The Link Canada: Volume 1, Issue 1 — Spring 2015! by The Link Canada

VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 SPRING 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

WHY CARE for Canadian politics? p. 16

Creative recipes for

the Spring season

p. 32

Defining Islam through PHILANTROPHY p. 50 1

50 ART & CULTURE How Foreign Are You? A New Life in a New Land, a three part documentary series, explains Muslim religious beliefs, cultures, and contributions to Canada

Sehar Shahzad: An Artist’s Perspective

Abdullah Ishaque: An Photographer’s Perspective

Nadia J. Art: Art Beat: Love is a Give & Take

Book Reviews: Middle School Books and the Bridge to Adulthood

An Imam’s Perspective: Imam Sikander Hashmi provides a balanced perspective for parents to follow concerning the revised Ontario Sex Education Curriculum

Joining The Conversation We sit down with Haroon Siddiqui from The Toronto Star and get his unique insight on the challenges Canadian Muslims face today

LIFESTYLE The Healthy Lifestyle Crisis: Are we being careful enough?

POLITICS Canadian Muslims: Are we ready for the challenges ahead? How being civically engaged is often overlooked by most Canadian Muslims

#DressCodePM Naseem Mithoowani, lawyer and cocounsel to Zunera Ishaq, shares her opinion on the issue of the niqab ban

Rabia Khedr Lead Today for a Better Canada Tomorrow

Do we love Islam more than they hate Islam? In memory of the loved Deah, Yusor and Razan

Embracing Mental Health: Fighting the stigma and finding concurrent solutions

RECIPES / Get Fit for Spring: Cooking with Thas

RECIPES / Comfort Food: Chocolates and Chai

RECIPES / Eating Vegetarian: Lin’s Corner

The Fashion Caravan: Tips for Spring!

NEWS

PHILANTROPHY

London Islamic School: The LIS Basketball Team makes the CTAA playoffs!

A United Gathering For Peace: Canadian Muslims for Peace, an effort established to denounce atrocities in the name of Islam, held multiple gatherings in the country to unite Canadians in compassion

BUSINESS An Interview With Walid Hejazi The Link Canada gets to speak with Walid Hejazi, Associate Professor at University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and Canadian academic in the field of Islamic Finance.

Spreading The Salam The Salam Shop — a creative and quaint Islamic lifestyle store like no other — is our Featured Business in this issue, with Sudduf Wyne, Founder, being the Entrepreneur in Focus.

141 Schools for Peace Zaki and Syeda Patel, Founders of www.141schools.org, are building 141 schools in the honour of school shooting victims in Peshawar, Pakistan — killed in a devastating attack on December 16th, 2014

Defining Islam Through Philantrophy: Zaid Al-Rawni, new CEO of Islamic Relief Canada — one of the largest Islamic charities worldwide — shares his vision for the organization

SPIRITUALITY An Avalanche for Change Amal Albaz uses the extraordinary metaphor of a single snowflake to help us understand our capacity to create positive change in the world

EDITOR’S NOTE

PATRON’S NOTE It is interesting how we assume that our seemingly insignificant acts cannot be of great significance. As a small example, take for instance our own food consumption patterns. While we love to consume a large quantity of rich foods, we concurrently refuse to exercise or practice self-restraint when we should.

The same can be said about our local political involvement and giving back. Most of our roles, in our ummah, are nothing more than those of a commentator. There is barely any participation to become a true change agent. At best we become bystanders who are (at most) content with cheering from the sidelines — oblivious to the fact that we aren’t accomplishing much. To realize the significance of that one vote, of that one signature, of that one voice is part of being in Canada. Participation in civic engagement activities, volunteering, seizing opportunities, and making the best of what is available is to pursue excellence. Accepting mediocrity will stunt our growth and the growth of our future generations. Hence this first inaugural issue of The Link Canada aims to draw our attention towards realities such as CanadianMuslim political participation, the much-debated Ontario Sex-Education Curriculum, our role in embracing personal health and well-being, promoting peace and positivity in society — and much more. Remember: that one vote, one kilometre daily walk, and one healthy meal we substitute are all significant — however insignificant they may seem. They all hold great potential to eventually make a difference. Naeema Farooqi, PhD Founder, Editor-in-Chief The Link Canada

In a day and age where the mass media seems to project an unrealistic image of Muslims, I ask myself: As ordinary Muslim Canadian citizens, what can we do to dispel this emerging extreme opinion about Muslims? Integration seems to be the best way: integration while maintaining our religious values. From the beginning of time, mankind has passed on their values, stories, culture and religion in the form of stories. Communication and sharing stories helps people to learn about each other and integrate. This dispels the fear of the unknown about people who may appear different from the general population. The requisite for communication is language: learning English and talking to neighbors, friends, and colleagues will establish knowledge of the Muslim community. I believe sharing stories will show the same goodness, pain, strengths and weaknesses in Muslims that all humans have — regardless of race, gender and religion. The performing arts, fine arts, sports and music are all things that have historically helped bring people together. These arts are sans boundaries and allow us to learn about each other and break the silos of “otherness.” It is important that we stand together and cheer for the same team in ice hockey or take a step further and try our hand at curling. Volunteering where there is a need, giving back to society, and participating in local events will foster cohesion in all groups of people in society and provide them with a common goal — making them true partners as citizens. Unity and integration are in the little everyday things; the things that make us all alike as humans even if we may have different faiths. Dr. Saadia Hameed Patron The Link Canada

Cover photography: Kamran Hameed, QVision Photography, +1 289-971-6219 / Cover models: Amal Ahmed Albaz and Ahmad El-Falou / Special thanks to: Salam Shop, 3355 The Collegeway, Unit 18, Mississauga, ON

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THE LINK CANADA TEAM: VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Founder / Editor-in-Chief Executive Director / Managing Editor Patron

Naeema Farooqi Naira Ahmed Dr. Saadia Hameed

Copy Editor

Rizwan Asad

Creative Director / Designer

Naira Ahmed

Visual Consultant

Lina El-Shamy

Senior Correspondent

Leila Almawy

Senior Correspondent

Saud Inam

Contributor / Photographer

Abdullah Ishaque

Contributor

Alexis York Lumbard

Contributor

Amal Ahmed Albaz

Contributor

Amira ElGhawaby

Fashion Correspondent Photographer Contributor Photographer Contributor Senior Photographer Contributor Food Blogger / Contributor Contributor Artist / Contributor Guest Contributor Model Guest Contributor Contributor / Photographer

Annum Khokhar Ghasaq Al-Rubaiey Hira Khan Iffat Farooqui Imam Sikander Hashmi Kamran Hameed Leila Almawy Lin Abdul Rahman Madiha Salman Nadia Janjua Naseem Mithoowani Raameen Kazi Rabia Khedr Rizwan Asad

Contributor

Saud Inam

Contributor

Sehar Shahzad

Photographer

Taabish Hasan

Recipe Contributor

Thasneen Ansi

Contributor

Zeba Hashmi

Contributor

Zenia Sultan

Want to join our awesome team at the The Link Canada?

Visit www.thelinkcanada.ca/contribute

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Flordeliza Dayrit and Michael Milo, Producers of A New Life in a New Land

HOW FOREIGN ARE YOU? WRITTEN BY THE LINK CANADA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY/ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO PRODUCTIONS

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ART & CULTURE Have you ever had that uncanny feeling that you have already been in a completely unfamiliar place? Or, in the midst of quite an ordinary situation, the order of events (or maybe the people) make you do the double take of déjà vu? Today’s political climate, the heightened media rhetoric, volleying around the word “terrorism” in every second news item is reminiscent of the months and years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Unfortunately the past year has seen an appalling increase in crimes against the traditions and teachings of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by extremists of all sorts. The vast majority of Canadian Muslims are left scratching their heads feeling guilt by association. But what Muslims in Canada may be guilty of is not reaching out enough. Too many of us live lives too isolated from this country that we love, and in whose values we cherish. One effort of a Muslim community in Western Canada is called, “A New Life in a New Land: The Muslim Experience in Canada.” This three part documentary series reaches out broadly to explain Muslim religious beliefs, cultures, and contributions to Canada. You can view the documentary series on a fun and inviting website. The site is unique and does its best to present Islam in a way that is accessible to all Canadians. No religious rhetoric — just simple, easy to understand explanations to frequently-asked questions by the average Canadian. The site and the documentary series can be a great aid to Muslim communities in reaching out to the public. For example, if you are having an open house at your masjid, you can play the documentaries — or maybe a new teacher is starting at your Islamic school but has little knowledge of Muslims, you can direct them to the site.

The vast majority of Canadian Muslims are left scratching their heads feeling guilt by association. But what Muslims in Canada may be guilty of is not reaching out enough. Too many of us live lives too isolated from this country that we love, and in whose values we cherish. A New Life in a New Land was produced and directed by a husband and wife convert couple Flordeliza Dayrit and Michael Milo. Both work in media as a career. Saira Rahman of Snow Angel Films wrote the series and educational resources. The host is Dawud Wharnsby – the famous nasheed artist and entertainer extraordinaire. The series has been broadcasted on Vision TV, among other broadcasts in Canada, and even internationally. Funding for the project has come from Canadian Heritage and other federal and provincial agencies. The University of Saskatchewan was also involved in the production of the series. The Al-Rashid Mosque in Edmonton provided funding for the website.

The New Life in a New Land team is hoping Muslim communities across Canada participate in the project through supporting the development of additional educational resources for the website. Let’s spread some good news for a change – share the site with friends and family and help engage in a more meaningful and positive dialogue on the topic of Canadian Muslims •

This piece was written by a staff contributor for The Link Canada. If you wish to know more about how you can contribute or pitch a story, please visit our website’s Contribute page: www.thelinkcanada.ca/contribute If you wish to join The Link Canada’s official team, contact us at via the information on our contact page: www.thelinkcanada.ca/contact

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SEHAR SHAHZAD An Artist’s Perspective

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ART & CULTURE

What captivated me when I first started calligraphy was the amount of detail and intricacy in the graceful letters used to glorify the word of God. I had been painting and drawing since I was a child, but the pull towards calligraphy was so natural that I knew I wanted to dedicate as much time as I could in perfecting this art. Calligraphy artwork can be used to decorate your walls, but I believe it serves a higher purpose. It is a visual remembrance of God and the beauty of our faith, and a source of peace for our hearts every time we see it. I strongly believe that Islamic art, especially calligraphy for me, contains a certain spiritual beauty that transcends the physical beauty of the art. It is not just the nature of the script that makes the calligraphy look beautiful; rather it is the inherent beauty of the Word of God which truly illuminates the text. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Sehar Shahzad, calligrapher

Sehar Shahzad, Contributor for The Link Canada, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and recently graduated from the University of Toronto. She has had artistic inclinations since childhood, but as she grew up, a specific interest in Islamic art began to blossom rapidly. It weaved together her long-time passion for painting and drawing with her growing love and devotion towards her religion. She currently creates custom artwork for local and international clients and is learning traditional Arabic calligraphy as a student of Master Calligrapher Haji Noor Deen. She aspires to earn an Ijaza/license to one day take on students of her own. Although she did not study arts for her undergraduate degree, her artwork holds a significant place in her life that she can always rely on as a source of comfort, peace, and serenity. Contact her at: info@seharshahzad.com. Visit her website at: www. seharshahzad.com

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ABDULLAH ISHAQUE A Photographer’s Perspective

“The thing about wedding photography is that it is a creative outlet for both the photographer and the clients. One of the bridesmaids proposed the idea for this photo and it turned out brilliantly!” — Mississauga, 2013

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ART & CULTURE

I took this photo in Banff, Alberta during a 10K cross country ski route along the Spray River. Along the trail, we were towered by tall, frosted mountains as they watched over us and temperatures fell below -30C. It was afternoon, but the mountains cast a long ominous shadow creating a sunset scene very early – around 3PM. The only sounds were of the wind howling, our cold winter breaths, and the distant ruffling of trees and branches against wildlife. Cross country skiing is more about mental fitness than it is physical; to me, that’s what the picture represents. I wanted to capture a sense of being alone in the wilderness at the mercy of nature and its magnificence. Three of us were alone with little food and water (our group split up and the others had more resources) and no other skiers in sight. There were many times when the thought of giving up and waiting for medical help came to our minds. The thrill added to an exceptionally memorable experience. —Abdullah Ishaque, photographer

Abdullah Ishaque, Contributor and Photographer for The Link Canada, is based in Edmonton, Alberta, he is currently completing his Masters in Neuroscience at the University of Alberta. He completed his undergraduate degree at University of Toronto where he began photography in 2008. Abdullah focuses his work towards telling stories and providing enriched experiences. Check out his work on: www.facebook.com/ishaquephotography

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NADIA JANJUA Art Beat: Love is a Give & Take

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ART & CULTURE

As an artist, I believe it is my role to express and interpret the breadth of human experience, as well as elevate discourse about social issues within my particular frame of reference. With my art, I seek answers to questions about what our society is able to achieve, but has yet to realize. Recently, the world experienced a devastating loss with the murder of three young, bright Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For many of us, it hit hard and it hit home – Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha were three young college students who had dedicated their lives to being good, caring, and giving human beings. This was evidenced in the continuous outpouring of love and support after their death, and the many accounts of their work, posts, interviews, and interactions which have been shared all over social media subsequently. Moved deeply by their loss, as if it were my own, I began meditating on the attribute of God – “Al-Wadud” or “The Ever-Loving.” My recent painting, “Love is a Give & Take” is an expression of my effort to come to terms, both emotionally and spiritually, with this event which brought such great sadness. It has been my life experience that with every taking, there is a giving. In a similar vein, my painting echoes in colours of love, the beloved name of God – One Who Loves. It is a reminder that loss is not an occasion or an event, but something that happens over and over again, and graciously, so does love. A portion of proceeds from all sales of the “Love is a Give & Take” painting and reproductions are being donated to the “Our Three Winners” Trust Fund, which will fund education, dental relief, and service projects helping those in need. Please read more on the fund and purchase “Love is a Give & Take” prints here. —Nadia Janjua, artist

Nadia Janjua, Contributor for The Link Canada, is an Architect, Visual Artist, and Art Educator based in the Washington, D.C. area, working under the business name “Nadia J Art.” She holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from the George Washington University, and a Masters in Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Recently named one of DC’s Best Up-and-Coming Artists, Nadia has been professionally exhibiting her abstract and mixed media paintings throughout the past ten years. She has served as a panelist and curator for numerous exhibitions and conferences in the United States, England and Malaysia, and is best known for her entrepreneurial and social activist spirit, focusing on promoting arts education and women’s empowerment through her professional and volunteer community work. Her main medium of work is acrylic and oil paint, and she also operates a handmade line of retail art sold online. Her work can be seen at nadiajart.com.

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ART & CULTURE

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS and the bridge to adulthood REVIEWS BY ALEXIS YORK LUMBARD

Some books enter our lives at just the right moment. They can help us recover from a broken heart, laugh our way through a heavy trial or, more practically, release us — even if only in the contours of our minds — from the cold grip of a long, hard winter. And then there are other books, and these are more rare, that gently walk us to adulthood. To the ear of a thoughtful child they whisper, “You are older now. Come and see the world. Come and see it as it truly is.” I knew that when I handed Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan to my nine-year-old daughter that it might be “too much.” Layla had just turned nine and the book is written for 10-14 year olds. But I also knew, having read it myself, that I would be by her side ready to answer questions. Wanting Mor is a heartbreaking piece of historical fiction based in Afghanistan. Jameela, a young girl born with a cleft lip, buries her loving, pious mother shortly after the book begins. She’s left with her father, a drug-addicted alcoholic with little means. Circumstances fall from bad to worse as Jameela is torn from city to city. Father remarries. When the nasty stepmother discovers that her son is teaching Jameela how to read, she convinces father to abandon Jameela. Unwanted, she ends up in an orphanage, where problems exist but friends are made and learning is free. Thanks to the memory of her mother and the strength of her own character, Jameela finally discovers “more”. How could a father abandon his child? How could a Muslim become a drug addict? Why were American soldiers in Afghanistan? What does a cleft lip look like? What does the name Jameela mean? Why name her this? Why does the world have so much sorrow? What can I do? Layla exploded with questions. And what a joy it was to discuss them. She couldn’t believe that someone her own age could face so much hardship. Face it and overcome it. How? Well, lets just say that there are many scenes devoted to ablution, an act that washes over and renews both protagonist and reader. Jameela—beautiful name, beautiful soul. I met Rukhsana during RIS 2014. We spent a wonderful afternoon together–praying, storytelling and discussing children’s literature. When I purchased Wanting Mor, she said it was her finest

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work yet. And now, having read it myself, I must agree. I love all her titles, but this is truly her finest. Thank you Rukhsana! It made my daughter a stronger person—more aware, more compassionate and yes, a little bit wiser. Andrea Pinkney’s The Red Pencil and The Garden of My Imaan by Farhana Zia are two other lovely middle grade stories. Both have strong, but realistic female protagonists. For readers in need of boy heroes do try The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye •

Alexis, Contributor for The Link Canada, is a children’s book author of 6 picture books including: The Conference of the Birds and When the Animals Saved Earth—adaptations of classic Islamic fables. She lives in Natick, Massachusetts with her family and was inspired to write by her three daughters, long walks and the language of birds.

SPEAK YOUR

MIND

AT BRESCIA EVERYONE HAS A VOICE LONDON ONTARIO | BRESCIA.UWO.CA

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CANADIAN MUSLIMS:

ARE WE READY FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD? WRITTEN BY AMIRA ELGHAWABY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAMRAN HAMEED

How civically engaged and adept are we as Canadian Muslims? How aware are we of the issues that impact our day to day, as well as our future? How strong is our support for the organizations aiming to promote and protect our own human rights and civil liberties?

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POLITICS

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. Some time ago, a distraught acquaintance phoned me up and asked me if I would be heading to Parliament Hill that day for a protest rally. The phone call came just as federal politicians were bickering over how much time should be allotted to reviewing the controversial new antiterror legislation proposed by the government. The legislation would grant sweeping new powers to security agencies while broadening definitions of terrorism which many civil groups fear could be used to clamp down on legitimate protest and could be used to chill speech. For Canadian Muslims, the implications of the legislation are extremely worrisome as it is obvious that our communities would be a chief target. Who can blame us for reaching that conclusion? The Prime Minister and his various ministers freely conflate Islam, Muslims, their dress, and mosques, with the emerging security threat. Back to the phone call — was this acquaintance phoning me to join a protest against this new legislation? Actually, no. She wanted me to join a protest rally in front of the federal government buildings to show opposition to the Ontario government’s new sex education curriculum. I gently explained to the well-meaning mother of two that the federal government had nothing to do with the new curriculum, that the protest she had heard about was likely taking place at Queen’s Park in Toronto. I also offered suggestions for other ways she might try to raise her concerns about the curriculum that could be more constructive, including simply speaking to her school’s administration and parent council to see how parent concerns could be allayed. She seemed appreciative and we hung up.

Key Questions It is instructive to note how quickly Canadian Muslims in Ontario reacted to the new sexual education curriculum as compared to reactions to the proposed anti-terror legislation. This difference speaks directly to several critical issues that we must grapple with: How civically engaged and adept are we as Canadian Muslims? How aware are we of the issues that impact our day to day, as well as our future? How strong is our support for the organizations aiming to promote and protect our own human rights and civil liberties? In answering these questions, one must make general observations, simply because we do not have recent quantitative or qualitative data about Canadian Muslims and the issues they care about. Though the good news is that this will soon be remedied thanks to the Environics Institute’s recently announced

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upcoming poll. The 2015 survey will come almost a decade after the institute published its first instructive and widely-quoted 2006 poll about Canadian Muslims. Such surveys are instrumental to credibly challenge sweeping generalizations about beliefs, integration, and attitudes. Yet those involved say that finding financial support for this updated poll, like other civic projects, has been challenging. How civically engaged and adept are we as Canadian Muslims? Canadian Muslims are looking forward, organizing promising initiatives such as Canadian Muslim Vote, and CivicMuslims, Toronto-based organizations aimed at promoting Canadian Muslim involvement in upcoming federal elections as well as promoting active involvement in wider society. In Montreal, the Silk Road Institute promotes cultural literacy. The Muslim Association of Canada’s youth groups participate in food banks, tree planting, MS Walks, and a host of other worthy initiatives. The Tessellate Institute, the Canadian Dawn Foundation, the Noor Cultural Centre, Think for Actions, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, among others, promote intellectual development and research, participation, and capacity. Magazines, websites, and portals like the Muslim Link, TorontoMuslims.com, Iqra.ca, and DawaNet, provide community linkages through storytelling and education. Conferences including Reviving the Islamic Spirit, I.LEAD, and ISNA’s, aim to galvanize our youth. Yet overall, there is a sense that few Canadian Muslims are regularly engaged or go beyond Muslim-based activities and initiatives, outside of their own work and school milieu. By and large, Canadian Muslims are still missing from wider and deeper participation in mainstream institutions as organized and effective citizens. For example, few Canadian Muslim parents collectively participate in school councils, or take much interest in municipal, provincial, or federal politics. United around social justice goals, we can create a critical mass to work productively with fellow Canadians of a variety of faiths and backgrounds around common issues and concerns. How aware are we of the issues that impact our day to day, as well as our futures? Rallies against Bill C-51, the anti-terror legislation, were held across Canada in March and April. Reports from community activists suggest that very few Canadian Muslims were present, though there are pockets of Canadian Muslims who are deeply engaged. This overall reality is concerning because it means that likely few Canadian Muslims understand the legislation’s potential impacts, and that an issue like sex education, while also important, overshadows an issue that Canadian Muslims should be equally, if not more, concerned with. When politicians visit our mosques and community centres to attract voters, it is incumbent on our

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communities to be aware of the issues. It isn’t enough to accept platitudes of goodwill and support. Our duty is to ask tough questions of our politicians and demand answers about the decisions they plan to make on our behalf. To do this, we must be educated and aware. How strongly do we support organizations aiming to promote and protect our own human rights and civil liberties? As the Canadian Muslim presence continues to grow in cities across Canada, the understandable priority has often been on building mosques. Our communities have generously donated hundreds of millions of dollars to this important mission. Yet due to financial drain, or lack of vision, or both, our commitment to building the institutions necessary to promote civic engagement, human rights, and civil liberties have been wanting. Compared to the United States, where well-staffed offices of American Muslim civil rights organizations are present in every major city, Canada’s reality is dismal. The National Council of Canadian Muslims is currently the only national human rights and civil liberties organization in the country. We answer calls from across the country involving discrimination and human rights abuses, offering suggestions, advice, and guidance to Canadian Muslims who sometimes need up to a full year (or more) of support and follow-up. We have about forty ongoing cases of discrimination open at any given time, approximately 100 reported to us each year. We are the only organization collecting and keeping data on a variety of specific human rights complaints, including travel and border issues, that are relevant to our understanding of current trends affecting our communities. We also supervise law students of all backgrounds who volunteer with us to gain valuable experience assisting in this work. Our achievements are many, including successfully litigating for the right of a Muslim woman to wear her hijab as a correctional officer in a provincial facility. We are also assisting in the recent, well-known cases including that of Ms. Rania El-Alloul, the Montreal woman who was asked to remove her hijab in order to be heard in court, as well as offering support to the families who recently won human rights complaints against a Calgary private school. There are many, many more cases that will not get the same attention, but which critically affect the lives of many Canadian Muslim families and individuals. We are also called upon regularly to answer critical questions about Canadian Muslims and Islam in the media: on TV, in print, on the radio, and elsewhere. We write opinion editorials, letters to the editor, letters to politicians, as well as issue news releases on matters that affect Canadian Muslims. We monitor and compile an annual report on hate crimes and anti-Muslim statements and incidents. We also monitor legislation and provide substantive feedback to legislators. We have appeared at parliamentary hearings and before the Supreme

Court of Canada. We hold workshops and discussions on media engagement, Islamophobia, rights and responsibilities, youth engagement, and on many other relevant topics. We produce publications for educators, journalists, employers, and health care professionals on Islam and Muslims, and still need to produce many more for other sectors including social services, law enforcement agencies, and for parents on how to navigate the education system.

A Monumental Task Serving over one million diverse Canadian Muslims, one would assume that this is an organization with a large staff and a few volunteers. The opposite is true. We have a miniscule staff, with many volunteers and supporters, without whom we couldn’t do this work. We use a triage system to meet the daily challenges which necessitates we sometimes be reactive, rather than focusing primarily on being proactive. For example, NCCM is already working on a civic engagement report to be released before the upcoming election, in concert and partnership with many others. Yet even finding the time to launch this important project is proving difficult. Just the other day, an angry Canadian Muslim woman phoned us asking why NCCM wasn’t meeting with the Member of Parliament who made an offensive statement against Muslim women. I tried to explain that we simply didn’t have the time to even request a meeting, due to the demanding number of media calls that particular week, plus our work on Bill C-51, and several demanding cases, on top of our regular duties. The caller made it plain she was unimpressed and unsatisfied. Again, I found myself hanging up the phone and struggling against despondency. We are in this together. When our institutions are strong, we are strong. When we are all civically engaged, fellow Canadians will take notice and respect our input. We will only be impactful with clear vision, targeted education, thoughtful participation, and unwavering commitment to building our capacity •

Amira Elghawaby, Contributor for The Link Canada, obtained an honours degree in Journalism and Law from Carleton University in 2001. Since then, she has worked as both a fulltime and freelance journalist, writing, editing, and producing stories for a variety of media including The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Ottawa Citizen, CBC Radio, the Muslim Link, and New Canadian Media. In 2012, she joined the NCCM to help promote the civic engagement and human rights of diverse communities.

POLITICS

RABIA KHEDR:

Lead Today For a Better Canada Tomorrow The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. You think times are tough today? They are going to get tougher. We aint seen nothin’ yet! With poverty on the rise, lack of affordable housing, lack of good paying jobs, significant rates of youth unemployment, etc., the future looks grim.

As women, as women of colour, as women who choose to outwardly express our faith through our attire, it is more important than ever before that we speak publicly for ourselves. Tensions are imminent in society when people feel a sense of being marginalized. Othering becomes a convenient scapegoat. Those in positions of power find an opportunity to manipulate the masses without any rhyme or reason and irresponsibly fuel racism and discrimination. Ideologies are intentionally made to clash to polarize and pit Canadians against one another. A divide and conquer tactic from our colonial past is cutting through the very fabric of our heart as a nation that values individuality, human dignity, and diversity. A miniscule number of women are labelled, contradicting Canadian values and distracting us from matters far more important. Our tax dollars are wasted in a war of words and legalese when we have bigger concerns. A piece of cloth worn or not worn is not the issue. Rather, power, privilege, and gender equity are on the line.

Growing up in Mississauga, I have benefitted from a Canada that opened its door to immigrants. If I grew up anywhere else in the world, I would not have had the quality of life I enjoy today. I had access to education and hence access to employment, family and community. As a racialized woman with a disability, I was even empowered to explore my spirituality and choose to visibly express my faith when I graduated from UTM in 1993. Yes, I chose to wear the hijab. No one imposed it on me. Today, I am a married mother of 4, a career woman, an activist and candidate in a municipal by-election. I made my parents’ Canadian dream into a reality. Recognizing this fact, I have dedicated my life’s work to making my neighbourhood, community, and society a better place for all. I live and breathe access, equity, and inclusion valuing the fact that I live in a society where I am free to believe. We are free to believe, but our behaviour in the public arena is an implicit social contract governed by set values determined through prohibited grounds of discrimination as defined by fundamental human rights in our provinces and country. My Canada is where every individual belongs and shares in the benefits that society has to offer. Our

older adults, children, youth, women, newcomers, people with disabilities and diverse cultural and faith communities have to feel a sense of belonging. As community leaders and activists, we have to do our part to ensure that all voices are heard as decisions are made that impact people’s lives. I am not so blind to ignore the fact that seeds are being rooted top down that will fuel racism, demonization, and dehumanization of Muslims. In a rights-based society, it is my duty, it is your duty, it is our duty to make sure that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Human Rights Codes reign supreme if we want to preserve and protect the Canada we grew up knowing and loving. So let’s put our hands and hearts together and say, “My Canada includes everyone. We are going to make it happen.” Yes, we can. And we will for the sake of generations to come •

Rabia Khedr is Candidate for City Councillor, Ward 4 Mississauga (www.rabiakhedr.ca), Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (www. camd.ca) and Board Member of the Federation of Muslim Women (www.fmw.org).

As the forever optimist, I am checking in with reality and insisting not to sit back and let it happen to us equity seeking groups. More than ever before, strong leadership for a society that is truly inclusive is necessary to ensure our Canadian values are kept intact. As women, as women of colour, as women who choose to outwardly express our faith through our attire, it is more important than ever before that we speak publicly for ourselves.

Photo courtesy of: Rabia Khedr

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

DO WE LOVE ISLAM MORE THAN THEY HATE ISLAM? WRITTEN BY SAUD INAM

20 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

POLITICS

Deah, Yusor and Razan, the three victims of the Chapel Hill shooting — an incident that left the world mourning. Photo courtesy of the Our Three Winners Facebook page.

As long as we neglect dawah and education about Islam to our colleagues, neighbors and friends we will continue to face more ugliness, hate crimes, and violence.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. I remember when I first heard of the shooting of our brother Deah, and sisters Yusor and Razan, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and cried tears of sorrow, pain, and frustration. The pain of their loss was immense and a wakeup call for all of us – that as a community we must work harder to counter Islamophobia and never let this happen again. As we reflect upon the losses of our brother Deah and our sisters Yusor and Razan in Chapel Hill and our brother Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein in Missouri, and our brother Mustafa Mattan in Fort McMurray we feel pain, frustration, anger, and immense sorrow. This much is natural for us to feel. In a world that seeks to numb pain and sorrow, we should be grateful for even the feeling of pain and sorrow. We pray to Allah for the brothers and sisters we’ve lost and for our hearts to be healed and the loved ones of the brothers and sisters to be given immense imaan, taqwa, sabr, sakeenah, strength, and peace in their hearts. Ameen. These tragic events helped mobilize the AmericanMuslim community and the world around these beautiful souls lost. Over the past decade we’ve seen violence in different parts of the world, but these violent crimes truly woke up the Muslim community – not just nationally within the United States and Canada, but internationally as well. Islamophobia by and large used to be seen as just an ugly word, which meant misinformation and lies about Islam and Muslims. Unfortunately, we’re seeing this ugly word translate into violence against Muslims. As a community we must be weary of the danger our community is facing, and must do our best to protect our brothers and sisters as much as we can — especially those sisters who wear hijab. If you’re a brother, escort sisters to their classrooms, cars, or errands. Walk in

groups, keep in touch with your friends, and update them on where you are and where you’re going. If you can, ensure your masjid or MSA has a crisis response team and crisis response strategy that can respond to various emergencies that your community may face. These tips aren’t to cause fear in us, but to give us ideas of how to protect our community and understand the threat we face as a community.

misinformation and misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims. The future of our community depends on it and it is incumbent on every one of us to do so.

It has become important now more than ever for the Muslim community to counter Islamophobia and misinformation about Islam and Muslims. We can no longer ignore the danger our community faces when it comes to deliberate misinformation and lies about Islam and Muslims. Islamophobia has claimed the lives of too many of our brothers and sisters within the United States and internationally. We can no longer afford to encourage our youth to pursue careers just to gain financial gain. We must encourage our youth to pursue careers in which they not only benefit financially but are able to serve the Muslim community and counter Islamophobia. The Islamophobia industry is a $42 million industry that places much effort into opposing the views of Islam. The question is: are we putting that same effort, time and energy to counter that misinformation?

We must remember that every soul lost to hate crimes, war, and violence is one soul too many. We can no longer afford to remain apathetic to the suffering of our Muslim brothers and sisters here in North America and internationally. When we reflect on the many losses of our brothers and sisters here in North America and elsewhere in the world from hate crimes, violence, and war — we must ask ourselves what are we doing for Islam? What are we doing to make the world a better place? What legacy will we leave behind? And lastly, the question posed by my good friend Hassan Shibly: do we love Islam more than they hate Islam? •

Our community truly hasn’t put in enough effort to counter Islamophobia. We think that the extent of helping the community is donating money. While donations are great and important your talent, skills, and energy are needed. We need brothers and sisters working night and day to help educate and clear up

Saud Inam, Senior Correspondent for The Link Canada, is a Muslim American activist, blogger, strategy & management consultant, and social entrepreneur who has helped develop and organize non-profit organizations and small businesses nationally and internationally. He is always on the lookout for ways to help serve others.

As long as we neglect dawah and education about Islam to our colleagues, neighbors and friends we will continue to face more ugliness, hate crimes, and violence.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

We must remember that an attack on even the most marginal of practices is still an attack on the freedom of religion at large.

#DRESSCODEPM:

A LAWYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PERSPECTIVE ON NIQAB WRITTEN BY NASEEM MITHOOWANI

22 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

POLITICS The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. After having met all other citizenship requirements, Zunera Ishaq postponed her citizenship oath ceremony last year in order to challenge a 2012 Conservative government policy which required her to remove her niqab while reciting the oath of citizenship or risk not being given citizenship at all. The policy had nothing to do with identity or security, since Ms. Ishaq would be privately identified before she was even allowed to enter the ceremony room. It was merely because the niqab “offended” the Conservative government and, according to them, seemed to be out of line with “Canadian” values. The Federal Court ultimately decided that the policy was illegal. The government is now appealing that ruling. As part of the rhetoric surrounding the ban when it was first introduced, Minister Kenny stated that the ban was acceptable, since it was not a true requirement of Islam. Such statements must be met with strong opposition. The government has absolutely no place in dictating to anyone what their

religion does and does not require. Minister Kenny is certainly no authority on the matter! The Supreme Court has already made that clear when they held that each Canadian must work out their religious obligations for themselves. One’s relationship with God is a deeply personal one and the government cannot intrude in that relationship. No Canadian – irrespective of faith — needs governmental approval to practice religion in the manner of their choice, so long as they are not harming another.

prejudice of who she is? Also, what do these statements say about the Harper government’s view of Muslims as a whole? Certainly, when we ground these statements among a backdrop of other statements of late by the Government, including the insistence on speaking only in terms of “jihadi” terrorism, and statements that extremism in Canada is being taught in mosques — the stance of the government regarding niqab appears to be part of a broader attack on the Muslim population at large.

We must remember that an attack on even the most marginal of practices is still an attack on the freedom of religion at large. This particular attack is even more dangerous when we consider that the policy in question appears to be rooted in a false desire to “save” Muslim women from oppression. Statements from the Conservatives have stated that the “culture” which has spawned the niqab is “tribal” and “anti-women.” Such statements smack of condescension: why does the government believe that Ms. Ishaq – a university-educated woman who insists that she decided to wear the niqab on her own – cannot be trusted to make her own decision regarding what she wears? Why is her voice less important to the government then their own

We must question this stance, and the government’s treatment of Ms. Ishaq, with rigour or risk further invasions into our religious freedoms. Minority rights only exist so long as we insist that they be protected. Ms. Ishaq understands this and deserves our respect and support for taking the position that she has •

Naseem Mithoowani graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007 and was called to the bar in 2008. Naseem joined Waldman & Associates in 2010 and has been with the firm since that time, practising exclusively in immigration, refugee and human rights law. Prior to joining Waldman & Associates, Naseem articled and worked as an associate lawyer with Lerners LLP in London, Ontario. Naseem is currently acting as co-counsel to Ms. Zunera Ishaq.

Editor’s note: Tweets about this issue, under the hashtag #DressCodePM, have sparked discussion (and made national news). Below are some of the most popular tweets.

Posts courtesy of: Twitter (www.twitter.com)

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

AN IMAM’S PERSPECTIVE: THE ONTARIO SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM WRITTEN BY IMAM SIKANDER HASHMI

24 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

POLITICS

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. We live in a rapidly changing world. Methods of communication have changed drastically in the past 15 years. The growth in personal communication devices has opened up access to material that was difficult to access in the past. At the same time, societal norms of acceptability are also being lowered rapidly, with exposure to violent and sexual messages occurring more often and at earlier ages.

The key for parents lies in instilling the importance of faith, God-consciousness, physical and spiritual purity from an early age, so that children develop a connection with God

Parents, who are tasked with the responsibility of giving their children a good, wholesome upbringing, face an uphill struggle in the face of these changes. Making good parenting decisions is no longer just about sending children to good schools, making healthy nutritional choices, ensuring children get physical exercise and limiting time in front of the television. As Muslims, the duty to give our children a good upbringing includes inculcating good morals, ethics, skills for good decision making and most importantly, God-consciousness and faith. This is why Ontario’s revised health and physical education curriculum, which includes changes to how sex education is taught in schools, is of particular concern to many Muslim parents as well as people of other faiths. Today’s schooling experience is very different from what it was like two decades ago. Fuelled by media and popular culture, the environment in schools and the peer pressure children face are considerably more negative than they were in the past. Children are seeing and hearing things that most parents didn’t when they were young, or even if they did, it likely wasn’t to the same degree as it is today. A lot of what children are exposed to today would be considered by many devout parents as shameful or embarrassing. This includes the various forms of intimate contact (from the very benign to the very vile), inappropriate videos and images of such acts (available freely on the internet), as well as vulgar language rooted in such acts. Due to the challenging nature of these topics, many parents avoid addressing them altogether either because they don’t know how to approach them or they hope that their children won’t find out about them. While this hesitation may be understandable, it does more harm than good since oftentimes children have already been exposed and may have formed an incorrect understanding due to the absence of mature and correct guidance.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

Exposure to such material can happen in public schools, Catholic schools, or even Islamic schools, although the risk is probably the highest in public schools where it may also occur earlier. In reality though, it could happen anywhere. While there may be exceptions, parents must understand that enrolling children in a “good” school does not absolve them in any way of their responsibility regarding such issues.

Children being taught the curriculum will likely get the message that the many of the different practices and lifestyle choices that are common nowadays are perfectly normal and appropriate - including the different forms of intimate acts, which gender they are intimate with, and even how they feel about their own gender - whether they feel it truly reflects how they feel.

From a spiritual point of view, such exposure can be very toxic with long-lasting effects. Early exposure is even more unhealthy as it makes it possible for these poisonous seeds to take root in the hearts of young children, that can then continue to negatively influence them through various stages of development.

In fact, there have been reports of cases nowadays of children of the same gender indulging in such behaviour among themselves because they’re told that it is acceptable and normal.

This changing environment is the rationale given by the Ontario government for introducing the changes in how sex education is taught in publicly-funded schools. The new curriculum is a large document consisting of over 200 pages, which covers many good topics for grades one to eight, including the development of healthy habits, physical exercise, safe internet activity, risk of diseases contracted through intimate contact, as well as the seriousness and dangers of engaging intimately with another person. It promotes diversity, inclusiveness and accommodation for all groups, including Muslims. For example, it makes specific reference to having gender-only swimming classes to accommodate religious beliefs and allowing flexibility in dress. The curriculum does not dictate how the material should be taught. It simply spells out what students should learn and when. Public schools and publiclyfunded Catholic schools are required to follow the curriculum while private elementary schools (including all Islamic schools) are not. Parents may be allowed to exempt their children from some portions of the material, but the extent of the exemption may vary between school boards. Since the provincial education system is based on a secular, humanist perspective, the only value judgments it makes are based on science, safety, and current laws. It does not promote judgements from a faith-based perspective, although it does suggest that faith can be an important factor to consider when making individual choices. As such, not only does it make reference to various form of intimate contact, it also portrays certain practices and lifestyle choices as being acceptable for example, having intimate contact with another person regardless of their gender and deriving intimate pleasure from oneself.

26 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

So while it is important for children to learn about issues that may be considered to be embarrassing or shameful, what they will be learning may be too early and will almost certainly contain messages that many devout parents will disagree with. So, what should parents do? Firstly, it’s important for parents to realize their role is not to simply act as police officers towards their children. Their job is to exert control initially, then educate and guide - easing their control as children grow older. Parents cannot control everything but they can certainly limit exposure by making better choices regarding media consumption, schooling, and their social interactions. Faith, and in particular what role it plays in the lives of children, must be a priority in every way, even when making career moves and financial decisions. Once parents are in the habit of making the best choices possible from a faith-based perspective, periodic assessments should be done to figure out the risk of exposure to children, regardless of the type of school they attend. While it is incredibly difficult to undo something that has already been learnt, there should be an effort to offer a counterbalance through extracurricular instruction in the form of classes, programs, videos or books. Parents should also engage with their school trustees, school boards and individual school principals and teachers to discuss their concerns in a balanced way that acknowledges an understanding of why these changes are being introduced but also explains, in a sensitive manner, why they are of concern to parents. A solid parent-child relationship, based on love, compassion and togetherness, can go a long way in overcoming these challenges. Exposing children to wholesome and Islamic activities, making them fun if they aren’t already, and giving children the opportunity to socialize with other families and children who value God-consciousness and good morals also plays an important role in the positive development of children.

Addressing current issues or challenging topics from an Islamic perspective, in an appropriate and respectful manner, is also extremely important. Doing so can help children process what they’re exposed to. Parents should seek the help of faithbased educators and experts if they need assistance in dealing with such issues. There are some good books available that can also be good resources, such as Meeting the Challenge of Parenting in the West by Dr Ekram Bashir and Dr Reda Beshir, as well as Muslim Teens: Today’s Worry Tomorrow’s Hope and Parenting Skills Based on the Qur’an and Sunnah by the same authors. The key for parents lies in instilling the importance of faith, God-consciousness, physical and spiritual purity from an early age, so that children develop a connection with God from an early age, and in guiding them accordingly through the choices parents make for them as they grow older. Once children are firmly rooted in these teachings, they will be more likely to be naturally less inclined towards that which is inappropriate. No parent can guarantee that their children will always make the right choices, but as with everything else, parents must try their best and leave for God the rest •

Sikander Hashmi, Contributor for The Link Canada, was born and raised in Montreal. At the age of 11, he left home to memorize the Qur’an and study Islam at Al-Rashid Islamic Institute in Cornwall, Ontario, where he studied for 10 years. He then studied Journalism at Concordia University in Montreal, graduating with a BA specialization in Journalism in 2008. He has worked as a reporter for the Toronto Star and Montreal Gazette. In 2010, he became Imam of the Islamic Centre of Kingston and served on the community editorial board of the Kingston Whig-Standard daily newspaper, which gave him the opportunity to write occasionally about Islam. By the Grace of Allah, he was also given the opportunity to build connections with the police, other faith groups, government departments and politicians, while teaching Qur’an to children, offering spiritual counsel to individuals, organizing youth programs and reaching out to Muslim students and prisoners. Sikander has had the opportunity to give numerous local and national media interviews on various issues related to Islam and Muslims. In June 2014, he moved to Ottawa to serve as imam of the Kanata Muslim Association. He can be reached through his website (www.sikander.ca) or on Twitter @kanataimam.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

JOINING THE CONVERSATION with Haroon Siddiqui WRITTEN BY THE LINK CANADA STAFF

28 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

POLITICS

Here’s an obvious fact: In Canada, or the West in particular, it is not commonplace to see many Muslims taking an active role in shaping their media’s narrative and, in turn, playing an active role in shaping public opinion. The same can be said about politicians and the unfortunate lack of political involvement from the Muslim community as a whole. Driven towards careers in medicine and engineering, many do not necessarily assume that they will pursue a career in something that 1) their parents’ disliked for them 2) doesn’t earn a lot of money. More than the two points above, it is safe to say that perhaps a career in the fields of media or politics isn’t deemed “successful” enough. At some level it makes sense — for those with immigrant parents, it is obvious that they would have come seeking for a better life for their children. But does that come at the cost of limiting one’s options? Especially when it comes down to contributing and giving back to a vast media landscape — the same media landscape that usually speaks on behalf of Islam and Muslims? That’s why we sat down with one of the most well known Canadian-Muslim icons in the field of journalism and media, Haroon Siddiqui, veteran of the renowned Toronto Star as a columnist and Editorial Page Editor Emeritus. He is also a member of the Order of Canada and author of an influential book titled Being Muslim, which was written to help provide an insight into Islam in a post-9/11 world. With parting words, Siddiqui wrote his last column for The Star on the first day of April this year as he retired from his 37-year long career at the paper.

Above: Haroon Siddiqui, Canadian journalist and 37-year Toronto Star veteran, sitting in his office.

Haroon Siddiqui has always been one of the few Muslim journalists that have spoken up about crucial issues in Canada — especially if those issues regarded Muslims. From the Charter of Values to the recent niqab ban, he’s shared his opinions on almost all of it. As a journalist, he has played a role as a spokesperson for Canadian Muslims, providing a voice for those who may have been spoken for ignorantly. Perhaps even helping to clear tensions or confusion that may have arisen from a miscommunicated issue. This is why we wished to know what he thought was one of the biggest challenges facing Muslims today.

Hence with his personable demeanor and infectious charisma, Siddiqui explained that he believes the biggest challenge facing Muslims at the moment is their lack of political and journalistic involvement. Just as a disclaimer — this is not to say we, as an ummah, do not have our own important media outlets living in the West. We most definitely do — but most of the time they are created for and by immigrant communities and, according to Siddiqui, these initiatives (though necessary) can place unexpected language barriers between “us” and “them.” He believes that media outlets need to maintain professional credibility, carry relevant and important content, and contribute positively to society. As an example, it is safe to say that a Muslim journalist living in Canada contributing just to an Urdu or Arabic newsletter will not have much of a social or political impact as a journalist contributing to a mainstream outlet as well. Thus, all of these issues beg the question: Where are the journalists/ creators of media products who can speak the necessary truths on our behalf ? Shouldn’t we, as Canadian Muslims, also be involved in shaping the future of the same country that gave us so much to be proud of ? Siddiqui definitely thought so, as he enthusiastically stressed on the importance of being involved in shaping public policy and public opinion “whether it be through creating professional alternative forms of media, diving into the mainstream, or simply raising awareness on a personal level about national and global happenings.” “Islam is a hot topic these days,” says Siddiqui, “and we have to join the conversation” •

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CRISIS WRITTEN BY HIRA KHAN

30 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. In Canada alone, obesity rates have tripled in less than 30 years, according to a study from Memorial University in St. John’s, New Brunswick. That means approximately 1 in 4 Canadians is clinically overweight. These illnesses are not like those of the past, such the Black Death or measles. These types of diseases and illnesses are part of our lifestyle and probably a consequence of our own choices and are all somewhat avoidable. The fact is: today we are in the midst of a lifestyle crisis. The question is, what do we do? How did we let it become this way? And what solutions does Islam provide, if any? Is this an Islamic Issue? In 2013, The Global Burden of Disease Study, published in The Lancet, found the highest rises in global obesity levels in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Not to mention the genetic predispositions our predecessors have passed down to us. Is it any mystery why so many of our relatives and the larger Muslim community are taking statins for high cholesterol, metformin for diabetes and aspirin as a ‘preventative’? The reality is that most people do not learn from the mistakes of others, they do not make changes until life forces them to change. Even then, most become reliant on pills or surgery, all without taking into consideration the necessary lifestyle and nutritional changes required. We all have it within us to summon the help of Allah, Al-Shafi to heal ourselves with consideration given to our lifestyle. What is the Prophetic Guidance?

“Clever is he who conquers the self” —The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

This hadith goes beyond managing anger. It means coming up with systems and processes to automate as much as possible in your life and make things easy for you and for those around you. Islam absolutely provides a framework for a healthy lifestyle. We suggest starting with the following areas: Reading the labels: Start eating foods that have minimal ‘ingredients’. Opt-out of anything in a box. These foods often contain MSG, colors, additives and sulphites. Playing: One must engage in play. Play is physical and social. When you play you laugh. Having a purpose: Live a life of purpose, and staying connected to your purpose. This means having a vision of your life, having a passion. This will motivate you and help bring change to your lifestyle. Growing: Focus on individual growth. This means learning every day. Educate yourself, read articles, watch documentaries and surround yourself with like-minded people. Connecting: Become a person who is connected to the Quran. What are you going to say to Allah on the Day of Judgement? Understand your health, amaanah, ibaadah, and duty to Allah (swt). Change does not come easy, but with the help of Allah (swt) anything and everything is possible. Start with small changes and you will inspire yourself in ways you could not have imagined •

Hira Khan, Contributor for The Link Canada, is a CAPPA and DONA trained Labour and Birth Doula, and a Certified Cupping Therapist. She is the Creator and Founder of Alif2Yaa Health Services, a service aimed at providing Doula Services, Prenatal Education, and Hijamah Services to the greater Muslim community. You can follow Hira on her Mommy blog (alif2yaa.blogspot.com) or Hijamah website (www. hijamahworks.com).

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

EMBRACING MENTAL HEALTH WRITTEN BY ZENIA SULTAN

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication. A while back I had a cold and was told by a friend that the reason for my sickness was because someone had put the evil eye on me. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated at this statement. The cause of my cold was very clear – a virus had entered my body and caused me to become ill. Later when I recovered, I reflected on this incident. If this was how I felt in regards to a small cold, then how must it feel when a mother is told that the only reason for her depression is because of the evil eye? How must a father with generalized anxiety disorder feel when he is told that he is afflicted by a jinn? What about a young girl with an eating disorder who is told that she only has a mental illness because she isn’t ‘religious enough’ or because she is ‘too negative about life?’ While evil eye, the affliction of jinn and lack of religiosity are serious issues, this does not mean that they are the cause of every problem we face. The reality is that our world is composed of both tangible matters, such as bacteria and chemical reactions, as well as intangible matters, such as evil eye and jinn. As a result, it is only logical that the problems we face are caused by either of these two domains. Mental illnesses are an example of problems caused by tangible matters and are not due to weakness of character or supernatural events. Rather, they are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. For example, depression is caused by a complex interaction of faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications and medical problems. [1] Studies show for example that a person with depression has heightened activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain responsible for emotions such as fear and sorrow. In addition, individuals with depression show a decreased growth of nerve cells in the hippocampus, the

32 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

region of the brain where long-term memories are stored. [2]. Similarly, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder experience hyperactivity in the amygdala, causing fear and triggering panic attacks. [3] Illnesses, whether they are physical or mental, are anything but simple. As a result simplistic explanations on why they occur do not suffice. Mental illnesses will indirectly affect every Canadian through a family member, friend or colleague. [4] Despite its prevalence however, this is an issue that sparks controversy and debate among the Muslim community. Its time that we take mental illnesses as serious health problems and not personal flaws. We can start by being careful with our words. Throwing around statements like ‘I feel depressed’ when feeling sad or saying ‘I’m being so bipolar’ when experiencing mood swings are not only inaccurate but also harmful. Statements like these make light of the issue of mental health and belittle those who experience these problems. Second, we should direct individuals with mental illnesses to a doctor or psychologist. While coming closer to Allah SWT is always beneficial and important, engaging in psychotherapy or starting medication are also important steps. Finally we should educate ourselves on the different types of mental illnesses and the severity with which they occur. Learning about these problems, accepting them and seeking help are signs of strength. As Muslims we should be proactive when faced with challenges – trusting Allah and simultaneously seeking help are the true qualities of a believer •

Zenia, Contributor for The Link Canada, studied Psychology at Western University and aspires to become a mental health counsellor for the Muslim community. She is interested in Islamic theology and enjoys public speaking.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

Only thing you have to do is just marinate the fish and pop it in the oven. After turning on the timer you can just walk away and not worry about it. After around 20-25 minutes, it will be ready to enjoy. I usually serve this baked fish with roasted or baked veggies, salad and sometimes along with a scoop of rice. This is without a doubt a healthy dish and great for those watching their weight!

34 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

GET FIT

FOR SPRING:

COOKING WITH THAS

BAKED PAPRIKA TILAPIA

KALE QUINOA

HERB CHICKEN SOUP

Ingredients:

Tilapia fillets- 4 fillets Paprika- 3 tsp Ground cumin- 1 1/2 tsp Ground pepper- 1/4 (add 1/2 tsp to make it spicy) Salt- to taste Olive oil- 2 to 3 tbsp

For cooking quinoa Quinoa- 1 3/4 cups Water- 2 cups Salt- a few pinches

Chicken breasts, boneless cut small- 2 breasts Olive oil- 1 tbsp Onion, diced small-1 Carrot, halved and diced-2 Celery, diced small-2 stalks Lemon grass, cut small-1 stalk Rosemary, fresh or dried- 1 stalk Oregano, dried-1 tsp Ground Pepper- 1/2 tsp Basil, dried- 1 tsp Water- 3 1/2 cups (or add low-sodium chicken stock) Salt- to taste Soy Sauce- 1 1/2 tbsp Scallions, chopped small- 2 stalks Cilantro, chopped- 2 handful Pasta or noodles- 1 cup

Instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine paprika, ground cumin, ground pepper and salt in a bowl. Spread the spices over the fillet, keep aside for 10 minutes. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place the marinated tilapia over the aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil over each fillet and place the baking sheet in the oven Bake for 20 minutes. If you want the fish to be browned, slightly pan fry the baked fish in a non-stick pan greased with little olive oil. Serve the fish warm with roasted or baked veggies, rice or salad

Thas, Recipe Contributor for The Link Canada, is the author of Cooking with Thas, a popular food blog showcasing recipes from Indian, American and Fusion cuisines. Based in London, Ontario, she loves travelling, gardening and outdoor activities. She always says, “Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to cook delicious food. Do it with all your heart, sprinkle some love and share with a smile on your face!” - Find more of her recipes on www. thas.com

For cooking Oil- 1 1/2 tbsp Cardamom, whole- 2 Cloves, whole- 2 Cumin seeds- 1 tsp Spring onions, chopped- 2 stalk Garlic, chopped- 1, large Carrot, chopped small- 1 Celery chopped small- 2 stalks Ground pepper- 1/2 tsp Kale – 5 leaves, chopped small Garam masala- 1/2 tsp Lemon juice- 1 tbsp Salt- to taste Instructions:

Instructions:

Boil water in a saucepan, season with salt, add quinoa and cook till it has cooked well and the water has dried off. Keep aside. 2. Place a wok or non-stick pan over medium heat, add oil. 3. Add whole cardamom, cloves, and cumin seeds, sauté for a few seconds till aromatic. 4. Add spring onions and garlic 5. Sauté for a minute till garlic turns light golden in color. 6. Add carrot and celery, season with salt and stir fry till veggies turn tender. 7. Add kale, sauté till kale turns slightly crispy. 8. Add quinoa, combine well. 9. Add ground pepper and salt, sauté for a minute. 10. Add garam masala, sauté for a few seconds. 11. Finally, drizzle lemon juice, combine well, cook for a minute. 12. Serve the quinoa along with baked meat, fish or veggies.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Dice the chicken breasts into small bite size pieces. Place a large soup pot or pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, add onion, carrot, celery to the oil, saute till veggies start to turn tender. Add lemon grass, rosemary, oregano, basil to it, combine well. Add chicken and season with ground pepper, combine well. Add water and cook covered till chicken has cooked well. Add soy sauce, combine well. Add pasta or noodles to it, let it cook well. If the consistency of the soup is too thick, add some water to thin it down. Taste and add more salt if needed. Let the soup come to a boil, add scallions and cilantro to the soup. Remove from the heat and let stand covered for a few minutes. Serve warm in a bowl and enjoy with crackers or toasted bread. SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

36 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

COMFORT FOOD RECIPES: CHOCOLATES & CHAI

Here’s something food bloggers should never say out loud: Eating is not my favourite part of a meal. The truth is, my favourite part of a meal is sharing it with those I love. Here are a couple of recipes that I love to cook for (and with) my nearest and dearest. I’m sure you will too.

LEMON FETTUCCINE WITH GARLIC SHRIMPS

NUTELLA & DARK CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST

Ingredients:

600g Fettuccine Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100g Baby Parmesan Cheese 1 Large Lemon (zest whole lemon, use only half the juice) 1 Clove Garlic, diced 500g Shrimps, peeled/tails removed 1 cup Peas Paprika, for seasoning Basil, for seasoning Salt, for seasoning Black Pepper, for seasoning

2 Thick Slices of Potato Bread 1 Egg 2 tbsp Milk 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract 2-3 tbsp Nutella 2 bars of Dark Chocolate ¼ Cup of Mixed Berries 1tbsp White Sugar 1tsp Icing Sugar 1tbsp Unsalted Butter

Instructions: Instructions: 1. 2.

3. 4.

5. Rizwan Asad, Copy Editor and Contributor at The Link Canada, is a writer and photographer based in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more of his work at Chocolates & Chai (www.chocolatesandchai. com), his food blog filled with recipes and restaurant reviews.

Season the shrimps with paprika, salt, and pepper. Let sit. Season boiling water with salt, and add the fettuccine to cook. Season with basil. Remove and drain once al dente. Boil the peas, and mix them into the pasta once cooked. While the fettuccine cooks, toss the diced garlic into a saucepan with ½ tbsp olive oil. Cook on a medium heat. Add the seasoned shrimps. Cook through, and mix into the drained fettuccine. Pour a good amount (about 3½ tbsp) of olive oil into a saucepan over very low heat with the zest and juice of one whole lemon. Grate the parmesan into the mixture. Mix together as the parmesan melts. Combine everything over a low heat for a minute or two allowing the pasta to absorb flavour.

Mix the berries and white sugar in a ¼ cup of water, and leave the mixture to simmer (stirring occasionally) over a low-medium heat. Once the mixture has reduced slightly, lightly mash with a fork. Whisk the egg, milk, and vanilla extract together and pour into a large flat dish. Spread 2-3tbsp of Nutella on one slice of bread, then place the two bars of dark chocolate towards the centre of the spread; use the remaining slice of bread to create a sandwich. Soak each side of your newly formed sandwich in the egg/ milk/vanilla mix for a few minutes. Melt butter in a large frying pan, add the sandwich and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Once golden, remove the sandwich and slice in half. Plate, drizzle on the berry compote, and dust with icing sugar to finish.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

38 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

EATING

VEGETARIAN: LIN’S CORNER

Spending time in the kitchen is always fun for me and making healthy and delicious food has been my passion since I was young. Recently I’ve been on a quest to make my diet healthier and more ethical by eating less meat and incorporating more greens. I’ve discovered that it’s not that hard when you have a few recipes, tips, and tricks up your sleeve! As a young student/professional living on a tight budget, I like to make sure my recipes also save me time and money. Here are a few of my time-saving and budget-friendly favourites: Vanilla Coffee Granola is one of mypantry staples for snacking or for jazzing up my yoghurt in the mornings; Savoury Vegetarian Pancakes are freezer-friendly and perfect for lunch at work; and Miso Udon with Oyster Mushrooms and Kai Lan takes less than thirty minutes from stovetop to table-top – ideal for those busy weeknight dinners. Bon appétit!

VANILLA COFFEE GRANOLA Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats ½ cup chopped or sliced almonds ½ cup shredded coconuts 1 ½ tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon instant coffee mix dissolved in 1 1/2 tbs hot water ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

SAVOURY VEGETARIAN PANCAKES

MISO UDON WITH OYSTER MUSHROOMS AND KAI LAN

1. 2.

Ingredients:

3. 4.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix everything well. It may take a few minutes to make sure all the liquids are evenly distributed. Pour mixture into 12”x12” cake pan lined with parchment paper. Press down firmly to make an even and compact layer of mixture. To make granola chunks: Bake for 15 minutes, rotate your pan to make sure the granola bakes evenly, and continue baking for another 10 minutes. To make loose granola: bake for 15 minutes, stir and bake for another 10 minutes. Cool completely before breaking into chunks. Store in an airtight container.

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 tsp salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 ½ cups water 1 egg 3 tablespoons butter, melted ½ cup finely-chopped mushrooms ½ cup finely-chopped shallots ½ cup finely-chopped red onion ½ cup grated carrot ½ cup grated zucchini Chopped cilantro to garnish

Instructions: 1.

Instructions: 1. 2.

Lin Abdul Rahman, Food Blogger and Contributor at The Link Canada, is Malaysian-born and Toronto-based. She has a background in journalism and loves getting creative with food. Lin believes eating healthy is easy and loves sharing simple recipes and tricks in the kitchen.

1 packet cooked udon 3 cups of water 1/3 cup diced firm tofu 1/2 cup shredded oyster mushroom 4-5 stems of kai lan 1 tbs dashi-type miso paste 1 tbs sliced green onions, reserve some for garnish 1 cup hot water

In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add the butter, egg, water and black pepper. Mix well. Add all the mushrooms, shallots, red onion, carrot and zucchini. Stir to combine. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or pan to medium-high. Ladle ¼ cup of mixture and spread to form an even thin layer. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

2. 3. 4.

In a small pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil on medium high heat. Add shredded mushrooms, kai lan and tofu cubes. Meanwhile, dissolve the miso paste in 1 cup of hot water. When the vegetables are cooked (about 4-5 minutes), remove from heat and add dissolved miso, spring onions and udon noodles. Stir gently to combine for 3-4 minutes. Ladle noodles, vegetables and tofu into a bowl, top with a generous amount of soup and garnish with spring onions. Serve hot.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

LIFESTYLE

SPRING FASHION TIPS WRITTEN/PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNUM KHOKHAR MODEL RAAMEEN KAZI

If you’re currently living through (or have lived through) a Canadian winter, there’s one thing you know we’re all eagerly waiting for… SPRING! Spring is currently playing the “hard to get” game and seems to really be enjoying the chase. And some like myself have also been in denial and given up winter coats and boots altogether (though I must say, my toes suffered terribly for this). Many associate spring with great fashion. Though that is true, spring is also about changing moods and becoming more active. Some partake in annual acts of spring-cleaning — both externally as well as internally — especially since spring is currently followed by Ramadan. The coming months should be used in preparation for Ramadan and if there’s one thing that Ramadan has taught me, it’s that this sacred month is one of simplicity and minimalism. That being said, we can take that rule and apply it to everything in our lives. From the kinds of foods we consume, to the clothes we wear — simplicity always wins! This spring we tried to keep it simple. From pastel hues to soft fabrics, every piece is a statement of its own.

Here are a few staple pieces you have to own or incorporate in your spring wardrobe: 1) Lace: A girl’s second best friend! Subtle lace details on a top or dress can completely change your outfit from casual to chic. The dress here is by Daya Couture, a Montreal-based brand; the navy viscose & lace scarf is by Fashion Caravan. 2) Statement necklaces: When we said keeping it simple, we meant it. One simple statement necklace will do the trick. We chose the Casa Loma necklace from Fashion Caravan for its pretty floral colours. 3) A day clutch: Whether you’re going to grab a coffee, going for lunch or simply taking a trip to the mall, a day clutch makes one’s outfit look a little more put-together. Opting for a brighter coloured clutch can help you keep it simple with your clothes and saves you the hassle of rummaging through an oversized bag. This calligraphy clutch is from Salam Shop’s collection and is the perfect Ramadan gift to yourself or a friend. ----And that’s a wrap! Easy, simple and elegant! Until next time, à bientôt!

Annum, Contributor for The Link Canada, is a Montreal native now building her home in Toronto. She’s passionate about fashion, food, faith & fun! Annum is also the founder of Fashion Caravan; a lifestyle blog and online boutique celebrating all things beautiful….and yes, she also speaks French!

40 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

NEWS

LONDON ISLAMIC SCHOOL makes the CTAA playoffs!

The London Islamic School basketball team, with Coach Hanni Shahatto. Photo courtesy of Ghasaq Al-Rubaie.

It’s been a year of history-making and recordbreaking for the 2014/2015 LIS boys’ basketball team. The team, only in its third year playing competitively in the CTAA (Catholic Teachers’ Athletic Association), took LIS all the way to the championship game of the Division A playoffs. This was the result of four months of tough training, leading to an unprecedented 7-0 season. As the only Islamic school in the Catholic league, the players put on an incredible display of skill and sportsmanship, finishing first place in the Northwest division. Also, for the first time ever, the boys played against public schools in the Ramblers OneRun tournament, winning against schools that have up to three times the student population of LIS, and soared to the championship game. LIS was now ready for the CTAA playoffs. After exhilarating wins in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, LIS found itself up against St. Anthony F.I. in the final game. Winning this one game would make them city champions. After a nerve-wracking battle that featured a bleacher full of excited families, friends, and teachers, LIS brought home hard-earned silver medals, losing by just one point. Second place out of nearly 50 teams in the league is an incredible achievement. Coach Hanni Shahatto

credits this year’s success to “…the exceptional work ethic and dedication of our athletes. They approached every game this year with a sense of purpose. It was more than basketball for them; they were representing Islam, and that’s a powerful motivation.” Captain Ahmed Salih, from the graduating class of grade 8 this year, explains, “this year was something special. In the beginning I didn’t know what to expect; we didn’t have a lot of tall people, but people who were fast. We put hours into perfecting our skills and working as a team. Mr. Hanni makes us work to our full potential, basketball-wise and Islamic-wise. With all of our hard work, dedication, and Allah’s will, we brought home the first banner to hang from LIS’ gym ceiling this year.” LIS, well-known for its academic excellence, has now been put on the map for its athletic achievement •

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

A UNITED

GATHERING FOR PEACE WRITTEN BY ZEBA HASHMI PHOTOGRAPHY BY IFFAT FAROOQUI

42 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

NEWS Canadian Muslims are average citizens trying to do their best in their daily lives. At the same time they feel that the negative news in the media is casting a shadow on their integrity. The wrongdoings of groups and individuals around the world does not speak for a faith of 1.4 billion followers or the one million Muslims who call Canada their home country. However, when news pertaining to a single faith keeps popping up in the media, then the burden of the conscious, caring, and peaceful holders of that faith is felt. People of conscience are always engaged, on a mental and physical level, on the ‘hows’ of tackling with current issues in the community. One of the methods of tackling the adversity was through a united simultaneous message which was stated in Toronto, Ottawa, London and Kingston on January 31, 2015 at precisely 1pm in public locations to denounce atrocities done in the name of Islam. Canadian Muslims and people of other faiths and non-faiths gathered to share and care by bringing items to donate to the local shelters. “There are so many ongoing negative things like ISIS impacting us and hitting close to home like the incident in Ottawa and the Via Rail plot. We are being told we don’t belong here but this is the only place we have to go,” stated Saleha Khan from London, Ontario. The feeling of frustration reverberated throughout the various communities and the following people organized the events in their respective cities: Shahzad Mustafa and Anela Janunandan from Toronto, Saleha Khan and Imam Abdl Fatah Twakkal from London, Mohammed Saleem and Mohammed Bayoumi from Kingston, and Amira ElGhawaby and Imam Sikander Hashmi from Ottawa. The name ‘Canadian Muslims for Peace’ represents precisely the aim of the effort and by whom. All Canadian Muslims appreciate peace and want peace now and in the future. The theme of the

Canadian Muslims greatly appreciate the peace, stability, and freedom we are blessed with in Canada. Canada is a beautiful country consisting of beauty in nature, in its people and system. event was ‘Unity in Peace, Unite in Compassion.’ The gathering brought out hundreds of concerned citizens, faiths and non-faiths, province-wide despite the frigid temperatures. Participants brought with them blankets, comforters, hats, scarves, and mitts to donate to the shelters in their cities. The warm beverages, talks of compassion, and collection for the local shelters created a gathering which did indeed create a feeling of hope and unity for humanity. The gathering spoke loudly about the fact that we are Canadian. we are Muslims and we are peaceful. “The reason we want to do this is, if we don’t look after our own home then who else will. “ said Saleha Khan. Canadian Muslims for Peace will be continuing the effort of aiding local organizations in need on a routine basis throughout the year. Despite the challenges, Canadian Muslims have great spirit and resilience to the negativity as we can see in the myriad of services, activities, events, and programs, Muslims across Canada are involved in to help better society. Canadian Muslims greatly

appreciate the peace, stability, and freedom we are blessed with in Canada. Canada is a beautiful country consisting of beauty in nature, in its people and system. May God always protect Canada and may God grant other countries stability and peace •

Zeba Hashmi, Contributor at The Link Canada is a community activist, mother, and a student. Zeba is involved in various voluntary efforts. She has served on Boards and Committees in Regina, SK. Now in London, ON, she continues to participate in community efforts. Zeba is currently involved with the London Muslim Mosque, Islamic History Month Canada, Muslim Association of Canada, City of London Race & Diversity Advisory Committee, & the Canadian Mental Health Association.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

AN INTERVIEW WITH WALID HEJAZI WRITTEN BY RIZWAN ASAD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RIZWAN ASAD

44 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

BUSINESS

Islamic Finance refers to banking and monetary practices adhering to Islamic or Sharia law. As such, it bans interest payments, certain market speculations, and investment in products not believed to be ‘halal‘ – such as gambling, pornography, alcohol, and pork. It is practiced by the bulk of the Muslim world, worth well over $1 trillion dollars in assets, was largely untouched by the Financial Crisis of 2008, yet remains conspicuously absent from many major Canadian banking institutions. The market is however, in flux; it’s changing. Adapting to the new globalised world thanks to the efforts of many, amongst whom is Walid Hejazi, an Associate Professor at University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and the first person to bring Islamic Finance into the Canadian university curriculum in any official manner.

The course is not about religion, it’s about business and ethical finance, pillared by Islamic tenets. Discussions about business opportunities in the Middle East provide a platform that allows Muslims to engage others and create dialogues on the Muslim world, allowing them to see opportunities for growth in the Muslim world. And while some students discuss ideas regarding the Middle East’s markets, others are able to witness them first-hand through Hejazi’s Middle East study tours. In a project benchmarking the Muslim world against the rest of the world, Hejazi and his students discovered that though 20% of the world’s population are Muslim, only 10% of the world’s GDP is in Muslim countries, implying that the average Muslim only earns half the average income when compared to the rest of the world.

I sat down with the Associate Professor to get a better idea of his motivations in spearheading a campaign to develop Islamic Finance in Canada through his classes at Rotman. Born in Windsor, Ontario to Lebanese parents, Hejazi has been working to develop the inclusiveness of Canadian society by introducing students to Islamic Finance and financial markets in the Middle East.

Prior to his Islamic Finance course, there were no courses with any significant focus on Islamic Finance or business in the Middle East. The focus was almost entirely on traditional brick markets. Noticing the gap, Hejazi took the initiative to start an Islamic Finance course. Starting with 20 students in it’s first year, the programme (now in it’s fourth year) is comprised of 40 students (with a 20 student wait list) – the majority of whom are not Muslims “which to me is important,” says Hejazi, “…it shouldn’t be just about getting Muslims to learn more about the Muslim world.”

Speaking in regard to the importance of Shariacompliant solutions to Muslims on a spiritual level, Hejazi says “If they have a mortgage that’s shariacompliant, they feel pure” however, if the company offering the mortgage collapses, and the consumer is forced to get a conventional interest-based mortgage “….then all of a sudden, their home is no longer blessed in their mind.” Outside of his work on Islamic Finance, Hejazi is deeply involved in researching foreign investment in Canada as well as Canadian investments abroad, having testified five times before the Parliamentary Committee in Ottawa on this topic. His belief that foreign investment and international trade is a way to enhance prosperity and reduce poverty has taken him from the Middle East to the Cayman Islands in order to examine policies that may prevent economies from becoming more lucrative.

Crediting his parents emphasis on studying hard, his own love for learning and studying, and the academic freedom of being a professor as the reasons he got into the field, Hejazi has been teaching at the University of Toronto for over 20 years, and credits himself to be one of the happiest people there.

If you love your job, you never work a day in your life...and I completely love my job.

Detractors of Islamic Finance will point to the issues at UM Financial, a de facto test case for Islamic Finance in Canada. The insolvency of the Islamic mortgage lender has been cited as an example of the inability of Islamic Finance to operate in Canada. Hejazi however states the lesson from UM Financial is not to push Islamic Finance away but rather to bring it into the mainstream in order to ensure that mortgages are well managed and regulated, and secondly to bring Muslims out of the periphery and into the mainstream.

Though the Islamic Finance course has been making quick progress and has only received praise since its inception, it was not without its initial challenges. Though there were many that felt that a course so closely tied with a religion should be kept separate from the school, Hejazi credits the Dean of the Business School for having exactly the right kind of mindset; to being open to a new idea and trusting Hejazi to run with it. Of course, this begs the question: So what exactly is the status of Islamic Finance in Canada? Hejazi states that “one of the challenges for the growth of Islamic Finance is something called regulatory clarity. What do I mean by that? ‘Is the government behind it or not?’” Minister John Baird has stated that Islamic Finance is welcome in Canada. And it is certainly present. Aside from Hejazi’s educational component, there are many Sharia-compliant financial solutions being offered across Canada. However, the truth remains that Canada lags behind several other countries (such as, the US, the UK, France and Australia) in terms of the depth of Islamic Finance available; as mentioned at the beginning of this article, Sharia-compliant solutions are not available at many major Canadian banking institutions.

Another interesting research project of Hejazi’s is exploring the obstacles that women face in their careers. As women move through their careers, they may face challenges and experiences that men may not, such as pregnancy and child-rearing. He is hoping to develop a better understanding of different issues by also examining and conducting research on minority communities — as it would be interesting to see whether or not the obstacles they face, real or perceived, are similar to those of the mainstream. It was an interesting 45 minutes, and there’s certainly a lot to take away from my conversation with Hejazi, but let’s leave it at this – Islamic Finance, though present, has a long way to go before it may be established in Canada. It’s through the efforts of pioneers in the educational fields like Walid Hejazi, and his equivalents in the financial, regulatory, and media spheres of society, will we see the development needed to have Sharia-compliant solutions as a viable mainstream option •

Rizwan Asad, Copy Editor and Contributor at The Link Canada, is a writer and photographer based in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more of his work at Chocolates & Chai, his food blog filled with recipes and restaurant reviews.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

SPREADING THE SALAM WRITTEN BY THE LINK CANADA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAMDI ALI

46 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

BUSINESS

Visiting this shop today reminded me of the beautiful prophetic tradition: Indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. This store is breath of fresh air for Toronto! Allah bless this beautiful initiative, ameen! Make sure you check it out insh’Allah. —Shaykh Ibrahim Hussain, Milton, ON

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

I love Salam Shop. It’s the perfect mix between a Chapters and a Pottery Barn feel but with Islamic products that fit my family’s lifestyle. —A happy Salam Shop customer

The sweet smell of gardenia with a hint of lavender lingers in the air. A color palette that is pleasing to the eye reminds us of a vintage tea party. The soft sounds of Maher Zain singing “Assalamu alayka ya Rasool Allah” bring coolness to the ears. The products displayed are carefully chosen to resonate the brand — each softly welcoming you to the Salam Shop. Salam Shop is a creative place to shop for Muslims living in Canada. It is located in Mississauga, Ontario in the heart of one of the most diverse cities in Canada. The shop contains a carefully curated mix of products that are handmade, ethically produced, fair-trade, and organic. Since its launch on February 8th 2015, Salam Shop has become the store for modern Muslims wanting unique home décor, artwork, apparel, stationery, health & beauty products, books, toys, jewelry, fresh flowers, gifts, and halal treats. They’ve also created a cosy and beautiful in-shop café equipped with organic and fair-trade teas, coffees, and kashmiri chai on Fridays and weekends. Customer service at Salam Shop is top priority – the team loves interacting with guests and they showcase their gratefulness for community support through their in-shop events held several times each month. Thus far, Salam Shop has celebrated Family Day, International Women’s Day, and March Break with the community. Their latest event is a Paint Night with a local artist.

About the creative entrepreneur behind the Salam Shop: Sudduf Wyne is the founder of Salam Shop. She was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario to immigrant parents from Pakistan. Sudduf is forever grateful for the time and effort her parents but into her upbringing and the intense focus on education and encouragement to be the best she could be. Sudduf was inspired by her parents and their hardworking nature and took on the study of Materials Engineering at McMaster University as her undergraduate degree. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class. After working for Ontario Power Generation for several years, she decided she wanted formal business education and was delighted when she was accepted into the MBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business with a half scholarship. After completing her MBA, Sudduf went on to work in management at a downtown Toronto startup. In search of creating a life that was more meaningful and fulfilled her passion for entrepreneurship and her religion, Sudduf quit her job and began working on the concept for Salam Shop. With support and inspiration from her husband, Ahraaz Wyne, her family and friends, she has made her vision a reality. She takes great pride in sourcing only the highest quality products from predominantly local brands and artisans that echo her vision of the store.

What began as a dream in the summer of 2014 has quickly become a beautiful reality adored by Muslims all over the world. In July 2014, the founder quit her management role in downtown Toronto to take on a more meaningful career that would allow her to connect her Canadian roots to her religious upbringing. She was inspired to create a lifestyle shop that would resonate with Canadian Muslims and really showcase what being a Muslim in Canada is all about. Today, Salam Shop carries over 15 high quality, ethical, and fair trade brands to support its vision to spread the love & beauty of Islam. To date, the brickand-mortar shop has served over 500 customers and Salam Shop is excited to announce the launch of their online shop before Ramadan 2015. And as for the future, one might ask: what else is in store for Salam Shop? Spreading the love & beauty of Islam worldwide – through franchise opportunities.

48 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

Above: Sudduf Wyne, Salam Shop founder, and her husband Dr. Ahraaz, pictured here on their store’s Grand Opening!

Salam Shop is proud to carry these following brands (and is continuously on the lookout for adding more ethical brands for customers): The Fashion Caravan, Zuhoor Designs, Daya Couture, Smore Treats, The Craft Souk, Hayah Clothing, Silk of Paradise, Maqbool Clothing, Embellish, The Pampered Muslimah, Sabouna Simplified Skincare, The Petite Nunu Boutique and Anam K Art. You can visit her website for more details (www.salamshop.ca) •

BUSINESS

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

“The response from all over the world has been extremely positive and that can be seen in the various initiatives taken by our community members — from events organized by schools, to carnivals, and corporate campaigns.

141 SCHOOLS FOR PEACE WRITTEN BY MADIHA SALMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAABISH HASAN

50 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

PHILANTROPHY On December 16th, 2014, 141 lives, including those of 132 children, were lost senselessly in a heinous terror attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. The whole world was consumed by shock and grief over this atrocious act. Like many others, Zaki Patel, a 33 year old management consultant residing in Toronto, felt anguished and stunned at the incident until a tweet inspired him, ‘Build 141 schools; one in the name of each life lost.’ “That was the only thing that made sense,” says Zaki.

He immediately created a website, www.141schools. org, and requested people to support his mission of building 141 schools in the honour of the victims and bringing education to underserved areas across Pakistan. His wife, Syeda, joined his noble cause and together they approached The Citizen’s Foundation (TCF) and established a partnership with them to launch a global campaign titled ‘141 Schools for Peace.’ TCF is one of the largest and most reputable nonprofit organization in Pakistan, providing educational opportunities for children since 1995. To date TCF has built and is operating 1,000 schools, educating 145,000 underprivileged students in rural and urban slums across Pakistan. TCF is now leading the 141 Schools project to make this vision a reality.

in Pakistan,” says Zaki Patel. “The response from all over the world has been extremely positive and that can be seen in the various initiatives taken by our community members — from events organized by schools, to carnivals, and corporate campaigns. The community in Canada too has been very proactive, particularly student bodies in universities. As a starting point, we are approaching Pakistan Student Associations (PSA) at Universities (Waterloo, McGill, McMaster, UofT, UTM) to initiate spreading awareness. Some community members also plan to start campaigns in their job places.”

Zaki and Syeda encourage anyone who is interested in coming onboard to visit the website, follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and get involved! In due course, education is the only tool that can enlighten minds to stand against extremism and intolerance. By empowering our youth with the education that equips them with moral values and ethics, we can bring a positive change in Pakistan and around the globe •

“141 Schools for Peace will be launching at TCF Canada’s 10 year anniversary event on April 10th at Mississauga Convention Centre where we will be unveiling a few exciting new initiatives to TCF Canada’s community members,” revealed Zaki Patel. The web campaign of 141schools.org has brought together a global community that is contributing in different ways to create a positive response to a national tragedy. Numerous people across the globe have expressed their support and pledged resources to help execute the project. So far the project has received funds for two schools and the first school is expected to be operational later this year. Above: Change-makers Zaki and Syeda Patel photographed here in downtown Toronto.

Most recently, GroupM Pakistan, a subsidiary of global advertising media company GroupM, also came on board to raise funds. Similarly, Pakistani artist Ali Zafar has also committed to donate all proceeds from his latest single, Urainge, dedicated to the victims of the Peshawar attack. “Unthinkable terrorism has to be countered with unimaginable hope and our efforts today will serve as a counter narrative to resist the advance of extremism

Madiha Salman, Contributor for The Link Canada, is a freelance writer residing in London Ontario with her husband Syed Salman Afzaal & two kids. She is pursuing PhD in Geo-environmental Engineering from the Western University in London, Ontario. Through her writings, she aims to promote the positive image of the Muslim community, particularly in North America and inspire and motivate the Muslim youth.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

They think Islam is chauvinistic — that it’s all the things that go against the grain of our understanding of decent human values... So, it’s really important for me to be a part of redefining what Islam really means to the majority of us.

DEFINING ISLAM THROUGH PHILANTROPHY WRITTEN BY LEILA ALMAWY PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISLAMIC RELIEF CANADA

52 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

PHILANTROPHY

In an increasingly skeptical world where poverty and disaster are spreading like disease, and where age-old religions are constantly being rejected and redefined, it may seem like it is getting considerably harder for people to believe in any cause. Yet, Islamic Relief Canada, a charitable organization, is determined to challenge that notion. “Our vision is to help the world’s poorest people. Without any conditions – just help the poor. We don’t make any distinctions with people’s race, religion, color, creed or anything,” says Zaid AlRawni, CEO of Islamic Relief Canada.

With many people having their reservations about associating with big charitable organizations, I sat down with Al-Rawni to discuss and deconstruct common misconceptions about Islam, what social issues Islamic Relief Canada aims to tackle and some common qualms in regards to donating. Islamic Relief Canada is a charity that works at ending poverty, illiteracy, and disease as well as aiding in disaster relief. Being an Islamic charity, but not restricted to only helping Muslims, it is propelled by its five pillars which are based on Islamic principles: sincerity, mercy, excellence, social justice and custodianship. Hence, when I asked Al-Rawni

what drove him to work for Islamic Relief Canada as opposed to any other charitable organization, he explained that “Muslims, globally, have universal human values such as equality, fairness, love, care and compassion, and these values need to be espoused as Islamic values. So, that’s why I chose Islamic Relief – because it’s one of the few global institutions that says Muslims stand for these values.” In a time where Islam and Muslims everywhere are being looked at through an inspective and agitated lens, this comforting notion is definitely welcome, especially when many media outlets and proposed leaders are trying to define what Islam means by SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

constructing their own stories based on conflated principles. “They think Islam is chauvinistic and that it’s all the things that go against the grain of our understanding of decent human values and what Islam teaches us to be. So, it’s really important for me to be a part of redefining what Islam really means to the majority of us,” adds Al-Rawni. Thus, as a big supporter of Al-Rawni’s testimonial and his goal to unshackle Islam from its perceived stigma, I still had some questions of concern, particularly: does Islamic Relief Canada incorporate proselytism into its humanitarian work? This is a perfectly valid concern that many donors have when approaching any charity, especially one whose name clearly states its religious affiliation. Not surprised by my question, Al-Rawni graciously explained that, though Islamic Relief Canada works on the basis of Islamic principles, the organization does not believe in taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of poverty-stricken communities by persuading them to accept Islam. “Helping people in vulnerable positions or vulnerable situations should not be mixed with trying to convince them of a particular set of values. There should be no ulterior motive,” he says. “Islamic Relief does have an advocacy element to its work, but that’s never been and never will be a religious-based position,” says Al-Rawni Al-Rawni mentioned a campaign that is being launched by Islamic Relief Canada in May which aims to shed light on gender-based violence among the poorest communities on the planet and how many women suffer on top of their already blind suffering. Hence, he adds, “what we’re saying is that the effects of global inequality have a huge impact on global poverty. So, things related to poverty where we think there’s a very clear issue that needs to be addressed, we’ll speak about it openly.” Thus, with several concerns addressed, one very prominent issue was left to tackle – the question of whether or not the donors’ funds actually reach the place of need. How do we know that the organization is not being fraudulent by keeping the funds for itself ? How come a certain percentage of the donations goes to overhead funding instead of all the money going to the place of need? The list goes on. Though it is natural for people to have their doubts about the guarantee of their generous donations being delivered to the actual place of intent, Al-

54 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

Rawni explained that Islamic Relief Canada is headed by seven board members whose job it is to ensure that all funds are being spent accordingly. Furthermore, the organization has external auditors who fly across the world to make sure that the projects in the designated areas of need are actually being implemented. Yet, to further keep the trust between charity and donor, Islamic Relief Canada invites some senior donors, annually, to go to the communities they have invested in to check on the progress of the work that their donations have supported. With all that proof, donors may still be unsatisfied with the fact that a sum of their donations is going to overhead funding. However, without overhead funding, a charitable organization is unable to grow and sustain itself to do the humanitarian work that it promises to do. Funding must be invested in employee compensation, advertising and marketing, and several other crucial factors that make up the support system of a charitable organization and propel it to greatness. It may indeed seem like an overwhelmingly scary and hostile world we live in, yet with charities like Islamic Relief Canada that are determined to counter all the animosity with peace and humanitarian efforts, there is still hope for a brighter future. Not only does the organization seek to eradicate poverty, but it aims to redefine what Islam and being a Muslim truly means. “Islam has gone through so much, but it’s really important that Muslims who actually have decent human values stand up and define what Islam means to them,” adds Al-Rawni. And for those questions that are directed towards a charitable organization’s integrity in actually delivering the entire sum of a donation to the place of need, I will leave it to Dan Pallotta who says, “The next time you’re looking at a charity, don’t ask about the rate of their overhead – ask about the scale of their dreams, how they measure their progress towards those dreams and what resources they need to make them come true, regardless of what the overhead is” •

Leila Almawy, Senior Correspondent for The Link Canada, is a Community TV Producer for the Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board. She is based in London, Ontario where she continuously finds inspiration from the people, the causes and the nature of the city. Leila believes that media is a strong proponent of activism when used justly.

PHILANTROPHY

“Our vision is to help the world’s poorest people — without any conditions – just help the poor. We don’t make any distinctions with people’s race, religion, color, creed, or anything,” —Zaid Al-Rawni, CEO, Islamic Relief Canada.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

AN AVALANCHE FOR CHANGE WRITTEN/PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMAL AHMED ALBAZ

56 SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

SPIRITUALITY

Your snowflake is your contribution to making a difference in the world. You merely existing isn’t necessarily beneficial; it’s your actions that make you worthy. If everyone could pitch in a snowflake, no matter how small or delicate, imagine how powerful our avalanche could be. Imagine how much corruption it would wipe out. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Link Canada publication.

can’t be blamed, for the event was a collaborative performance. Now here’s some food for thought. Imagine for a moment that we, as humanity, are trying to cause an avalanche — an avalanche for change. We need every human, every snowflake, to contribute. But if there aren’t enough snowflakes, the mission is impossible.

Some of us may need a pen and paper to brainstorm what we can do to make a difference, and some of us will just get the idea in the shower. But the idea is that we can all do something. At times, we feel like we don’t have it in us. “Greatness was made for other people,” our brain would trick us into thinking. That’s simply not true.

Winter just loves to steal spring’s spotlight, doesn’t it? Canada’s just too attached to the cold; it can’t seem to let it go (maybe Elsa can help with that!). Aside from having to layer my entire wardrobe and considering moving to the Caribbean, winter isn’t that bad. For me, it’s a time for taking my mind out of mental hibernation and feeding it with reflection.

You are not a snowflake. Your snowflake is your contribution to making a difference in the world. You merely existing isn’t necessarily beneficial; it’s your actions that make you worthy. If everyone could pitch in a snowflake, no matter how small or delicate, imagine how powerful our avalanche could be. Imagine how much corruption it would wipe out.

There are billions of snowflakes, yet each hold their unique set of characteristics. The same way that no two snowflakes are the same, no two humans are identical (not in genetic terms). You owe it to humanity to try to do what you can to make a change, because no one else will think exactly the same way you do.

On a cold and cloudy day, my nose froze as I awaited my bus; a perfect snowflake landed on my glove. I was in awe. It was one of those surreal images you’d find on Google. I’ve never seen it so close — so perfect. More crystal-like shapes started to accumulate as I held out my hands like an excited three-year-old witnessing their first snowfall. Not all of them were flawless; some were broken, and some just a boring lump of snow. I was so distracted that I missed the bus as it drove by. With an extra 30 minutes to spare, I took out my camera and click, click, click — I had captured some beautiful snowflakes.

We all have “change the world” somewhere on our bucket list; we want to make a difference. I have yet to meet someone who is opposed to leaving a positive imprint on the world. But we’re just too “busy” and quite frankly, lazy. We’d rather curl up on our couch with a warm cup of tea watching the 10 seasons of Friends over and over again. I’ll admit, it’s easier. But we have to remember that nothing great ever happened because it was easy.

We all get stuck not knowing what to do, so we stop trying. It’s not about doing one big thing; it’s about all the little things we do everyday. It’s about putting whatever talents and skills we have to good use. It’s about finding like-minded individuals who will help us reach our goal. It’s about realizing that it’s not easy, but doable.

For the rest of the day, the snowflake was on my mind. Each so fragile, yet they hold potential to cause raging blizzards. Each one on its own is vulnerable, but when they join forces, they are powerful. In an event of an avalanche, the snowflake alone

We have the time; we just don’t want to use it. If you watch a 40-minute show for five seasons, that’s about 70 hours. That translates into approximately three days without sleep or washroom breaks. Realistically, someone could watch it all in a week. But show after show, season after season, we are wasting hours, days and weeks of our lives. Suddenly, you’ll wake up and you’ll realize you haven’t done anything, all in the name of being “busy” without being productive. You’ll realize you don’t have a snowflake to contribute.

After all, to appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold •

Amal, Contributor for The Link Canada, is a journalist, poet and speaker. She loves travel, sunshine and lives by this motto: “Know something about everything, and everything about something.” Life is her battlefield and words are her weapon.

SPRING 2015 | THELINKCANADA.CA

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO

OUR WEB READERS: Thank you for reading the online edition of The Link Canada’s first ever print publication. We hope you had a wonderful experiene! Because this is our first publication, we wanted to give you a glimpse into what our future, quarterly issues will be like! Please note that our future print publications will not be fully available online. So, if you like our content and layout — and wish to receive our publication directly to your doorstep — sign up for our annual subscription today! (You can also gift an annual subscription to someone/an institution/library/clinic/ restaurant/and more!)

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WE REACHED OUT TO A FEW OF OUR LOYAL READERS AND ASKED THEM TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON OUR NEW TRANSITION FROM

LONDON LINK

THE LINK CANADA

I always eagerly awaited London Link magazines because it was my way of feeling up-to-date with my community. I remember when the London Muslim Mosque 3-Part Series was published. Though I had lived in the London community all my life, the magazine provided me with unique insight about a place that I thought I knew so well. The London Link was an important part of my life and now that it has gone national it will continue to be so and to be an important part of many other people’s lives as well. —Cindos Barakat, London, ON

I have been an avid reader of the London Link ever since it started publishing. Now with its national transition into The Link Canada, I will continue to read this magazine. The reason is simple. It’s a unique look at the Muslim community (first in London) and now Canada. This magazine takes us into the extraordinary world of Muslims in Canada. It brings out inspiration in all of us and shows the greater public the positive message of Islam. —Adil Safdar, Edmonton, AB

I definitely feel more in touch with the Muslim community through this magazine. I can say that the youth especially, feel more motivated by reading stories of inspiring people on many different current topics. Through this they also become aware of opportunities available to them in different fields. I like that I also find out more about unique Muslim businesses and services, this helps them receive more customers and helps us become more aware of their products and services. It is also encouraging and inspiring to read the knowledgable work of scholars, academics, professionals, journalists and more so we can learn more about their positive contributions to Canada and the world.

—Nasir Jabbar, Mississauga, ON

Not only am I a fan for its beautifully-crafted layout and inspiring content, but also because it draws you in as a reader, you become inspired, informed and motivated as a Muslim living in Canada. Through its positive and promising stories of inspiring Canadian Muslims who have made a mark in their professional lives and communities, the magazine has inspired, informed and taught people all across Canada about the true values of Islam. One of the main reasons as to why this magazine became so popular was because it highlighted the work of many inspiring Muslims around the word — especially in Canada. This magazine aims to challenge negative Muslim narratives and stereotypes portrayed in the media. The Link is a professional outlet that supports and showcases positive initiatives, talents and stories of Muslims in and around your Canadian community as well as around the world.

—Wajeha Chams, London, ON

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