggested that kids pick their teams differently.) Researchers have found that smiling seems to give us the same feeling that exercise gives with respect to our brain activity. Our brain feels good and tells us to smile; we smile and tell our brain it feels good and we start to feel good. Recently scientists have shown that smiling stimulates the brain as if a person has just received $25,000 or as if a person has had 2,000 chocolate bars. A 30 year longitudinal study of UC Berkley suggests that those who smile more and wider have better and more successful lives than their counterparts. “By measuring the smiles in the photographs the researchers were able to predict: how fulfilling and long lasting their marriages would be, how highly they would score on standardized tests of well-being and general happiness, and how inspiring they would be to others. The widest smilers consistently ranked highest in all of the above”. “Teach” your kids to let go. One way is to laugh or smile in the face of pain, or rejection. “Teach” them to rewire their brains to overlook the “minor” rejections of childhood so that they are not jaded in the future. How many of us are fearful due to some childhood pains or still harbor childhood rejections? How many of us allow these junctures in our lives to limit our expressions of ourselves today. It is easier to complain, cry, and feel rejected before the pains of life, but it takes a smiling lad to laugh one’s way towards success. How often kids smile, and how they respond to pain (any kind of pain) may very well predict their success and happiness in life. — Asma Ahmadi
The Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario Welcoming Imam Jamal Taleb to the ICSWO!
The Islamic Centre is pleased to welcome Imam Jamal Taleb as our full time Imam effective Monday December 16. Imam Jamal is very well known, highly loved and respected in London, having served as Imam of the London Muslim Mosque for 13 years. We look forward to our community benefiting from his knowledge and experience. We are extremely grateful to Dr Munir ElKassem for his 20 years of guidance and leadership since the inception of the Islamic Centre. As a pillar of the London Muslim Community and as the founding Imam of the Islamic Centre, Ammo Munir will continue to be a significant presence at the Centre during khutbas, lectures, events and Eid when he is not travelling nationally and internationally doing his dawah work spreading the message of Islam. The future of the London Muslim Community and the Islamic Centre is very bright with Imam Jamal Taleb and Dr Munir ElKassem working together along with Imam Abdelfattah Twakkol of the London Muslim Mosque to fulfill the religious and spiritual needs of our community going forward.
page 14 // volume four, issue one
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Canola fields of Alberta
A Carnival in the Sky Clouds are one of the most fascinating sights to see in the sky. I am often tempted to run out the door with the camera to capture the beauty on a beautiful day where the sky is filled with clouds, adding drama and depth in the nature’s landscape. The clouds are formed from the process of condensation, resulting in three basic patterns classified as Cirrus (curly or fibrous) , Stratus (layers) and Cumulus (heaped or piled). Clouds are also distinguished by the height above ground level at which they form and they can be identified as High clouds , Middle Clouds , Low Clouds and Clouds of great vertical development. In order to capture the beauty of clouds successfully, it is important to plan a landscape shoot on a day filled with clouds, while checking the weather reports. Another great tool for planning is called “Photographer’s EPHEMERIS,“ which can be installed on your computer for free, which can assist the planning of outdoor photography . This tool has the functionality to foresee where the sun will rise or set along with timings and moon phases. Landscape photographers love to take pictures around the sunset or sunrise to capture the dramatic light. Another way to capture the clouds movement is through long exposures or time -lapse photography using tripods. — Photography and text by Naved Altaf
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volume four, issue one // page 15
W W W . A P P I S C L O S E T. C O M
Online Boutique Brings South Asian Fashion to North American Doorsteps Appi’s Closet helps women feel fabulous from the comfort of their homes
Founded by a Montrealer, who is a native of London, Razia Hamidi, Appi’s Closet evolved from a realization that South Asian fashion wasn’t easily accessible in North America or Europe, both from a variety and budget-friendly standpoint. The concept is quickly taking off. Even before its launch, the online boutique had received an “innovative young entrepreneurs award” from the city of Montreal. Mrs.Hamidi has received a lot of attention on her innovative company and business sense. She’s been recognized by the Mayor of Lasalle for her contribution to the business sector, and gives back to her community be serving as a mentor for youth. Clients had been eagerly waiting to get their hands on the variety of designs. “The Summer season was extremely busy for us, as many clients were excited to have a rental option” Said Mrs.Hamidi. Their clients are all over North America and UK. From Anarkali dresses, stunning Couture inspired designs and one-of-a-kind designers including Aamir Baig, Rizwan Ahmad, the online boutique allows women to rent or buy at a fraction of the retail price - up to 70 per cent.
“I’m so pleased to be finally bringing South Asian fashion to the North American and European markets.” Says Hamidi, “With limited options in our retail locations, finding the perfect Indian or Pakistani outfit within the right budget can be a challenge. But now women can feel beautiful and self-confident in designer dresses without even having to step into a store.” Renting and buying involve a simple procedure that includes optional registration and userfriendly, secure online purchase options. Selling gently-used garments is accepted upon assessment by Appi’s Closet and acceptance of an offer by the seller. For more information on how to buy, rent and sell, please visit www.appiscloset.com or email info@appiscloset.com.
Razia Hamidi
The luxurious collections of the South Asian fashion world have made their debut in living rooms across the globe with Appi’s Closet. An online marketplace that rents, sells and buys high-end South Asian fashion, Appi’s Closet superbly fuses together exclusivity with ultra convenience.
contact Razia Hamidi, Founder and CEO e-mail info@appiscloset.com website www.appiscloset.com — social networks — Facebook facebook.com/pages/ Appis-Closet/556578571043778 Twitter AppisCloset Pinterest pinterest.com/appiscloset/my-style
page 16 // volume four, issue one
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Family in focus
Brother Ramadan came to Canada in 1981 from Libya as a student and traveled to Thunderbay as his first destination. He got his college degree in accounting and added a diploma in taxation from Ottawa. He moved to London, Ontario in 1992 and ran a clothing business initially which he sold off to his partner. When the opportunity came to take over a grocery store at his current location, he took it up and never looked back. It has not been an easy road as he has built his business up step by step with limited investment done periodically as he did not want to take a loan from the bank and pay interest on it. He attributes the success of his business to his wife and his family who all work behind-the-scenes with him and provide support to his ideas and work. His eldest son, Aladdin, studies marketing at Fanshawe College and finds himself fortunate to know about business since he was six years old. He takes care of the business development side of the store while, Ali, his second son, is tech-friendly and interested in simplifying the processes and streamlining the work at the store. Enas, his daughter helps out in accounting and bookkeeping and Majid, the youngest 12 year
old keeps everyone’s energy going. Brother Ramadan does have the final word in his business but is keen to listen to his kids’ ideas and inputs and likes to keep them engaged and involved into the day to day running of the store. He believes in providing them with a learning opportunity with his experiences in life and work. It was inspiring to see how the family all worked together on the store yet also managed to do their own thing, especially focus on their studies. Best business practices in their collective view were being honest to the customers, providing good service, being patient while dealing with them as well as listening in to what they want to see more in the store. Aladdin grocery store has grown from having 400 products to now approximately 5000 products. More expansion is in the works. Keeping to his deen in business ethics and practices while providing service to the Muslim community in London brother Ramadan is both an inspiration and a role model. —London Link Team
Photo credit: NF
volume four, issue one // page 17
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Mariam Hashmi Mariam Hashmi is a multi-talented strategic business consultant in Mississauga Ontario. She graduated with distinction while receiving her Honours Business Administration (HBA) in 2005 and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in 2008 from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in London Ontario. Ms. Hashmi is professionally involved in a number of organizations in the Greater Toronto Area. As a Manager in KPMG’s Management Consulting practice in Toronto, she helps organizations through strategic transformation initiatives to perform more effectively while working with senior executives in large Canadian organizations in the private and public sectors. She serves on the board of the United Way of Peel Region which launched a $13 million fundraising campaign for 2013. Mariam is also the Chair of the Young Leaders Council at the United Way of Peel Region, involved with a number of projects around youth engagement and volunteerism. As Chair, she is responsible for eight committees and a granting program which has awarded $80,000 to youth led projects since its inception. In addition, she is a board member of the Peel Leadership Center and a mentor with the Ivey Alumni Association. Ms. Hashmi has also pursued her dream of being an educator. She is an instructor at the
I just returned from Toronto, having gone as a storyteller for RIS. During my visit, I found myself wonderfully surprised by Canada’s relationship with its burgeoning immigrant population, including the Muslim community. Canada seems to welcome newcomers with arms wide open. Likewise, Canadian Muslims—as exemplified by RIS—have created a sincere model of integration in which our Islamic roots are not diminished, but rekindled through the Prophetic model of Ihsan or what I like to call “original beauty.” During RIS I shared some new titles that convey this principle of inner beauty. The first was The Camel In The Sun by Toronto filmmaker Griffin Ondaatje. Before I lavish praise on this special book, I would like to thank Groundwood Books, the author and the illustrator for creating it in the first place. Never before has a secular publisher printed a Hadith-based title for children. The Camel In The Sun follows the life of a burdened camel and his heartless master. On a business journey to Najran the pair stop in Madina to rest. Actually, the master sleeps in the cool shade while the camel stands in the burning sun. Out for a daily stroll the Prophet (pbuh) approaches the camel. As the camel rests his weary head upon the Prophet’s shoulder he divulges all his sorrows, which magically drift into the mind of
Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, and the School of Business at Nipissing University, teaching business strategy and change management undergraduate courses throughout the year. In recognition of her community leadership roles, Mariam was honoured with the Annual Global Ivey Emerging Leaders Award in 2013 in the category of Community Advancement. She is among five Ivey alumni and one student who received this award. She was also honoured with a KPMG Canada National Community Leader Award in 2013. Ms. Hashmi humbly attributes the privilege of receiving these awards to the mercy of Allah Subhan-o-Taala. She acknowledges the support of her family and feels blessed to have loving parents (Nusrat and Shamim Hashmi) and parents in-law (Rana and Ali Mohammed) who have enabled her to pursue her goals in her professional and personal life. Mariam is married with two children. She and her husband, Asif Mohammed, both share the same ambition of leadership and community activism, and have been presidents of the MSA at their respective universities. In her message to the readers of London LINK readers, Ms. Hashmi emphasized the
Photo credit: Richard Ivey School of Business importance of believing in and appreciating blessings of Allah. Instead of being afraid of self-envisioned predicaments and obstacles, she suggests focusing on objectives and aspirations utilizing talents and abilities. Particularly to the youth she said, “Set goals and expectation for yourself. Seek knowledge that will help you be effective in the many aspects of your life, both knowledge of your faith and the world, and find mentors that can help you achieve your specific goals.” She acknowledges the many mentors she had in London during her studies at Western University who demonstrated and taught her about leadership by example – examples which continue to inspire her today. —Madiha Salman
Book reviews with Alexis York Lumbard the sleeping master-- forever changing their relationship. This sincere tale of empathy is respectfully illustrated and touchingly retold. It left me weepy-eyed. (PB 5 & up) For the older kids, I had the pleasure of sampling The Wise Fool of Baghdad. Have you ever heard of Sufi Comics (www.suficomics. com) founded by brothers Mohammad Ali and Muhammad Arif Vakil. Well, this is their second title and it too is made with excellence aka ihsan. The book is a collection of stories based on the life of Wahab Ibn Amr, an 8thcentury Baghdadi scholar who pretends that he is literally mad so that he may speak the truth against a corrupt kingdom and not loose his head. Each chapter is followed by valuable reflections and samples from Quran and Hadith with beautiful Arabic calligraphy by India’s finest, Muqtar Ahmed. My only problem with this book is that I cannot get it back from my eldest daughter who devours it with great joy. A must have. —Alexis York Lumbard
page 18 // volume four, issue one
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Recipes — Recipes & photos by Thasneen Ansi www.thasneen.com
To marinate chicken: •
Chicken breast- 1, cut into bite size pieces about 1/2 inch
•
Chillie powder or cayenne - 3/4 tsp
•
Garam masala- 3/4 tsp
•
Salt- to taste
Cappuccino Cheesecake ingredients
ingredients
Popcorn Chicken
•
Graham crumbs or cookie crumbs - 1½ cups
•
Melted butter, unsalted- ¼ cup or 4 tbsp
For making cheese mixture: •
Cream cheese, light- 250 g or 8 oz
Making the flour mix:
•
Yogurt, plain and not sour - ¾ cup
•
All purpose flour- 3/4 cup
•
Egg, large- 1 at room temperature
•
Ground pepper- ¼ tsp
•
Sugar- ½ cup
•
Salt- a few pinches
•
Corn starch- 1½ tsp
•
Instant coffee- 1 tbsp dissolved in 1½ tbsp water
Other ingredients: •
Egg white- of 1 egg or use 1 egg with yolk and white
•
Bread crumbs- enough to coat the chicken
•
Melted semi sweet chocolate- 1/3 cup
•
Oil- enough to deep fry chicken
•
Water- 2 tbsp
1.
Cut the chicken into half inch size pieces, combine with the above mentioned ingredients to ‘marinate chicken’ for 10 minutes.
2.
In a bowl, combine all purpose flour, ground pepper and salt, keep aside.
3.
Whisk the egg white in a bowl.
4.
Heat a frying pan over medium heat, add enough oil to deep fry.
5.
For garnishing:
instructions
instructions
For making crumb mixture:
1.
Combine crumbs with melted butter, keep aside. Don’t over mix it nor make it into a dough form.
For making the cheese mixture: 2.
In a glass bowl, beat the cream cheese using an electric hand mixer till smooth and creamy. Add yogurt to cheese and beat for a few seconds.
3.
Combine 1 tbsp of instant coffee or espresso with 1½ tbsp water.
4.
Add all the remaining ingredients and beat for a few seconds till combined well.
5.
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Dip the chicken first in egg white, then coat it evenly with all purpose flour and finally dip it in bread crumbs.
6.
Line the cupcake or muffin pan with cupcake liners. Spoon 1½ tablespoons of crumb mixture to the bottom of the cupcake liner, spread it evenly.
7.
Spoon around 2 tbsp of the prepared cheese mixture on the crumb layer.
6.
Immediately add the chicken to the oil and fry evenly till it turns golden in color.
8.
7.
Transfer on a paper towel, let it absorb the excess oil.
Don’t spoon the cheese mixture till the top of the liner as it will rise while baking. Bake for 25 minutes or till cheese mixture is set. After the cheesecake cools down a bit, chill it in the refrigerator for better taste and it sets well too.
8.
Serve immediately when it’s warm.
9.
If you want it to be spicy and salty, sprinkle more ground pepper and salt while serving.
For garnishing: 9.
Melt semi sweet chocolate by double boil method or in a microwave. Add around 2 tbsp of water to the melted chocolate and combine well. After chilling the cheese cakes for 30 minutes or so, drizzle with melted chocolate.
Behind-the-scenes of our cover photoshoot!
Places & Photography // Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Book Review // Humans of New York by Brandom Stanton
Featured photographer // Fahim Khan
If you love photography and beautifully captured moments, Brandon Stanton, a humble photographer from Humans of New York does just that. Humans of New York began in the summer of 2010, when Stanton aimed to set out and create a photographic mosaic of people living in New York City. He combed the city, covering thousands of miles on foot in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called “Humans of New York” in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes. With increased popularity on social media sites, Stanton soon compiled and published his bestselling book, now available online and in stores.
Fahim Khan was born and raised in United Arab Emirates and currently studying Commercial Aviation Management at Western University in London, ON. He has a passion for arts and photography and wishes to travel the world capturing its beauty through his lens. More of his work can be found at: www.facebook.com/khandaanphotography www.500px.com/KhanDaanPhotography
email at nf@creativeworkshop.ca
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