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Contents
Letter from the Editor Just ask! Q & A Students with promise Live & help live Off the Runway
Quran & Science | Gadgets Recipe: quick craving fixes! The Identity Crisis Keepin’ it green Blast from the Past Book Review & Games Sports: From the Side lines Around the World
Dear Reader, Assalamu Alaikum! You are holding the first ever issue of MY Voice magazine. This magazine is a project initiated by the local nonprofit organization, Turn2Learn. It is primarily run by high school and university students in order to provide a creative outlet for youth to learn, grow and discover. As summer vacation comes to a close and we begin a new school year, we are ready to fall back into the routine of studying, after-school clubs and hanging out with friends. During this time we all get a little excited to take the chance to reinvent ourselves – get rid of anything that didn’t work last year and experiment with the new. The central theme of “identity” also comes up around this time of year. As Muslim Canadians we tend to question who we really are and where we’re really from – never truly being satisfied with any one answer. Even though we live in a country that is supposedly ‘multicultural’ and celebrates differences, as teenagers we still feel out of place and alone when singled out and questioned by our peers. This issue’s theme is not meant to spoonfeed you answers, but rather make you think, question, decide and firmly stand strong as you embrace your individual identity. Each of you will develop your own unique identity as you grow, but one thing that remains important through it all is recognizing your deen. Whether your parents migrated to Canada from overseas or whether your family has been here for generations, does not matter. At the end of the day we are all Muslim – and that is part of our individual and united identities. I hope that as you flip through the pages of this magazine you are able to discover something new and take a piece of it with you as you set out to start a new school year. I want to thank the MY Voice team, a dedicated group of writers, artists, graphic designers and editors, whose commitment and tireless effort are the reason you’re holding this publication in your hand. Special thanks also to Nargis Naqvi from Turn2Learn and Hina Mirza, our group mentors and advisors. None of this would have been made possible without you! Jazakallakhair,
Connect with us Online: www.myvoicecanada.com www.facebook.com/myvoicecanada
Maariyah Baig
! k s A t s Ju 2 n, get o i t s e u Q Ask a
spect r e p t n e r e diff
Q. “Why do women wear hi jab?” Hijab is more than a piece of cloth on your head, it helps guard your modesty. Women cover up because they are valued, precious and are too special to reveal to just anyone. That is why it is recommended that women wear a hijab and dress accordingly. -H.K
The first thing you need to understand is that ‘hijab’ is not just for women. Men may not wear a cloth over their heads, but there are strict rules in Islam as to how they should dress, behave and carry themselves in general. With that in mind you should also understand that men and women are wired differently. We each have our own strengths, weaknesses and desires. In order to help each other control our desires and guard our physical and emotional selves, we have been asked to lower our gaze and wear hijab. It is in our best interest that we do not take this matter lightly and see it as a protection rather than a hindrance. -M.R.K
Q. “Are we allowed to have crushes?” Crushes are natural to have and almost everyone has them. Allah (SWT) knows that, or He wouldn`t have told us to lower our gaze. However the sin is not having the crush, it`s acting upon it. Like if you told the person you liked them, or even went further and went out on a date with them - that`s the sin. -H.K
The question is not whether we are “allowed” or “not allowed”, you will, as a human, have a crush at some point in your life. There is nothing haram about that. The problem arises when you act upon your desires and pursue the person you have feelings for. You must lower your gaze, remember Allah (SWT) and work to control your feelings. When you come out of the struggle successfully, you may notice you’ve actually become stronger. -M.R.K
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ives!
Q.
“If I do something wrong and keep doing it, but I regret it and try to stop after, will Allah still forgive me?”
If you repent, Allah(SWT) will forgive you as long as you sincerely mean it. Allah loves repentance. The Prophet (peace be on him) even said, “If you were a people who did not commit sin, Allah would take you away and replace you with a people who would sin and then seek Allah`s forgiveness so He could forgive them.” (Sahih Muslim) -H.K
Everyone has their own weaknesses – a few things you keep doing over and over again and keep repenting for. If you do not make an effort to change, to truly try and give up your bad habits it would appear you are not really seeking forgiveness. However at the end of the day it is up to Allah (SWT), and He is the most Merciful. If you are sincere in your prayers and repentance; try to make an effort to change your ways and stop your bad habits, Allah (SWT) will forgive you insha’Allah. -M.R.K
Q. “If my friend is from the opposite gender, is this relationship haram?”
I wouldn`t say haram, but it should be avoided. If in the Quran it says to lower your gaze, I doubt joking around with someone from the opposite gender is okay. At school, it’s hard to avoid talking to someone, but it shouldn`t be done in an overly friendly manner. -H.K
You should interact carefully with people who are your non mahram. Friends are people you’re very close to, those whom you spend a lot of time with, who you trust with your secrets. The problem with having friends of the opposite gender is that the line between friend and something more becomes blurry. Are they just your friend? And if they are, should you really be sharing everything that you share with friends of the same gender with them? It’s impossible not to interact with the opposite gender, especially in the average school setting in Canada, but we should keep our interactions limited and purposeful to avoid crossing any lines. -M.R.K Searching for answers? Look no further! Send in your questions to myvoicemagazine@gmail.com and we’ll answer them in the “Just Ask” section of our next issue or online on our website!
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Who do you think will win the Ballon D’Or? A. Lionel Messi B. Cristiano Ronaldo C. Franck Ribery D. Other Who do you think will win the FIFA World Cup? A. Argentina C. Germany
B. Brazil D. Other
—it’s the Islamic way
A. Miami Heat B. San Antonio Spurs C. L.A. Lakers D. Other
Who do you think will win the NHL next season? A. Pittsburg Penguins B. Boston Bruins C. Toronto Maple Leafs D. Other
MVP Contestchance to win a
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By yahya ali
Who do you think will win the NBA next season?
from the side lines Shake hands with your opponent
Quick Poll!
Check it out on our website!
S
howing respect to one another is within our nature as Muslims, from the way we speak to the way we act.
The biggest part of Islam is our behavior, which in sports terms is sportsmanship. Being a Muslim can teach athletes a lot about sportsmanship and proper athletic conduct. A good athlete displays appropriate behavior both on and off the field, and so having a positive attitude outside of the game reflects the same for game time. Sportsmanship is the showing of respect throughout a game. For example if you were to have tripped a player in the heat of the game and afterwards you go and help your opponent that would be a great way to show sportsmanship. Although it is very important to establish your identity as an athlete, sportsmanship is only a piece of the puzzle. To be perceived as an athlete with a positive attitude, you should also apply the Islamic principles of truthfulness and fairness in daily conduct. Together these ingredients will develop your athletic reputation in a positive and honorable light. In athletics, you as an athlete should be playing for the team and not for yourself. You as an individual are not bigger or more important than the rest of the team. There are many examples of sportsmanship seen in the real world of professional athlete. Just recently Tito Vilanova, FC Barcelona’s manager, got a relapse in his cancer and everybody in the world of soccer, spanning from England to Italy, wore a t-shirt saying, “Get well, Tito.” This included even Barcelona arch rivals Real Madrid, who showed their support too. The spirit of sportsmanship was also shared by the stars of basketball LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, when they went to their opponent Tim Duncan to show their respect after having defeated Duncan in the final. Sportsmanship can also be shown in the conduct of an athlete while playing. For example the protocol of tennis dictates that at the end of the game the players are expected to shake hands.
Sportsmanship is not only key to every sport but it is also a practice of those who strive to be respectful, truthful, and fair—characteristics we as Muslims should adopt on and off the court.
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Muslim Youth (MY) Spirit is a movement to engage, educate, and empower young Muslims of Canada to be productive, confident, and caring citizens, who are comfortable with their Islamic identity, spirituality, and heritage. www.myspirit.ca A Joint Project of Sound Vision and DawaNet Email: info@dawanet.ca www. facebook.com /MuslimYouthSpirit