The Muslim Voice - Vol XIV Issue 1 by The Muslim Voice Magazine

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MEET THE EXEC’S

SPIRITUAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STRIKING A BALANCE: THE PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL

8 10

CURRENT AFFAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHATTERING STEREOTYPES AND FALSE NOTIONS ON THE INCLUSIVENESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FEATURE “RAMADAN IS/RAMADAN WAS” . . . . . . . . . . 14 ENUMERATING GOD’S BLESSINGS: A FRIDAY IN RAMADAN 16 A BLESSING FROM ALLAH: MY FIRST RAMADAN 18 REFLECTIONS AFTER RAMADAN 20 AFTER RAMADAN

22 25

CAMPUS COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE ORPHANS ORPHAN CARD SIGNING EVENT

CAMPUS LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A GUIDE TO HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISING

PERSONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A FROSH START

SHORT FICTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FROST

31 30 13

POETRY/FUN STUFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PENCIL SHAVINGS YOU...MASH’ALLAH/WHAT IS POETRY? EYES ON CAMPUS

from the EDITOR’S DESK Contributors E�it��

Sheikha El-Kathiri

As�ist�n� E�it�� Taus Shah Naveed Islam

L�y�u�

Rifa Tahsina Naveed Islam Taus Shah Syed Omar

Sec�i�� E�it�� Mahmud Moallim Saadia Jamil

C�n��u��r�

Asna Ahmad, Ali Akbar, Maaz Alam, Safiyyah Ally, Farhan Asrar, Fathima Cader, Asmaa Hussein, Humairah Irfan, Hajera Khaja, Mezba Mahtab, Taus Shah, Salma Shickh, Moez Zaman

C�� Pa�� Rehan Irfan Muhannad Malas

In the name of Allah, Most gracious, Most Merciful While most of us are scrambling to complete our last assignments and evaluations, studying for exams and wrapping up our first semester courses, I am pleased to present the first issue of the Muslim Voice with the theme: A Fresh Start. In a time that seems more like a harrowing end rather than any sort of new beginning, you may be perplexed as to the appropriateness of this choice. However, I would say that this is the best time for a fresh start. This school year opened in a very unique way: for the first time in a while, we were not only beginning a new academic term in the fall – we were, more importantly, beginning the most important and sacred month of all, Ramadan. We eagerly embraced the opportunity to strengthen our ties with Allah, strive towards goodness, and rejuvenate ourselves spiritually. However, when this beloved month passed, many took it as the end of a blessed time, rather than the beginning of a more blessed life where the fruits of Ramadan continue on. Our special feature “Ramadan Is/Ramadan Was” explores the personal significance of Ramadan and the ways we can carry its lessons forward. In this issue, you will also come across many interpretations of what a fresh start can be. From the beginning experiences of a frosh student, to the start of a healthy lifestyle, we hope

FRoM The eDiToR’s DesK | The MusliM Voice

these articles inspire you to revaluate yourself as you close one term and begin another. Last year right at the end of the winter semester, when my friends were sympathetically sharing their woeful prefinal-exam predicaments, I was instead unusually excited. Rather than joining in the communal lamentations, I would blurt out as soon as I came across anyone I hadn’t met in a while, “Have you seen the new Multifath Centre? It has a wudhu area!” Despite the stress of studying for what would end up being the last marks for my degree, I was so overjoyed at having something I felt finally really represented me on campus. Although I was disappointed that this remarkable prayer space was being opened just as I myself was graduating, I soon recognized what it was: a fresh start, for all the new students next year and the years to come. Hopefully, we can all try to recognize our chances for a fresh start, and make use of them by renewing our intentions. In this way, we can recharge ourselves to do as much good as we can. Sheikha El-Kathiri Editor Have a suggestion or an opinion about the magazine? Want to comment on an article? Send a letter to the editor: muslimvoice@ uoftmsa.com with the subject heading, Letter to the Editor

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A

fresh start is something many of us continuously seek. In response to poor grades, we may seek a fresh start by refining our study habits in hope of a better academic standing. Some of us may hit the gym, seeking a fresh start with respect to our physical beings. Spiritually, we may beg for God’s forgiveness, seeking a fresh start in recognition of a past fraught with misdeeds. In fact, with the New Year soon to enter upon us, it will not be wholly uncommon to find others resolving to better themselves in some way—to offer for themselves a fresh start. I propose here that our Muslim Students’ Association is an avenue by which you can offer yourselves a fresh start. Our MSA has grown phenomenally in the forty years of its existence, and now offers a diverse array of events, projects, services, and activities that cater to your many needs. Whether your interests be in creative writing, in sports, in helping the city’s homeless or the world’s orphans, or whether they be making new friends, doing better academically, or engaging your mind and soul, the MSA has much to offer you.

Redefine yourselves through involvement with your MSA. Lead programs and coordinate events, and challenge your very conception of who you are and what you are capable of. If you feel you are always busy, challenge your notion of time by doing more with your time. Challenge your impression of what your MSA is, by discovering the diversity of both its membership and its programming. Our MSA always has room to improve, and I invite you to be a part of that process of change. Be one of those who offer for your MSA a fresh start. Just as we can look back on a great forty years and marvel at the commitment of those who laid the foundations of our MSA, we should leave a legacy such that others can, God willing, look back in forty years and marvel at the blocks that we laid. To that end, I invite you to contact me personally at idrees.ally@gmail.com with your ideas, suggestions, and criticisms. That, then, is my message to you: challenge yourself. Give yourself a fresh start, and be, as Mahatma Ghandi said, “the change you wish to see in the world.” Idrees Ally

The Muslim Voice I PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Idrees Ally President idrees@uoftmsa.com

Execs

Idrees Ally is, by training, a boneresearcher-in-training, one who sees the harvesting and subsequent destruction of emu tibiae as a necessary evil. He is one to crave adventure, which he admits is “anything that would give others reason to be concerned about [his] physical healthness [sic]”. His adventures have taken him to such places as Moose Factory, Tweed, and East Gwillimbury, though he would definitely advise against going to Moose Factory in anticipation of a factory that produces moose, or a factory run by moose. As the president of your MSA, Idrees would like first and foremost to assure you that his mental well-being is not in jeopardy. He would also like to encourage you to strongly consider active involvement with your MSA, and to see it as an excellent opportunity for the development of your own skill sets, for contributing to the many services that MSA members enjoy, and for meeting great friends. Idrees would like to be your friend but will not say so directly. Instead, he invites all to drop him a line at idrees.ally@gmail. com, especially to let him know how the MSA can best meet your needs. Nilofer Rangarej Vice President, Sisters vp.sisters@uoftmsa.com Asalamu Alaikum, “Currently a 3rd year student studying English and NMC, Nilofer 6

EXECUTIVES | The MusliM Voice

almost never gets a chance to sit back and relax! As if never ending essays and assignments weren’t enough, she has four troublesome committees to oversee.”

Ilyas can be reached at vp.brothers@ uoftmsa.com. He looks forward to hearing what people have to say, especially if they have awesome ideas for the MSA.

Ok that’s not exactly very true. As Sister’s VP this year it’s my responsibility to ensure that both the MSA works smoothly internally and externally. With my committees, I hope to Insha’Allah (God-willing) help put forth programming and events that our members want. Working with as many of you as possible is something that I really look forward to and so if you ever want to get in touch, feel free to drop me a line at vp.sisters@uoftmsa. com.

Rizwan Shaik Treasurer treasurer@uoftmsa.com

Ilyas Ally Vice President, Brothers vp.brothers@uoftmsa.com Ilyas is the brothers vice-president of the MSA. This means that he is very hip and knows all the cool Muslim kids on campus. If you want to be cool, and who doesn’t, you’ll want to be able to stop by and chat with him while pulling an all-nighter at Robarts. Ilyas is in his 3rd year majoring in Philosophy and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. He hopes to one day become a medieval scholastic. If this potentiality does not actualize, he hopes to at least grow up to be Mats Sundin and play for a team more worthy of his superstardom. On sunny days, Ilyas can be spotted in his transition-lensed spectacles on St. George Street. He wears them on other days too; you just can’t tell for sure!

Rizwan’s goal this year is to effectively manage the Finances of the MSA. Apart from being worried about receipts and signing cheques, he also submitted a lengthy funding proposal to the U.T.S.U. Rizwan loves reading books on Islamic Philosophy. He often contemplates on the meaning of a phrase in the Noble Qur’an that states: “amr bil ma’ruf wa nahiya anil munkar” (enjoining the good and forbidding the evil). “The phrase is perfectly applicable to our microcosm we call the MSA. We as representatives of Islam on campus need to embody the high moral standards of our deen. As we continue to explore the Universe we get connected with the deepest level of our Self (al-fitra). This is the goal of Islam. Come … join the MSA and let’s explore this Universe of meaning together.” Rizwan resides in Ajax and travels everyday back and forth in a nonstop frenzy. He occasionally watches movies with his friends and is found munching on popcorn the whole time. He plays all sorts of sports except hockey and lacrosse.

Shafa Chaudry General Secretary secretary@uoftmsa.com In a far away land there once lived a man who believed in the power to turn anything to gold. No one knew of how he had come to believe in such a fascinatingly wild idea and neither did anyone bother to tell him how wrong he was. So one day the man set out to prove to everyone that he wasn’t crazy after all. He gathered together everything he could find, from mildewed bread to his worn out shoes to the newly fallen autumn leaves, and arranged them haphazardly on an enormous pile of wood. He then invited all the townspeople to come and witness for themselves the power he knew he held. While everyone looked on in awe he set alight the wood and everything began to burn to pieces in the sparkling golden flame. No longer did anyone doubt that the man was in fact crazy. Ameer Youssef Religious Accommodations Coordinator religious.accommodations@ uoftmsa.com Assalamu alaikum, my name is Ameer and I am in my first year of my Masters in Electrical Engineering (this can also be read as: “I am Egyptian and I’ve been at UofT for a loooooong time”). My many years at UofT (6 years and counting...) have taught me a lot of things, and I’d like to share one of these with you: always try to talk to senior students in your progam and seek their advice in issues such as selecting courses, studying for exams, and applying for jobs. They have been there and done that and you can definitely learn from their success stories and more importantly their mistakes. This year I am serving as the Religious Accommodations Coordinator for the MSA, so if you have any requests or concerns regarding religious issues on campus then please drop me a line at religious.accommodations@ uoftmsa.com Sharifa Khan Academic Affairs academic.affairs@uoftmsa.com Sharifa is in her second year at U of T working towards a double major in

History and Political Science. When she exhausts the copious amounts of assigned readings for class (which she habitually does), she finds solace in a nice hot cup of Tetley herbal tea, and, on particularly depressing days, a monstrously mammoth mug of warm milk with a side of delectable dates. As her career goal is to one day be Prime Minister of Canada, Sharifa surreptitiously plans to take over the office of MSA President (for practice, of course) but for now contents herself with trying to win over the other execs to her team. Sharifa’s psychiatrist believes this divisive mentality stems from years of being socially excluded and isolated by other kids on the playground. But, maintains the Academic Affairs Coordinator while sipping a warm cup of herbal tea, “…this is totally inaccurate. I am the most sociable person on that exec...He-e-y, get that camera out of my face!” Tasneem Atcha Students For World Justice swj@uoftmsa.com Tasneem is in her final year majoring History and Canadian Studies. Tasneem loves to read and can be found reading a book, newspaper, magazines or MSA emails at all times during the day. Day or night, Tasneem can be seen with a book in sight. We hope that includes the Muslim Voice! -Editor Nadiya Ali Community Affairs Coordinator community.affairs@uoftmsa.com Assalamu Alaykum, I am currently a third year student, majoring in African studies and Psychology and a minor in Near Middle Eastern studies. Interests? Hmmmm…… too many to list. To be honest, I basically have an assignment due tomorrow and this is all I could put together. So, if by somehow your curiosity is sparked concerning my interests, goals, objectives in life… by all means feel free to contact me at community.affairs@uoftmsa.ca. Take care! Fahad Khan Communications Director communications@uoftmsa.com

Fahad Khan is serving his first ever term with the MSA. He is currently in his second year at the UofT and is studying Civil Engineering. Part of his role as a Communications Director is to ensure that there is an open line of communication between the MSA and its general body, the University Faculty and the outside media. The major project that he is currently working on is to redesign the current MSA website. Rabia Mohammadi Sister’s Events sisters.events@uoftmsa.com The Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, “Allah has commanded that everything (one does) they should do it with excellence (ihsan)…”(compiled by Muslim) Don’t aim to be good, be OUTSTANDING! Allah commands it! This years’ sisters’ committee would like to build on this hadith (Prophetic saying) and make this year an outstanding one! We would like to offer opportunities for sisters that have never been offered before ( i.e. sports, conferences, etc...); cater to the wide range of sisters on campus; and create a more united community of sisters on campus and beyond! For more information about the committee please send your inquires to sisters.events@uoftmsa.com If you must know something about me, it is that I just had a BRAND NEW, FIRST EVER nephew....and it’s great! On that thought, I would advise you to look around and try to count your blessings from Allah you won’t be able to! Be thankful for all that Allah has given you, and take advantage of all the opportunities He has provided – such as the MSA . I encourage all students, especially sisters, to actively participate in their Muslim communities on and off campus. Ismail Hamdoun Brothers’ Events brothers.events@uoftmsa.com Zane Hussein Da’wah/Outreach Coordinator outreach@uoftmsa.com The Muslim Voice I EXECUTIVES

Striking a

BALANCE The Purification of the soul

Allah loves those who purify themselves (Quran 9:108). The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “Puriﬁcation is half of faith” (Sahih Al-Muslim, Hadith 233). Purity is a central theme in the Islamic tradition. The aforementioned verses and Hadith refer to two types of purity: one of physical purity that is outlined in the chapters of tahara (purification) in the various books of ﬁqh (jurisprudence), and the other of the purity of one’s soul. One may pose a question: Why is purifying the soul crucial? This purification of the soul is inevitable. There are two places where this purification can occur, either in this world or in the hereafter. Purification of the soul in this world would be through recognizing the diseases of the soul and removing them before one’s demise and to die in a state where one’s soul and heart are purified of sin and spiritual diseases; thus making one ready to enter into paradise. Some diseases of the heart include, amongst many others: hatred, miserliness, iniquity, envy, ostentation, displeasure with divine decree, anger, arrogance and obliviousness to blessings. One needs to take time out and study them, learning their signs, their effects and 8

SPIRITUAL | The MusliM Voice

cures, for one cannot hope to cure a disease without first knowing its symptoms and effects. On the other hand, the purification of the hereafter will be through the punishment of the fire. It is well known that there will be Muslims in hell, and they will remain in there for a period of time. During this time they will be purified of their sins and then once their purification is complete, Allah will enter them into His paradise. To spend even a blink of an eye in hell would be the most horrendous of experiences. Thus, the logical conclusion is to purify oneself in this world, and avoid the painful purification of the hereafter. Another question that may arise is how do our souls become impure? And that is answered in the following Hadith: The Companion Abu Hurayra, may God be pleased with him, relates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “When a believer commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart becomes puriﬁed. If he advances in sin, the black dots increase until they overcome his heart” (Sunan alTirmidhi). And it is important to note here, that we are all prone to sinning: The

“

The prophet, peace be upon him, said“Every descendent of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent” (Sunan alTirmidhi)

”

Prophet, peace be upon him said, “Every descendent of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). To recognize this is crucial; every single one of us is weak and prone to sinning. No one is perfect. As such, one should never look down upon another due to his or her sins, because every individual should recognize and be preoccupied with one’s own faults, weaknesses and sins. This would prevent the ‘holier than thou’ judgmental attitude that is frequently observed in our Muslim communities. To think of oneself as higher or more pious or closer to Allah than another Muslim is in itself an indication that a person has the disease of arrogance in his or her heart. Even if one feels that they are more practicing than others, then they should be in a state of gratefulness, instead of haughtiness, for it was through the sheer blessing of Allah that one was able to perform any good deed. This aim to purify the soul is one of the inward goals of a Muslim. There are outward and inward practices that one must perform to gain the pleasure of Allah. One cannot judge from apparent observations the purity of another person’s heart, although there may be signs that indicate purity. But they are far from definite. This inward

focus is a crucial one. At times, we exhaust our efforts in mastering the outward manifestations of the religion, to the extent that our inward is severely neglected. This is a very dangerous position to be in, and can easily lead to hypocrisy. The hypocrites in the Prophet’s time would show outer manifestations of religion but ignore the inward acceptance of the creed of Islam. As well, the other extreme is to focus solely on the inward to the extent where the outward manifestations are neglected or even dismissed as being unnecessary.

“When a believer commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart becomes purified. If he advances in sin, the black dots increase until they overcome his heart” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

However, both of these mentalities are incorrect. The ideal state of one’s religion is a balance between both the inner and outward expressions of religion. Neither one is neglected, rather they are complementary. Advances in one aspect should automatically and naturally be reflected in the other. My personal experience dictates that the outward is easy; for me to don a beard, for example, is easy. But to purify the heart of its diseases is much more difficult, to master the purity of intention is difficult, to cleanse one’s heart of ill feeling towards others is difficult and to be in a constant state of thankfulness to God is difficult. As we struggle to attain higher levels of faith, it is important to remember this Hadith: Abu Hurayra ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Sakhr, may God be pleased with him said, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him said, “Allah does not look at your bodies nor your forms but He looks at your hearts and your actions” (Riyad as-Salihin Hadith 7, Chapter 1).

Maaz Alam is an Alumnus Student at the University of Toronto (St. George campus).

The Muslim Voice I SPIRITUAL

STEROTYPES &false notions

SHATTERING

n October 10th, while we were preoccupied with the results of the provincial election, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor accomplished two ‘firsts’ as he launched to the International Space Station. Firstly, Shukor, a 35-year old orthopedic surgeon, was the first Muslim to go into space during Ramadan, prompting special guidelines to be drawn up to allow him to practice his faith throughout his mission, as well as celebrate the religious Eid holiday with his crewmates. Secondly, Shukor was also the first Malaysian to travel into space. Shukor performed experiments on board the International Space Station relating to the characteristics and growth of cancerous cells, returning safely to earth on October 21st. Recently, many ‘firsts’ have been accomplished by Muslims around the world, showcasing to all that Muslims, like other adherents, 1010

are hardworking individuals working to serve humanity and to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. Most importantly, Muslims are shattering popular stereotypes and combating many misconceived notions—especially the notions of the “anti-Muslim West.” This notion of the “antiMuslim West” may seem absurd to the reader but it is held by quite a few Western Muslims who feel constantly discriminated against and/or under attack in the West. Despite all the bickering and commotion, Muslims should acknowledge all that is afforded to us. Moreover, it is important not to lose sight of the positive that also occurs in the West. It is incumbent upon us to recognize and congratulate the Muslim firsts occurring across the globe— starting with the ones in the West. In late 2006, Congressman Keith Ellison became the first Muslim to be elected into the

CURRENT AFFAIRS | The MusliM Voice

United States’ House of Congress, representing Minnesota’s 5th district. Ellison was also the first African-American elected into the House from the state of Minnesota. Despite the controversy over his usage of the Quran in his oath ceremony, Ellison emphasized the need for mutual respect and understanding between all people which he derived from his religion—oft-quoting the Quranic verse 49:13: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other.” Since his election, he has helped become a representative for Muslim Americans as well as a key ally in combating anti-American sentiments in the Muslim world. In Denmark, Ahmed Aboutaleb and Nehabat Albayrak became the first Muslims to get sworn into the Dutch Cabinet. Aboutaleb was sworn in as the

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

SOURCES Saifullah, Karima. IslamOnline Network. “First Space Guidelines Issued for Muslims.” <http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull. php?newid=44660> BBC News. “Israel Names First Arab Minister.” <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_ east/6254691.stm> BBC News. “First Ethnic Minority AM Elected.” <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ wales/6622925.stm> BBC News. “First Muslim Congressman Elected.” <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ americas/6127234.stm> Max, Arthur. The Washington Post. “Dutch Cabinet Gets Its First Muslims.” <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/21/ AR2007022101154.html>

Mitnick, Joshua. CBS News. “Israel Welcomes First Muslim To Cabinet.” <http://www.cbsnews.com/ stories/2007/02/01/world/main2421763. shtml#ccmm>

State Secretary (deputy minister) of Social Affairs in the Dutch cabinet. Sharing the ceremony, Albayrak was sworn in as the State Secretary of Justice. Another Muslim first was achieved by Mohammed Asghar, who became the first Muslim to be elected into the National Assembly of Wales in May. Asghar, the first ethnic minority elected into the Welsh Assembly, was at a loss of words after his election was confirmed. He is among the many Muslims who have accomplished firsts, especially in public service, in the UK over recent years: Salma Yaqoob was the first hijab-wearing Muslim elected into Birmingham’s city council, Shahid Malik was the first Muslim Minister in the British government, and Amjad Hussain became the first Muslim highranking Rear-Admiral officer in the Royal Navy—to name but a few. Even in the Middle East, earlier this year, Raleb Majadele was the first Arab Muslim to be appointed into the Israeli Cabinet. His appointment was met with criticism and opposition from right-wing Israeli Jewish and—ironically—Israeli Arab parties. These concerns were swiftly rejected by many Knesset members as racist and unconstructive. Majadele pacified his critics by stating that there are “right-wingers in the government and on the street there’s racism, but you can’t call Israel’s government racist.” Previously in 2003, the Israeli government had also appointed the first Arab Muslim, Salim Joubran, to Israel’s Supreme Court. Although being Muslim was

not the reason for each person’s recognition, since many of these individuals achieved their positions based on personal merit and credentials, we should nonetheless celebrate them for their feats. Some might oppose this and assert that these accomplishments are nothing more than political games, but if the West was truly antagonistic to Muslims (or Islam), then what need would there be to involve Muslims within its political process? The involvement and integration of Muslims within many Western governments indicates that we are an integral part of Western citizenry, and also that the West is an integral part of us—as our home. Others may suggest that accepting Muslims within the political sphere might allow the “Jihadists” and “Islamofascists” to gain a foothold in the West and eventually lead to the West’s usurpation by the extremists. These concerns need to be rejected as the foolish, prejudiced and paranoid ramblings that they are. Integrating Muslims into the political process and accepting them into the public sphere are essential remedies for combating the growing alienation of the Muslim population and can only stand to benefit the West in the long and short terms. Indeed, these Muslims ‘firsts’ are accomplishing just that.

Taus Shah is a third-year undergraduate studying in Law, Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Toronto

The MusliM Voice i CURRENT AFFAIRS

On the Inclusiveness of

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Election campaigns often prove odious affairs, and for religious minorities, Ontario’s provincial election was no exception. Liberal party leader Dalton McGuinty, re-elected premier of Ontario on Wednesday, October 10th, successfully exploited the public animus against religious minorities in an effort to convince voters that his party was the better choice. His counterpart John Tory of the Conservative party included as one of his campaign promises public funding for faithbased schooling provided that the teachers were accredited and the schools followed the Ontario curriculum. Tory’s reasoning? A matter of fairness: Catholic schools are publicly funded; children of other religious traditions should expect no less. McGuinty, whose wife teaches 12

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CURRENT AFFAIRS | The MusliM Voice

in a Catholic school and who was himself educated there (followed by all of his children) countered by comparing faithbased schooling to segregation, ignoring the various public schools in Ontario that cater to specific demographics and interests – arts schools are but one example. Much of the Canadian public followed McGuinty’s lead, insisting that faith-based schooling was undeserving of public funding and employing arguments that ranged from plain ignorance about the manner in which religious schools operate to outright bigotry towards religious minorities, Muslims in particular. But simmering beneath the debate about whether or not faith-based schooling deserves public funding is a set of

questions no one has yet deigned to ask: why does a segment of the population persistently eschew public education for faith-based schooling, and what can be done to persuade more religious students that they should enter into the public school system? It is all too easy to laud the merits of the public school system from within the liberal democratic context, and easier still to denigrate religious schooling. Education plays an important role in the continuance of the liberal democracy, cultivating in young people the values, skills and knowledge that allow them – as political theorist Amy Gutmann puts it – to ‘consciously reproduce their society’. Given the value afforded to public education, it is pertinent to ask why one would want to abandon

public education in favour of faith-based schooling. This piece seeks to reorient the debate, to turn the gaze upon ourselves by questioning whether or not we are being hypocritical in the manner in which we critique religious schooling. It is all too easy to condemn religious schooling for alienating students from the wider society; for robbing them of the possibility of interacting and engaging with young citizens who are different from themselves; and for bereaving them of the education that is integral to the development of solid Canadian values. But are parents with a strong desire to inculcate a distinct religious identity within their children deserving of our criticism? Are they wrong to seek out a space in which their children are perceived as ‘normal’? Is it so pernicious to desire for their children that they do not grow up with a minority complex; that they develop an appreciation for their own particular identity? Consider the alternative. Yes, we laud the many virtues of the public school system, but is it as neutral as we imagine it to be; is it inclusive and accepting of difference; and does it offer a nurturing space for students who are religious? Many parents who send their children to faith-based schools would respond with a resounding no. They would insist that public schooling has a homogenizing influence upon its students, that it is narrowminded and exclusionary. More importantly, they would lament the inability of the public school administration to comprehend the significance of religion in the eyes of members of certain

faith groups. Though the public school system is ideally one in which all are shown due respect and offered the opportunity to participate equally, members of the majority are often unable or unwilling to take the perspectives of a minority religious group seriously, exacerbating feelings of alienation, marginalization and disempowerment from the wider school context. My own experience bears out that reality. I attended a decent high school, and yet I found myself constantly struggling for religious accommodations. For quite some time, I performed my midday prayer with a few other students in a stairwell near the roof because the administrators refused to allow us use of a classroom. The noise and lack of privacy was less of a concern compared to the cold; I found it difficult to concentrate when my teeth were chattering and my fingernails were literally turning blue. I recall too a teacher refusing to allow me to write an exam at an alternate date because it conflicted with a religious holiday. He didn’t understand what right religious minorities had to extra holidays when they were granted Christmas break like everyone else, he announced snidely in front of the rest of the class. This was in high school; more worrisome are the students left to struggle for religious accommodations at the elementary level, when they are younger and even more susceptible to the whims of the administration. Interestingly enough, though faith-based schools often use the same curriculum as do public schools in Ontario, some students argue that the public

is it as neutral as we “imagine it to be; is it

inclusive and accepting of difference; and does it offer a nurturing space for students who are religious?

”

school curriculum, which claims neutrality on moral issues, is infused by the instructors with a distinctly anti-religious bend. Even history courses, they would argue, undermines the role of religion. Classes focussing on modern western civilization skip over the important historical contributions of religion. The Enlightenment of rationality and rights was supposed to have shed light upon civilization, thus extinguishing the darkness and sheer ignorance of religion; religion is thus viewed as an opposing and threatening force to the good that the Enlightenment brought forth Sex education is another area of concern. Teachers claim that they are not to teach a moral code. By removing morality, however, they often teach sex education in a manner that emphasizes the insignificance of morality. Thus instructors teach all students, regardless of whether they are sexually active or not, how to roll condoms onto bananas. This lesson subtly legitimizes sex for young people – it tells students it is fine to have sex as long as they are careful; one need only learn how to use a condom. Students who do not share that worldview unconsciously normalize sexual promiscuity by way of playing with condoms in the classroom. Whether it be through subtle pressures – such that students are encouraged to participate in activities that are contrary to

The Muslim Voice I Current Affairs

“ But fair arrangements can be found if all of the parties involved learn to take the perspective of the other.

”

their faith, with the assumption being that students who abide closely to religious commitments are being forced to make such decisions by a parent rather than following his or her inner convictions – or through a more serious denigration of students’ comprehensive doctrines by way of the school curriculum, parents worry that the veil of neutrality slips away when it comes to religion, leaving their children alone to grapple with a moral system that not only does not comply with what they are taught at home, but also promotes contempt for religion. Thus one may lambaste faithbased schooling for being segregationist and exclusionary – and indeed there has been much of those kinds critiques in recent weeks – but the reason faith-based schooling remains an attractive option is in part because of the way in which the public school system is perceived by religious minorities to instil in students values and beliefs that are not just biased, but anti-religious as well. In this manner, public schooling creates in minority religious communities a siege

mentality that fosters a sense of powerlessness, insecurity and a preoccupation with one’s own victimization. No one can reasonably expect the public school system to be perfectly accommodating to all students adhering strongly to their own distinct religious convictions and practices. But fair arrangements can be found if all of the parties involved learn to take the perspective of the other. It is not just the obligation of religiously motivated citizens to tolerate different beliefs; those who are not religious must also understand and take seriously the convictions of religiously motivated fellow citizens, for these individuals are constitutive elements of a liberal democracy. In the public school system, those in positions of authority need to familiarize themselves with their students’ background cultures and the traditional paradigms they bring with them. Students of all stripes need also become religiously literate, and the school curriculum should play an integral role in this aspect of their education. A class teaching religion would be historical and sociological, with its aim being to equip students with the ability to differentiate between and understand various religious practices and beliefs and to judge critically different standpoints and worldviews. In other words, the course would focus on enlarging a student’s mentality

regardless of whether or not the student was religious. More than that, however, the entire school experience would be infused with a degree of sensitivity and tolerance that is in keeping with the multicultural heritage of Canada. Ultimately, the public school system serves as a microcosm of society. It is often the first realm wherein children are engaged with a state body. The culture and social norms of the country are inculcated within students through socialization and active teaching from the earliest stages of schooling. Whether they like it or not, children are forced to sit beside other children who may come from completely different cultures and backgrounds. Children discover how to explain their ideas to others and how to listen to opinions that may seem strange or foreign. It is through this process that students are able to explore and expand their awareness of the world. But beyond being a microcosm, the public school system has a substantive role to play in the development of future citizens who are equipped such that they are able to understand and engage with one another in a more meaningful manner. And to do so, our public system needs to be reconsidered such that it also provides citizens with the background by which they may consider seriously the religious commitments of others.

Safiyyah Ally is PhD student in political science

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Enumerating

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It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies, and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you. And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses; and the night and the day hath he (also) made subject to you. And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (Qur’an, 14:32-34).

I sit in the mosque on the soft striped green carpet, under their abayas. I am waiting with them. listening to the khutbah. It’s the second-last Friday of Ramadan. The khateeb is eloquent, elegant, wearing The khutbah is exceptional; the imam is clear and powerful. His words cause furrowed brows, inner a long white cloak-like garment and kufi cap. reflection. On my left, a very pregnant friend sits on a The prayer area is jam-packed; I briefly question chair listening attentively. She is glowing. A woman why there are so many people around. The khateeb with her young, disabled son in a wheelchair sits on announces there is a janazah (funeral prayer) after my right, glancing at her child every few moments the regular Friday prayers. People mingle, waiting to make sure he’s comfortable. There are children to pray for forgiveness for this woman, a sister, a with their fathers ahead of me; little boys fidgeting mother, a grandmother. I see scattered chairs in the rambunctiously and tiny girls in colourful hijabs back row for women too old, too creaky-kneed to being taught the art of sitting still. There is quiet prostrate. Some have their hijabs flowing down to hushed laughter and I feel my smile grow inside me. their knees; with each of their strides, there are hints The amount of life, mercy, and blessings vibrating and flashes of bright swirly patterns on their skirts within the walls of the mosque astound me. The

“Ramadan Is/Ramadan was” | The Muslim Voice

God’s Blessings

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A Friday in Ramadan

verse resounds in my mind: And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them.

and ingratitude.

And suddenly I am aware, in this colourful and diverse gathering of humans, how Allah has given We begin praying and the Imam recites verses me and all of us everything we have asked for, and from the final chapter of the Qur’an: “Glorify a great multitude of things we have never asked the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High, for or even acknowledged. I am discomfited with Who hath created, and further, given order and the knowledge of my futile desires, but aware. proportion…” he weaves his voice in and out of its meanings, a myriad of tones. I can imagine We are done too quickly and I find myself crossing painting the lines in his voice. My face is on my legs on the carpet. This is the end. Women the ground, the soft, plush carpet beneath my with red eyes smile faintly, comfort one another, eyes, forehead, nose. The women are muttering mull about chatting in foreign tongues near the unintelligible words in Arabic, raising their hands exit, waiting for husbands, sons, brothers. I am in and hearts, their shawls and hijabs bunching up at the car going home and my sister and I are smiling their sleeves. It’s warm in here and there is a faint about something. For all the restlessness in my heart, I am rich with the feeling that I am fasting, woody smell of incense from their homes. that I am alive and that I still have the blessing of The Friday prayers end and the imam begins time to be grateful. explaining the etiquettes of a funeral prayer. He reminds us, we will each meet Allah before we Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad reported from Aisha know it. Today we are praying for this sister, but (may God be pleased with her) that the Prophet tomorrow people will be praying for us. A woman (peace be upon him) said: “No blessing is bestowed warily holds a box of tissues under her arm. We on a slave and he realizes that it is from Allah, but are in lines, acknowledging the Greatness of God, the reward of giving gratitude for it is written for praying for her forgiveness, and expounding our him…” desire for her to enter into Paradise. We are, alive in our prayers, hundreds of us, men and women and children. We are full of life, basking in the blessings from Allah, praying and hoping for the blessings of the hereafter.

And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice

Asmaa Hussein University of Toronto Alumnus

The Muslim Voice I “Ramadan is/RAmadan was” 17

s a new Muslim revert, becoming accustomed to new ideologies that are distinct from your original means of conducting your life seems to be both infusing and exciting. Whether it be learning prayers in English and making your way to properly enunciating the Arabic or having a new basis for your actions and thoughts, the guidance of Allah that I felt could not be ignored. It seemed that my Arabic was improving at a fast rate and my thoughts, manners and actions became more in synchrony as the days passed by. I felt that my knowledge and practice of the fundamentals of Islam was progressing systematically in ways that I never believed possible. Before I could even realize, it became months since my reversion to Islam and I began to hear whispers with regards to the approach of the sacred month of Ramadan. Ramadan was not a new notion to me, but I never truly knew the reason for what seemed to me a ritualistic action. In fact, an old friend of mine, back in the 7th grade, was a Muslim and fasted for the entire 30 days. I had asked him the purpose of his fast and he replied, “For self-discipline.” I was fascinated that he had an explanation for his action. Being Hindu, I was accustomed to following certain rituals merely because my parents were doing it. I never truly had a concrete reason for my actions or even if I did I could never share it with anyone because it was either embarrassing or didn’t make sense to me. Nonetheless I had respect for Muslims for their dedication in fasting and their reasonable explanation for it. 18

As the month of Ramadan was approaching, I started to watch various scholars of Islam on the topic of Ramadan and question my Muslim friends about this month. I knew that the Qur’an was completed in this month but I was not aware of the link to fasting. Then I was exposed to stories about the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and how he struggled and strived in order to propagate this way of life that was given to him by none other than the Creator. Their thirst and hunger in the harsh conditions of the Arabian desserts was astonishing. This drive and passion truly gripped my heart and forced me to realize what I have to be grateful for. The rules of fasting were so logically laid out. I could ask any Muslim and they would have the same ruling which truly demonstrated the struggle of the ummah (Muslim community) for universal brotherhood. It was a month where a large majority of Muslims would come together and strive to be the best they could possibly be. The mosques would be filled and the humble characters on every Muslim’s face would be evident. It gave me a sense of hope and need to be a part of it rather than just merely following the rules of fasting. I wanted to benefit from this month. Having a large appetite, a habit of eating frequently, and never fasting in my life, I was a little unsure whether I would be able to do it. Nevertheless, I gave it my best since it is a pillar of Islam. I intended to be a better person by helping others whenever I could, praying at the appointed times, and trying to read the Qur’an in an attempt to gain guidance and build reward for

“Ramadan Is/Ramadan was” | The Muslim Voice

the hereafter. The first few days were spent looking at the clock and wondering when it would be time to eat. Then after about a week, I didn’t even notice it was time to break my fast. Waking up before the Fajr (morning) prayer to make my fast was a difficult task at first but after praying the Fajr prayer, I felt blessed and this was a reward in itself. There were also days in particular where I was much more hungry and thirsty when, at the same time, food was not so easily accessible. I felt anxious at first, wondering when it would be time for me to get home and dig in to a feast. On the other hand, I remembered the vast number of people in this world who don’t have the luxury to make a fast or even those who do not have food so readily available to them. This further added to my thankfulness for what I have been blessed with and a need to donate and help those who are less fortunate. Instead of eating large quantities at iftaar (opening of the fast) I started eating only that which satisfied me. Overall, I am grateful to Allah for giving me guidance, health, and resources. I truly have benefitted a lot from this Ramadan and I wish that I can make the best of it in the years to come, insh’Allah (God willing). If there is anything I have to say to anyone starting their first Ramadan, it is that if Allah has guided you to the straight path then Allah will also make it easier for you. Shaitan will try to make your fasts seem like obstacles or difficulties but if you try to focus on the purpose and blessing of fasting then insh’Allah you’ll have a successful Ramadan. The author wishes to remain anonymous

Sweetness

unseen

Ramadan days, the kitchen in my house falls still. Whereas in other

months, it is the crowded centre of familial activity, now its floors gleam clear of skid marks and its countertops free of crumbs. There are no dishes piled in the sink, no empty cartons of juice in the fridge. The cupboard doors stay closed, the tea towels dry. The equilibrium in the house shifts. The weight of family dynamics isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so much readjusted as diffused over a larger space. In our over-full apartment, this month we manage to somehow create and maintain individual solitudes. The constant, unintentional intrusions lessen. In the collective space that opens up, we are able to stake claims to unassuming, individual personhoods. Ramadan nights are never long enough. All the things that the drawn out day has let slip by, the night gives new urgency to. Even without these revived pressures, Ramadan nights have their own claims that demand fulfillment. Tired, you meet them.Because, like the act of abstinence, the decision to go through with the rituals is not so difficult. A lock falls into place somewhere. Hunger becomes a weight at the top of your throat and thirst dryness along the roof of your mouth. These things become familiar. You learn to live with them, like the crushing weight of air. You withdraw a little to match the stillness growing within. These things, the physical aspects of an intensely privately month, are not so difficult to accomplish. You pull them on like gloves: they stick a while and then become a second skin, the primary area of contact with the outside world. Yes, an intensely private month, despite the awareness of millions of people around the world voluntarily assuming hunger with you. Intensely private, despite the rows of people in prayer every night. Solitary, despite the shared iftars. You carry this hunger and this thirst in you, not because doing so makes other people less hungry or less thirsty. In opening and closing the fast, there is room for recognition of the human needs neglected during the day, but the fast itself is about recognizing the mortality and the vulnerability of the human body, this collection of everyday miracles, about feeling synapses grow dry and senses dull - these things you feel only in you. Fathima Cader is a candidate for MA English at the University of Toronto

By Moez Zaman

All I can say about Ramadan is that it comes and goes. And one will never know if they will get a chance to

experience another one. Yet, we still continue to live our lives as if we will. Perhaps that’s why we don’t take as much out of it as we should. The not-eating-and-drinking aspect aside, one must focus on their iman (faith) in this month. There’s so much barakah (blessings) in this month that it does not make any sense to sit back and do nothing, or even just do the minimum of what a Muslim is required to do. After all, Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala (glorified and exalted be He) prescribed fasting so that we may attain taqwa (consciousness of Allah, a shield against wrongdoing): O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you As it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, (taqwa) (Qur’an, Surah-al-Baqarah 2:183).

The last ten nights were by far the best nights for me in terms of worship. Just the sweetness of waking up in the middle of the night to ask your creator for forgiveness and thanking Him alone for the provisions he has given you is something special. Moreover, we have the assurance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala that He is indeed listens and answers the supplication of His servants. When My servants ask Thee concerning me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when He calleth on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe In Me: that They may walk In the right way.(2:186) One way to think about getting up in the middle of the night and asking Allah to forgive you is the fact that this act in itself is a sign that Allah has given you tawfiiq (guidance to success) - by permitting you to be able to wake up and ask Him for forgiveness. It couldn’t have been possible for you to ask Him if He had not wished 20

“Ramadan Is/Ramadan was” | The Muslim Voice

good for you. Therefore, there is a positive effect and it is good news to the believer always when he is asking Allah and seeking only His help. What I most enjoyed this Ramdan was the aspect of refraining from things that are otherwise halaal (permissible) for us to engage in. It really teaches one self-restraint. This is one thing I have been trying to continue. For example, controlling the tongue. Since you are making an intention to fast you are more conscious of the things you do to preserve that fast, as opposed to a normal days where we are eating and doing other activities. We don’t think twice about them. When we are fasting however, there is a tendency to be careful about all our actions. The other aspect is waking up for Qiyaam ul- layl (the night prayer). I only realised the sweetness of doing this during Ramadan. When I think about it, I just cannot help but ask my self how I can do just the minimum when Allah has bestowed so many favours upon me. Does He not at least deserve some praise and thanks? Can I not even wake up for twenty or thirty minutes to praise and thank my Creator? Am I that arrogant that my sleep is more important to me than acknowledging the favours of the One who gave me everything? Indeed any excuse that I came up with is from Shaytaan (Satan). When the last odd night of Ramadan had passed away, there was an intense feeling of sadness. That was it. Those ten days were my best chances of having ANY of my du’aas (supplications) answered. And they were gone. Who knows, I may not even get another Ramadan, another month saturated with blessings, another month in which one of the last ten nights are equivalent to a thousand months which is 83 years! Just one night! Many people don’t even live to that age. But that was it. It was gone just like a visitor has to leave in the end. The month had stayed with us in our homes for a while but now it was time to go, and there was nothing any one could do to prevent it. It is up to me now to keep the spirit of Ramadan going, while I yearn for the next one.

Moez Zaman is completing a double major in Ethics, Society and Law and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the St. Geroge campus, and wishes to remain anonymous.

THE MUSLIM VOICE IS/RAMADAN WAS” WAS” 21 21 THE M USLIMIV“RAMADAN OICE I “RAMADAN IS/RAMADAN

After

Ramadan Praise be to Allah alone, and may greetings and peace be upon the last messenger, Muhammad. What are some practical lessons which we can derive from the month of fasting?1

Sincerity and persistence While sincerity is the basis of Islam, it is also the most difficult thing to attain. Sahl al-Tustarī was asked, “What is the most difficult thing for the soul (to attain)?” He answered, “sincerity, [especially when the soul is accustomed to being insincere].”2.We all know that we have to be sincere, like Allah said, “and they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.” (Qur’an 98:5) So how can we obtain sincerity? Fasting is a part of the answer. During Ramadan, a person can easily go into a private room, eat and drink, then act as if he is fasting in public; nobody would know except Allah. However, he neither eats nor drinks, because he is aware that Allah is watching over him. This is an explicit example of sincerity, and one with which we’re personally familiar. Just as we are sincere with this particular act of worship in this particular month, we must also be sincere with all our acts of worship throughout the year. This is particularly true of prayer [salāh], which is even more important than fasting.3 If a person is careful to ‘guard’ his 22

fasting, he ought to be even more diligent in guarding his prayer. We are likely to pray more during Ramadan, especially at night. However, we have to maintain our salāh during the entire year, as Allah said, “maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers.” (Qur’an 2:238) Allah is the Lord [rabb] of Ramadan, but also the rabb of Dhū’l-Qa‘da, Dhū’l-Hijja, al-Muharram, etc. Therefore, we have to be steadfast with all the prescribed acts of worship, like the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “say “I believe in Allah”, and remain steadfast.” (Reported by Muslim) Ramadan is an opportunity for us to return to Allah with sincerity. However, it is not a meagre pit stop in a race of laxness and disobedience, but an impetus to do good deeds continuously. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “the most beloved deeds to Allah are those which are continuous, even if they are little.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim) Although Ramadan has ended, we have to continue to worship Allah with sincerity, like He said, “and worship your Lord [sincerely] until the certainty (of death) comes to you” (Qur’an 15:99).

“rAMADAN IS/RAMADAN WAS” | The Muslim Voice

Lifetime ‘fasting’ ‘Fasting’ is a lifelong obligation. In an Islamic legal sense, fasting means “leaving food, drink, sexual relations, and [malevolent] speech.”4 This type of fasting takes place in Ramadan. In a purely linguistic sense, fasting means “refraining from something and abandoning it.”5 This type of fasting takes place during our entire lives, as we are obligated to refrain from what Allah has prohibited. If we reflect on some of the blessings which Allah has given us, we can identify a type of ‘fasting’ that goes with them. For instance, Allah gave us sight, but He also ordered us to refrain from looking at certain things: “tell the believing men to lower their gaze…and tell the believing women to lower their gaze.” (Qur’an 24:30-31) In his exegesis [tafsīr], Ibn Kathīr said “this is a command from Allah the Exalted to His believing servants, to lower their gaze from looking at things which have been prohibited for them.”6 Similarly, Allah blessed us with speech; however, we are reminded by His messenger (peace be upon him) that with this blessing comes responsibility, when he said “guard your tongue” (reported by al- Tirmidhī). Allah blessed us with the ability to hear, but He warned us from listening to vain talk, as he says in the Qur’an, “and when [believers] hear vain talk, they turn away from it.” Thus, while the ability to see, hear, and talk are blessings

from Allah, these blessings come with restraints; in other words, they require ‘fasting’. The wisdom behind such controlled abstinence is apparent, as Allah says, “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become pious.” (Qur’an 2:183) Ramadan is a learning experience; we cannot afford to forget its lessons. Let us carry forward the lessons and blessings of Ramadan, and keep in our hearts the prayer of the believers: “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself; indeed, You are the Bestower!” (Qur’an 3:8) 1.

4. 5. 6.

The article is largely based on a lecture delivered by the Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muhsin ibn Hamad al-‘Abbād al-Badr in Medina on December 14, 1970, a transcript of which is available on http://www.iu.edu. sa/Magazine/10/7.htm, translated into English on http://thikraa.files. wordpress.com/2007/09/practicallessons-from-the-month-of-fasting. pdf. ibn Qudāma al-Maqdisī, Mukhtasar Minhāj al-Qāsidīn (Beirut: Mu’assasa al-Kitāb al-Thaqāfīya, 2004), 349. ‘Alī ibn Hasan al-Halabī, et. al., Mujmal Masā’il al-Īmān al-‘Ilmīya Fī Usūl al-‘Aqīda al-Salafīya (Amman: Markaz al-Imām alAlbānī, 2000), 20. Abū’l-Fudayl ibn Manzūr, Lisān al‘Arab (Beirut: Dār Ihyā’ al-Turāth al-‘Arabī), 7:445. Ibid, 7:446. Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-‘Azīm (Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmīya, 2001), 3:285 = idem, al-Misbāh al-Munīr Fī Tahdhīb Tafsīr ibn Kathīr [abridged English edition] (Riyadh: Darussalam, 2000), 7:64.

“ ...it is not a meagre pit stop By Moez Zaman

in a race of laxness and disobedience, but an impetus to do good deeds continuously

”

The Muslim Voice I “RAMADAN IS/RAMADAN WAS”

The

Orphans

Brothers and Sisters that need our Help

By Farhan Asrar Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), we live our lives virtually carefree, in a country with a national health care system, state-of-the-art hospitals, daycares and access to everything we need. The main concerns on our minds as students are to get good grades, get into medical school or other professional/graduate faculties, and get a good job. We’ve really been blessed by Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and take this life for granted. We have become immune to the news of innocent people being killed all over the world, in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and many others. We hear or read about people dying all over, feel sad, say Innal lillahi wa inna alayhi rajiun (to God we belong and to Him we return) and then turn change the channel to watch our favorite reality show. Have we ever thought for a moment about the

consequences of such news? A person has died. He or she has left this world, left behind people that loved and cared about him or her. Equally important, he or she has left behind people who depended on them—not only emotionally, but for the simple things we don’t bother to be thankful for, such as food, clothing, education and medication. Everyday we see on TV, familiar images of children who barely survived after their families were killed. We are naturally affected by this, but we cannot even begin to imagine what’s in store for those children in the days to come. In many Asian and especially African countries, the head of the households are children, not even in their teens, looking out for their younger brothers and sisters. Why? Because their parents are dead, for reasons ranging from natural deaths to disease and violence. Whatever the cause of death, the main point is that none of those children have a father or a mother who is there for them, who can take care of them, who can cook for them, who can tuck them in at night... We have many things to be thankful for, each one of us individually. Of course the test of life is tough, but it is much tougher for some. I used to think things were difficult for me when I had to get the right grades, regularly do household chores and get into U of T. But this perspective changes when you witness a documentary where Western reporters ask Afghani children “What would you like to have?” and a child

answers “Meat, I’d love to have meat!” Meat? Something that is a mere choice to us is a luxury for another. After seeing that, how can someone not feel ungrateful when realizing all that we are blessed with? Does your life look hard to you? Now can you feel like saying “Why GOD, why is my life so hard?” I was completely speechless; saying Alhamdulillah for all that I have was the only thing that came to my mind. Just to give you some statistics on the Orphans around the world: the UNICEF fact sheet for 2004 estimates that by the end of 2003, there were 143 million orphans aged 0-17 in 93 developing countries. More than 16 million were orphaned in 2003 alone. Due to recent disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, war, famine, along with the devastation of AIDS in Africa and elsewhereAIDS, these numbers sadly are only going to go up. To break it down according to regions, Asia had the highest number of orphans, then Africa (one reason being that Asia has a much larger population). Islam always insists about the obligation and responsibility upon us to take care of the orphans. There are a number of Hadiths (Prophetic traditions) and Ayaats (verses) in the Qur’an mentioning the importance of spending in charity, taking care of orphans and Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta’ala) dislike for those who do not treat orphans, as well as the needy, properly and fairly. Narrated Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this,” putting his index and middle fingers together. (Reported in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 34)

The Orphan Sponsorship Program (OSP) In 2003, the Orphan Sponsorship Program (OSP) at University of Toronto, a volunteer

initiative was a launched at the University of Toronto aiming to bring awareness to the situation of orphans around the world and fundraise to sponsor orphans, in the hopes of giving kids a better life and future. Since their start, the OSP’s achievements have simply been amazing: For the academic year 2006-2007 alone, the OSP have raised close to $45,000 masha’Allah. Accumulatively in just 3.5 years of OSP’s existence more than $144,000 has been fundraised. Enabling them to annually sponsor and re-sponsor 100 orphans from 17 different countries. The kindness and generosity of the Muslim students on campus and of everyone else who donated was simply overwhelming. Jazakum Allahu Khairan to all of you who donated. No matter the amount, even if it was a dollar, it made a difference and made you part of those receiving rewards and blessings for sponsoring orphans. Jazakum Allahu Khairan to all the volunteers who helped out and to those who helped in spreading the word by telling others about the orphan sponsorship program. May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) bless you many times over (Ameen Suma Ameen). BUT it’s not over yet! Our success is truly a blessing, but now the challenge is even greater as we aim to continue to help our orphaned brothers and sisters year after year insha’Allah (God willing). Whatever we’ve fundraised, is just enough for taking care of the basic needs and necessities of the orphans for a period of one year. We would like to continue sponsoring these orphans this year and for years to come insha’Allah. One hundred orphans is a lot, but seeing numbers such as 143 million orphans in the world and the continued devastation around the world, should only encourage us to help more orphans. The orphans currently being sponsored are from a number of countries, just as students and Muslim students on campus are comprised of a multicultural mosaic of Canadians (for list of countries, see below). We always hope to add more countries to the list as they become available to us.

Once the OSP receives the donations, it sponsors the orphans through Government of Canada recognized charitable organizations. The donations are used to feed, educate, and provide shelter and other basic necessities for the orphans. The OSP then receives profiles and updates on the orphans, enabling them to get to know more about and communicate with the orphans that are being sponsored. Such profiles and updates are filed and the donors are most welcome to view them by contacting us. One challenge that the OSP has faced is how to ensure its continuity. More often than not, student fundraising initiatives last for the moment- for example, students did a great job fundraising for the survivors of the Indonesian Tsunamis and South Asian Earthquake survivors. However, those fundraising efforts on campus ended shortly after. However, the survivors in Indonesia and South Asia are still in dire need of help and attention. Therefore, one very important factor that the OSP is taking in consideration is that we would like to have a long-term goal of sponsoring as many orphans, but at a pace, which we can continue to regularly maintain for the future years. This way, we can be constantly helping as many children as possible and at the same time not letting our efforts slow down, the following year. Narrated ‘Aisha: the Prophet said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise [only the mercy of Allah will do that], and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even though it were little.” (Reported in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 471) Thus, once our target number of orphans to sponsor has been achieved, further donations can ensure re-sponsoring these orphans for the years to come. Depending on the donations we receive, we insha’Allah (God willing) hope to gradually increase the number of orphans that we sponsor and maintain. I have a big request to our readers. Please The Muslim Voice I campus Life

“ The Orphan Sponsorship Program was initiated as a project of the Muslim Student’s Association, St. George campus, and continues to be one of the most successful MSA projects.” Donate Generously!! If you gave last year, please continue to do so again. If you were not able to give previously, then please start now. Some would say being students our income is limited, but that’s what everyone said last year and it did not stop the OSP from being successful! Give what you can; form a group by getting your friends, family and/or fellow students together and taking the responsibility of sponsoring an orphan. Please also SPREAD THE WORD! Tell anyone and everyone who can give—your parents, relatives and friends. Since everyone has to pay their zakat, encourage people to pay their zakat via the orphan sponsorship program. I was hoping to leave the readers with a few words, specifically about some of orphans we are sponsoring, but I do not know where to begin or which orphan to talk about. Should I talk about the orphans we sponsor from war-torn Afghanistan and Somalia, or the ones from Kashmir and Pakistan who have recently been through a devastating earthquake? Or about the orphans from Bosnia who have been through years of torment and massacre of their fellow Bosnian Muslims…. or the Indonesian orphans who have been through tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and a lot more… or how about Haleemah. She hails from the Middle East and we have been sponsoring her soon after she was born (she is just 3 years old). What about the orphans we are sponsoring from other countries that are not in the news lately, a lot too can be told about them… I could go on and on, every orphaned child has been through a lot, no matter where they are…. All we can do is be grateful for the lives our Lord has blessed us with, pray that they all are safe and also do what we can to help these kids. In the end I would also like to request our readers, for something else very important—your prayers for all the orphans and needy brothers and sisters around the world. Anyone interested in donating: It costs $360/year to sponsor an orphan from: Afghanistan, Kashmir, Bangladesh, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Guyana, and Indonesia.

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CAMPUS LIFE | The Muslim Voice

It costs $720/year to sponsor an orphan from: Bosnia, Palestine, and Lebanon. It costs $396/year to sponsor an orphan from: Egypt and Burkina Faso. Donate any amount that you can. Donations can be in the form of cash, cheques or online (via the website below) Please make your cheques out to: Orphan Sponsorship Program c/o MSA, University of Toronto, St. George campus 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 405 Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1J6 Note: Tax receipts will be issued upon request For further information, please contact: osp.uoft@yahoo. ca or visit our blog: www.ospuoft. wordpress.com

Donate Generously

“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), …” (Qur’ān 4:36)

ORPHAN CARD SIGNING SOIREES: A SOCIAL EVENT FOR A WORTHY CAUSE

Greeting Cards Signed and Gifts Packed to be Sent to Orphaned Children Worldwide

The Orphan Sponsorship Program (OSP) committee is organizing card signing and gift packing events throughout this year to connect with and show support for the hundred orphaned children that the OSP is re-sponsoring from around the world. Such events will help open the doors of communication between the orphaned children and OSP, their donors, university students, and the general community, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God). A ladies-only event, entitled ‘Orphan Eid Card Signing Soiree and Ladies Social Event,’ the first ever event of the year in its series, was held on Friday, September 7, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm at the Bahen Centre. This event was, Masha’Allah (God has willed it), very successful! Coordinated by OSP, it provided a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of orphan children worldwide for Ramadan (Islamic month of fasting) and Eid-ul-Fitr (festival marking the end of Ramadan) while strengthening sisterhood on campus and in the community. The event kick started with Eid card signing and gift packing for the orphaned children. Thirty-five ladies from various walks of life— students from both the downtown and Scarborough campus along with other members of the community – gathered together to sign and decorate Eid cards, as well as pack Eid gifts for the orphaned children. OSP had created its very own Eid cards for the orphans. Sixty-three Eid cards with gifts were signed and packed, Subhan’Allah (Glory be to God). During the event, sisters also got a chance to view the profiles and updates on the orphans currently sponsored by OSP. In the second half of the event, refreshments

and pizza were served, and the attendees socialized and began new friendships. At the end of the event, many sisters commented that it was pleasure working with people from all backgrounds together for a very good cause. The success of this event prompted a second Eid Card Signing Soiree on Thursday, November 1st at the Anthropology Building, from 5pm to 7pm. These cards will be received by the orphans for the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha (the feast of sacrifice) in a month’s time. At 5 pm, arriving ladies were asked to sign four cards each, and later all of the guests and volunteers participated in decorating the cards. Pizza was served and prizes were raffled, and the event concluded on the same positive note as the first. In total, twenty-four ladies attended the event and 99 cards were signed. After the event, the OSP executive members and volunteers attached and packed gifts that were to go with the cards. These events have proven themselves to be an excellent initiative where attendees can have fun while simultaneously making a difference in the lives of orphan children from around the world. OSP would like to further expand the card signing event Insha’Allah (God willing), to organize it for brothers as well and bring together the many other diverse groups/organizations, on and off campus, for this good cause. May Allah Almighty reward everyone involved prior to, during, and after the event, in this world and the Hereafter. Āmīn. Founded in 2003, the OSP is a student-run volunteer-based initiative, consisting of over eight committees which are constantly striving to help

orphaned children all over the world, and make a positive difference in their lives. To all our past, present and future readers, donors, as well as volunteers: Thank you very much for helping OSP in whichever way possible and making a difference in the lives of orphaned children worldwide, and may God reward you. Please spread the word about the OSP. If anyone would like to know more about the Orphan Sponsorship Program and volunteer or donate to OSP: Contact: osp.uoft@yahoo.ca Or visit our blog: www.ospuoft.wordpress.com OSP will be holding a fundraiser to raise awareness for the orphans worldwide: a ‘Henna Day/ Mini Bazaar’ on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. There will be baked goods and bookmarks on sale, as well as henna application for attendees. If you would like to help bake items for the bake sale or volunteer as a Henna artist contact Asna Ahmad at asna_ahmad@hotmail.com or Asma Challiwala at asm_ic@hotmail.com. Please remember the Muslims in less fortunate communities, who are all over the world, in your prayers. May Allah, the Exalted, grant all of us His highest level of Paradise (Jannatul-Firdaus). Āmīn.Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “One who looks after the orphan …, I and he would be together in Paradise like this, and Malik (explained it) with the gesture by drawing his index finger and middle finger close together.” (Reported in Sahih Muslim, Book 42, Number 7108) Article by Asna Khadija Ahmad The Muslim Voice I CAMPUS LIFE 27

I went through four years of university eating whatever I could easily grab. Most weeks, I’d run on 4 to 5 hours of sleep daily. Thankfully, I wasn’t a big coffee drinker, but I had other bad eating habits to worry about. Despite having easy access to grocery stores, I didn’t eat enough fruits or vegetables. This, perhaps, is every student’s story. I have put together tips to help improve eating habits, and get into an exercise routine while at school. Simple Dietary Tips 1. A warm cup of water first thing in the morning (and even better with a squeeze of lemon) goes right through the bowels and cleans the mucus out from the day before. 2. Once a week, make yourself a green juice: That’s right, juice with vegetables. Here’s one option, you can experiment with others: one carrot, one cucumber, four celery sticks, one fennel stalk, some spinach leaves, a tiny piece of root ginger, a parsley sprig and a handful of alfalfa sprouts (optional). 3. Sprouted seeds, raw vegetables, raw fruits, nuts and seeds are loaded with live enzymes, the key to nutrient absorption and vibrant health. Eat a lot of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts or cauliflower. These will help you detoxify and energise your blood. 4. Always eat something substantial and healthy for breakfast. This is the time period when your stomach energies are at their strongest, and your digestive enzyme juices are ready to go; fresh fruit, oatmeal, millet or quinoa porridge are all good morning choices. 5. Eat your last meal of the day at least couple of hours before bedtime;. sSchedule it with your study routine. When you eat too late, you stress and wear out your body. A meal is not digested effectively when you go to sleep on a full stomach. 6. Chewing slowly until food becomes liquefied is very important. The chewed food will then pass easily through your digestive system with maximum nutrient uptake. 7. It’s difficult to digest food properly if you are upset or stressed out. Eat when calm. 8. Ice-cold drinks weaken the organs. Eating piping hot-foods that burn your plate injure mouth membranes, damage gastric stomach lining and degrade taste buds. 9. Eating the same thing over and over again can lead to food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. Eating a variety of food will nourish your body with a broader array of varied nutrients. 10. By eating small amounts frequently throughout the day, your body maintains a more consistent supply of energy than if you were to eat larger amounts less frequently. Skipping regular meals will only make you hungrier later on and more likely to overindulge in unhealthy fast foods. 11. Whenever possible, plan ahead. If you are going to be on campus all day, packing a lunch will reduce the temptation of fast foods, and cost less. Pack healthy snacks for between classes, and keep a non-perishable extra in your backpack for emergencies. 12. The need for calcium and Vitamin D found in milk and dairy products varies with age. Choosing low-fat dairy products such as skim milk, low-fat yogurt and cheese are healthy options. 13. While moderate amounts of caffeine (2 to 3 cups 6 oz. of coffee or tea) are generally not harmful, larger amounts can lead to a number of problems including caffeine dependence, increased anxiety, gastrointestinal reactions and increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases. Health and Exercising Tips Before classes take over your life, take some time to explore the athletic facilities. Whether it’s intramurals, fitness classes, dance classes, working out in the gym or participating in a club, the ability for students to find time in their busy schedules to take care of themselves physically is not only important for their bodily health, but has proven to aid in a student’s mental well-being. Sleep allows the body to rest and recover; without it you won’t have much energy during the day. Engaging in regular physical activity and reducing sedentary activities promotes health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight. An exercise routine should envelope cardiovascular/aerobic activities, weight training, and stretching. You should aim for a minimum of 20 minutes at least 3 times per week at 60-85% of your Target Heart Rate. Exercise should be fun, so choose an activity you enjoy! Remember to consult with a physician before beginning a new exercise routine. 28 CAMPUS LIFE| T| he The PERSONAL Muslim Muslim Voice Voice

The following are tips to help incorporate physical activity into your day: 1. Walk, cycle, jog, skate, etc., to work, school, the store, or place of worship. 2. Park the car farther away from your destination. 3. Get on or off the bus several blocks away. 4. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. 5. Take fitness breaks—-walking or doing desk exercises—instead of taking coffee breaks. 6. Perform gardening or home repair activities. 7. Exercise while watching TV (for example, use hand weights, stationary bicycle/treadmill/stair climber, or stretch). 8. Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your locker if you have one. 9. Make a Saturday morning walk a group routine. 10. Walk while doing errands. Braving the Winter •

Since the cold weather can make a person less flexible, it is especially advisable to thoroughly warm-up and stretch out all muscles before a winter workout. Generally, experts suggest a short period of jogging in place or other such light exercise to get the blood flowing before stretching. Such precautions can prevent injury. I would also advise avoiding beverages like coffee or hot cocoa after a winter workout. The caffeine in such drinks tends to cause further dehydration. The additives in sports drinks should also be avoided. Instead, a pinch of salt in a mixture of water and orange juice replenishes electrolytes. If all else fails, plain water should work well.

•

Finally, here are 2 healthy recipes for students:

Homemade hamburgers with potato wedges Ingredients • 500g minced beef • I chopped onion • I clove garlic, crushed • Seasoning; salt pepper, parsley, Italian seasoning, dash Worcester sauce • I beaten egg (optional) Method: Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Divide the mixture into four and press into smoothed down circles. Heat oil in a frying pan. When sizzling, add the hamburgers and fry for one minute. Turn hamburgers over, lower the heat and cook until the juice runs clear. Serve on warmed bread with dressing of your choice.

Posh pita stir fry Ingredients • I sheet medium noodles • 8 mangetouts (peas) • 4 tomatoes • ¼ cucumber • 1 small red onion • 1tab vegetable oil • I cup bean spouts • 4 pita breads Method: Soak noodles in boiling water for 10 minutes. Prepare all the vegetables -- slice tomatoes cucumber and onion. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan. Toss the vegetables for about For the wedges: Wash and dry potatoes (one medium potato for every three minutes. eight wedges).Don’t peel them. Cut into wedges. Rub with olive oil. Add bean spouts and toss for one minute. Add noodles. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Bake in moderate Heat pita bread under the grill until warm. Fill with stir fry. oven -- 140-180C (gas mark 4 -5) for 20 minutes or until golden brown. References1. 2. 3. 4.

“Health Canada.” Canada’s Food Guide. 15 Sept. 2007. <www.healthcanada. gc.ca/foodguide>. “Health Service.” University of Toronto. <http://www.utoronto.ca/health/>. Walsh, Jill, and Bee Walsh. The Right Bite: How to Cook What You Want to Eat. Gill and Macmillan. McKeith, Gillian. You are What You Eat : the Plan That Will Change Your Life. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.

Humairah Irfan is a Fitness Instructor Specialist through CanFitPro. B.A.Sc Computer Engineering 2005, St. George campus. humairah.irfan@gmail.com The Muslim Voice I CAMPUS LIFE 29

our years of high school have led to this point. Four years of sweat, suffering and sleepless nights come here together in a pivotal moment in my life: my first lecture at my first day at the University of Toronto. Well, actually, it started the week before, at a popular little gathering known as “Frosh Orientation”. I spent the better chunk of summer contemplating whether or not I should drag myself through a week of crazy events when I could just take another week of sleeping in and relaxing restfully at home. I had heard too many enough blood curling stories of caffeine pills and sleep walking to consider the second option seriously. After a careful assessment, I decided to go in hopes of meeting fellow first-years and making study buddies for the year. In the end, besides the fact that I was burnt out and overwhelmed with exhaustion, Frosh Week wasn’t so bad. Now the real fun and excitement was about to begin. To be quite honest, the first week was a little boring—actually, extremely boring. In every class, we were supplied with a course syllabus and told of test dates and other such information. On the second day of classes, I headed to the Registrar’s office to complete important business. I found my way to University College and pried open the front door (that I am sure weighs at least a ton). As I made my way through the creaking hallway, I was baffled at the sight of an endless line of people who did not seem quite depressed. I ignored this peculiar sight and walked on towards my destination. I soon realized to my horror that these people were in the line for the Registrar’s Office. How could I have not known this considering that it was only the second day of classes? Of course there would be a line of people for OSAP and other

30 PERSONAL | The Muslim Voice

admission issues. I seriously considered going home. Why waste a perfectly sunny day inside Univesity College (UC). waiting in a line for a signature I could get next week? But I had no choice! Ramadan was in two days, and there was no way I was going spend my Ramadan day like a zombie in a line up! Eagerly, I went and took my place in the line. Nearly an hour later, I was ecstatic to discover that there were just 4 to 5 people in front of me. I had been embarrassingly daydreaming and so did not take notice of a woman march out of the office talking loudly to the line up. Suddenly the crowd dispersed and the line shrunk to less than a dozen people. Apparently the office was closing for lunch! Just my luck. The start of the third week of school also meant my first biology lab. I have never been a fan of labs but biology ones were sometimes quite interesting. It went extraordinarily well despite the fact that we were examining insects—- I am not exactly fond of critters or basically anything that is small and crawls. It went so smoothly that we finished early. “Nothing better than finishing a class early to go home,” I thought, walking happily to the subway station. Unfortunately, my happiness was short lived. Strolling into Union Station, I was welcomed by a mob of people with confused expressions on their faces. My beaming smile quickly became a scowl as I was informed that the train I was taking was suspended until further notice. PERFECT! I got out of the biology lab for this? It was Ramadan, and I always liked to be home by Asr, if not at least Maghrib. Not today.

That Friday, I decided to attend the Jum’aa (congregational) prayers since I had a two hour gap before my next class. With my amazing sense of directionI was able to locate the hall where the prayer was held without much difficulty. I had to go the bathroom to make wudhu (ablution) and so I searched the floor for one. I found one but there was a great dilemma. You see, I missed the first prayer and planned to make the 2:30 prayer, ,so the people who had finished the first prayer were just coming out. A crowd of men stood outside the hall chattering away about life, the weather, Ramadan, and other important matters I’m sure. The problem I had with this situation was that the women’s washroom was completely blocked by this crowd. I attempted to make my way through but these men seemed heavily immersed in their conversations. I don’t think they would have even noticed had the wall in front of them collapsed. I don’t know what it is with us Muslims, especially Arabs, but after any event we can never say goodbye! I am pretty sure it is a psychological problem that should be heavily researched. You know when you have guests over and the conversations you have on the way to the door are much longer than the ones you had in the living room? If that’s wasn’t not bad enough, you get to the door – and start a new conversation! Why? It’s just one those mysteries of life! Anyway, Masha’Allah, the khutba (sermon) was very well done and I was pleased overall. An incredible end to an incredible week! Salma Shickh is an undergraduate studying Life Sciences at the University of Toronto

Frost By Mezba Mahtab

The chilly winds of an early Fall morning in Toronto failed to numb her cheeks - they were covered under a thin black cloth. The woman in the niqaab1 walked down the street, oblivious to the stares of other pedestrians; she was late for her volunteer shift at the food shelter. Mona, the young girl who saw the niqabi2 cross the street shook her head. She was Muslim too, but why did the niqabi not integrate like Mona? She was probably born in one of those hardline Muslim countries, Mona decided. The niqabi could be like her - Mona prayed five times, ate halal food, did not date, yet had a normal life. The niqabi could be like her neighbor over there, standing by the bus stop, wearing the pink hijab3 yet friendly in her appearance. As she walked to her office, Mona nodding a greeting at her hijabi friend. “She probably thinks I am out to get attention,” The pink hijabi4 thought. “I am not admonishing her for not covering her head, why does she never say salaam to me?” The man behind the hot dog cart rubbed his hands in front of the stove on his cart. Business was winding down with the summer, and even early openings did not break him even. Abdul had thought the ‘halal’ sign on his cart would attract more customers, yet the many Muslims he saw exiting the mosque opposite the road did not even glance at him. “Must be because I am Shiite,” he thought. “Should I, or should I not?” thought Tariq, as he got a coffee from Tim Horton’s. “That hot dog guy is so tempting, and halal too!” He then thought of the barely subtle hints his wife had dropped about his growing waistline, and decided to skip a hot dog for lunch today. He passed another bus stop on the way back to work. A man with a thick beard was getting the looks from everyone. Tareq laughed, “Silly immigrants! Why don’t they shave and be rid of the hassle?” It was time for zuhr(noon) prayer. Tareq made his way to the small room that served as the neighbourhood mosque. He hadn’t been there - just last week an old Somalian janitor saw him praying in the hallway and told him about it. He stopped. The bearded man was the imam. As he removed his jacket, Tareq saw that the man was actually a white guy, and sported a Maple Leafs jacket! Tareq took his place beside the hot dog guy. God! He smelled of hot dog! The women lined up behind. They all prayed to the same God. For some ten, quiet minutes, there was no Shia, no Sunni, no hijabi, no niqabi - just men and women, subservient before Allah. Outside, a man pointed at the building and turned to his wife. “That’s the Muslim mosque.” He turned up his nose. “The lot! Why don’t they go back home?” 1 2 3 4

Face veil An anglicized colloquial term used to refer to females who wear the niqab A word that has many connotations and meanings. Here, refers to the Muslim female head cover An anglicized colloquial term used to refer to females who wear the hijab

The Muslim Voice I SHORT FICTION 31

You... Mashallah

The moment you were born and people saw your face, Everyone knew you are a pearl of grace

One look is enough to swoon anyone of their feet Accompanied with a style and taste no one can beat

One look was enough, I was in love Seeing you among others is more like a diamond in the rough

Can’t you see you and I go together I won’t get tired of seeing your face, never-ever

I search all over the place. To find a time to look at that face Worth more than all the world’s money, No one dare look at you funny, Eagerly anticipated like the Eid’s moon Here, I’d agree with Hilal committee coz I’d want to see you than calculate Every chance I see you smile…it feels so great

Time to stop this rhyme, got to say hello to that face But first let me also be grateful to one invention, that’s a true ace The Mirror ofcourse! Which I’ll dearly embrace, Coz without it, how would I ever see that blessed and perfect face (Masha’Allah) By The Chosen One (Copyright FMA 2007)

Though I see you often, that’s never enough You perfectly fit the description of ‘hot-stuff’

What is Poetry? It’s a gift from Allah the Almighty Bringing thankfulness, creating one’s unique personality That one may express themselves creatively With words that come out naturally From the depths of one’s heart sincerely Truly, a blessing from Allah the Most Holy Through my eyes, this is the way I see What is your perspective on poetry? By: Asna Khadija Ahmad University of Toronto, St. George Campus In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

PENCIL

SHAVINGS q Q q

sink in reflections of back alleys and waterways drowning in submissive and tragic fallouts from yarns spun in haste. My finger tips prickle and 3:00AMs come and go while I struggle to write, in pencil, so evidence can be destroyed when need be, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pen letters to me anymore and my words are heedless, useless and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t protect from this imminent daze of truth. I speak to others with confidence of truth and protection and they look me squarely in the eye, but when I pick up the fallen pencil shavings and scratch the sharpened lead onto the bare surface beside the open window, I look out into those back alleys and waterways and wonder that I never saw truth in their sacred, deserted air. Hajera Khaja