MY Voice Volume 10 Issue 4 Celebrating 10 Years of Empowering Muslim Youth

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Bismillah

Asalaamu’Alaikum Warhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

It is an absolute honour to be writing this note to you, commemorating the incredible milestone of MY Voice Canada's 10-year anniversary issue!

Reflecting upon our journey, I am deeply reminded of the blessings that guided us from the nascent stages of our magazine. Through every trial over the last decade, we forged ahead, driven by a shared vision of ensuring that our beloved Muslim youth would be heard, their individual narratives cherished and upheld. Today, each and every voice resonates, harmonizing with the melody of our ummah and reaching far beyond our humble beginnings.

Yet, as we reflect upon our past achievements, we humbly acknowledge that our work is far from complete. Our commitment to nurturing the potential of Muslim youth who come across our magazine remains resolute and unwavering. We will continue to provide a platform that empowers, enlightens and inspires, molding a generation of leaders who will exemplify the noble teachings of Islam and strive for excellence in every area of life.

Each story unveiled, each verse composed, is a testament to the boundless potential that resides within our community. Like the radiant stars that guide the lost traveler, these narratives navigate the depths of human experience, stirring dormant passions and unlocking hidden reservoirs of resilience. They serve as a reminder that our voices have the power to reshape the world, for within them lies the strength to challenge conventions, dispel misconceptions, and sow seeds of profound change.

Let us pause for a moment to seek the blessings and guidance of Allah SWT. May our hearts resonate with the remembrance of our Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. For within each word lies a profound connection to the divine, a reminder of our purpose, and an invitation. We become the vessels through which our Lord’s light shines, guiding hearts and inspiring minds to embark upon a journey of selfdiscovery and spiritual awakening.

To our cherished contributors, whose words have graced these pages, we extend our deepest gratitude. You have poured your hearts into each and every line, weaving tapestries of wisdom that continues to captivate our reader's mind. You breathed life into stories that will echo through time, inspiring and uplifting generations to come. It is your unwavering dedication, your commitment to truth and beauty, that has made this commemoration possible. Your narratives have become an oasis of hope, a sanctuary where souls find peace, and hearts find refuge in your words.

Dear reader, you are an integral part of this journey. You are the architect of our shared triumphs, a true recipient of Allah's grace. May the stories within these pages awaken in you the realization that we are all interconnected, that our destinies are forever intertwined. It is through you that the essence of our organization comes alive, inspiring generations to believe in the power of their own stories.

May the pages of this treasured anniversary issue inspire you, elevate your souls, and serve as a timeless reminder of the profound impact we have made together. With every word read, let us be reminded that our collective voices, united in the remembrance of Allah, possess the boundless power to not only shape our personal lives, but also this miraculous world we live in.

Sincerely yours in truth and faith,

Sara Ansary Editor-in-Chief

Fostering Creativity and a strong Muslim community

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Blue Mosque Digital Painting by Faria Malik

Sara Ansary

I wonder how often the moon ponders her end (a time that will come when she’s shaken to her utmost convulsion and earth throws up her burdens from within)

I wonder how the rotation feels around the bend taking hits centuries old, just the whole story of her existence

Like it didn’t hurt; the pain a paint of her age, the craters merely empty holes that we never celebrate

And every day is different, every month is the same A cycle that recalibrates how to perform for more than her own needs,

And isn’t that just so heavy? that the moon is responsible for more than herself

How the tides of the earth, tides of our inner being completely relies on what she does

And it’s only remembered every few centuries (an inspiration given on a day she declares those tidings)

When a poet comes along to witness through god-honest tears how important consciousness is to bear for ourselves.

North

Canadians spent $85 billion online in 2020, and online shopping grew by 25% in 2021. Americans spent over a record $1 trillion last year on online shopping, which is $200 billion more than 2020 This is good for online businesses but comes with a hidden cost Many customers return what they buy and many companies take returns for free, which sounds great to us as consumers, but, in reality, is not so great for the environment. In America, nearly 6 billion tons of returns end up in landfills every year, and about 29% of online purchases are sent back It could take centuries to decompose the millions of toys, clothes, electronics, and other products We cannot afford to continue ignoring this problem and need to act now.

Safa Khan, 14

When you shop at a store, you are able to physically see what you will purchase, try it on, and decide if it is the right item for you When shopping online, items are bought knowing that there is always a free return option if it does not suit our needs. That is why items bought in-store are a lot less likely to be returned than those purchased online. On average, people are 3 times more likely to return something they got online Retailers encourage free returns to lure customers, creating a nonchalant attitude among consumers about what they ‘add to cart’ because they know the purchase is not one they must commit to.

So, why don’t retailers just re-sell returned items? It all comes down to money and preparing items for resale often costs more than the actual products are worth especially after a full refund. If retailers are re-selling items, they first have to be shipped to a facility at the company's own cost where workers are paid to sort and examine them, and then resell the items It costs a lot more to re-sell products instead of tossing them in a landfill.

Some big retailers have started telling their customers to keep unwanted products and companies have stepped up to help improve the return process We, as customers, need to help too We can be part of the solution by returning items in-store instead of shipping them to a warehouse. This way, they are more likely to go back onto shelves and find a permanent home. If something does not come out exactly as you imagined, try to fix or alter it yourself instead of returning it Give unwanted items to friends or family, or donate them. Lastly, try to be more conscious before clicking ‘buy’. Read customer reviews and be 100% sure that you will keep the item.

At the end of the day, it comes down to us to be more mindful any time we make an online purchase It is our responsibility to be a part of the solution, not the problem. T h e C o $