The Mirror - Volume 3 - April 2021

VOLUME 3

MIRRORS, MASKS, MOSAICS

APRIL 2021

THE MIRROR

THE SPIRITUAL ROOTS OF JUSTICE // ANIMATING THE MUSLIM LIFESTYLE // THE ORIGINS OF COFFEE // AND MORE

Dear reader, This magazine is the culmination of months of hard work and passion from the Mirror Team and the community. Three years ago, this magazine began with the mission of providing a platform for the Muslim community to share their unique and powerful voices.

Originally featuring only works from the Mirror's Writing Team, this magazine now contains art, photography, poetry, and writing from not only the Mirror Team but from readers like you. It also features the new Community Fun Zone where you'll find all sorts of things from dad jokes to crosswords to chicken legs. This magazine truly encompasses the creativity, personality, and ingenuity of the Muslim community.

The theme for this year was Mirrors, Masks, and Mosaics. The "Mirrors" aspect of the theme relates to personal and community reflections. "Masks" is related to COVID-19, and "Mosaics" ties into diversity, inclusivity, and culture. Within the Muslim Ummah, we have individuals of all colours and cultures, but one thing unites us all: Islam.

The collage you see on the cover are photographs submitted to us by the community - a reflection and collection of Muslim perspectives. As you read through the magazine, notice how the colours change and transition into one another. This is a Muslim Mosaic.

Now introducing the longest ever Mirror Magazine... and yes, I do expect you to read and experience every. single. page.

Enjoy,

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Mirror Lead 2020-21

E D I T O

CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sobia Mahmood

ADVISORS Mohammed Al-Ani - Senior Advisor Areeb Khawaja

SECRETARY Imamah Horani

WRITERS Taima Abdel Hafiz Mariyam Arief Areeba Asghar Rafay Ahmad Saadia Ahmad Mohammed Al-Ani

Nejia Hakim Heba Khan Sobia Mahmood Maryam Othman Eesha Rahman Sara Sadat

Tarek Al-Korani Fareeda Baruwa Yvonne Syed Kinza Syed

PHOTOGRAPHERS Tarek Al-Korani Momal Khan

Bilal Latif Sobia Mahmood

Serena Tamimi Mehreen Shami

EDITORS Saadia Ahmad Sumayya Alam

Areeba Asghar Heba Khan

Eesha Rahman

MARKETING + GRAPHICS DIRECTOR Sumayya Alam

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TEAM Zara Hasan Safaa Lahloub Ahsan Mazhar

Brooj Mishal Areesha Saeed

FINANCE

OUTREACH

Saadia Ahmad Iman Bhutto

Ibadullah Zia

Ayesha Syed Zoha Tariq

MOMAL KHAN

CONTENTS PG 1

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PG 4

LIFE IS SHORT

PG 5

TIME

PG 7 PG 8

PG 11

PG 12

Sobia Mahmood

Rafay Ahmad

VAST EMPTINESS

Saadia Ahmad

QURANIC SCIENTIFIC MIRACLES? PROCEED WITH CAUTION

GREEN EVERGREENS & GREY SKIES IN A TELESCREEN SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE: LIFESTYLE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

Yvonne Syed

BRICKS AND BONES Labiqah Iftikhar

Anaa Gulzar

PG 28

Areeba Asghar

Sara Sadat

PG 30 PG 31

REMEMBER THE JUST Kinza Syed

POETRY Fareeda Baruwa

PG 32

ISLAMIC FIGURES IN SCIENCE

PG 34

PEARLS OF IMAAN: THE OYSTER OF LIFE

Taima Abdel Hafiz

Heba Khan

PG 38

ANIMATING THE MUSLIM LIFESTYLE: AN INTERVIEW WITH ERFIAN ASAFAT Mohammed Al-Ani

PG 41

MIRROR MAGAZINE MUSLIM PROFILES

PG 45

COMMUNITY FUN ZONE

Nejia Hakim & Sara Sadat

The Mirror Team

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PG 19

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

THE MAP OF CHARMS

SCRATCHING THE "PREREQUISITES" OF HIJAB

Mariyam Arief

PG 18

Eesha Rahman

PILLARS: ODE TO THE FIFTH

Tarek Al-Korani

THE ORIGIN OF COFFEE

SPIRITUAL ROOTS OF JUSTICE

PG 24

Labiqah Iftikhar

Maryam Othman

PG 16

PG 22

HEAL

Taima Abdel Hafiz

PG 14

PG 20

LIFE IS SHORT SOBIA MAHMOOD Life is so short. Especially now in the current climate when we're losing so many people.

It's a hard reality we have to face.

Life is so short. It's too short to be worrying about how we stuttered in our class or how our body looks or what grade we got on a quiz. If our existence was an infinite rope, our time on earth would be a mere speck on it.

Everyone is too caught up in how they look or sound to be worried about the time you left your mic unmuted and said something silly.

So live bravely and fully. Do what makes you happy. Do what makes Allah happy. Be confidently Muslim. This tiny speck of our existence on this Earth is not meant to be easy and that's okay because that's all it is... a tiny speck. Every hardship, challenge, and pain you're going through right now shall pass and soon enough you will be in front of Allah, comforted by His presence.

Forgive those around you. It's just not worth it. Them saying a bad word to you or looking at you the wrong way or even being really mean to you - do you really want them to burn in Hell for that?

Forgive yourself, too. We often forget that part. We're human. We'll make mistakes. Allah knew that when He created us. He wanted us to be imperfect in our actions because He loves to forgive and wants us to return to Him. And eventually, we will make our final return to Him and, InshaAllah, in a state in which we are happy to stand before Allah.

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TIME RAFAY AHMAD A lot of the time, we see ourselves reminiscing about the past. The first friends we made, our first day of high school, the cherished laughs we shared (or the cries, sometimes), and the many silly moments. As we reminisce, we talk to our friends about how fast time is moving. Time flies, really quick. I find myself just taking in the fact that I am turning 21 years old and entering the 4th year of university when my perception of time makes it as if just yesterday I was walking into first year, just yesterday I graduated from high school, just yesterday I was 11 years old coming home from school drenched in sweat and eating food on the ground while watching cartoons, just yesterday I was running in the school playground covered in dirt playing football, just yesterday everything was so much simpler. It seems as though time is moving at a high speed.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The Hour will not begin until knowledge is taken away, earthquakes increase, time passes quickly, tribulations appear, and there is a lot of haraj, which is killing, killing, and until there will be a lot of wealth among you and it will become abundant.” [Sahih al-Bukhaari, 1036] “The Hour will not begin until time passes quickly, so a year will be like a month, and a month will be like a week, and a week will be like a day, and a day will be like an hour, and an hour will be like the burning of a braid of palm leaves.” [Musnad Ahmed, 10560] Time is really experienced by the events that occur within it, an hour of sitting silently with no activity may seem longer than an hour of talking with friends and occupying yourself with activities. On a global scale, the world had much less going on in it thousands of years ago and consequently the perceived time was much slower. As we approach the new day and age, there are more physical and energetic domains in which change occurs. The keyword is more. As we approach the present there are more events that are taking place in a given amount of calendrical time than ever before. We find ourselves in an ever so interconnected society suffocating in a shrinking globe, surrounded by rapidly moving technology with progress in the dissolution of political, societal, gender, social and class boundaries.

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The truth is - humans have started evolving at a high rate of change. I do not mean this from a genetic point of view but from a purely epigenetic sense. From discovering fire to the discovery of electricity to building vehicles to constructing high rise buildings to the internet to smart phones to self driving vehicles, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, studying human behavior, studying life at a molecular level. We are surrounded by so much. It feels as though we are moving towards a human-machine symbiosis era with machines making human tasks so much faster and with more efficiency. As time continues to move quicker, it reminds me of the signs of the final hour, the last of days of this earth. We have become desensitized to the thousands of killings happening; the killings in Afghanistan, Palestine, Iran, Kashmir, Iraq, Syria, the brutal treatment of Muslims in India and so much more. There is an abundance of wealth spread across which is polluting people's minds and hearts- we have become so used to the materialistic mentality that all people think about nowadays is ways to aggrandize oneself. This is, in my opinion, a big reason for the degradation of the human mind and soul.

So what is the point of this? This brings me to the initial idea or categorically speaking- a revolution around it.

Acknowledge the little moments, hear the birds chirp, take a minute to breathe in the air, enjoy the laugh you had with your friend earlier, keep yourself focused on the most important thing which is not this dunya, but what is to come after it. I came across this saying “Turn to Allah, before you return to Allah”. Somewhere between crawling on all fours, having our parents rub our backs to burp after eating, and being entrapped in the constant race of this dunya, we might lose our way. We are saddened by this dunya but should remind ourselves, this dunya is not our home. It is not perfect, it is not Jannah. There are good days and bad days.

Work hard but be at peace with the results, and always keep Allah in your heart, in your mind, and His words on the tip of your tongue. So let's not get overwhelmed by the fast-moving time and the turmoil around us.

Smile knowing Allah is with you, closer to you than your jugular vein. Smile because you are blessed. Smile because you are Muslim, and smile because Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful, Most Gracious.

Alhumdulilah.

Always.

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"SHATTERED PERSPECTIVE" UDAIN KHADIJA

Heal

- Labiqah Iftikhar

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I can hear your uncertainty.

Whispers between the words you speak like laughs muting out the screams.

Quiet sobbing in the lines Blacked out Redacted From the files you leave open for the world to see.

They despise your happiness and peace.

When in reality We’re all broken.

Chipped tea cups and cracked mirrors.

Fault lines along your bones Covered in muscle and skin Hidden.

I see this and tell you to help yourself heal.

Recover from that which has caused foundation covered bruises and plastered walls.

Break them down and wash them away And build yourself up higher next time.

VAST EMPTINESS TAREK ALKORANI

One cold evening, I was walking through downtown Toronto and noticed the vast emptiness of University Avenue, a street that is usually busy. With very few cars passing by and almost no one in sight, I was in pure disbelief at how quickly a city that is always busy and full of life was put to a halt by COVID-19.

As the sun illuminated the buildings in the background and the lights from the subway entrance lit up the railings, I stood waiting for the perfect moment to capture someone exiting the subway station. As the person walked out of the station, I quickly captured the shot and after a few failed attempts prior to this, I finally got what I was looking for.

The unknown identity of the subject as they walk through the frame covered by their mask and hoodie presents the reflection of the community as it has been affected by this pandemic. We have all grown accustomed to an independent life, preventing people from looking in and uncovering our experiences over the past few months. This person could have just stepped off the subway after a long day at work or after spending the entire day applying for work, we will truly never know what they went through.

As for how this pandemic has affected me, I’ve understood what it truly means to be one with myself as I went through the first lockdown away from the friends I would have run into on campus. Alhamdullilah, connecting with myself over the course of roughly nine months has led to a clear understanding and development of my life goals, without the need to worry about how my life will be shaped by others around me.

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Finally, the diversity of Toronto’s cultures mixing together, a key element of the city, is not evident within this shot. In a world focused on a pandemic that has affected our lives in many positive and negative ways, the diversity we once used to appreciate and love becomes something that we do not pay attention to as our main focus is stuck on whether or not someone is wearing their mask properly, a mask that covers up someone’s outer and inner identity.

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TAREK ALKORANI

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THE ORIGIN OF COFFEE SAADIA AHMAD

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In a khutbah, or lecture, my Shaykh gave some time ago, he mentioned something that caught my interest; he said that coffee actually originated in Yemen and was used to help Muslims during tahajjud, the late night prayers. On the way home, my mother was telling us about how happy these stories made her and how exciting it was that Allah placed a purpose in everything. She began to excitedly narrate some of the many legends regarding the origin of coffee.

One of the legends she told us was the story of Kaldi, the goat herder. On a day like any other, Kaldi noticed that his goats began restlessly jumping and dancing after they ate berries from a certain tree.

Intrigued by their behaviour, Kaldi decided to try the berries too and found himself invigorated. After this, she said, the story’s real narrative is unclear; according to some sources, Kaldi decided to take these mysterious berries to a Sufi monastery and ask a Shaykh to provide their wisdom on the purpose of the berries. The shaykh disapproved of the berries and threw them into a fire, but, after smelling the roasted coffee, the shaykh felt more awake. Intrigued, he quickly collected the berries from the fire and soaked them in water to put out the fire. Thus, the first cup of coffee was made. This was the version that her grandmother had told her, my mother said.

Then, she continued to explain another version of this legend. In this version, the Sufi shaykh did not set the beans on fire. Instead, he questioned Kaldi, asking him why he and his goats were so energetic. Kaldi explained the properties of the mysterious berries to the shaykh and this piqued the shaykh’s interest, as he often felt sleepy whilst trying to pray Qiyaam-al-Layl. The shaykh decided to take the fruits back to his monastery, where he let them dry and boiled them. From this small monastery, coffee spread to the rest of the Arabian peninsula.

The next legend she told us narrated the story of a Yemeni scholar named Abul Hassan Al-Shadhili, who wanted to perform tahajjud, but kept sleeping in the late hours of night. One night, as the scholar was sleeping, he had a dream where an angel came to him and showed him the coffee shrub and taught him how to make the warm drink to help him stay awake for tahajjud. This one, my mother explained to us, she had learned about after she moved from South Asia and began living in a community of Yemenis.

Yet another legend that my mother narrated discussed a disciple of Abdul Hasan Shadhili named Omar, who was exiled from Yemen to a desert cave which drove him to the brink of starvation. Desperate for nourishment, Omar found berries growing on a tree and attempted to eat them. The taste of the berries was excessively bitter, so in order to remove their bitterness, Omar threw the berries into the fire and roasted them. Once they were roasted, they were too hard to be chewed, so Omar tried boiling them to soften them.

While the beans boiled, Omar noticed the aroma of coffee wafting through the air and decided to take a sip.

This is how Omar discovered coffee. When knowledge of Omar's new drink reached Yemen, he was invited out of exile in order to demonstrate what coffee was to his people. Many people found that the coffee cured their ailments; others found that it aided them in staying awake and heightening their focus in prayers.

Personally, I’d like to believe that all of these stories hold a little bit of the truth in them. It’s lovely to think about how these folk stories about simple people just like us looking for something new in the world has led to a phenomenon as widespread as coffee, and it is even lovelier to think about how Allah has placed a purpose in everything, so long as we have the will to go find that purpose. I hope these stories gave you a little bit of wonder, and the next time you drink your coffee, you’ll think about where it came from, and think about how much blessing is in that drink.

TAIMA ABDEL HAFIZ Ask any Muslim to tell you why Islam is the true path, and they’ll spout an endless amount of scientific miracles found in the Quran. You might wonder why this may be an issue. Don’t get me wrong, I love Quranic scientific miracles as much as the next person, but there comes a time when one has to step back and reevaluate their understanding of Islam and the Quran.

The Quran is undoubtedly the miracle of all miracles; can you even fathom that we have a whole Book of the words of Allah? That realization alone is unbelievably powerful. It is clear that the Quran details many things about our lives, nature, and the universe, and I know that Muslims love to connect scientific theories, laws, and research to the Quran.

It makes us happy, seeing science being proven by the Quran! But hear me out when I say that reading too much into these theories may do more harm than good.

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Allah governs the whole universe, heaven, and hellfire- everything we see and don’t see, everything we know and don’t know. There’s nothing we can do to make that less of a reality. The Kindness of Allah is that although He is in control of everything, He has still gifted us the ability to ask questions and seek understanding of the world around us, be it through the sciences, writing, or reading. Because of these questions, our knowledge has increased incredibly. That, however, doesn’t mean that we’re even remotely close to figuring the universe out--the same universe that Allah, The Most High, created in just six days.

That's why when we read about scientific miracles in the Quran, we have to be skeptical. I don't mean ‘be skeptical’ as in don’t believe it. I

mean, understand that science is what we make of the world, but that doesn’t confirm its accuracy. It’s also important to consider that the meaning of a verse or word can change over time, which means that the way we interpret the Quran now, with advancements in science and differences in language, is not the way Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the people of his time interpreted them. And both are equally valid interpretations.

Allah’s words are absolute; we as human beings grow and evolve, as do our science and languages.

Allah says;

As we said before, the meaning of certain lessons, words, or verses from the Quran can differ throughout the years. Surat al-Tariq is a perfect example. Verses 1-3 tell us:

Well, not exactly. This reasoning is strong, but it ultimately carries the same flaws that were present 1400 years ago; one day, perhaps hundreds or thousands years from now, our current

understanding of science could be proven wrong.

While we have made a compelling argument, we have to take it with a grain of salt.

The Quran is timeless: we cannot pin down one interpretation of its miracles and lessons to just one moment in time. The world will change, and the world will evolve. Our knowledge will change. The Quran will not.

Although we should always be in the pursuit of knowledge, we should never forget where we come from; Allah, The Lord of the Worlds, The Master of the Universe, The Eternally Living, The Sustainer of the Universe, The Creator, The Originator.

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The root of the word ‘tariq’ (‘the night visitant’ in verses 1-2) is ‘tarq’, which means ‘striked’ (taraqa) or ‘path’ (tareeq) . ‘Tariq’ also describes a person who visits someone else at night and knocks on their door- it is unexpected. Reading ahead to verse 3, we can see that ‘tariq’ is being defined as a star. In this case, it is a star that is stark or piercing in comparison to the night sky, perhaps guiding travellers. This explanation is one that would have made sense 1400 years ago, and one that doesn't make a lot of sense now. BUT, here’s where things get even more interesting. New centuries have brought with them science and discovery, instruments and mathematics and most of us are accustomed to turning to science for answers. Now, let’s look at the same verses through the lens of a different time period. Since ‘tarq’ means ‘to strike’, ‘al-Tariq’ can mean ‘something that strikes’. We can connect those attributes to astronomical objects we know of, like types of neutron stars called pulsars. Pulsars spin very fast, making up to 42 000 revolutions per minute (that we know of), and have beams of electromagnetic radiation that hit Earth. When they do, we see repeating pulses, as if the star is knocking repeatedly, just like the unexpected person knocking on someone else’s door at night. The word ‘al-thaqib’ (‘piercing’ from verse 3) is related to the word ‘thukb’, which means ‘hole’. So we can say that ‘althaqib’ is ‘the object that is piercing’ or ‘makes a hole’. The formation of a neutron star is difficult to understand, but basically a star reaches a point where it doesn’t have enough energy to support itself and collapses, stopping when it’s a few kilometers in diameter. Scientifically, we know that neutron stars are incredibly dense, warping spacetime a significant amount. In that case, a neutron star being described as ‘piercing’ is impressively fitting. There! We have successfully identified a scientific phenomenon in the Quran.

That means the Quran proves our science, right?

GREEN EVERGREENS AND GREY SKIES IN A TELESCREEN MARYAM OTHMAN

As impressionable Muslims living in Western societies that are focused on “being your person” and “trying new things”, it can be difficult to shy away from things that are different, foreign, abstract, and exciting.

Despite the negative connotations associated with the term ‘different’, it is important to acknowledge that having a difference in perspectives and belief systems can encourage character development and the spread of knowledge between conversing parties. After all, these are the very conversations that allow individuals of various ethnicities and cultures to come together and live peacefully amongst one another.

But for many, simple conversations and informative sessions are not enough. In fact, a large majority of Muslims still struggle to reconcile their faith with the specifics of a Western lifestyle. When back home, people are able to easily access foods that are halal, seek scholarly unbiased advice without much hassle, and openly participate in religious routines, we are just beginning to understand why having a strong Muslims community is so important. Finding people that are able to elevate us in our deen and hold us accountable for our sins is becoming more and more a luxury and less, a common occurrence. However, the silver lining in living in today’s time is that it has never been easier to connect with those that represent us in the media as a form of guidance and solace.

Such an individual that comes to mind is Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Russian martial artist who very recently retired. This is a man who forever changed the world by being so unapologetically devout to the point that he felt entirely comfortable in leaving all of his victories to God. A person so passionate about his family, that he retired following the untimely death of his father to ease his mother’s worries. Watching him on television, it feels amazing that someone like him is challenging the world’s perception of Islam with his fierce beliefs and collected composure. His impact allows Muslims to feel less alone, less timid, and less afraid to embrace their roots because there’s true power in role models that are living through the same situations as us.

Beyond Khabib, there are late respectable characters like the boxer Muhammad Ali and beloved minister Malcolm X, both of whom permanently altered the Western society’s perspective of Muslims. Their participation in Western societies in conjugation with their relentless belief in Islam proved that Muslims can hold onto their religion while being active members of a community. What these three have achieved has made Muslims worldwide a little less afraid to tackle foreign domains, all while proudly proclaiming the significant impact religion has had on them.

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Trying to maintain a balance between your personal beliefs and the expectations placed on us by society is difficult. But in between these green evergreens and grey skies, remind yourself to stay true to who you are.

Seek the Lord, whether you are facing a calamity or feeling content. When finding someone to share your core values is not possible, shift your eyes to the screen. There, you will find someone who is ready to tackle the baseless perceptions that have been haunting us.

Maybe you’ll even find yourself walking up the stage to join them.

Go on, we’re rooting for you.

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Humans don’t need to win the lottery to find satisfaction in life. An action as small as being complimented is more than enough to bring a smile to our faces and make the rest of our day better. The pandemic has left many of us struggling to find the energy to move on with our lives, but not all hope is lost in the darkness of night. The sun will rise once again, lighting up our life with new hope. There is always something that we can do to make a difference in our lives and make it a little better.

We often struggle with balancing our lives outside of our imaan with our spiritual life. How can we stay productive and motivated while not neglecting our spiritual duties? There really are very simple methods, such as making your bed as soon as you wake up which has proved to improve productivity or doing duas throughout the day to keep you calm and motivated.

feel after completing work. This simple method has helped me unwind, relax and has improved my performance greatly.

The most important advice, however, is to go to bed on time and get the right amount of rest. This gives your body time to reset and get ready for the next day. I used to function perfectly well with just five hours of sleep but would often find myself becoming exhausted very quickly. Catching eight hours of sleep helps keep my mind alert and body full of energy.

Now that we have discussed strategies to address work productivity, we need to feed the spiritual part of our life. I have included a few habits in my day to day life over the last few years that have improved my state of mind tremendously. The first practice is thanking Allah every morning for blessing Over the past few months, me with yet another there are quite a few changes I beautiful day. The dua I read implemented in my life in is “Alhamdu lillahil-lathee order to improve it as a whole. ahyana baada ma amatana The first change I wa ilayhin nushoor.” and it implemented that brought means “All praise is for Allah about a significant difference who gave us life after having MARIYAM ARIEF in productivity was switching taken it from us and unto things around in my schedule. Although following a Him is the resurrection.” The first action you fixed schedule may help achieve some goals, it can take after waking up truly affects the rest of sometimes make life extremely boring. Calling a your day goes well. friend in between your schedule, taking an early tea I have also found that saying Bismillah (“in or coffee break, or even doing the easy assignment the name of God”) before starting any task and first helped me to get motivated and ready to Alhamdulillah (“praise be to God”) upon complete my work. completing it has a massive impact on how my work turns out. Bismillah is a heavenly weapon Another strategy to freshen up your routine and against Shaitan and immensely increases reset is doing some deep breathing and stretching barakah, or blessings. Besides, when a person exercises in between work. Deep breathing decreases begins something by mentioning Allah’s name, stress, calms the mind, improves immunity and he will enjoy Allah’s support. In seeking to increases energy, whereas stretching releases thank Allah upon completing something, not tension and prevents that tired sensation that you

SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE A

BIG DIFFERENCE

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only do you please Him, but you are sure to receive great success in return.

Furthermore, Ayat-ul-kursi is by far the only dua that has made me feel protected and at peace no matter the situation. It is the most powerful verse and reading it before sleeping protects you from harm. There are several ahadith, or narrations, which show the greatness of Ayat-ul-kursi. One such hadith is as follows that if one recites Ayat-ul-kursi before going to sleep, Allah will send an Angel to come and look after you and protect you (Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 61 Hadith 530). It has also been said that “Whoever recites Ayat-ul-kursi immediately after each prescribed prayer (salah), there will be nothing standing between him and his entering paradise except death.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari) The wonders of this single ayah are endless and it is something everyone must include in their daily habits.

Although these acts may seem small, they truly have a large impact on our life. Everything takes time to improve and building up healthy habits is very important in order for us to have the energy required to make it through the week. In the end, it is most important to have trust in Allah; He never places a burden on us which we do not have the ability to handle.

Switch things around!

Call a friend Take an early tea/coffee break Complete the easy assignment first Deep breathing and stretching exercises in between work 7 - 8 hours of sleep!

Make your bed in the morning Take a break, take a walk

Before starting a task - Bismillah After finishing - Alhamdilillah Read Ayat-ul-kursi often!

Make your bed in the morning Smile - it is a form of charity Help your peers and family Spend time with your Lord

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Spend time with your family

Thank Allah for blessing you with a new day: “Alhamdu lillahil-lathee ahyana baada ma amatana wa ilayhin nushoor.” (All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the resurrection.)

I cry over the storm that’s been cast upon my roof I didn’t understand I was living in a state of drought God knew it was the only way to make the gardens within me Bloom again A blessing in disguise - YS

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SOBIA MAHMOOD

Bricks and Bones None of it we will bring six feet under.

Yet we don’t fail to collect things That will vanish before we count the thunder.

Lightning strikes and our eyes behold the dazzle but when it’s dark, is it worth the hassle?

Ash and soot is what's left of this loot Yet we keep building bricks on this twisted coal castle.

It won’t matter how tall we build these thrones, when we don’t even own the stones.

Forget a lone stone, we can’t claim our own bones.

So why do we strut like we alone have shone?

Why is it so, that to pride we are prone?

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WRITTEN BY LABIQAH IFTIKHAR PHOTOGRAPH BY SOBIA MAHMOOD

THE SPIRITUAL ROOTS OF

JUSTICE EESHA RAHMAN

Having a profound tradition of social justice that is rooted in spirituality, the Islamic faith envisions humans as custodians of the world, divinely entrusted with the duty to stand with the oppressed. Islam has been historically championed for its disregard for any favouritism based on class, ethnicity, or religion in an otherwise-challenged seventh-century Arabia.

The concept of justice in Islam is rooted in God’s Divine nature. The Qur’an states, “Verily, God does not do even an atom’s weight of injustice” (Qur’an 4:40). In Islam, justice is woven into the very nature of the cosmos. The Qur’an states, “God raised up the heavens and established the Scales of balance” (Qur’an 55:7), a phrase which scholars take to mean “He Islamic definition of justice, which entails upholding the rights (huqūq) due to others.

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In Islamic terminology, the term fard kifāyah describes a collective obligation which the community participates in, and the term fard ʿayn describes an individual obligation that must be fulfilled by each and every person. Thus, Islam calls upon human beings to work individually and collectively to eradicate injustice on all levels. The Arabic word for injustice, oppression, and wrongdoing is ‘zulm.’, linguistically related to the word for darkness ‘zulmah’ (pl. zulumāt). The Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬drew on this comparison when he said “Verily, injustice (zulm) will become darkness (zulumat) on the Day of Judgment.” God, being the “Light of the Heavens and the Earth” (Qur’an 24:35), guides humanity out of the depth of

darkness into the light (Qur’an 2:257). The faithful striving for justice represents the forces of light wrestling with the darkness of oppression and injustice. One’s proximity to God is thus based on the extent to which one embodies this light and emulates the Divine attribute of justice.

There is tremendous emphasis on delivering justice to all of creation as it is a manifestation of one’s relationship with God; from one’s family, to all human beings, and even to animals and the environment. The Qur’an advises to always arbitrate every matter with justice (Qur’an, 4:58) even if it requires taking a stance against one’s own interests: “O you who believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, as witnesses before God, even if it be against yourselves or your parents and relatives” (Qur’an, 4:135). We must ask ourselves: how often do we truly adhere to this? How often is it easier to remain silent en masse or to conform to the judgements of people around us just because it is the status quo? The Quran iterates and reiterates the importance of having this impartial justice; “Let not the hatred of others towards you prevent you from being just. Be just, that is closer to piety” (Qur’an 5:8). We can perceive this to be a form of encouragement in what can be the difficult road ahead. Social justice is a broad topic in today’s age, encompassing everything from politics, to relations amongst family, friends, neighbors; even extending to one’s internal monologue, as many find it difficult to uphold justice for ourselves in our self image. The Quranic term qist (fairness) best captures the essence of social justice. This is

because it encourages equal and just distribution for all members of the society. In many ways, Islam is fundamentally a faith of activism. According to the Qur’an, an essential characteristic of believers is their participation in publicly “enjoining good and forbidding evil” (Qur’an 3:110, 9:71). The Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬said, “Whoever witnesses something evil, let him change it with his hand, and if he is unable then with his tongue, and if he is unable then with his heart, but that is the weakest form of faith.”.

Islam does not permit one to be a bystander to any form of injustice; one is morally obligated to eradicate oppression. Of course, this duty is accompanied by the requirement of wisdom to ensure that one’s attempt to remove an evil does not lead to a greater evil.

Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ’s story has become one of the most iconic examples of Islam’s campaign against racism. He was an Abyssinian-African slave in Mecca who embraced Islam and was freed by Abū Bakr, and became one of the most prominent companions of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, given the great honour of regularly

Through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬and his companions, Muslims seek to revitalize the true essence of the faith, which calls upon human beings to serve God by caring for those in need. In times like today, this is especially necessary. “Verily God commands justice, excellent conduct, and caring for one’s relatives, and He forbids all forms of immorality, evil and transgression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed” (Qur’an, 16:90). We must all take heed and be ready to stand up, for in staying silent, perhaps this is the greatest injustice of all.

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The Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬taught, “Beware the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and God.”. If God listens to the oppressed, so must we all. In order to advocate effectively for those who have suffered injustice, one must begin by lending an ear to understand what their demands for justice and reconciliation are.

Furthermore, one of the most fundamental aspects of Islam’s social justice message has been its emphasis on racial equality. The Qur’an has a famous passage that states: “O Humankind, verily we created you from male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most pious. Verily, God is allKnowing, all-Aware.” (Qur’an 49:13). This verse is an evident endorsement of Islam’s stance on racial equality as it emphasizes that belonging to different ethnic groups is not a matter of superiority, but is intended to enhance human interactions and harmony.

making the call to prayer. In fact, it was when the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬returned to Makkah, a long eight years after being expelled from the city, that he requested Bilāl to climb on to the roof of the Holy Ka’bah and make the call to prayer. This simultaneously reaffirmed Islam’s message of monotheism whilst also establishing a practice of racial equality. The Makkan elites who opposed Islam were horrified at this sight and began making derogatory racist remarks, and the Qur’anic verse on racial equality (49:13) was revealed to refute them. It is difficult to overstate the importance of Islam and the role of Muslims in the civil rights movement in the United States. Malcolm X was particularly inspired by his experience during the Hajj pilgrimage where he witnessed people of all ethnic backgrounds united in worship, with no distinction between them. He wrote in his letters, “America needs to understand Islam because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem...I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.”.

This call against racism in Islam is perhaps most profoundly declared by the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬in his most famous sermon: “O People, your Lord is One, and your father (Ādam) is one. Verily, there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab nor a nonArab over an Arab. There is no superiority of a white over a black nor a black over a white. Only piety causes one to excel.” It is only by virtue of piety that one may become more honorable in the sight of God, not by skin color or ethnicity.

(naqshon ka naq)shhh [the map of charms] i go back and it feels familiar but is it really home? i come back and it feels familiar but is it really home? i’ve learned in a decade or two it’s not really about a place as much as it is about what’s discovered innate the fabrics that tie me to a nation or two or three or four the stitches of sequin that adorn my face in spirit the beads that prick at every hair ingrown the prints on my hand that stretch into scars the birthmarks that embroider the very depths of my skin the colours! the colours! the colours! the beautiful skin i was born with. all picked up and placed in a space unknown with values of image and ethics not in line i wonder if they even understand the word colonized. so what is home when i draw the map on my back with needles to web the strange, strange world across my sighs? i trace the gold, green, and blue very gently careful not to tear the at-first fragile being i now see the mirror as a place of reflection and refuge not a war on my standards, not a stain on my ideals, nor the singing of my sins

i am no longer at odds with myself as i parade in flowy dresses and people gawk. i am no longer at odds when the words flow from my lips in a tongue unforeign to my mother. water flows in the Mississippi just as it does in the Ganges yet the flow from my eyes: now that is, indeed, different.

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and when i press my cheek with love and longing not sorrow nor rage my self feels whole this time to embrace the world in my so-called empty arms as they hug across my chest, the warmth kept in.

WRITTEN BY ANAA GULZAR PHOTOGRAPH BY SOBIA MAHMOOD

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pillars: ode to the fifth

I: belief Conviction like the grand seas: its tide, her shore.

It’s what strings together her castaways, drowning in her waves, but don’t you know despair is only felt when served?

So when she bends to the ground, puzzles together her hands in prayer, belief on lips, strengthening like the crevices of fingers so tightly wound in one, we believe with her.

II: remembrance It was a mellow afternoon last December, calamity in the skies — as often is when disaster strikes.

Ten words have the power to sink ships, did you know?

We lived in tandem with the hours, not made of time but reeking of its absence.

Hours marked by listless nights and stale mornings, of harrowing statistics and late-night whisperings, of brown stained coffee mugs and faltering hands.

Hours, stolen, where youth is marked by hunched shoulders and fumbling steps.

Hours, written in time slots and phone records, written in the contrasts of ugly wounds against skin that never stops smiling.

Hours that make you weep, of life where no one lives, where did you go?

I asked her, once, why the seconds of the call to prayer — the azaan — fell back, some forward every eve.

The hours, she said, the hours need remembrance too.

III: gratitude They say the sea never learnt to forgive.

It fights back, folly after folly, thrashing waves, drowning and destroying—ruthlessly.

It is the shore that anchors this burning rage.

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For eons, it has harbored the lost and the wandering, weathering against the wrath of the sea.

IV: patience When you turn back six months, you recall stiff chairs: needling, scorching, piercing.

The stiffness is embedded in your soul now, travelling up left arm, median cubital, in vain.

You thought the stiffness was in the metal backbones, in the rusted steels.

But as you watch faces weeping, grieving, steeling, faces morphed by a six-letter phantom, you know the stiffness rests in the hearts, in the blood, in the breasts, in the lungs, in the bones.

See, you are remnants of a spark, watched the real fires dance every eve (seven hours and twenty minutes).

You watched them clamber through peaks, reach lows, and press restart.

You watched them in pain, in anguish — loving and living— you watched them live against life and against time.

You, an imposter, burning in flames that never were yours to burn.

I ask her how one fasts for seventeen hours — “patience, my love”— reaching out for seventeen pieces of hair falling, seventeen tucked under pillow, seventeen and counting.

V: pilgrimage; the journey There was talk of the sailor once, a man of stealth and courage.

But the moon sank his ship, and his medals and armors drowned with austere swifts into the sea.

They made him a shrine by the distant shore, the final harbour where his endings strung with shames of the first descent.

They called his ode the final pilgrimage, not to honor him but her. The shore. Who stood there in solidarity: unwavering, silent, and eternal.

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WRITTEN BY AREEBA ASGHAR PHOTOGRAPH BY SOBIA MAHMOOD

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SOBIA MAHMOOD

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TAREK ALKORANI

scratching the

"PREREQUISITES" of the

hijab WRITTEN BY SARA SADAT ILLUSTRATED BY AREESHA SAEED It is 5AM in the morning. I find myself standing in front of the mirror observing myself in the hijab after wrapping up my morning prayer. I stand there and stare at myself for a while, admiring myself in it. Then, I take it off and place it back into the drawer and make my way out the door to catch the train to school. This cycle repeats itself the next day. On the way to school, I admire the different Muslim women that pass by me — some wearing hats on top of their hijabs, others accessorizing it with hairclips, and some matching the colour with their shirt. As they pass by me, I sit and wonder: why have I not had the courage to put it on yet? I always make dua, or prayer, to Allah SWT to grant me the courage to wear it, and to make me amongst the women who observe hijab for His sake only. Yet, there is always a whisper in my ear telling me that I’m not ready. Not ready for what?

The hijab signifies freedom to me. In a world where women are constantly told to dress a certain way, I see it as a form of liberation from Western female beauty standards. Not only is it freedom, but it is also a dedication. A dedication to Islam and submission to Allah; it is to choose every day to cover your hair, for His sake only. I always admire the women in my community who wear it. To me, I think that for them to be able to publicly identify as Muslimahs, or Muslim women, especially in a world with rising Islamophobia, they are the epitome of strength.

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I stare out the train window and ponder upon this natural feeling that I cannot overcome. I see the beauty in hijab and understand the importance of it. I understand that surely Allah only tells us to do things because He wants what is best for us. As it says in Surah An-Nisa, “Allah wishes to lighten your burden” [4:28]. Yet, every day I find myself leaving the house without a hijab on. Why is this? Why can I not commit to wearing it? Why is it so challenging for me to get started? What am I really not ready for?

Perhaps it is the unfair responsibility society has given to Muslim women wearing hijab, making them the “face of Islam”. It makes me scared to get started. I feel that I am not ready to wear hijab as there is so much more I can improve on as a Muslim before taking on the responsibility of hijab. There is that constant fear that I will be judged for my hijab, and in turn my character as well. It is as if I need to attain this perfect level of piety, before I can even dare to put it on. What if I do start wearing it, but then take it off? How will I face myself then? Do I meet the prerequisites of wearing the hijab?

The intercom on the train scatters my fears as I approach closer and closer to my stop. I tell myself these are merely the whispers of Shaytan, and that the world holds no stake in my personal decision to wear the hijab; just as my private affairs are for Allah to judge, so is my public decision to wear hijab. You would never tell someone who struggles with praying five times a day to stop praying, for someone who struggles with fasting to not even bother if they do not fast the whole month. In fact, you would almost never know that someone struggles with these things, as they are not publicized. It is the fact the hijab is visible to the public eye that makes it susceptible to criticism from others, and in turn places fear and insecurity in some women from getting started - including myself.

The thing is that there really is no hijab ‘prerequisite list’. There is not some level that must be attained, or a certain number of boxes checked before you are given an acceptance letter to wear the hijab. Wearing the hijab is a personal choice between you and Allah. Even having the niyyat, the intention to wear a hijab, serves a great purpose. As narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: “I heard Allah's Messenger (‫ )ﷺ‬saying, ‘The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.’” I remind myself of this as my train stops at Union Station and I rush my way to the subway to get to class.

One day I will find myself standing in front of the mirror observing myself in the hijab after wrapping up my morning prayer. I see myself standing there and staring at myself for a while, admiring myself in it and finally making my way out the door to catch the next train to school.

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Remember the Just I carry thoughts About torment and pain, Caused by those gone astray, Unto those whose persecution remains, every day.

But, What if, instead of dwelling on a new tyranny’s start, My thoughts propel toward the turning of hearts?

What if for every loss, there is saving; For every oppressor, a quaking As the ground they believed to be so sturdy Begins shaking?

There is One who promises for every changer, a changing; For those worthy, an awakening, And for the rotten, a breaking Of the bones they used to move, Mistreat, harm and spew, Now brittle with regret and mistaking.

I now carry the thought That justice will be brought, As there is One who is most just, And forgetful He is not.

- Kinza Syed

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“O you who have believed, stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves…” (4:135)

"Where do we draw the line?"

"Dear Muslim Family, He said He has perfected our religion, and not us.

So why do we insist on holding each other to standards that we were never created to meet?

Why do we bring each other down when one of us slips up, like we were never programmed to fall?

Where do we draw the line between perfection and imperfection?

Because they can never cross, like 2 bodies of water, they must remain separate, none can merge with the other, for we were never designed as such, not for this world at least. This doesn’t mean that we can never strive for perfection, it just means we’ll never be able to reach it, and that’s okay.

We are meant to travel through the peaks and the troughs, we are meant to fall and rise, we were never made to remain in one place.

So why must we insist on shoving perfection down each other’s throats?

On placing on our shoulders burdens we were never meant to bear?

Why do we insist on keeping each other down, when He has fashioned us to rise above the tides, to remain calm during the storm, to rebound after we’ve been knocked down.

He has perfect our religion, and not us.

Let us be kinder to one another, even when one of us is submerged in our own mess.

Let us exercise more patience with each other, so we can find the light in the darkness, and escape from the holes we've dug for ourselves."

- Fareeda Baruwa

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ISLAMIC FIGURES IN SCIENCE Read, in the Name of your Lord, Who created. (96:1) TAIMA ABDEL HAFIZ

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As Muslims, we know that knowledge is crucial to us as beings. The first words of the Quran that were sent down tell us to; “Read, in the Name of your Lord Who created” (96:1). In a time when school is especially difficult (thank you, pandemic), I figured we could all use a reminder of how wonderful it is that we are still here at school, trying our bests every single day even when it is challenging. Allah sees your efforts! Your pursuit of knowledge is one of the most important things you are doing, and to remind you of that, let us take a look at a few Muslim scientists and scholars who have made unbelievable contributions to the human race.

spoke 4 languages; Fulfulde, Hausa, Tamacheq and Classical Arabic. Asma’u wrote many books in her lifetime, including Tafseer of the Quran, Biography of the Prophet, and Tibb al-Nabawi (Medicine of the Prophet). Her legacy continues, as we now remember her as a Muslim who used Islamic texts to write about and provide insight into a myriad of topics, from politics to poetry.

Let's start with Nana Asma’u bint Shehu Usman dan Fodiyo. Nana Asma’u was a scholar, a poet, a teacher, and an honourific. Born in the Islamic Empire of Sokoto (northern Nigeria), Asma’u came from an educated family who sought to bring education to everyone she and her siblings were taught by their mother and grandmother, as were her father and the rest of their family. In their family, women were expected to learn, study and teach. Asma’u grew up and taught both men and women alike, founding programs and training especially women. Asma’u founded a program where she would train and teach older women so that they could be sent to the homes of younger women raising children. That way, all women would be educated properly. Asma’u was a poet, and her poems touched on the most important topics, spanning everything from politics to theology and she even translated some of them herself, since she

Bringing it to modern times, let's talk about one of my favourite scientists, Dr. Burcin Mutlu-Pakdil.

Dr. Mutlu-Pakdil is a Muslim, female astrophysicist who discovered a rare type of galaxy, now known as Burcin’s Galaxy. Dr. Mutlu-Padkil graduated from Bilkent University with a degree in physics and went on to receive her Master’s degree and PhD from Texas Tech University and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, respectively. After, she did three years of postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona, became an NSF & KICP Fellow at the University of Chicago, as well as a TED Senior Fellow. She serves on many scientific organizations as well. Dr. Mutlu-Padkil’s research has been groundbreaking in the field of galactic evolution and

has been testing the boundaries of current theories.

In her own words, “There is currently no known mechanism that can explain the existence of an inner ring in such a peculiar galaxy. So the discovery of Burçin's Galaxy clearly highlights the gap in our knowledge of galaxy evolution. Further research into how this extremely rare galaxy was formed can provide us with new clues on how the universe works. This discovery tells us that we still have a lot to learn, and we should keep looking deeper and deeper in space and keep searching for the unknown”. Dr. Mutlu-Padkil’s family comes from small farming towns in rural Turkey, and neither her parents nor her grandparents had the opportunity to attend school later than the fifth grade. Being a woman, Dr. Mutlu-Padkil faced even more challenges when she pursued a bachelor’s degree in physics. Her classmates and professors taunted her, telling her that as a woman, she did not fit into academia. Dr. Mutlu-Padkil’s story is so incredibly powerful and inspiring to aspiring scientists, especially Muslims. She once wrote; “But In each of these challenges, I reminded myself that I do not want to blend in, I want to stand out, so I fought against all these stereotypes and worked hard to live beyond the labels”.

After talking about all these brilliant humans, it is normal to feel slightly inadequate (“oh no, I should do more! I should do this and that and…”). But let us remember that although these people have made contributions to our society, first and foremost, their knowledge, research, and education are for Allah and Allah only. Allah told us to seek knowledge, so that is what we all should do. Knowledge also comes in many forms, not only science, engineering, or mathematics, even though I focused on the sciences for this piece; Muslim artists, poets, business people, activists, authors, chefs have also made greatly appreciated advancements. If you love to knit sweaters, that is you seeking knowledge. If you enjoy writing articles, that is you seeking knowledge. If you like photography, that is you seeking knowledge.

"Exalted is Allah, the True King! Hasten not with reciting the Qur'an before its revelation to you is finished, and pray: "Lord! Increase me in knowledge." (20:114)

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Finally, I’m sure everyone is familiar with the word ‘algebra’ (whether or not you have good memories attached to that word), and we have Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi to thank for it. Al-Khwarizmi is a very well-known name in the mathematical world; his name was

Latinized as Algorithmi and his books were translated, which is where the words algorithm and algebra come from. He was a Persian polymath, mathematician, astronomer, and geographer and is still known as the father of algebra, having cemented the foundations of mathematics. Al-Khwarizmi developed the decimal system, introduced Arabic numerals (Indian system of numerals), created trigonometric tables, and fixed the geometric representation of conic sections, and created calculus of two errors, which is close to differentiation. Al-Khwarizmi wrote many books in his lifetime, including The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals, The Image of the Earth, and many more. Muslim Heritage writes; “AlKhwarizmi emphasized that he wrote his algebra book to serve the practical needs of the people concerning the matters of inheritance, legacies, partition, lawsuits and commerce. He considered his work as worship to God”.

Pearls of Imaan THE OYSTER OF LIFE WRITTEN BY HEBA KHAN WATERCOLOUR BY AYESHA SYED

" Help is from Allah and the victory is near " (61:13) What does my victory look like?

The gates of Firdaus calling my name Allah overseeing my fame My palette saturating my parents with happiness My dreams being birthed at the end of this labour The sweet fruit of my patience My sweat tearing through the boulders of fear Failure as a wingman for success Faith as the pearled wings to carry me to new zeniths Only with the help of Allah Needless to say, these times have tested everyone’s imaan, or faith, in different ways. What they did, in essence, was emphasize all the cracks in the walls of our faith. It revealed all the oysters we had to crack through and, for those of us that persevered, it bestowed upon us some pearls.

Have you ever pondered about the way Allah has protected pearls? They belong in the oceans protected by a hard exoskeleton that many people toil to crack open. Similarly, I believe that Allah has created the hardships in this life as an oyster for us, that ultimately holds the pearls of faith. Every time we are tested with a new hardship, Allah gives us an opportunity to collect more ‘pearls.’ Amidst all of the COVID19 chaos and underlying all of the fear, was a constant call to faith and constant reminder to persevere. Personally speaking, holding onto faith in these tough times allowed me to see the conversion of my challenges into miracles by the will of the Most Compassionate.

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If we begin at the beginning of the lockdown period, I have to say I was already at the crossroad of faith and uncertainty because I was deciding whether to return to McMaster for my fifth year. With the societal pressures of meeting certain timelines and the constant insecurity of Impostor Syndrome clinging to my dreams, I was already in a bit of a rough place. I was most definitely not in the mental space to be dealing with a global transformation. Upon having made that

decision and feeling content that it was paying off in terms of my goals, we were all hit with the news of the lockdown and life was unhinged from the one thing I was banking on — familiarity. Everything was new and different, and when I finally reconnected with my roots to stabilize, universities began announcing that they wouldn’t consider the Winter Term to level the playing field. The constant stress from having an entire semester go to waste like that was devastating but then, Allah granted us with the blessed month of Ramadan right at the moment to soothe my woes.

Ramadan was unlike any of the others that I have witnessed in my entire lifespan and we were reminded to hang onto our faith and worship Allah the same. As I fell into the routine for Ramadan, I simultaneously wrapped up an emotionally draining thesis that again tested the waters of my faith. Again, I turned to Allah to grant me the strength to keep going. That is when the poem written above came to existence. One of my best friends and I decided we’d reflect on the verses of Quran through poetry and when she suggested that particular verse, it gave birth to that piece. It reminded me of all the victories I was working hard for and how Allah’s aid had consistently been underlying all of my efforts. At this point in the lockdown, I knew that the next couple of months were going to be life-altering.

And they were.

The fact that Allah is Ever-Competent of all things truly dawned upon me when I would find myself in the pits of my despair and something would change inside my heart because of Allah’s signs. The greatest thing for me has been the support that people have provided me throughout my journey, whether it be words of encouragement or a message to say that they remembered me in their prayers. These actions may feel so small, but they can move mountains and they encouraged me to do the same. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Allah has brought me to all of the hardships that have transformed me into someone stronger and more willing to chase their dreams. He has been at the foundation of my faith and empowered me to change the narrative of my own life.

This particular theme in The Mirror asks us to reflect on the mirror of life, and about this whole masking and unmasking journey and in turn, create

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I set out to complete the most dreaded task for most students — the soul-sucking MCAT. That whole journey was entirely intriguing for me because although I like to preplan things, the MCAT prep and actual test were entirely planned by the Best of Planners. I can say this because I had one of the most atypical schedules and resource collections for my actual preparation, and I could see that I was not sailing my own boat, Allah was. For example, I started studying about two months before my actual exam, but the resources I used came from the provision of some Divine Intervention because in all honesty, I was clueless. I had no idea how I was going

to manage all of that, and my anxiety levels went off the charts. At the same time, however, to manage all of that, and my anxiety levels went off the charts. At the same time, however, I had gotten into the habit of saying ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get through this, but Allah’s got this’ and this simple phrase proved to be my greatest affirmation.

This affirmation stuck with me through all of my hardships even outside of the MCAT journey because unfortunately, no grief in life is mutually exclusive. By some undiscovered law of physics, grief and hardships attract more grief and, yes, that’s right, more hardships. It trained me to truly embody my favourite verse in the Qur’an wherein Allah promises us not once, but twice that “Verily, with hardship there is ease” (94: 5-6). For a very long time, I believed that this verse revealed that hardship was succeeded by ease until I realized that they coexist, but we have to train ourselves to find the ease in all of our trials. We have to train ourselves to believe in miracles not because we are capable of great things but because Allah is capable of doing anything.

a mosaic of our community. I know the student struggle is universal even if our individual situations have slight degrees of permutations regardless, in hindsight, Allah has always got us. That is the single most important relationship that we need to work on especially in these times because faith is the wings that will take us to new zeniths.

As an afterthought, I’d like to end this article with the idea that as much as I love stories, I’ve always chosen to keep my struggles and blips of success private. However, upon pondering about the theme of this year’s issue and the current circumstances, I decided that the past eight months of my life have been very sinusoidal and could maybe, by the will of Allah, infuse hope in the tired hearts of the members of my community. I am in no way claiming that life has been amazing or that these past eight months have been a breeze— trust me, they’ve been anything but. Neither am I claiming to have the highest level of imaan or to be the most faithful out of the entire Ummah, or Muslim community, because those are the matters that Allah knows best.

Through it all, Allah was there, He was listening and despite the trials, He granted us the perseverance to reach this point, this exact moment. Alhamdulillah. I have learned an abundance of lessons about life through introspection, reflection and prayer. The one I will try to hold onto the longest and the one I hope to instill in others, is that even though life will be an oyster, we have to keep delving deeper until we reach the pearls of imaan.

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LABIQAH IFTIKHAR

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M: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE ANIMATION?

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E: It's interesting to note that I have started to learn animation seriously when Darul Arqam Studio is established. I started by creating a simple whiteboard animation describing the Tafseer of Surah Al Ashr. It amazed me how animation has the power to deliver messages. Later on in Darul Arqam, we started learning other techniques, from explainer animation / motion graphic style and now 3D animation. Alhamdulillah, that humble beginning of learning animation apparently shaping Darul Arqam Studio that people are familiar with now.

M: WHAT EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHS LED YOU TO THE INDUSTRY? E: I took Visual Communication Design back in college. I know my passion is drawing early on since childhood. Long before I started animation, I was an illustrator. My key competences are illustration, comic making and concept art. I've worked for 15 years in the entertainment industries. The experiences of working for clients like Marvel, Star Wars and Warhammer have sharpened my skills as an artist. Those accumulation of experiences and knowledge narrowed me down the path into animation industries.

M: HERE IS A LESS FORMAL QUESTION: WHO WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD ANIMATED CHARACTER? E: Well, I guess Son Goku from Dragon Ball is my all-time favorite. I think that’s why I create a lot of Goku SuperSaiya parody in I’m The Best Muslim :D.

M: TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR ANIMATION SERIES “I AM THE BEST MUSLIM”.

E: I’m The Best Muslim is a story of a guy named Best Muslim. Day in and day out, he wants to be the best muslim in accordance to Quran and Rasulullah. This series is the second 3D animation in Darul Arqam Studio. You can watch the series on the Free Quran Education channel on Youtube.

E: This series is actually a reflection of our lives as muslim youth in general. Yes, we do read the Quran, learn the hadits and go to Islamic lectures.

But we can’t ignore the fact that we also spend a considerable amount of our time catching up on social media or binge-watching Netflix. The idea that we can always choose the best option in our life: what we do with our time, our health, our

M: TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR ANIMATION SERIES “I AM THE BEST MUSLIM”.

E: I’m The Best Muslim is a story of a guy named Best Muslim. Day in and day out, he wants to be the best muslim in accordance to Quran and Rasulullah. This series is the second 3D animation in Darul Arqam Studio. You can watch the series on the Free Quran Education channel on Youtube.

M: WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA OF THE SERIES AND WHAT IS ITS MAIN PURPOSE? E: This series is actually a reflection of our lives as muslim youth in general. Yes, we do read the Quran, learn the hadits and go to Islamic lectures. But we can’t ignore the fact that we also spend a considerable amount of

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M: WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA OF THE SERIES? WHAT IS ITS MAIN PURPOSE?

wealth, makes this series a simple reminder for audiences; for us especially. You can feel how the characters resemble people like us, people in our lives, things we do. It is intended so people can truly relate to themselves and we hope that this idea can be easy to accept, easy to understand, and hopefully, the spirit of Best who wants to be the best muslim can spread like a virus to the audiences.

our time catching up on social media or bingewatching Netflix. The idea that we can always choose the best option in our life: what we do with our time, our health, our wealth, makes this series a simple reminder for audiences; for us especially.

You can feel how the characters resemble people like us, people in our lives, things we do. It is intended so people can truly relate to themselves and we hope that this idea can be easy to accept, easy to understand, and hopefully, the spirit of Best who wants to be the best muslim can spread like a virus to the audiences.

a continuous process and we hope that Allah will accept our works.

M: I NOTICED THAT “I AM THE BEST MUSLIM” CHARACTERS HAVE 'FLOATING HEADS' AND 'HAMZA' ( THE ARABIC LETTER) EYES. WHAT INSPIRED THIS ANIMATION STYLE? IF YOU HAD TO GIVE THIS STYLE A NAME WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT?

M: WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

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E: As muslim illustrator, we are suppose to understand that there are differences of fiqh about drawing. There is a range of fatwa covering the one forbid the use of drawing to fatwa that allow drawing under certain conditions, such as forbidding drawing to be used to worship/as idol, drawing must not revealing some body parts or steering into lust, etc. I, personally, see all that differences of fatwa have strong arguments based on solid grounds and we know that these fatwa is all coming from credible muslim scholars.

So, personally, I acknowledge and study the standpoint of the scholars. I also am influenced by the work of muslim artists throughout my journey.

Moreover, I try to think and contemplate how this work will affect the audiences, how it will also affect ourselves and our hearts; and I’ve come to conclude to stand in the middle. I am comfortable with this decision and tadaa... we created the floating head with arabic letter style!

We pray that Allah will always guide us to the best path. Ameen!

M: HOW DID ISLAMIC VALUES IMPACT YOUR ANIMATION DESIGN PROCESS, AND YOUR STORYTELLING/ARTISTIC STYLE? E: My old self thought about creating work to be liked by many people and being famous. Now, it clearly influences my design and works as a whole that I learn about Islam, the Quran and Hadiths. It’s

M: IS THE MUSLIM WORLD LAGGING IN ANIMATION? E: Alhamdulillah. We see a growing number of high-quality animation in muslim world for the last couple of years. Yes, many aspects are still needed to be improved and I think we need to learn exhaustively to be as great as Disney or Japanese Anime. However I believe that we are on the right track.

E: We have a series about Salahudin which is one of the longest projects we are working on in Darul Arqam, yet the result will be amazing, inshaAllah.

We hope this work can benefit as many people as possible. And next we have Tiny World, a comedy series similar to I’m The Best Muslim. This new series is created using 2D animation and using simple tiny flat characters.

M: DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS A COMMON THEME RUNNING THROUGHOUT YOUR PROJECTS? E: I like to use parodies, humor and sketch comedy in my personal works. Perhaps this can be seen that my animation style and storytelling are influenced by anime. But in Darul Arqam, I emphasized to the team that our work must contain knowledge to be beneficial for others.

That’s the value we firmly believe.

M: ANY FUTURE PROJECTS? E: Some are still in concept development stages, which we hope can be run this year in Darul Arqam. I want this new series to help people who want to study Arabic using humor and sketch comedy. Please do wait for our animations on the Free Quran Education channel!

www.MirrorMagazineModelMuslims.com/FatimaAlFihri/profile

fatima al-fihri • 800 AD Fatima grew up in Tunisia. After her parents' passing, Fatima and her sister inherited the family fortune. The sisters were both very passionate about education and knowledge and wanted to put their family money to good use.

Fatima wanted to build an institution where people could receive higher learning.

The sisters founded the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University in Fez, Morocco. AlQarawiyyin university became a famous spiritual and educational centre, visited by scholars and intellectuals from all over the world!

@fatima-al-fihri:

1H AGO

Shoutout to all my girls, the muslim female scholars, scientists and heroes including @Amara bint al Rahman, @Sutaya Al-Mahamali, @Amina of Zaria and many more that didn’t making into the history books. Our time is coming ladies, brace yourselves for the spotlight!

1H AGO

@fatima-al-fihri:

Q of the day: The Quran describes a kind, wise & powerful muslim queen as having “everything she needs and a magnificent throne.” What is this queen's name and which surah is she mentioned in?

@malcolm-x:

21H AGO

A: Bil Quais; from Surah Al-Naml! Comment below if you got it right - if not, fear not! It was a learning experience ladies who was your favorite #PowerfulFemale from the Quran and Ahadith? Let me know below!

@fatima-al-fihri:

1H AGO

NEJIA HAKIM & SARA SADAT

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Congratulations to @Fatima Kabbaj (an al-Qarawiyyin university graduate) who has become a member of the Moroccan Supreme Council of Religious Knowledge! #al-Qarawiyyinclass1950

www.MirrorMagazineModelMuslims.com/MalcolmX/profile

malcolm x • 1925 - 1965 Malcolm X had been a victim of racial injustice throughout his life. When he was arrested for robbery, he joined an organisation called the Nation of Islam,which fought for the rights of black Americans - but had discriminatory beliefs. This decision led him to quit smoking, gambling and eating pork to keep with the religious rules. After his release from prison, Malcolm became an active member of the organisation, but after years of work, he left and visited Mecca to complete Hajj. Malcolm converted to Sunni Islam and changed his name to el-Hajj Malik elShabazz, preaching and opening several mosques in the name of Sunni Islam.

@malcolm-x:

1H AGO

@malcolm-x:

16H AGO

#tbt to when I went to Hajj in April 1964. Such an incredible and spiritual place to be. I had never in my life seen so many people of different colors and ranks gathered together peacefully and regarded as equals! #MashAllah

Early in life I learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise. So proud to see my people coming together to stand up against oppression. I pray to Allah that we will one day be able to walk the streets of this country as free people #Ameen! #blm #EqualityBelongsHere #FreedomForAllOrFreedomForNone

@malcolm-x:

@malcolm-x:

3 DAYS AGO

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Wanted to take this moment to give a shoutout to some of my role models in Islam. Thank you @Amina of Zaria, @Al-Nagashi, @Ilhan Omar and @Bilal. I am proud to have this religion that connects me to all of you even through the boundaries of time. I am grateful that we will always have Islam.

NEJIA HAKIM & SARA SADAT

21H AGO

#TBT LOL - missing the boy @MuhammadAli right about now! What do you say we have One More Night in Miami? Link up soon, brother! #Salaams #ICouldStillBoxYouOut

www.MirrorMagazineModelMuslims.com/MuhammadAli/profile

muhammad ali • 1942 - 2016 Muhammad Ali is a boxing champion. His love for boxing began at the age of 12.

Amongst his accomplishments are receiving the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics, and being named heavyweight champion of the world. Islam was the most integral part of Muhammad’s life and he fought his whole life, just like he did in the ring, in helping America understand Islam and what it stands for. He has made goodwill trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan where he visited mosques, schools, hospitals, orphanages, and government offices. He believed charity was a means of purifying one's soul and becoming close to Allah.

@muhammad-ali:

1H AGO I bear the name of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name.

@muhammad-ali:

3H AGO

Thank you for the Hollywood star! #MommaIMadeIt #SomeoneCome ShineThisBaby #Winning

@muhammad-ali:

2 DAYS AGO I competed against @Sonny Liston tonight. I will be the new heavyweight champion #inshallah. Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee! #WorldChampion #PraisesUP #You'llFeelThisOneInTheMorningSonny

NEJIA HAKIM & SARA SADAT

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Just got back from my trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. I got to visit many different mosques and shrines, and meet amazing students throughout the country. It is amazing to see how beautiful these countries, along with their people are. I will never forget how they greeted me with open arms when I arrived. We are all one ummah. #TogetherWeAreStronger #MashAllah I'll see you again soon, @Pakistan! Thank you

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WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY FUN ZONE! Here you'll find fun games and all sorts of things to keep you entertained!

Spot all 5 chicken legs in the fun zone and email us the page numbers to get a savoury deal from Quik Chik on Main Street! (mirror@macmsa.com)

THE MIRROR | PAGE 45

WANT A QUIK CHIK COUPON?

GU ESS THE PR OP HET

Try to guess which Prophet we're referring to with the emojis! (answers on p. x)

1

5

2

6

3

7

4

8

THE MIRROR | PAGE 46

Who allowed all these Apple emojis? #androidisbetter

THINGS I NEED TO DO FOR SELF-CARE CHECK THESE OFF AS YOU COMPLETE THEM! READ QUR'AN

PRAY FOR SHUKR

SET A BOUNDARY

MAKE FUN PLANS

CELEBRATE IT

DRINK SOME WATER

CANCEL BAD PLANS

FORGIVE THEM

ACCEPT A FLAW

SET A NEW GOAL

FORGIVE YOURSELF

MEDITATE

D.I.Y. A PROJECT

DREAM BIG

EAT THOSE FRIES

WATER A PLANT

TAKE THE STAIRS

GO FOR A WALK

BREW SOME TEA

FAST, JUST BECAUSE

JOURNAL YOUR DAY

BE HONEST

SING IN THE CAR

PAINT A PICTURE

MAKE DUA

SLOW IT DOWN

HAVE A DONUT

GO OUTSIDE

LOOK AT ART

SAY PLEASE

COOK A MEAL

LET THEM MERGE IN

COMPLIMENT THEM

IGNORE YOUR PHONE

RE-READ A BOOK

COMPLIMENT YOU

BINGE WATCH IT

ADMIT MISTAKES

STOP COMPARING

HAVE SOME POPCORN

DAYDREAM

EAT A FRUIT (OR 2)

USE THE <3 EMOJI

GIVE A PEP TALK

SAY NO

SLEEP MORE

MOVE PAST IT

PUT ON SWEATS

LISTEN TO OLD MUSIC

BUY FLOWERS

SPEAK UP

OPEN YOUR HEART

LET IT HAPPEN

ORDER IN LUNCH

TEXT YOUR FRIEND

LET IT GO

You are important. I want you to take care of yourself because you deserve it, are worth it and more than enough.

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TAKE A WARM BATH

THE MIRROR: CROSSWORD 2 1

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Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

2 5 4

3

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6 7

6

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10 9

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ACROSS: 9. The man who leads prayers 1. A name of Allah, meaning 10. Handy pieces of fabric in "King" COVID-19 (pl. - also a theme 2. The 9th month of the Islamic of this magazine!) calendar 11. Clothing men wear as part of 3. The Islamic month in which Hajj requirements Muslims fast 4. The Arabic word for fasts, also DOWN: 4th pillar of Islam 1. The special night prayer 5. The obligatory pilgrimage for prayed during Ramadan Muslims 2. The non-obligatory pilgrimage 6. Heavenly beings made of light to Makkah 7. Objects we can see our 3. The name of the meal used to reflection in (pl. - also a theme break one's fast in Ramadan of this magazine!)

4. The Arabic name for prayers 5. The city of the Prophet's Mosque, Masjid-e-Nabwi 6. The Arabic word for the holy day of a Muslim's week 7. Art created with pieces of glass or tile (pl. - also a theme of this magazine!

IF Y O U H A VE HA A R G U E O V D F R IE N D S / F A M IL Y ER MOON S IG H T IN G S

D N E ID A N EN UP O T K A O E W O E T V D A E IF Y O U H Y O U 'R E A L L O W TEN FORGOT

This is just plain discrimination. How do you expect me to play this game?

IF T YO B U Y H M A A VE SJ ID GO A TT U E N N TY Y / EL U L N E C D LE A

RA

ICH WH ON N E TT WERE GO OR YOU F E AV EEH U H RAW O IF Y OF TA H KA

“DO

I N’T F YO YO U HA UG V ET E BE HO EN T IN AS TH KED AT ?”

ED ?”

SK ..

A R N TE EE A B W E N V E A V H E U T O O Y “N

MUSLIM EDITION

YO W UH UD AV U

BY E PR AC AYE CI DE D W NT ITH BE OU FO T RE

IF

IF Y O U H AVE MEM O R IZ E A Y A T U L -KD T H E URSI

GEL

G W IT H S O M E T H IN IN G IT E T A U O IF Y KNOW W IT H O U T A T IN IN IT UP D E E R Y TA EFO S B VE R HA HOO U U YO S IF FOR

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PUT A FINGER DOWN

IF

MOSLEM Y'all do be funny!

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MEMES

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GROWING OUT YOUR

BEARD MOHAMMED AL-ANI

TIP #1 - Use beard oil Beard oil does many things for your beard and the skin underneath.

Sometimes beards may become curly and wild when they get long. Using beard oil and combing it after you shower or do wudu helps keep it tame!

When applying beard oil, try to work it into the skin underneath your beard as well. This helps reduce dry skin, itchiness, and dandruff. Not only that, but beard oil makes your beard really soft, and some oils are scented as well which is pretty nice. Generally, using beard oil 1-2 times a day works well!

TIP #2 - Use beard shampoo Beard shampoo helps keep your beard clean and reduce itchiness and dandruff!

TIP #3 - Get a straight edge razor Listen boys, get a straight edge razor. It makes lining up your beard wayyy easier and makes it look neat. They are really cheap. Just make sure you don't cut yourself while using it, It's not too hard though, so you should be fine.

TIP #4 - Can't grow one? Get a toupee.

TIP #5 - Do not waste the ajar!

THE MIRROR | PAGE 52

In the case that genetics are not allowing you to grow a beard, you can always invest in a beard toupee like the one worn by the mannequin brother!

Make sure that you grow your On a serious note, make sure beard with the intention of that you grow your beard following the footsteps ofwith the the intention of following the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Make sure to keep the moustache short and the beard long! It's sunnah.

ES OLYM K O J PIC D S DA Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool.

I gave him a glass of water.

What do computers and air conditioners have in common? They both become useless when you open windows.

So, I heard this pun about cows, but it’s kinda offensive so I won’t say it.

I don’t want there to be any beef between us.

I’ve just been reading a book about anti-gravity, it’s impossible to put down!

Patient: “Doctor, I’ve broken my arm in several places”.

Doctor: “Well don’t go to those places.”

2

I gave my friend 10 puns hoping that one of them would make him laugh.

Sadly, no pun in ten did.

1

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not sure I went to the store to pick up eight cans of sprite... when I got home I realized I'd only picked seven up.

3

The channel consists of a never-ending thread of dad jokes generated by an MSA android brother (Yes, MSA brotherhood inclusivity encompasses inanimate objects - beat that sisters!).

The brotherhood abused this poor bot to rise up in the ranks in ‘the rank channel’.

Some may say that spending hours asking a bot to tell you dad jokes is sad. It is.

MOHAMMED AL-ANI

THE MIRROR | PAGE 53

Despite COVID19, the MacMSA brothers managed to bring T13/MSA office loafting culture (with an Olympic competitive twist) to the online world through the 'dad-joke-Olympics' discord channel!

THE MIRROR | PAGE 54

FUN ZONE: ANSWER KEY STUMPED? HERE'S THE ANSWERS! GUESS THE PROPHET - PG. 46

→ ADAM (A.S.)

1

5

→ NUH (A.S.)

2

6

→ SALIH (A.S.) → IBRAHIM (A.S.)

3 4

7 8

→ YUSUF (A.S.) → MUSA (A.S.) → DAWUD (A.S.) → SULAIMAN (A.S.)

THE MIRROR: CROSSWORD - PG. 48 2 1

K

5

M A M A D A N D I 6 A N G E L A R S 10 I H R A A M S K S

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Looks like somebody needs help.

ILL UST RAT ION BY ZAR A HAS AN

U 3 M A L I T R A F 2 T R A J A B H A A 4 3 R S A WM I A 5 6 H A J J L 7 A M U 7 M I R R O H 8 I M A M S 9 A M A I H C S 1

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THE MIRROR | PAGE 55

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“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

- PABLO PICASSO