Lifestyle

A collection of 260 posts

a Torch for Peace

The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace

(November 3, 2009) – The Canadian premiere of documentary film, The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace, takes place on Wednesday, 4 November in Toronto at the International Diaspora Film Festival. Twenty-one years in the making, this dramatic feature length documentary tells the extraordinary story of Muslim peacemaker,

Charter for Compassion

Countdown to Charter for Compassion begins

(November 1, 2009) – Today, TED.com [http://TED.com]released six short talks on compassion from six different perspectives — from a Rabbi, an Imam, a Reverend, a Tenzin, a Swami and a secular voice of compassion. These short talks are being presented prior to the launch of the Charter for

Asim Siddiqui

An Islam at home in Britain

By Asim Siddiqui (October 28, 2009) – This month saw the launch of a report authored by a theologically diverse group of leading British Muslims entitled “Contextualising Islam in Britain”. The scholars and practitioners who contributed to the report, published by Cambridge University, sought to answer a deceptively simple question: What

Ibrahim Shalaby

Dr. Ibrahim Shalaby - A Gifted Painter from Palestine

(October 19, 2009) – Dr. Ibrahim Shalaby is a Canadian-Jerusalemite architect and interior designer who says “I don’t live in Jerusalem, it lives in me.” According to Ibrahim, “I paint real places I have visited on my life journey in Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, Morocco,

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World Leaders and Scholars Discuss Interfaith Challenges

(October 9, 2009) – Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, called upon faith groups to highlight interfaith commonalities to address global issues of peace and security at a two-day conference on Muslim-Christian relations this week. “The best hope for faith in the 21st century is that we confront all

Gadi Kenny

The loneliest man in the world

By Mona Eltahawy (October 7, 2009) – Izzeldine Abuelaish could be the loneliest man on earth. A Palestinian father who lost three daughters when Israeli shells struck their home in Gaza two days before a cease-fire ended the war between Israel and Hamas, he seems to be the only person

Alzheimer

Alzheimer, Dementia, and Islam

By J. Samia Mair Recently, on World Alzheimer’s Day, Alzheimer’s Disease International released its 2009 Report [http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/media/releases-worldalzday09.htm]in order “to raise awareness for this disease that will have a dramatic impact on individuals and healthcare systems globally.” The estimates are

Imam Dr. Tawfik Muhammad Ali Shahin

The Imam who defined Ottawa’s Muslims

By Imraan Assim (September 26, 2009) – The image is burned in my memory and will last forever. Imam Dr. Tawfik Muhammad Ali ShahinAn Imam, a scholar, a leader, a role-model, a counselor – Imam Dr. Tawfik Muhammad Ali Shahin – sitting on the ground beside the pulpit, inscribed with the Qur’

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'Racing to good works' - Muslim Americans answer the call to serve

By Salma Hasan Ali (September 23, 2009) – This year, 11 September was proclaimed the National Day of Service and Remembrance, symbolically concluding a nationwide summer of service movement, United We Serve. This programme was launched by US President Barack Obama to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities, and Muslim

Abdullah Hakim Quick

Guarding the Faith after Ramadan

By Farhad Khadim (September 18, 2009) – Guarding the Faith after Ramadan was the topic of a web address by Dr. Abdullah Hakim-Quick on Wednesday night, organized by the Islamic Institute of Toronto [http://www.islam.ca] Abdullah Hakim Quick was born in the United States of America and accepted

environment

Environmentally-friendly Practices in Ramadan, a Religious Duty

By Hind Al-Abadleh (AUGUST 30, 2009) – Every year, Muslims around the world observe the fasting in the month of Ramadan (9th month in the Islamic calendar) as it is one of the five pillars of the religion of Islam. Numerous articles have been written on the relative magnitude of

Eid-ul-Fitr

Let’s not allow moonsighting to strain family relationships

By Muneeb Nasir (August 20, 2009) – Starting Ramadan on the same day in North America is no longer just a community issue but it has percolated down to become a family one. Many extended families are finding themselves in a most difficult position where family members are starting and ending

Abdalla Idris Ali

Islamic Foundation of Toronto: Celebrating Family and Diversity - Part 3

By Muneeb Nasir [This is the third part in the series covering the history of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, one of the first Islamic Centers to be established in Toronto. Many of the men, women and young people involved in the Islamic Foundation would become leaders and community activists

Lifestyle

Ramadan is the "month of the Meaning"

By Tariq Ramadan (August 16, 2009) – Most of the classical religious teachings regarding the month of Ramadan insist on the rules being respected as well as the deep spiritual dimension of this month of fasting, privations, worship and meditation. While thinking about it more closely, one realizes that this month

Habeeb Alli

Habeel Alli releases collection of essays

Habeeb Alli(August 14, 2009) – Habeeb Alli has released a new book, Naked Truths. Naked Truths is a collection of essays based on social, religious and sexual issues. These concise analyses are based on a number of widely debated topics, aimed at refreshing our minds on past experiences and contemporary

Lifestyle

Sami Yusuf Awarded Honorary Degree

(August 10, 2009) – Sami Yusuf was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Roehampton University in South-West London in July in recognition of his contribution to music. At age 28, Yusuf becomes the University’s youngest recipient of this esteemed award. The University awarded six honorary doctorates as well as degrees

Daily Bread Food Bank

Muslims to Feed Poor in Ramadan

(August 8, 2009) – The Muslim Students Association at the University of Toronto (St. George) is teaming up with Masjid Toronto and the Thaqalayn Muslim Association (UofT) to collect food in the upcoming month of Ramadan to donate to Daily Bread Food Bank. Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is scheduled

Hussein Hamdani

Lessons from a treasured grandfather

Hussein HamdaniOne year ago, someone special died, and I am still coming to grips with the loss. After battling cancer, my grandfather, Hussein Abdulla Hamdani (my namesake), passed away on July 10, 2008. In Arabic, the word for treasure is the same root word for grandparent. In other words, there

Baba Ali

All-new children’s TV series features Baba Ali

(July 27, 2009) – Muslim comedian, Baba Ali, widely known for reaching millions of viewers through You Tube appears in an all-new children’s TV series entitled HURRAY FOR BABA ALI. Likely the Internet’s most widely viewed Muslim, Baba Ali, has entertained over 1 million viewers on You Tube

Culture

10,000 Muslims Laugh at a Rabbi

(July 22, 2009) – Stand-up comic Rabbi Bob Alper will headline at Ontario’s award-winning festival, MuslimFest, in Mississauga, ON, August 1st-2nd. Alper, who performs internationally with Muslim comedians has been doing stand-up for 23 years. “I was thrilled to receive the invitation to appear at MuslimFest,

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Scouting and the Muslim Community

By Muneeb Nasir (July 18, 2009) – The Scouting Movement has been successful over the last century because of its brilliant Principles, Mission and Practices which have allowed it to appeal to a wide cross-section of people. How is Scouting compatible with the Muslim community? From a religious perspective, a

Lifestyle

Humans are Contesting Creatures

By Nadine Miville (July 7, 2009) – Humans are contesting creatures. We fight all orders, commands and guidance even if it comes for our benefit. God has given us a mind to choose freely, to think and to question, yet our primary way of response to this blessing is dispute. When

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Legally blind Muslim student delivers commencement address at prestigious US College

(June 29, 2009) – On June 5, Mona Minkara stood before 600 fellow members of the class of 2009 at graduation from Wellesley College and delivered the commencement address. Mona Minkara is legally blind. “It’s an honor,” said Minkara. “I hope disabled students around the country can realize you can

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Book Review: Gregory Baum on The Theology of Tariq Ramadan

(June 25, 2009) – Tariq Ramadan has emerged as one of the most influential Muslim theologians in the world today. In this important book, Gregory Baum presents for the first time an introduction to several key aspects of Ramadan’s theological enterprise. Baum examines Ramadan’s work historically within an interfaith

Dawood Zwink

The Core of Concern for Earth Teachings

By Dawood Zwink (June 21, 2009) – Muslims along with most of the world’s population are caught in the web of the dominant worldview. Critical values that characterize this worldview include a belief in the opportunity for social advancement, a belief that the goal of life is comfort and convenience,