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WHY MYSPIRIT? A joint project of DawaNet and Sound Vision, Muslim Youth (MY) Spirit is a movement to engage, educate and empower young Muslims of Canada to be productive, confident and caring citizens, who are comfortable with their identity, spirituality and heritage. OUR MISSION: Connect the disengaged and empower the engaged Muslim youth through programs, services and campaigns that are inspiring, accessible and socially relevant.
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ROL EM O
Mohammed
Z
eyara, aged 20, grew up in Gaza, Palestine. He moved to Canada at the age of 12 and frequently travels back and forth between Mississauga, Ont. and Gaza. As an emerging leader, Zeyara says, “To become a great leader is to be a great follower.” He says that society does not just depend on youth to lead, but advises them to know how to follow great leaders effectively in order to become charismatic leaders in their own community. As someone who has lived in both Gaza and Canada, Zeyara realized that growing up in the West doesn’t give people a real glimpse of the rough times that exist around the world. Travelling showed him that there are greater problems in the world than worrying about having the next Apple product. It inspired him to speak up for the rights of those who suffer from distressful situations, such as those in Gaza. “I have seen, therefore I am responsible. If I just saw what I saw and stayed quiet, Allah (The Exalted) would hold me account able for not speaking,” says Zeyara. He hopes to share his observations with the world and inspire people to become more aware of world issues.
L DE
Have you ever decided to take action and make a difference in the world, only to later push that thought aside? You are not alone. The youth of today have potential to initiate change in their communities but lack sources of inspiration. To become inspired, youth can turn to examples of young individuals who are making a difference in their communities. Mohamed Zeyara; a public speaker, filmmaker, medical student and a youth activist, is a great example of an individual making his mark on this world. MY Voice had the chance to interview Zeyara about his work.
Zeyara
Zeyara believes that education is essential for creating any change. Education gives youth the credibility to speak in front of the masses and express their opinions confidently.
Furthermore, Zeyara says youth should benefit the community through their skills and passions. He gives examples of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions that excelled greatly in one aspect and used it to make a positive difference in their communities; Khalid bin Waleed was the best in military planning and Abu Bakr was the best in knowledge. Through their passions, these individuals were able to bring prosperity into their communities. Similarly, Zeyara uses his hobbies such as filmmaking to make his mark in the world. Making YouTube videos helps him reach a larger audience. Over a few years, Zeyara’s videos have jumped from 1,000 views to 100 million views. Zeyara has also acted in the Inspiration Series with Brother Omar Suleiman, which takes lessons from the Prophet Muhammad's life (peace be upon him) and applies them to the current situations individuals experience in the West. Zeyara
is also developing his skills in the sciences, aspiring to become a doctor to help people. He says, “The youth should search for something that they are good at. If you love something and you’re successful, people will like it and they will support you.” Youth often face challenges and criticisms when trying to make a difference. Zeyara states that as a leader who faces criticisms through social media, he has become immune to it. But he acknowledges that sometimes advice and criticisms are essential to reshaping and improving one’s goals as an activist. Thus he turns to his father as well as his mentor Brother Omar Suleiman for constructive criticism. Zeyara says, “Every single person who will become successful will hear negative comments, but when they have surpassed that stage of taking it badly, they will hit success."
BY AISHA HYDER Grade 11 & AMIRA ZUBAIRI 2nd Year Uni
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The niqab or the hijab is never an obstacle unless you make it one for yourself. It is never a barrier between what you can or cannot do.
BY MARYAM FAISAL 1st Year University
A Veil
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AMONG NONE
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Your life doesn't have to rev lve around Islam. es) ( but it kind of do
There’s always going to be someone more pious than you. Someone who always prays on time, someone who never watches anything but educational TV, and someone who still frowns, and goes "Eww," when discussing the opposite gender. Because you are around these people everyday, you might feel you aren’t as religious as you should be. Compared to your peers, you might feel insecure about your strength as a Muslim. Should I stop listening to music? Should I talk more about Islam? Maybe Islam should be all I ever talk about with my friends. Maybe I should've—I don't know—set up a charity organization, converted all my non-Muslim friends, and started wearing hijab when I was ten years old.
'Maybe I'm not doing Islam right.' I don't know about you, but these thoughts occur to me almost daily. Often, you meet people your own age whose lives seemed to be overwhelmed with Islam. They're wearing it on t-shirts and badges, proclaiming their Muslim identity to the world, whereas I just cover up my limbs. Is that really good enough? If these teenagers are making everything in their lives about Islam, shouldn't I?
“Islam isn't just a religion; it's a way of life.” I've been doing some thinking, and I feel that not everything you do and say has to be about Islam. At the same time, Islam should be in everything you do and say. God is with you in every move you MY VOICE | ISSUE2VOL2 2014 | 10
make. He's watching over the entire world, but at the same time, He's looking right over your shoulder. That's the great thing about Allah (The Exalted), He's watching the whole world and everybody in it, yet somehow He's with you personally. He knows what's in your heart when you do things, and how you mean them. With Islam you don't have to be religious, because Islam isn't just a religion; it's a way of life. You have to live Islam. Islam is when you smile to cheer someone up. Islam is when you stand up for someone being bullied. Islam is explaining your beliefs to non-Muslim friends with such care that they rightfully see Muslims as peaceful, passionate people. Yes, Islam is about praying, and Qur'an recitation, but it's also about being a genuinely kind and sincere person. The most important thing is doing good deeds. An impressive display of your Muslim identity doesn't mean anything to Allah (The Exalted) if your actions are not respectable. You have to do Islam properly, but in your own way. Carry your Muslim standards everywhere and in everything. Don’t feel obliged to immerse yourself in mainstream content if you think it’s inappropriate, or you feel uncomfortable absorbing it. You want principled TV shows, and books with beautiful morals. You want the beat of a drummer and a lovely voice in your music, not swearing. You want to associate with people of the highest integrity in your school, Muslim or not. You want to talk about meaningful things with your friends, laugh, and just have a good time. You can have fun without falling from the right path. Islam doesn't mean the end of everything else. It just means a better way of living life until the day we Insha Allah get the ultimate reward.
BY LEENA ABEDIN GRADE 9
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BY GHULAM JAMIL GRADE 11
The change starts with the person in the mirror! *Hadith: Sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
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My Community
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&
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olunteering in the community is one of the many requirements for a high school diploma. Tree planting, participating in fundraisers or summer camps are a few ideas to get the coveted forty hours. But beyond getting the hours required for graduation, this also gives people a chance to get involved in their community and make a difference by giving back. They get the opportunity to spend their time and energy in a cause that they believe in. By getting involved, one can help others for the sake of Allah, which will give them the feeling of true contentment. With the right intentions, the rewards from Allah are infinite. Recently, I helped clean up Harbour Park in Toronto for the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up. For an early Saturday morning t hat could easily be spent sleeping in, a group of people came together to give back to the environment. With so many benefits, here are a few organizations to help you get started: Yaqin: A new organization aimed at giving the youth fun and interactive ways to learn about their religion, develop new skills and get involved in the community. They offer monthly workshops, trips and volunteer opportunities. www.facebook.com/yaqingroups Muslim Student Association (MSA): A school club providing services to Muslim students through Friday prayers and events to join a Muslim community. Find out if your school has a club or start your own!
Evergreen: An environmental organization offering volunteer opportunities helping to green the cities we live in. If you’re interested in sustainability and working to create cleaner living spaces then check out Evergreen at: www.evergreen.ca Mississauga Food Bank: This is a great way to help out those in your community by volunteering a few hours a week or planning a fundraising event to donate all items to the Mississauga Food Bank. www.themississaugafoodbank.org Pan-Am Games 2015: These games will be coming to Toronto and they are looking for youth volunteers who are passionate leaders. They have many opportunities to choose from so check out their website to find something for you. www.toronto2015.org/volunteer And last but not the least: MY Voice magazine: Why look any further? If you love being part of a youth organization that is reaching out to the masses with their message, learning skills that will benefit you and helping you build a great network of writers, designers, editors, illustrators, photographers plus other roles, then sign on by emailing: info@myvoicecanada.com
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