Author Archives: MAC Youth
The struggle for Turkey’s hijab
by Ahmed Khalil On May 2nd, 1999, parliamentarians screamed, “Get out! Get out!” They kept at it for 30 to 40 minutes, the volume of the cries rising higher and higher, as it fell on the ears of Merve Kavakçi. At the age of 31, Kavakçi was the first woman wearing the hijab elected to [...]
Muslims shoulder double standards
by Lena Hassan This past September marked the ninth anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11. Like everyone else, emotions flooded back as I reflected on the years since the disaster. After 9/11, the world was told not to let the terrorists “win” by living in fear. Nine years later a Time magazine poll found [...]
Muslim fatwa on terror not new
by Julia Williams Re: Thanks For The Fatwa, editorial, Jan. 20 Major Canadian news outlets, including the National Post, have brought the recent fatwa by 20 imams condemning terrorism to the nation’s attention. The imams have been deservedly congratulated. However, the follow-up questions and patronizing advice that accompanied these media accounts have suggested that this [...]
The Sheikh and I
by Ahmed Khalil Ahmed Khalil reflects on his relationship with the late Sheikh Mohamed Rashad, imam of Masjid Assalam. He passed away while on the mountain of Arafah, in Saudi Arabia, dressed in the white ihram worn by pilgrims. I was stunned when I first read the email announcing the death of Sheikh Mohamed Rashad. For [...]
Moderate Muslims not newsworthy
by Lena Hassan Whether you call it Islamophobia or just plain reporting, Muslims are in the news and except for 20-second sound-bites from a local Eid celebration, it’s not good. There’s the persistent and popular debate on the hijab and Muslim women in general. There are wars waged or threatened in Muslim countries such as [...]
Building Bridges
by Haytham Al Azzouni The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be on him said, “In every creature there is a reward.” [Sahih Muslim & Sahih Al Bukhari] Islam is truly a religion of mercy and compassion. One of the benefits of fasting is for Muslims to prove their humility. Our hearts sincerely [...]
Whither the fight
by Julia Williams Re: “Omar Khadr should face justice in the U.S.,” Susan Martinuk, Opinion, Nov. 20.
Volunteer or Voluntold?
by Ahmed Khalil Do we as Muslims volunteer? Or are we voluntold? Urban Dictionary defines voluntold as, “When someone ‘volunteers’ someone else for something so that the other person really doesn’t have a choice.” If you’re interested in the question, or perhaps have other questions such as, “Who would voluntell me?” then read on! I promise you an answer.
Big responsibilities, small acts of faith
by Lena Hassan I’ve never been one for sound bites. These little excerpts, intended to widen our worldview in a matter of seconds, actually narrow our outlooks and frames of reference. As a Muslim, I feel inundated by sound bites from both sides of the fence. Islam is “the fastest growing religion” and a “religion [...]
Friday Muslim prayers not anti-woman