Category Archives: Youth & Children

Combating harassment in Egypt

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We ran a post on alarming levels of sexual harassment in Egypt last year. MR points to a related news article here.

Muslimah Media Watch comments on this disturbing phenomenon and commends a grassroots effort to combat it and educate youth:

The slogan of the group’s campaign is “Respect yourself: Egypt still has real men.” I love this slogan for two reasons. The first is that it challenges one of the core values of traditional notions of masculinity: sexual power over women. Harassing women is not a sign of masculinity; it’s a sign of cowardice. It’s great that Muslims are beginning to recognize this.

Another reason I love this slogan is because it brings the responsibility for sexual harassment back on men. For too long, sexual harassment has been considered the responsibility of women. “Real men” take the responsibility in treating women with respect and sexual autonomy and they also take responsibility in stopping other men from disrespecting women’s sexuality. This is why the campaign not only focuses on getting men to stop sexually harassing women, but to also stop other men from doing it, too. This is especially important when a lot of sexual harassment in Egypt takes place in public.

Prince Charming here, but I’m not an MD

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Sondos Kholoki-Kahf explores the issues facing young Muslim men and women when they’re looking to tie the knot.

“Tarek*,23, has been searching for a wife since his first year in college. With his parents’ full support and a steady job under his belt, Tarek began meeting girls through relatives, friends, and online. None proved a match.

A few years ago, Tarek was perusing material in a masjid bookstore and saw a girl there he thought could be a potential candidate.

“She seemed to be waiting around the place almost as if she wanted me to say something, but I just didn’t know how to approach her,” Tarek recalls. “Was she interested, or was it just my imagination? I didn’t want to make it seem like I was hitting on her because it would probably turn her off. It was mind-boggling and disappointing because I didn’t know what to do.”

Truly, Muslim men and women — especially those in the West — are missing opportunities to get to know one another in informal, yet religiously acceptable forums. With unplanned socializing out of the question, youth are scrambling for an alternative that will allow for careful interaction between genders. Often times, men and women are completely separated to the point where they find it awkward to interact on a basic social level.

Watch A Video: Win A Scholarship!

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Via sisters Izzy Mo and Aaminah:

Umm Zakiyya is a mother of two, a Katrina survivor, an active community member and student of knowledge (Islamic and secular). She is currently enrolled for an MA in English, and refuses riba-based loans, so she and her husband are paying out-of-pocket for her education.

Umm Zakiyya has created a short video starring Zakiyya for a scholarship opportunity. The video that gets the most views gets the scholarship. So we can help simply by taking 2 minutes to go watch this sweet little video, and by sharing this with others inshaAllah.

“You can help me win a scholarship just by watching this
video. The entry that secures the most views will win a $5,000
scholarship. All you have to do is view the video, available at this
link.  If you want to help even more, you can forward this video to
everyone you know. Every view helps. If you have a blog, facebook,
myspace page or website, I would certainly appreciate a link.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5oP8YlxR8

Cyber-counselling for Muslims

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This sounds like an excellent service, masha’Allah. May Allah grant them success, Ameen.

The Sakina Center is a one-of-a-kind cyber-counseling service founded on the Islamic principles of humanity and understanding. We provide moral and spiritual support for Muslims in all circumstances. Our counselors are trained in the areas of counseling, social work, and psychology. The Sakina Center takes a unique approach in using Facebook as a counseling tool to carry out this social service. We counsel Muslims on all matters as they face many difficulties in today’s world ranging from anxiety to Islamophobia. Our target focus is Muslim youth residing in Western, non-Muslim countries where these services are lacking.

The Heat is On

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And when the heat is on, the clothes come off. Mujahideen Ryder has provided some simple but useful advice on how to protect our gaze throughout this summer and beyond.

Lowering gaze is not enough for many Muslims. Lowering your gaze could just be as worse as gazing due to the age we live in where showing 80% of your skin is normal (sadly for both men and women). I think it’s time we do more then lowering our gaze. Move our gazes. Control our gazes. The best would be to physically remove our gazes.

This is why I love winter.

What does One Sister have to say?

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Sticking with the “sisters” theme, a reminder that there are only a few days left of Halfdate.com’s latest drive:

Before the end of Jumada Ath-thani, 1429 (June 8th, 2008), please help Sister Linda (Widad) Delgado, who runs the one-sister-show of Muslim Writers Publishing, to help teachers by publishing five teacher study guides (TSG).

You are not helping a lazy dude who opt to beg, NO, this sister didn’t ask for help, but the community recommeded HalfDate to help her. She had TWO HEART ATTACKS, yet, ma-sha-Allah still serving our community and doesn’t want the focus to be on her.

If you contribute between May 24 to May 31, LivingHalal.com will match $1 for $1 towards this cause.

Crooked Rib

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Brother Teakster here for another update!

I wonder how many people actually read my updates, just out interest leave me message. It can be about how cool you think I am or a bunch of threats to shut up and get on with the post!!!

On that note – Back to the post!

Soooooooo…..I was busy looking through the web (Okay that was a lie, I was bored and I got tired of looking at YouTube) when I came across the following blog site – Crooked Rib.

Crooked Rib is a project that is currently under way in the land of the Kangaroos. Erm… for the rest of the readers that would be Melbourne, Australia. Yes that’s right – last week it was America and now it’s Australia. Who needs a tour guide when you have me – Okay, I’ll shut up now!

This blog documents the progress of them. A creative collaboration between a group of young, Muslim women and an experienced professional artist.

They are exploring different mediums from street art to Islamic Calligraphy to photography as they attempt to define what it means to be young, Muslim and living in Melbourne.

They will also be holding an exhibition later in the year. So check them out, while I book an appointment with a mental clinic. I think it’s way overdue!