@Heart

“There Is A Market For American Muslim Voices”: Walking Down Memory Lane With Wajahat Ali

1abdelnaby1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:09:09 +0000

Educated at UC Berkeley followed by Graduating from UC Davis’ Law School; Wajahat Ali, a San Francisco Bay Area resident, found himself unemployed during the economic downturn. In an effort to avoid from going stir crazy at home, Wajahat turned to his ailing Fujitsu laptop and started writing articles, and stories on contemporary issues.

@Heart asks Wajahat Ali to walk down memory lane and share those early days of his writing career that led to his published play ‘The Domestic Crusaders’, the various essays and interviews appearing in the Washington Post, The Guardian, Salon, and Slate. Wajhat also provides an honest analysis and warnings of the current trends that will be faced among current and future American Muslim artist.

Links:

Domestic Crusaders – domesticcrusaders.com
GoatMilk Blog – goatmilkblog.com

Be A Steward Of The Earth: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin’s Reflections On Faith and Environmentalism

1abdelnaby1 — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:14:05 +0000

“Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet, ” a book inspired by looking into ones faith for healing the planet. @Heart sits with Ibrahim Abdul-Matin author, youth leader, environmentalist, blogger – a ‘Renaissance Man’ with many talents.

Ibrahim walks us through his interweaving threads of moments that helped shape his view and passion he exhibits today.Its only through knowing oneself can you make an impact. Aware of himself Ibrahim has been able to become an environmental policy consultant and has worked with Green for All, Green City Force, Interfaith Leaders for Environmental Justice, the Prospect Park Alliance, and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning & Sustainability.

Links:

Green Deen - http://www.greendeenbook.com/index.html
Ibrahim On FOX news – Watch Ibrahim on FOX

Social Worker to Imam: Taking Our Community Forward with My Life Experiences

1abdelnaby1 — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:22:07 +0000

Finding ones direction in life does not always begin or become clarified after graduation from high school. Direction has its own timeline allowing our life experiences to help lay the path. Suhail Mulla’s life experiences is such an example that helped him find his way to Islam and later led him to focus his degree towards Social Work.

@Heart sits in an intimate recollection of memories with Suhail Mulla who shares his early love of Hip Hop, studying Pan-African at Cal State Northridge and his calling for Islamic knowledge at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.

We discover Suhail’s passion of being an Imam and taking his Muslim Community to the next level that engages the larger community and being relevant to everyday issues.

My Mother – My Inspiration: Dr. Maher Hathout Explains How His Mother Inspired His Islamic Activism

1abdelnaby1 — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:18:08 +0000

In each of our lives we cross paths with many who may inspire us and motivate us to excel and develop. These people may be our teachers, entrepreneurs, imams, scholars, etc. For Dr. Maher Hathout, a Cardiologist, poet and Islamic activist it was his own Mother.

@Heart sits with Dr. Hathout to hear his memories and personal awakening story of the Mother who was his moral compass through his days as a student advocate to his current works as an Islamic activist in America.

Links:

Boonaa Mohammed: Re-Visiting A Personal Journey to Islam From His Eyes and His Words

1abdelnaby1 — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:34:52 +0000

The spoken word can be used to communicate, to inspire or even to destroy; it simply depends on the owner of those words.

@Heart sits with Toronto’s own Boonaa Mohammed a Spoken Word / Storyteller artist who has sharpened his skills from his early exposure of Hip Hop to his passion for his religion. Boonaa takes us through his journey of finding Islam as a Muslim youth living among Muslims.

This Spoken Word artist takes great passion in working with the youth and sees his calling of passing the ancient tradition of story telling to the younger generation.

Links:

Journey To Faith: ‘Signs’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPVNkGmO70

TED Toronto: ‘Kill Them With Love’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p189OCWpRU

Finding Faith: Sarah Joseph’s Journey and Passion of Emel Magazine

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:45:02 +0000

@Heart reaches across the Atlantic Ocean and talks to Sarah Joseph, the CEO and Editor-In-Chief of Emel Magazine (www.emel.com). She describes her 4 C’s strategy (Confidence, Contribution, Common Good and Connectivity) of making Emel magazine a professional Muslim Lifestyle periodical.

We discover that Sarah Joseph grew up among the famous and beautiful within her mother’s modeling agency – Askew Modeling Agency. Yet, Sarah’s passion was geared more towards social justice and her religion.

As a dedicated Catholic she found herself loosing her faith in her mid-teens. It was her loss in Catholicism and in search of her role with God that slowly led her towards Islam at a young age of 17.

Links:

emel – www.emel.com/
YouTube Interview – www.youtube.com

Evolution of The Soul: Life That Was Meant To Be Living

1abdelnaby1 — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:51:00 +0000

Each person is always hunting for their reason “of being”, their role of giving back to humanity. It’s the one who’s aware of their soul that sees each of their individual experiences helps lead them to that role.

@Heart sits with Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine, to reminisce on her numerous experiences of growing up in San Diego in a small Muslim community, to finding her Muslim identity at UCLA, and her focus on authoring a book called ‘Before the Wedding: 150 Questions for Muslims to Ask Before Getting Married’, (www.beforetheweddingbook.com).

Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling at California State University, Fullerton. Munira also is a co-host of a talk show called ‘Family Connection’ on One Legacy Radio (www.onelegacyradio.com).

A Personal Journey to Zaytuna Institute: Amin Momand

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:47:59 +0000

What We Want vs What God Provides: A continuous challenge that every human has experienced. Many times in our lives we are so discouraged or even angry with what we do not have (or cannot get) that we forget about the many favors God has provided in front of us.

@Heart recollects a personal journey with Amin Momand, a college student, who faced this common challenge; a desire to leave his home in Los Angeles to study religion abroad, but was swayed away from the idea.

Feeling discouraged and a little lost Amin found himself attending a 8 week long Northern Californian Arabic Intensified Summer Program lead by The Zaytuna Institute (www.zaytunacollege.org). It was this Summer Program that Amin experienced a desired feeling that he had been searching for in America; while, finally understanding the numerous favors God has provided to him.

Lights, Camera, Islam: Sharing Our Story with The World: Lena Khan

1abdelnaby1 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:14:44 +0000

“A Film can tell stories and provide an easy method of sharing emotions and ideas among people.” One UCLA Muslim filmmaker, Lena Khan from Rancho Cucamonga, California quickly realized this connection and made it her personal skill and working mission.

@Heart reaches Lena by phone on location of her recent project to reminisce over her transition from a Political Science major with a desire to be a History professor to a bold Filmmaker with a consciences and desire to “Tell A Story.” That led Lena to develop a much hailed and loved 2007 video called ‘A Land Called Paradise’; which, later assisted in developing contacts in the music and entertainment industry.

Lena Khan’s videos can be seen on YouTube.com:

A Tale Of Two Cities: Rain and Sun in Seattle and Jeddah

1abdelnaby1 — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:02:22 +0000

The brand name ‘Photography by Samia’ has become synonymous with the highest quality of photography within the Gulf Region to date. This studio has been the leader in capturing the most precious moments and special occasions of families within the Arab Peninsula (www.photographybysamia.com).

@Heart asks Samia El Moslimany (aka “The American”) to reflect back on extraordinary journey from the Land of Bill Gates (Seattle) to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Jeddah); while, simultaneously developing a band of talented ‘All Women Team’.

Samia takes us through her most grueling and most satisfying assignment that took her on a month long behind the scenes look at the amazing preparation and incredible logistics required to provide the Muslims pilgrims from around the world The Hajj.

It’s Not Just Entertainment It Has A Message: Baba Ali and Ummah Films Story

1abdelnaby1 — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:51:15 +0000

It has been said over and over again that Allah is the best of all planners and that we, humans, are unable to connect all the dots until we look back at our past.

@Heart traces back the dots of a young Iranian-American who became stranded on the shores of America, his determined journey to search out the path of inner peace, and his gift of humor and his ability to comment on key Islamic concerns facing many Muslims.

Using humor, Ali Ardekani and his Baba Ali persona have captured the attention of thousands of Muslims and Non-Muslims worldwide of all walks of life, traditions and thoughts; allowing himself and his production firm Ummah Films (www.ummahfilms.com) to discuss, educate and comment on current Islamic topics that many religious leaders (Imams) tend to shy away from, avoid completely or are not unaware of at all.

In these quick segments, Baba Ali, typically offers satire on a various trivial and complex everyday issue that face Muslims, such as “Speedy” Ramadan prayers, the enormous cost of Muslim weddings, or the slippery slope of backbiting. Ali makes it clear to all his viewers that he is not a scholar rather a fellow Muslim who has the ability to combine light comedy with a serious message.

Links:

“Bismillah and Bon Appetit!” from Yvonne Maffei and MyHalalKitchen.com

1abdelnaby1 — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:31:05 +0000

1/4 cup of Passion

2/3 tblspn of Determination

1 Chef Who Loves To See People Smile

And 100% Halal and Healthy

This is the perfect set of ingredients of a wonderfully successful food blog from Chicago, IL. known as My Halal Kitchen (www.myhalalkitchen.com) that is owned and run by Yvonne Maffei.

It’s her goal to provide a way to utilize family / friend time over meals, as a way to see what we have in common rather than what we have different. @Heart sits with this famous Halal Blogging Chef and Editor, Yvonne Maffei, by phone to slowly unravel her various courses on finding her way towards Islam, her determination to understand other cultures and her amazing gift of cooking Halal and Healthy meals for everyone she loves.

“Bismillah and Bon Appetit!” – Yvonne Maffei

Put Faith In Fashion: The SHUKR Story

1abdelnaby1 — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:58:17 +0000

Shukr, an Arabic term denoting thankfulness, gratitude and a highly esteemed virtue in Islam. This simple term became the cornerstone of an idea for an Islamic clothing brand for Muslims in the West – SHUKR Clothing (www.shukronline.com).

SHUKR’s simple and humble beginnings sprung out as a part-time job to help pay for, Managing Partner Anas’ Islamic eduction in the middle east that took him and his team on “a road of its own”; while, across the oceans in America their future designer, Tabassum, was rethinking her career choice of being a Pre-Med student.

With a little help of technology, @Heart sits virtually with the Managing Partner – Anas Sillwood and Head Designer – Tabassum Siddiqui. Both helping to uncover the numerous paths that led them towards the desire of building a high quality Global Islamic Clothing Brand known as SHUKR Clothing.

Sierra Leone to America: A Soccer Game Can Change A Life

1abdelnaby1 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:47:20 +0000

It is a simple thing just a ball and a goal – Soccer. The most popular game played and viewed around the world. Soccer reaches far beyond the limits of its lush green pitch (field); it rallies neighbors, provides hope to citizens, gives countries respect and a sense of honor.

For Abdul Rahman Sesay, a Sierra Leone teenager, it actually helped save his life mist his country’s horrible civil war. Between 1991 and 2001, about 50,000 people were killed in Sierra Leone’s civil war. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes, and many became refugees in Guinea and Liberia.

@Heart is honored to sit with Abdul and have him recollect his amazing story how his skills in soccer provided a way to escape the refugee camps, attend the Guinea Soccer Club team, and provide an undergraduate scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Journalism Journey of Hassan Fattah: The Quality Is The Goal

1abdelnaby1 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:59:45 +0000

‘Quality and Getting The Story Out’ has been the passion and motto of Hassan Fattah a journalist and editor of English Arab Newspaper published in the UAE 0 The National. Hassan was initially a focused his career path towards Mining and Mineral Engineering, a graduate from the UC Berkeley California.

His amazing solo experience trip, prior to his college graduation, from Australia, Asia and finally the Middle East helped forged the need to tell stories from the region. With some assistance Hassan transfers himself from the sunny skies of California to the sky scrapers skies of New York.

It is within the New York area that Hassan develops and sharpens his skills as a journalism and finds his calling as the eyes and voice of the fall of Bagdad. @Heart asks Hassan to recall the various adventures that finally led him to the career as the Editor-in-Chief of The National and his motivation.

Link:

The National – www.thenational.ae
Columbia Visit - Talk at Columbia

Mission Statement: Shahed Amanullah’s Passion In Developing A Voice On The Internet

1abdelnaby1 — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:23:57 +0000

In a late night (Jerry Maguire moment) self reflective soul searching moment a mission statement was written down that helped fuel a passion to provide Americans an insight and the benefits of its own American Muslim citizen population.

This idea became the spark that developed two major sites on the web altmuslim.com: an introspective voice that helps promote a critical (and self-critical) analysis of issues regarding the Muslim world and zabihah.com: a global network of over 7,000 Halal restaurants and markets with nearly 30,000 user reviews.

@Heart talks with altmuslim’s founder and editor-in-chief Shahed Amanaullah to reflect on his mission and drive on making his public service to Muslims and non-Muslims alike a reality.

God’s Gifts and Our Challenge: Autism Knows No Religious Boundaries

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:28:39 +0000

Autism is a form of pervasive developmental disorder with an unknown origin inflicting families of all racial, ethnic, socio-economic and religious backgrounds.

Prior to the 1980s, the term “Autism” was primarily thought to be rare, affecting approximately one in every 2,000 children. As of 2006, the numbers rose to an outstanding one in 110 children and one in 70 boys.

Muslim families are not immune from its impact and often feel lonely and challenged. @Heart is honored by sitting with and having a warm and open discussion with Dr. Dina Eletreby on her personal journey as a determined mother to ensure that her loving son Kareem gets the best services available.

Valuable Links:

Autism Society of America, http://www.autism-society.org
Autism Speaks, http://www.autismspeaks.org
Autism Research Institute, http://www.autism.com
Interfaith Disability, http://www.interfaithdisability.org

Muslims Sharing Their Experiences:

Mercy To Mankind: A Stage Play Triliogy of the Rise Of Islam

1abdelnaby1 — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:05:41 +0000

Numerous films and documentaries have been made about the life and struggles of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Yet, there has been only one known professional depiction of the story on stage.

@Heart sits with Ayman Taleb who was the driving force behind a multi-year project that told the story of the Last Messenger of God on live and on stage. The play was developed and performed by the local Dallas chapter of MAS (Muslim American Society) that spanned the years form 2004 until the final performance in 2008.

Ayman reflects back on his personal determination, passion and struggles in making the all youth cast stage play trilogy of the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW): The Prophecy Fulfilled: Starting with Islam’s struggles in Mecca in which the Muslims are persecuted; One Ummah: the exodus and sanctuary of Medina; and Conquest of the Hearts: the Muslims’ triumphant return and conquest of Mecca (www.myspace.com/mercytomankind).

Defining An Image by Tayyibah Taylor: A Muslim Women Magazine Who Knows Its Readers Potential

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:23:02 +0000

One can only guarantee a positive image and portrayal to the world by having ones own publication. This has been the mantra of AZIZAH magazine (www.azizahmagazine.com) since its establishment in 1999.

Its founders Tayyibah Taylor and Marlina Soerakoesoemah takes its readers through its pages of substantive articles ranging from Deen/Religion, Lifestyle, Poetry and Well Being. All of its articles are written from the perspective of the thinking Muslim woman, avoiding any didactic voice, and addressing persons or issues pertinent to its readers.

@Heart sits in a personal conversation with Tayyibah Taylor and recalls her path of finding Islam and her dedication and motivation on developing a professionally constructed American Muslim Women magazine known as AZIZAH magazine.

Beyond A Sunday Masjid: Bringing Islam Everyday To Our Neighborhoods

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:35:28 +0000

The Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge (www.iclcf.org) was formed by a new generation of American Muslims who’s vision see beyond the weekly Sunday School Programs and Lectures of their Masjid and view a need of a neighborhood presence. These young American Muslims families have realized the lack of American Muslims participation in the numerous social and religious activities that impact within their own neighborhoods.

@Heart sits with Levent Akbarut (Steering Committee Member of ICLCF) to reflect back at his Islamic realization and how that helped led him and other ICLCF members not only become an integral group for their neighborhood, but also as a reliable Muslim resource for the various religious denominations that reside within the city of La Canada Flintridge.

UMMA Clinic Part I: The Path and Miracle Of Servicing Health Care To A Community

1abdelnaby1 — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:53:01 +0000

The UMMA Clinic was initially established as an idea by several UCLA American Muslim students who saw a dire need for health care center after the Los Angeles riots of 1992. Aware that 51% of the area’s adult target population has no medical insurance at all, exceeding the county average of 31%, they opted to build something that would benefit the community and in turn they found themselves uplifting the American Muslim identity.

@Heart sits with Yasser Aman (CEO and President) of the UMMA Clinic for a personal reflection exploring the early challenges and triumphs: its opening, its possible closure and its achievements.

UMMA has been recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives as a beacon of hope making outstanding contributions to American society by American Muslims.

Pride In Our Kids: Being An Educator Is Not Just A Noble Profession

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:53:22 +0000

Can a career find you rather than you select it? This is a @Heart story of the special path that led Dr. Omar Ezzeldine to become the Joe Bruin Mascot for UCLA, a Teacher, a Principal, and a Summer Camp Entrepreneur.

His drive pushed him and his wife to develop the acclaimed ‘Camp Izza’ (www.campizza.com). A place as Dr. Ezzeldine states ‘where children are proud to be who they are” for the young American Muslim in an environment that intermixes Islam with arts and crafts and sports.

Leaving Pre-Med: Another Path Towards Serving the Community

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:51:51 +0000

You spend undergraduate preparing for being a medical physician only to end up to opt out. How does one break the news? What does one do for a career? @Heart sits at a luncheon with Tahra Goraya who faced these life changing events.

Tahra finds her way through a new career path dealing with public health education, intervention and policies. Unintentionally due to Sept 11th, Tahra takes on an additional role as an ambassador of Islam through civic and community workshops.

An Empty Facade: MIST 2010 Poetry Winner

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:51:02 +0000

The Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament (MIST)™ consists of annual Regional Tournaments that take place in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Houston, Southern California, and Toronto.

@Heart sits with High School sophomore MIST 2010 poetry winner Uzma Amin. Uzma shares her poetry on modesty and her reflections on wearing hijab and how the hijab helped altered her perceptions towards her religion.

We like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Amin for allowing their daughter to share her personal story and her creative talents with @Heart.

Links

MIST – http://www.getmistified.com/

Road To Islam: Virgina DiscJockey to Los Angeles Ameer

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:49:50 +0000

Each Young Muslim has a story on the road to Islam. @Heart sits with Abdullah Zikria the Ameer (Leader) of the Southern California’s Chapter of Al-Maghrib Institute.

Abdullah shares his personal road from being a well known Hip Hop Disc Jockey in Virginia, witnessing six close friends killed, doing street Dawa on the corners of Compton, California and successfully leading the drive to bring Al-Maghrib Institute to Southern California.

Providing a Service: A Cemetery and A Mortuary For Our Community Dr. and Mrs. Alfi

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:48:16 +0000

Each person is ensured to return back to God (Allah) – ‘To Him We Belong And To Him We Return’. @Heart sits with an Dr. and Mrs. Alfi and learns the motivation and process they and their Muslim community took to establish their own Cemetery and Mortuary.

Salat al-Janazah is the funeral prayer held by Muslims before the burial but after the shrouding of the body.

Abbasid Empire: Part I – The Rise To Power

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:47:33 +0000

@Heart sits in on a lecture held by Ali Galadery on one of the major Islamic Dynasties – The Abassids.The Abassids took their name from al-’Abbas, a paternal uncle of Muhammad and early supporter of the Prophet.

What made the Abassid seizure of the caliphate unique was the heavy reliance on client Muslims, or mawali. The mawali were foreigners who had converted to Islam; because, however, they were foreigners they could not be incorporated into the kinship-based society of Arabs.

When ‘Abassids took power, the center of Islamic culture shifted from the Semitic world in Arabia and Syria to the Iranian or Persian world in Iraq. By shifting the capital from Damascus to Baghdad, the ‘Abassids brought about a dynamic fusion of Persian and Semitic culture.

An Early Masjid: Memories in Los Angeles

1abdelnaby1 — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:34:23 +0000

@Heart sits down with Mr. Khalil Momand who came to Los Angeles on a educational scholarship from Afghanistan. During his Masters studies at University Southern California (USC)

Mr. Momand befriends like minded American Muslims who have a dream of developing an Islamic community for themselves and their families in the Los Angeles area. The well known actor, of the time, Danny Thomas steps in to assist Mr. Momand and his conjuration in purchasing the land and property for their Masjid.