contents 3/ Reem Asaad 6/ The Elephant in the Room 8/ Artbeat 11/ Canadian Accounting 13/ Ahlan Art 15/ Islamic Cemetery of London 18/ Recipes
4-5/ Leadership Traps 7/ Market Crafts 9/ London Islamic School Ranking 12/ Standing for Cool 14/ Snowy Owls 16-7/ Tent pegging 19/ Marketplace
editor’s note Eventually, after every hardship comes ease and after every winter comes spring. This year, it has been a historically long and harsh winter here in Canada. After having experienced the extreme bitter cold it is pleasant to feel signs of spring in the air. But if it was not for the winter we would not have known our strength, courage and resilience to fight back. We have managed to come out of it stronger, yet grateful for the kindness bestowed upon us in the form of hope and ease that spring brings. Let’s enjoy the joys of good weather, flowers and happiness as it finally comes our way. Alhamdolillah.
founder / editor-in-chief: Naeema Farooqi ; operations/advertising manager: Ahmed Javed ; the design team: Naira Ahmed & Lina El-Shamy (studio-noon.com) ; contributors: Leila Almawy, Waqi Munim, Saud Inam, Najwa Zebian, Nadia Janjua, Zeba Hashmi, Asma Ahmadi, Hassan Mawji, Kamran Hameed, Awaid Yaqub, Thasneen Ansi, Athif Khan
Cover and contents photography: Naeema Farooqi. Location: Western University, London Canada
editorial board
Naeema Farooqi founder / editor-in-chief
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volume four, issue two // page 3
photo credit: Nabila Abduljadayel
Reem Asaad
Striving for change through positive reinforcement With March being Women’s History month, the world is exposed and enlightened to a diverse range of stories about women who have shaped history by changing laws, methods, and ideologies - and not without a struggle. As advanced as the Arab world may be in some aspects like technology and economics, women’s rights remains to be a prominent and very much active issue in some countries. While Saudi Arabia is constantly under scrutiny from the media because of its Islamic laws and regulations, its women’s rights are assumed to be pushed to the sidelines as secondary. However, Reem Asaad, a Saudi Arabian financial advisor and writer, is one of the women who discourages that notion with her active and impactful work as an advocate for women in her country. A supporter of socio-economic welfare, Asaad launched a Facebook campaign in Saudi Arabia in 2008 called Lingerie, which was an initiative to give women the rights to work in lingerie stores. By boycotting all lingerie and women’s stores staffed by men, the campaign pushed for better employment opportunities for women as well as improved consumer rights. Thus, it was a success, capturing the public’s attention and support whilst shedding light on many underlying women’s issues in the country. 2011 proved the campaign’s success when the Ministry of Labor enforced a law to allow women to work freely in the retail sector equipped with
all the same benefits as men such as retirement plans, health care coverage, and social security benefits. “Empowerment is the driving force behind change,” said Asaad at the Harvard Arab Weekend in 2013 where she gave a talk about the importance of including women more in the labor force in Saudi Arabia. She believes that “economic power – but not the influence – is substantial” for Saudi women and must therefore be implemented more efficiently through their inclusion in the labor force. Asaad deems it imperative to break the stereotypical image of women in order to “build bridges and effective communication with the rest of the world.” She believes that “scalability is massively important. The impact of inspiration by leading women should ripple across different social classes and strata in order to reduce the gap.” Thus, not only has she been successful in breaking stereotypes for women, but she is breaking stereotypes for women in Saudi Arabia, especially and it is through her vision that “change is most effective when it comes organically, while induced by visionary leadership at the same time.” — Leila Almawy
— The impact of inspiration by leading women should ripple across different social classes and strata in order to reduce the gap. —
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— Leadership is about clarity of vision that can take an individual or a group of individuals, nations, or corporations from the present to a better tomorrow on the continuum of material, social, emotional, physical or spiritual well being. —
The Leadership Traps Leadership is often misconstrued for fame, position, power or authority. Whereas in reality authority does not make a leader nor does fame, money or position. Such an individual can be called a powerful individual, an influential individual or a famous individual but not a leader. Leadership is all about free thinking. It is about clarity of vision that can take an individual or a group of individuals, nations or corporations from the present to a better tomorrow on the continuum of material, social, emotional, physical or spiritual well being. It is an inherent quality to inspire others by living the vision in the present and demonstrating the behaviors and attitudes that resonate change and provide hope and confidence for a better future. A future that takes us on a journey of self evolution, discovery and emancipation. Leadership is for anyone who has the ability to fill the vacuum of an important need of the time. Leaders don’t need an invitation, a title, inheritance or a recommendation they simply rise to the occasion to give their best and take their team, company or country in the right direction. Leadership is all about courage to overcome personal demons of fear to stand up for our vision and passionately pursue it despite insurmountable challenges. There are many individuals who have the potential to be great leaders, however, they fall into common traps and miss the opportunity to fully unleash their potential. I see the following leadership traps that need to be avoided.
LEADERSHIP VERSUS MANAGING A CAREER. This is a trap that many individuals fall into because they no longer have the confidence in their skills, vision or ability to progress on the strength of their own capabilities. These individuals start strong but fail to maintain the passion after a few failures and give in to the popular belief of sycophancy to glory. If I think about it there is nothing wrong with managing a career but when this precedes the focus on achieving the corporate or country vision and the desire to take the team, corporation or the country towards a better tomorrow then it is parochial and self centered. Leaders have the courage to take tough decisions that can even affect their careers as they know that short term challenges and difficulties prepare us to achieve incredible goals. Always follow your thinking and stay close to the vision of the institution, department or organization in which you are working.
PARALYSIS IN DECISION MAKING. Another leadership trap is the procrastination in decision making by asking for several scenarios, researches and analysis beyond what are needed to make the decision. Decision making is the greatest quality of a leader and is difficult because it is like taking a leap of faith into the future. It is a judgment based on the best available data. Many find it difficult and want to involve others in the decision so that in case the decision does not lead to the desired outcome the decision could be shared. Not taking decisions simply raises administrative cost by causing many individuals to keep working without execution in the absence of a decision. Leaders know the importance of making timely decision to keep the corporate
or country machinery working. Always ask the question, ‘Will running innumerable scenarios or analysis add value to the business.’ I have always believed that business is not run on Excel or any other computer program, rather it is run with intelligence, courage, best judgment based on available data and intuition.
CONSULTANCY VERSUS OWNERSHIP. An excellent way to assess a leader is to see how she/he reacts when faced with a decision. Those who offer their inputs showing pros and cons and keeping a balanced position to say a lot with no clear position are not leaders. They use the popular terms of people in authority and abstain from taking a point of view. They are merely trying to show their competence and keeping a door open to find an escape. In other words they act as consultants. The problem with consultant like attitude is that corporations can hire very professional consultants from outside and do not need consultants on their payroll. Corporations need owners who treat the business as their own. Be passionate about your business and your company and act like an owner.
CREATE UNSEEN BARRIERS. Sometimes leaders create unseen barriers for the organization without realizing them. For example, multiple approvals, not enough empowerment, creating conflicting goals or revising them several times or worst, thinking that what is worked on a piece of paper in a simplistic way is workable in the market place as well. Leaders have the foresight to understand the impact of
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their decisions on the organization and try to encourage and empower their teams to take calculated risks based on the best available data. They reward intelligent risk taking and work continuously to break down barriers to enable faster and flawless executions.
volume four, issue two // page 5
and find different ways to encourage them. Inspiration and encouragement to bring out the best in others is the biggest quality of a leader.
LOW ON ENERGY. LACK OF CLARITY. One of the things a leader should avoid doing is to be unclear on what is needed. The goals, strategies and measures should be simple and easy to understand so that everyone in the organization understands their role. The strategies and measures can be tweaked based on the market situation but should not be changed frequently. The worst thing a leader can do is to provide multiple targets and keep changing the priorities. This simply derails the train of action from execution and creates organizational chaos. Remember to make things simple and clear and spend a lot of time in ensuring that everyone in the organization understands what is needed and how their actions and results are linked to the overall company deliverables.
LOSE THE PULSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. Excellent leaders always have their fingers on the pulse of the organization. They understand how the team is thinking, feeling and acting. They are always perceptive and ensure that their team is motivated and energized to deliver the goals. It is very easy to lose connectivity to the organization and start acting in isolation in ivory towers. Great leaders stay close to their teams
Energy is everything. No one follows an individual who is low on energy and passion. The logic is simple how can you expect others to follow your vision when you are not yourself excited about it. By energy I do not mean overexcitement, rather, conviction and confidence in the goals and expression of passion when you speak about it. Successful individuals possess high levels of positive energies that are contagious and create an environment of positivity, growth and achievement. I am signing off with a thought, ‘The crown of leadership does not go to the strong or the mighty but it goes to the individual who has the will and courage to wear it.’ — Waqi Munim is a successful executive in a leading multinational based in Switzerland. He is passionate about living a full life balanced on the continuum of physical, spiritual, emotional, material and social wellbeing. To do so he regularly practices yoga, meditation and eats well to stay fully engaged in life. He admits that not all days are fun and that he too goes through stress like anyone else but by keeping a positive attitude and focus on Value Creation in all elements of wellbeing he has more good days. He believes that by doing good and staying positive we attract happiness & joy in our lives.
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Now with that said, we will look into some ways to remove the sickness of racism from our community:
The Elephant in the Room The Racism Within
Islam for some of us is a source of inspiration, peace, tranquility and self-knowledge. However, as we see the problems facing the Muslim community around the world we see that we have strayed as a people away from the Quran and Sunnah. We may have heard many lectures calling for unity, tolerance, peace and understanding with Muslims of all ideological leanings, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, however very few of us have worked towards solving the challenges and problems that face our community. We may hear an inspirational speech or khutbah, but how many of us take that knowledge or inspiration and implement it in our own lives? The problem is that we’ve limited Islam to books, lectures, speeches and conferences and Islam for many is just on our tongues and has not yet penetrated our hearts. We ask that Allah allow love for the Quran and the Sunnah to enter our hearts and become the noor (light) of our hearts and allow us to always walk on and be guided to the Straight Path. Ameen. Many of us see the many injustices occurring in the world from Syria, to Palestine, to Sudan and virtually every corner of the earth. We are shocked about the injustices in the world and are critical of them, but we must ask ourselves: do we have the same sicknesses of injustice that we are so critical of in other Muslims? Are we being unjust? Before we point fingers we must look within as change starts from within. We must look within and start changing our spiritual states. With that said we need to address a very common injustice in our own community and a spiritual sickness that’s prevalent in our community and that issue is the issue of racism. All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. —The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) We all are familiar with the above quote from the Last Sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We all agree with the statement and anyone who would disagree would be disagreeing with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)’s sunnah. Sadly however, we still have the issue of racism within our community. Let’s take a step back and take a look at the core of the problem. In the Quran [Allah] said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” [Satan] said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” (Quran 7:12). The first racist in history was Shaytan (Satan). Where did his racism stem from? From his arrogance which prevented him from obeying Allah. Today we see many Muslims saying racist nicknames, ugly jokes about Muslim brothers and sisters different than themselves and the ill
treatment of Muslims of different ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds than themselves. We see this in the masjids we build and the environments we create. We see the Arab masjid, African American masjid, Afghan masjid, etc. in virtually every city around the world. The ethnocentrism we see in each of the masjids creates an unwelcoming environment for those who are not of the same cultural or racial background as the masjid community. So let’s not look abroad at the disunity of the Muslim community and say how bad it is. The problems are here at home---in our own communities. The question is: how are we addressing it? Racism in our community has become so strong that we don’t give proper greetings to people of different racial backgrounds than ourselves. We look down on those who ask our daughters and sons for marriage because of their racial and cultural backgrounds. We perpetuate stereotypes about others different than ourselves. We use racist nicknames freely. To test the condition of our hearts we must simply ask ourselves simply two questions: If Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) the Ethiopian companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him was in front of you would you say the ugly racist words you say so freely amongst your friends and family and If Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him),) came to ask for the hand of your daughter would you refuse his offer based on the color of his skin? The two questions can certainly be painful, but these are questions we must ask ourselves to understand the condition of our hearts. We’re reminded of the time when Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) uttered a word of racism to Bilal and how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reacted. Once When Abu Dharr-Al Ghifari in A fit Of anger Called Bilal ! “You son of black woman “ The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned angrily to him and said: You are a man who still has Jahilliya in him! Abu Dharr immediately put his head on the ground at Bilal’s feet in a gesture of humility and refused to lift until Bilal had stepped over it. Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) forgave Abdu Dharr. However, how many of us speak behind our brother and sister’s backs and say the words of jahiliya? It is in these moments when we ask ourselves these tough questions that we realize if we truly are internalizing our Islamic beliefs and principles in our lives and acting upon them. When we say we believe do we truly believe or do we pick and choose what is convenient for us? O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy (Quran 2:208).
1. Reflect Upon Your Spiritual State This should be a continuous action by a Muslim, but in this case in particular we need to ask ourselves: are we racist? Are we living our lives as closely as we can to the Quran and Sunnah? What actions am I doing that are no in accordance to Quran and Sunnah? How can I align my actions with the Quran and Sunnah? Am I being racist in my words and actions? How can I improve myself? 2. Stop Racist Jokes and Comments It is easy to fall into gossip, backbiting and ugly jokes, however, we all must make a conscious effort to stop ourselves from saying racist jokes and comments and encourage our family and friends to refrain from doing so by reminding them about the story of Abu Dharr, the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the orders of Allah in the Quran. 3. Encourage Dialogue and Discussions about Racism We have many taboo subjects that we don’t talk about, but dialogue and discussion is important to address the issue of racism in our community. However, these discussions should go beyond just discussions, but should yield action items out of them in which attendees can act upon in their own communities. 4. Ask Your Imam to Address the Issue of Racism Ask your imam to talk about racism in your community and work on ensuring the masjid is an open environment to Muslims of all racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 5. Meet Someone Ethnically, Racially and Culturally Different Than Yourself It’s amazing how a simple conversation can solve a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings between people. Thus, we must reach out those different than us to learn more about them and their experiences. Allah created us different so we could get to know one another. 6. Discuss Racism in Your Family This is probably the most difficult point to implement, but it is crucial. We must remind our families of racism, its evils and its impact on the Muslim community. Remind your family in a gentle manner by reminding them of the Quran and Sunnah’s solution to racism. 7. Discuss the Effect of Racism on Marriage Marriage is difficult as it is, but when it comes to prospective suitors or potential spouse who is of a different racial, ethnic or cultural background than our families they are often rejected simply because of their skin color, culture, race, or ethnicity. 8. Celebrate Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Diversity Encourage your masjid, MSA, or organization to have events that celebrate cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. This can be in the form of a cultural bazaar, dinner nights, presentations about different cultures, social events, documentary movies, etc. 9. Encourage Diversify Your Masjid Leadership and Community Many masjids or Muslim organizations have a lack of cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. This is a common problem which plagues most if not all Muslim organizations, institutions and masjids. The mere fact that an organization has one ethnic, cultural or racial demographic in their leadership can turn away community members from feeling part of the community. Try to ensure and encourage your organization, masjid or MSA to have diverse leaders and board members. 10. Visit a Different Masjid Than Your Own Often times we spend time with our own communities and masjids that we forget that there are other brothers and sisters different than ourselves that we can learn so much about. Simply by reaching out to different masjids and visiting them can be a way to build strong bonds of love, mercy, compassion and understanding between masjids with different ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds than your own. Encourage your masjid leadership and youth groups to formally set up events at each other’s masjids to cultivate a strong relationship.
— Saud Inam
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volume four, issue two // page 7
photo credits: Steve Grimes
Market Crafts Where timeless quality meets unique handcrafts
There is no doubt that the more time you spend on perfecting your work, the more you appreciate it and the more memorable it becomes to you. The world that we live in now strives for speed, efficiency and quantity. Unfortunately, the focus on efficiency often takes over quality and quality is compromised for quantity. This is where quality becomes more sought after and more worthy of our time. If you are in search for quality, look no further than Market Crafts Inc, which defies these norms. It is a destination which slows down your pace and reminds you of the importance of sentiment. It is a destination which makes you feel that you’ve made a difference in your community. What you pay for represents a fraction of the rewarding feeling attached to every single item in the store. The glory and uniqueness which have been compiled for thirty four years are echoed into the sentimentality that you receive. In 1980, a group of women decided to start their own store in which handcrafted pottery, colorful weaving, quality knittings, blown glass and jewelry were sold. They invited artisans from all over the country to showcase their valuable works, and it was the perfect harbour in the heart of London for the countless Canadian talents whose products were irreplaceable by any brand name. In 2009, a young couple, Hassan Moustapha and Mayssa El Sayegh, took over the store and moved it from the Market to their new location at 121 Dundas Street in 2012. In addition to being home to the unique arts of a diversity of Canadian artists, Moustapha is a professional goldsmith who offers on-site repair services, watch repair/battery change, custom designs, and engraving. Take a moment to think of what you really love doing. Think about your passion and what brings you true happiness and reward. The suppliers of Market Crafts are home to artists who
have beautifully transferred their passion into their unique work by making it with their own hands. Every second spent on a product is spent with love for the art and patience for its perfection. These suppliers are based all over Canada. They contribute to the flow of the local economy and offer support to many organizations. Some of these artist work with a range of materials, such as pewter, aluminum, wood and create blown glass, knitting, pottery, beeswax candles, soaps, cards, prints, stuffed animals, native arts, soap stones, woods, wood turnings, leather and so much more... “Our pewter comes from Prince Edward Island or Vancouver and it’s lead-free. Not only are we supporting our Canadian economy by buying it, but we are also supporting a couple who is trying to make a living,” El Sayegh said, with a genuinely proud tone. El Sayegh also pointed out that buying a card from the store represents support not only for the artist whose painting was transferred onto the card, but also for the local printer who is striving to survive in the current economy. “You know that you’re getting a one-of-a-kind piece. One of our clients, for example, makes unique beaded jewelry and many customers come exclusively to see her work,” El Sayegh added. If you happen to have a product to sell, Market Crafts also offers the option to sell it on consignment. How would you feel about making your home a hub for unique products made by members of your community who have taken the initiative to transfer their skills into products which preserve the culturally diverse heritage of Canada? Give the store a visit and experience the greatness engraved in every stroke of its handcrafted products. — Najwa Zebian
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ARTBEAT: RECLAIMING COLOUR
by Nadia Janjua
Earlier in February, I exhibited a new series of paintings entitled “The Taking & The Returning” at a one-night solo show in Washington, D.C. The series focused on a theme that explored a visceral reflection on what happens to the heart when we stop chasing the temporal world, and seek the constant one. This spiritual theme was expressed through the language of color and texture, with the occasional inclusion of English and Arabic phrases. Accordingly, the conversations amongst the crowd that night were centered on the power of color versus the power of words — whether one supersedes the other in conveying a message clearly, or if they mutually assist each other. This led me to contemplate the origins behind the heavy usage of color in my art to express concepts. As a quiet person who found her voice later on in life, I always had an active inner life full of experiences being translated into color. I would often choose to express and articulate myself through colors, rather than words. What I discovered in this process was that colors truly challenged language to encompass them — in other words, there are more sensations we feel from color, than words to describe them.
“With Me is My Lord” detail, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20”
“Everything Else is Just A Means” detail, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20” “The Heart is Only For God” detail, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20”
(left) “Empty the Vessel”, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20” (right) “Best Laid Plans”, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 36”
“The Taking & The Returning No.1”, Acrylic on Canvas, 10 x 20“
As infants, we are born with a keen sensitivity to light and color; as adults, that sensitivity dulls, unless we choose to reaffirm it. Quite often, colors become dismissed as merely cosmetic, when, in fact, colors have the potential to allow us to profoundly experience every sensation from ecstasy to despair. Within every color lays a story and an experience waiting to be unraveled. For those of you who have a tendency towards minimization of color and a preference for black and white, I implore you to add just one little stroke of color in your work or living space, and see if that doesn’t bring you some sort of healing and comfort. When we become open to it, our lives truly compel us to be moved by color.
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volume four, issue two // page 9
The LIS faculty and staff
The London Islamic School scores 2nd in Fraser Institute School Ranking The Muslim community is proud of the achievement made by the London Islamic School on the Fraser Institute annual school ranking list in Ontario. The Fraser Institute, an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization, recently released its annual list of school achievements in Ontario. The London Islamic School scored a distinguished second in the school ranking in London, Ontario. This is no easy feat for a private school which is funded through tuition and donations with a philosophy of making the school accessible to families of all socio-economic status and from all ethnically diverse backgrounds. The London Islamic School’s valued Administrators, Teachers, Staff and Board and everyday volunteers contribute greatly to the school and fully deserve the success the London Islamic School has accomplished. The London Islamic School received a 9.7 out of 10 ranking, the second highest in London. Operating on annual school budget without any government funds, based solely on tuition fees and community donations, the private school was able to score the 2nd place ranking based on 2014 Fraser rankings on EQAO results of 201213. The London Islamic School ranked 24 out of 30 schools in the entire province of Ontario. “It is obvious that big budgets cannot ensure good grades but hard work, dedication and commitment can. Our teachers earn less than half of the entry-level salary of teachers in the public system. The secret is that our teachers are highly motivated, dedicated and up to the level of the high expectation set by the new administration in the recent years and supported by the school board,” said Omar Hamadache. The London Muslim Mosque established the London Islamic School in 1996 and since then,
the school has been growing due to the need in the community for Ontario-based curriculum supplemented with religious studies. Currently 270 students attend the London Islamic School ranging from preschool to Grade 8. “Our students are still committed to do well in all aspects of education including social, emotional, cognitive development as well as character building. With our vision of producing string leaders for the generations to come, we believe in a comprehensive education.. As a result of this, we are encouraged to dream big, set new goals and continue to work hard. We look forward to developing new ways of supporting our students in attaining their objectives and enabling them to do whatever they set their minds to,” said Muzna,Kamal, the Vice Principal. “In the last two years, we have been reviewing our data to determine areas that need improvement, and plan accordingly for school improvement. We extended our support in math and language art, we reinforced our DEAR program, we strengthened our home-school communication, we improved our discipline policy, we have been working on curriculum alignment, and we included professional development sessions into our regular staff meetings,” said Omar Hamadache, Principal.
LIS Principal: Mr. Omar Hamadache
“It is thrilling and rewarding that all the hard work, planning and dedication of the administration, staff, students and parents have paid off,” added Mr. Hamadache. The London Islamic School is holding a fundraising dinner on May 24. Please come out and show your support! Call 519-679-9920 for more information. — Zeba Hashmi
Mr. Zafar Kamal and Mrs. Mazna Kamal (Vice Principal)
Mr. Nadeem Khawaja, of Realty Executives Elite’s held an Exclusive Client Appreciation Dinner on 2nd March 2014 at the Optimist Club, Dorchester.
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volume four, issue two // page 11
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page 12 // volume four, issue two
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Standing for Cool and Falling for Everything Else Educators are in constant assessment of their students. For each one of my students I have a multi-year plan in my head. This plan mainly stems from my assessment of where the student stands academically and emotionally and where I, realistically, envision them to be in four years. I have suggested it before in previous posts, but I will explicitly say it here: it is not how well the student is doing academically, but it is the habits and moral character that the student has that matters the most. We need more conscientious adults (and kids) in this world than ever before. This post is focused more on moral character than habits. I will post on habits later this year. Now assessing a student academically is a complex task that can be broken down to simple tasks. Gathering data from a student’s homework, classwork, tests, projects, presentations and so on can give the teacher a good idea as to where the student stands academically. However, when it comes to character it is an arduous task. How do we assess a student’s character? Furthermore, should their character even be assessed in a school setting? My answer to the latter is a loud “Yes!” We should assess their character because then we can support their character development. How can I support something I have not assessed? I work in a faith-based school, and character development is fundamental to our assessment of the student. In my experience, one important aspect of character assessment is an idea that I would like to coin as “cool” or “cool-inclined.” A student can either be: (a) cool; (b) cool-inclined; (c) not so cool; (d) cool and cool-inclined; (e) not so cool and cool-inclined; (f) not-so-cool but also notcool-inclined. I prefer options a,c,f.
What do I mean by cool and cool-inclined? Cool in this post will mean popular/fashionable. However, the ideal definition of a cool person is someone who may be popular/fashionable but specifically they are comfortable and confident in their skin and in who they are. Cool-inclined individuals have some or all those characteristics to some extent:
To a certain extent we are all cool-inclined, but some are more cool-inclined than others. We like “cool” individuals; they are funny, fun to be around, engaging, social magnets so it makes sense why we are cool-inclined. Some keep their cool-inclined heart discipline; others cannot discipline their cool-inclined hearts.
(a) may be cool or not-so-cool; (b) have their eyes on, and yearn for, the “cool” crowd, and the “cool” things, and the “cool” fads; (c) are never satisfied with what they have; (d) want to be liked, so they will be nice or mean depending on who they want to please; (e) laugh and make fun of those who they deem inferior/uncool; (f) mostly distracted, mostly busy or unfocused; (g) are hollow inside; (h) are emotionally insecure; (i) fear of missing out (FOMO); (j) fear of being deemed as inferior.
I worry when I see students who are cool-inclined, as it is very hard to transform a coolinclined heart.
I will give you examples of cool and cool-inclined from popular culture.
I would rather my students be not-so-cool and not-so-cool-inclined then cool and cool-inclined. In my profession, I have seen parents who want their kids to be cool no matter what, putting their kids at risk of becoming cool-inclined. Some cool-inclined parents breed cool-inclined kids.
Cool-inclined: wimpy kid from the Diary of Wimpy Kid, Little Jay from Gossip Girl, Louis Litt from Suits…etc. Cool: Harvey from Suits, Serena from Gossip Girl (the new Serena, not when she lapsed to her old ways)…etc. Cool-inclined is destructive; it is when one “stands for nothing (or stands for cool), and falls for (almost) everything.” It is what the prophet Mohamed cautioned us against when he said “do not be ima’aa (a follower of a fad/crowd).”
It is the cool-inclined that are susceptible of becoming bullies or assisting bullies, needing attention and reassurance, needing praise living beyond their means, having difficulty sustaining great relationships, mostly doubting themselves, feeling insecure, treating non-cool with little regard, having extreme emotions and so on. Detecting a cool-inclined heart at primary/ junior years can be easier to help change than detecting it in someone in the teenage years.
Our greatest heroes did not start out to be “cool”, on the contrary they were certainly notcool at all. However, they bloomed into heroes who redefined “cool”. — Asma Ahmadi
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volume four, issue two // page 13
Ahlan Art The Islamic Art Gallery
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Ahlan Art is a chic Islamic Art Gallery, founded in London, United Kingdom. Ahlan Art was founded upon the aim to showcase hidden talent within the Muslim community. Through exhibits, events and our online gallery, we unveil the rich story behind each piece featured. We source out the greatest talent and work with each artist to document their inspiration and message. Ahlan Art features a range of styles, including modern, contemporary and classical styles. Some of our internationally renowned artists include Siddiqa Juma, Nadia Janjua, Richard Fouad MacLeod, Samir Malik, Salva Rasool, Maaida Noor and many more. As well as creating customised pieces for homes, offices and conferences, our artists have been featured in the UK National Collection, royal collections and universities around the world. The word Ahlan of Arabic origin means welcome. From East to West - we welcome artists, collectors and exhibitors to join us, as we build a new narrative for Islamic Art. Piece 1: Distraction - by Maaida Noor Watercolour on Paper (56 x 76 cm) Ahlan Art Original: www.ahlanart.com/index.php/maaida-noor-distraction-original.html Ahlan Art Print: www.ahlanart.com/index.php/maaida-noor-distraction.html The less preoccupied we are, the more time there is to obsess over anxious sensations, cultural dilemmas, life’s fate and fortunes. Quite simply, the more you engage with life, the less stagnant and anxious you will be. We all have multi-faceted dimensions to our existence … some of us hide and some of us reveal. Piece 2: Light upon Light - by Samir Malik Mixed media, ink and watercolour on paper, Adobe Photoshop Ahlan Art Print: http://www.ahlanart.com/index.php/samir-malik-light.html Through the use of watercolours, ink and computer graphics, this piece radiates the praise of God. The piece was inspired by a verse from the Holy Quran: God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon Light. (Holy Quran: Surah 24, verse 35) Piece 3: United Colours of the Ummah – by Siddiqa Juma Acrylic on Canvas (100 by 100 cm) Ahlan Art Original: www.ahlanart.com/index.php/gallery-22/originals/siddiqa-juma-unitedcolours-of-the-ummah.html Ahlan Art Print: www.ahlanart.com/index.php/siddiqa-juma-united-colours-of-the-ummah.html
SPEAK YOUR
MIND
‘The true servants of the Most Merciful are those who behave gently and with humility on earth, and whenever the foolish quarrel with them, they reply with [words of] peace.’ (Holy Quran 25:63)
AT BRESCIA EVERYONE HAS A VOICE
A unique piece representing the rich and diverse nature of our Ummah; through the different colours, sizes and directions, centralising at the epicentre, The Kaaba, our Ummah is united and continues to flourish.
LONDON, ONTARIO | BRESCIA.UWO.CA
—Hassan Mawji
page 14 // volume four, issue two
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P H O T O G R A P H Y:
SNOWY OWLS Winter of 2013-14 saw the largest migration of snowy owls to the South Eastern areas of U.S. and Canada in two decades. This type of migration is a rarity. Being in that region at that uncommon occurrence was an opportunity which I realized, must not to be missed. I began my journey in quest of the Snowy Owls with www.ebird. org to get the quadrants for the location and set out on my adventure. On a sunny morning with -30 temperature in a place called Orleans near Ottawa, I was excited to at last see a glimpse of the magnificent bird. Walking towards them in a field with knee high snow in sub-zero temperatures was a challenging experience, however the opportunity that was presented to me was more awesome. The Snowy Owls are one of the most beautiful and intelligent birds I have yet to see. With the head movement of about 270 degrees all around it keeps a close eye on who might be a predator. As this bird cannot see too well in light, it has a low flight and its beautiful wingspan was a treat to capture. —Kamran Hameed To view more of Kamran’s photography, please visit the links below: Website: www.kamranhameedphotography.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ kamranhameedphotography Flickr: www.flickr/people/kamranhameed Photography by: Kamran Hameed
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volume four, issue two // page 15
Islamic Cemetery of London For a long time the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, located on 2001 Dundas Street, has kindly provided a section of their cemetery for Muslims so that the dear departed ones could be buried according to the Islamic rituals. In addition to that place, we now have The Islamic Cemetery of London, which operates under the management of the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario. The graveyard is a place that most avoid thinking about. But we must ask, have we fully prepared ourselves for when our time is going to come? If you are wondering about the same thing then know that pre-planning is the best way to choose how you’re remembered and how much emotional and financial burden you want leave onto your loved ones. Plan head of time and keep the following prices in mind: •
Price of a plot purchased in advance of need including taxes $1950
•
Price of a child plot $500
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Price of a plot purchased at time of need including taxes $2500
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Price of granite plaque /marker including taxes $1500
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Price of concrete vault including taxes (not in use yet) $600
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Funeral Services(Imam, washing, Shroud, coffin) $800
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Use of Islamic Centre for condolences $100/DAY
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Cost of Open and closing will be determined at time of need $800 now price
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Price of Package Sale of 5 Plots or more $1800 EA.
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Needham Funeral Services (Approximate) transportation $1375+ TAX 519.434.9141
The Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario has taken great measures to provide such low rates for services that are ever rising in costs at the Islamic Cemetery of London. It is now up to the community to act quickly and ahead of time so that the Centre can continue help us during our most trying time of need. For more information please call (519) 668-2269 or visit the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario at 951 Pond Mills Rd, London, ON
page 16 // volume four, issue two
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Tent Pegging Stories through photography
Tent pegging is an equestrian sport practiced in many countries around the world. Tent pegging is thought to have originated in India. Mounted soldiers would gallop through enemy camps, removing the tent pegs the surprise and havoc caused by collapsed tents and a confused enemy. The British Cavalry adopted the principles and adapted them as cavalry training drill. Tent pegging is practised around the world, but is especially popular in Australia, India, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Here’s a glimpse of how this sport is enjoyed in Pakistan.
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volume four, issue two // page 17
Photography by: Awais Yaqub For more of Awais’s work, visit: http://www.AwaisYaqub.com http://www.facebook.com/ayphotos http://photopakistan.blogspot.com
TO MARINATE SHRIMP • Shrimp, de-veined- 20 • Kashmiri red chilly powder- 1 tsp • Garam masala- ¼ tsp • Salt- to taste WHOLE SPICES • Cumin seeds- 1 tsp • Whole cardamom-2 • Cloves- 2 • Cinnamon- 2 inch • Bay leaves- 2 FOR COOKING • Oil- 2 tbsp • Onions, chopped finely- 2 • Ginger-garlic paste- 1 tbsp • Tomatoes, chopped finely- 2 • Kashmiri red chilly powder- 1 tsp • Coriander powder- 1½ tsp • Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp • Salt- to taste • Yogurt- 3 tbsp • Ground black pepper- ¼ tsp • Cilantro, chopped- 2 handful
Recipes — Recipes & photos by Thasneen Ansi www.thasneen.com
directions
ingredients
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• • • • • • • •
All purpose flour- 4 tbsp Sugar- 2 tbsp Cocoa powder- 1 tbsp Baking powder- ¼ tsp Milk- 3 tbsp Vanilla extract- 1/4 tsp Oil- 3 tbsp Sweetened grated coconut or your favorite nuts- 1 tbsp
directions
FOR FINAL COOKING • Onion, diced- 1, small • Green pepper diced- ½ cup • Garam masala- ½ tsp • Lemon juice- ½ tbsp
ingredients
2 MINUTES MICROWAVED CHOCOLATE CAKE IN A MUG
SHRIMP TIKKA MASALA
page 18 // volume four, issue two
(1) Marinate the shrimp with the ingredients listed in “to marinate shrimp”, keep aside for 15 minutes and then cook the shrimp. (2) Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat, add oil. (3) Add all the whole spices, saute for a few seconds till aromatic. (4) Add onions and a little salt, saute till translucent. (5) Add ginger-garlic paste and cook till onions turn light golden brown. (6) Add tomatoes, cook till tomatoes have mashed up. (7) Add Kashmiri red chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt, combine well (8) Add yogurt, combine well and cook for a minute. (9) Add the cooked shrimp, combine well. (10) Add ground black pepper and cilantro, cook for a few minutes. (11) Finally, add diced onions and diced green pepper, stir fry for a few minutes. (12) Sprinkle garam masala and lemon juice, combine and cook for a minute. (13) Remove the pan from the heat and keep it covered. (14) Serve along with roti, rice or naan.
(1) In a large coffee mug, thoroughly combine all the ingredients without lumps using a spoon. (2) Microwave at full power for 2 minutes. (3) Cooking time might vary depending on the microwave, anywhere between 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes. (4) Top the cake with more nuts if you want and enjoy when it has cooled down.
London Link’s Marketplace
Places & Photography // Black Rock Cottage, Scotland
Black Rock cottage lies at the foot of Meall a’ Bhuird, Rannoch Moor at the entrance to Glen Coe. OS map 41, GR NN268530.
Book Review // Fish! A new language for a new culture. A moving parable about the power of personal choice, FISH! is the story of Mary Jane’s journey of self-discovery. Along the way she and her team discover they have the power to create the workplace of their dreams through the choices they make every day. And now, each of us can make that same journey. Organizations around the world are using the FISH! Philosophy to: provide amazing service that makes customers want to come back again and again; build a culture where employees love to give their best every day; build effective leaders who inspire through their example; improve teamwork and build trust. Find out more details about this amazing popular book series on www.charthouse.com www.fishphilosophynetwork.com
email at nf@creativeworkshop.ca
or call us on 519-476-7748
Athif Khan, is an Ottawa-based banker by profession and a photographer by passion. He loves everything about photography and dabbles well in post-photography as well. He is an online instructor for other photography enthusiasts as well. You can check out more of his beautiful work on: • www.youblisher.com/p/789514-MyCamera-and-Eye • www.flickr.com/photos/hermits • www.facebook.com/weddingimagery
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