by Ahmed Khalil
“Eids are a cherished opportunity to multiply one’s good deeds through bringing happiness and pleasure to the hearts of others,” writes Imam Zijad Delic, Executive Director of the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), in an article titled, The Significance and Importance of Eid Celebrations in Islam.
by Ahmed Khalil
Andrew Dufresne’s fingers shake as he loads his gun. He quickly sips from his stainless steel wine bottle. He is angry, high on adrenaline, shivering and wild-eyed. In the night, he stumbles out of his car and walks towards a house, gun in hand.
This is a scene from the classic motion picture The Shawshank Redemption. What was Andrew’s intent? To murder his cheating wife and the man she was cheating with. This is commonly known as a crime of passion.
Or is it honour killing?
by Ahmed Khalil
Abraar School makes its way into Ontario’s top six per cent schools
Abraar School is now ranked among the city’s best schools after its students excelled in last year’s standardized provincial tests in reading, math and writing.
But the road to this achievement has been long and challenging.
by Julia Williams
On July 1st, 2009 my friend, Marwa El Sherbiny, was killed in a German courtroom. She was there to bear witness against a man who had harassed her in a Dresden park where she was playing with her infant son. This man had called her a terrorist because she wore the hijab, the Islamic headscarf. Marwa had chosen to defend her rights and her dignity by taking legal action. She won the libel case and was in court again to testify at the appeal. Before she had the chance to do so, the same man pulled out a knife and stabbed her to death. She was 32.
by Raghad Ebied
I am struck with grief when I wake up in the morning and hear of a tragedy like that of Marwa El-Sherbiny.
Marwa was a Muslim woman originally from Egypt, who was recently stabbed to death in a German courtroom by the man who she had taken to court for harassing her because of her headscarf/hijab.
by Julia Williams
On Canada Day, I celebrated being a Canadian. We are a tolerant people who embrace our rich diversity of culture, religion and ethnicity.
But on the same day, my Egyptian friend, Marwa El Sherbiny, was killed in a German courtroom because the 32-year-old woman had stood up for her democratic right to live free of religious persecution.
by Ahmed Khalil
“A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive”
– Michael Heart, We Will Not Go Down
With the above words, Michael Heart, an American composer, song-writer and singer, starts his tribute to Gaza; a song titled, “We Will Not Go Down.” Just as the song describes, we woke up to the realization that Israel is attacking Gaza with a force that shakes every believing Muslim to the core of his or her heart.
by Ahmed Khalil
With a blued-out picture of Waseem Moemoney, the rising Muslim stand-up comedian in Ottawa, an orange background and rays of light shining on the poster, the MAC Youth Learn (MYL) team, together with Carleton University’s Muslim Student Association (MSA), kicked off the advertisement for the Eid Comedy Night! The poster announced that it will be a night of skits, videos, poetry and lots of fun!
by Heba Rushdan
I have thought long and hard about Allah’s mercy; we owe Him everything from our minds to our bodies. Whatever we do is a result of His mercy and His gift to us. If Allah had just created us and left us be, that would have been enough of a favour upon us. Yet He is always providing us guidance and opportunities. Why? Because Allah is merciful by nature and His mercy is up for grabs for anyone who cares to respond to His call – Ramadan is one manifestation of this mercy.
From Jeffrey to Light: One Man’s Inspirational Journey
by Ahmed Khalil
“Islam does so much for you; it gives you guidance, tells you how to live your life… the foods to eat and the foods to stay away from. Who we should marry, relationships between husband and wife and parents and children, so it’s a whole way of life.”
This is the story of the man who uttered these words many times, inspiring a generation of Western Muslims across the globe.
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