Italy is an officially secular country. However, with an 80% majority identifying itself as Catholic, and as the site of much of the history of the Catholic Church, of course Catholicism plays an integral part in the sociopolitical stance of the nation. Prior to secularization, legislation said that there should be crucifixes in every school. In 2003, a Muslim family in Ofena, Italy asked that crosses be taken down out of respect for their Muslim children who attended a local school in the city. They won, but of course it caused a lot of commotion.

Islam is the second largest religion in Italy, this being due to their large influx of immigrants from Muslim countries each year.  However, Muslims haven’t received the same recognition as followers of smaller groups, including those of Judaism, Assemblies of God and the Seventh-Day Adventists. In fact, earlier this year Italy passed a law against the niqab despite its relatively large Muslim population. Also, in 2009, a group of thousands of Muslims were condemned for holding congregational prayers outdoors during a protest for Palestine. Mind you, this happened multiple times and once it was outside of a cathedral.

Personally, I think there wouldn't be so much of a revolt if Muslims did get rights equal to other minorities in the land, but then I also can’t prove that this is the case. Many Muslims have voiced their neutrality over the situation, stating that things like a cross in a classroom are not the concern and fighting over those issues is actually impeding integration. However, even in these cries one can assume that they do feel ostracized – hence their desire for leniency on the matter. 

Overall, I don’t know where I stand on this one. It is unfair that Muslims aren’t a recognized religious group, but it’s also not right to break laws and offend the other citizens of the country you live in. I guess the question is, which came first?

  Грибы , (pronounced greeb-i) or mushrooms, are a popular food worldwide. Some like them in salad, some in pasta. I personally love them on pizza. But in Russia, these neat little fungi really are fun guys; in Russia, mushroom hunting is a common recreational activity and pastime! In fact, many cities have entire trains that run specifically for mushroom hunters to be taken to various hunting grounds early in the morning. In the late summer-fall season, when mushrooms first arrive, some organizations plan bus trips to the best of these grounds to collect for trading purposes. Hunters are provided with a knife and a basket and set off to do their thing.

As a result of this activity being so widespread, it is said that the average Russian can identify more mushrooms than an actual mushroom-hunting hobbyist from the States. There are around 250 varieties of mushroom that grow in Russia and of them, most Russians can recognize at least a quarter.  Anything they can’t recognize or that might be poisonous is flagged поганка (paganka), or the “foul”/ “filthy” one. Some of the extremely poisonous ones have unique names, like мухомор (mukhamor) or “fly killer”, which usually refers to something the likes of the mushrooms from Mario.

There are wild mushrooms available at public marketplaces for non-hunting folk but buying these is not recommended because you can’t verify how carefully they were selected. Also interesting to note is the ways these mushrooms are consumed. They are usually dried сушёные (sushyoniye), marinated маринованные (mareenovanniye), or salted солёные (salyoniye). How it’s prepared is decided based on what sort of mushroom it is. Whatever you do, don’t eat ‘em raw, and do not put them in dessert.

 While not every Russian person does hunt mushrooms, there is a general consensus with regards to which are best. Actually, there’s a kind of cast system for mushrooms discerning which are most desirable, the most common of which I’ve listed below.


1.белый гриб, боровик (byeliye greeb, baraveek) –Sometimes eaten fresh, though it’s said to taste better dry. "If you're gonna learn one name, learn this one!" - Russian textbook

2. груздь (gruzd) – Requires presoaking; eaten salted only.

3. рыжик (rijheek) – Eaten marinated, salted or fried.

4. подберёзовик (padbyeryozaveek) – Mostly eaten fresh or dried; can be marinated.

5. подосиновик (padaseenaveek  )- Prepared all ways!

6. маслёнок (maslyonak) –Slimy cap needs to be removed before preparing. Eaten all ways but best are young, marinated ones.

7. опёнок (apyonak) – Eaten fresh, marinated and salted.

8. сыроежка (sirayeshka) – You can eat these guys raw without dying! It’s best to boil all mushrooms before eating, though.

9. лисичка (leeseechka) – Called the “humble” mushroom; pick if you can’t find anything else

10. моховик (makhaveek) – Eaten fresh, dried, marinated or salted but if it’s worse than the humble mushroom, maybe these should be avoided

The infamous case of the 2007 murder of Mississauga teen, Aqsa Parvez, has made headlines yet again. Last week the father and brother of Aqsa pleaded guilty to second degree murder. The sentence they received was life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years.

It is debatable whether the sentencing is reasonable for the charge they plead guilty to, but that is not the point of focus of my analysis. What strikes me most about this case is the media attention and the interpretation of the case by the greater community.

There is no doubt that the death of Aqsa Parvez was one that shocked the entire community, and I can speak for myself and say it hit really close to home, literally. She went to a neighboring high school and was a Muslim girl of Pakistani descent (like myself). I would say that we had enough factors in common for me to take the case to heart – and I’m sure that is the case for many other girls a similar position as mine. She was a teen, like many others, who was having problems at home and was uncooperative with her parents. There could have been many reasons for the disagreements and arguments, but teen trouble is not a new story.

The angle that the case has taken through the media is the one that has been largely portrayed to the public over the past few years. All headlines surrounding the case never failed mention Aqsa’s religious or ethnic background. In the eyes of many, she was a Muslim, Pakistani teen who was murdered by her father and brother who took her life to protect their ‘honour’. This somehow was affiliated with their family being Muslim, and the media rolled the whole ball into immigrant families having the adjust to the culture and life of Canada. Where this case makes me uneasy is that the media repeatedly put out there how her being Muslim or Pakistani played a role in the male members of her family killing her. This was simply a case of a troubled family, like many other non-Muslim or non-South Asian families, but the media found it necessary to link her death with her religious and ethnic background.

I feel that this is all a part of the process of tainting and stereotyping certain groups. To prove this, there are many cases of family abuse, and even murder which may make their way into the news, but it is never mentioned whether they are Caucasian or African, Christian or Jew. With this case, the affiliation that is most often linked with Aqsa was Islam, and this is where I have a great level of concern.

As multi-cultural as Canada is, and as tolerant and accepting as it seems, there are still many areas that need work and still a lot of minds that need to be broadened.

Asalamulikum (Peace be upon you) Dearest Reader,

In light of the recent incident with the Gaza Flotilla Aid convey, we at KIH wish to remind you, as well as ourselves of a principle goal of humanity;the goal of peace. We in the modern time claim to have moved on from what we refer to as 'barbarism' to 'civilized society' and proclaim that human life is priceless whether it be an American, Israeli or Arab.

Our hearts go out to those worldwide who have been innocently slaughtered by war and hate. We pray that that no one has to go through the grief of losing a brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, son or friend.

We call upon our leaders- political and communal- to take a stance against all injustices and citizens of the globe to not remain silent. 

We would also like to remind everyone that protests are not a solution but rather a form of awareness. This is only a starting step. Therefore, we recommend taking further actions through other mediums such a political involvement, artistic expression and social interactions to be a cause for change. 

We urge also our readers to aim to secure peace through pushing for non-violent resorts for the benefit of Palestinians and Israelis alike so, that one day we can hold hands together and live in bliss not having to worry about crossing the street. We believe success lies in compromise and unity, not forceful isolation. We must remember that this world has space enough for us all and that it is only through embracing our differences and looking for commonalities that we can expect to live in harmony.

The Qur'an states: “On that account We ordained for the Children of Isra`il that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole humanity: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole humanity” (5:32).

Signed,
 
Anas Ingar,     Aisha Chaudhry      Fareedah Abdulqadir,                 Sara Butt,       
President           Secretary                     Promotions & Public Relations        Artistic Scout  

Sajid Malgi,
Graphic Designer

The Bata Shoe Museum is one tourist attraction that not many people visit. It is located near St. George station in Toronto, Ontario and displays a wide variety of historical footwear. It is highly interesting to see where current fashion originates from. If you are into knowing little details and just looking at interesting displays than you will enjoy this place. It has a quiet environment and is suited for families and visits with small groups.

The one thing that took me back the most were chopines which are basically historical high heels the size of stilts! And I thought heels these days were too long.

There is nothing there that will make you shout and scream but you can learn a lot. Tickets prices are $12 for adults and $6 for students.  On Thursday evening between 5-8pm the admission is pay what you can with a suggested donation of $5. So, go check it out!

Exact Address: 327 Bloor St. West, in downtown Toronto

Acceptance, or at the very least, tolerance of difference is something that we would think is widespread. The more I think about this, the more I feel that we under-appreciate the value of difference. As I was reading Quran a few days ago, I came across the translation of aaya 13 of sura Al-Hujurat:

"O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." (Quran, 49:13).

I felt that this aaya alone held the answer to innumerable problems that exist in our society today. The wise words written in the Quran are, unfortunately, often limited in context when it comes to application in our daily lives, but what we fail to realize is that the words in the Quran are written to be applicable in our lives – today, and every day. We ignore that humanity is a factor that unites us all, but we constantly remind ourselves of the small differences we have between ourselves and others.  These differences can vary in contexts that range from social status to race and from gender to culture. Some attributes such as race and gender are innate, and others such as social status and cultural ‘tribes’ are man-made. All are given some level of importance in the societies we live in, or the values that are held in some of our countries back home.

We as human beings are often keen on emphasizing the differences between ourselves and others, whether it be to make ourselves feel superior, or to distinguish “ourselves” from the “others”, whoever they may be.  What we do not realize is that like it is stated in the Quran 49:13, Allah has created different nations and tribes not so we make some superior and label others as inferior, but so that we could learn from one another. We should always take the good from anything new or different to us and leave the bad. The last part of the aforementioned aaya emphasizes the fact that the most honourable of you (us, humans) in the sight of God is the most righteous. This makes it clear that people are judged according to their righteous deeds and the emaan, not from which nation or tribe one comes from.

We can make as many differences as we want between one another, and we can claim to be superior or make others inferior, but we need to keep in mind that Allah swt is the one who is ultimately going to judge us, and the ones that we may knowingly, or unknowingly oppress. Issues relating to this are visible in so many spheres including those of international politics, wars, and on a different scale, when it comes to building families (ie: marriage) and creating social ties. These are unfortunate affairs which are a sad reality in our world today. The more I think, the more saddened I am. I pray that Allah swt gives us all hidayat (guidance) and makes us all better human beings. We should love the creation of the Creator, the Almighty, and this will make us one step closer to strengthening our emaan and improving our character.

Tolerance and acceptance of what may be unappealing merely because it is different is something that we must reconsider next time we come across it.

My last “Culture and Life” article was about reading, which may seem like a fairly solitary activity. With that said, I’ve decided to switch up the message for this week and encourage everyone to get out of the house and EXPLORE YOUR CITY. 

Toronto is not called Canada’s culture capital for nothing. Though the phrases “bustling metropolis” and “cosmopolitan hotbed” might as well be spelled f-i-t-n-a, there are a ton of things young Muslims can do around town to really feel engaged with their city. 

In keeping with my standard hokey theme formula, I’ve decided to offer readers what I call the “three E’s” – Eating, Education, and Entertainment. 

Eating: Do NOT even think about trying something you’re used to. Be  adventurous. Next time your friend says “I know a great little place…” GO!  Toronto is never short on Halal restaurants, nor is it short on people that “know a  great little place.” 

Education: Summer isn’t to be thought of as a time to let your brain be dormant.  An empty mind, as they say, is the devil’s playground. Alhamdullilah, we live in a  city that is full of intellectually engaging activities. The King Tut exhibit at the  AGO, the Toronto Public Library’s book talk series, and regular lectures at U of  T’s own Munk Centre are all worth attending. 

Entertainment: Seeing a play, a poetry reading, or going to one of Toronto’s  numerous cultural festivals can never be a bad idea. Unless, of course, you’ve  completely internalized my last article and want to stay at home reading all day.  In that case, don’t let me dissuade you. 

When Woodrow Wilson proposed a permanent forum for international negotiation and cooperation at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, detractors immediately pointed out that, when world powers get together, they tend to get nothing done. The irony of such a statement being made at a conference of governments aside, the criticism has proven to be right for the most part.  

With the G20 poised to arrive in Toronto in a few weeks, the finance ministers, heads of state, and bank governors of the world’s 19 most developed economies (plus the European Union) will deliberate at the Metro Convention Centre. In theory, they’ll discuss the most prescient issues in international governance, including climate change, child mortality, economic regulation and resource conservation. What they’ll accomplish has been the at the centre of much public scrutiny in recent months, with critics going as far as to say the entire event smells of a state-sponsored dinner party. What can possibly get done in a fifteen hour meeting, anyway? The estimated $1 billion security tab doesn’t exactly help matters, either.  

The coverage of the debates in mainstream media has been extensive, though not exhaustive. Lost in the discussion about logistics, security costs, and effectiveness is the intended purpose of such meetings.  

In a modest attempt to fill said void, I offer a resolutely objective (SIKE! …objectivity is a myth) discussion of the other side of the proverbial coin. 

Pro-summit activists counter that, though the model might be imperfect, it offers sophisticated economies a chance to deliberate on important issues. Dialogue can only be constructive. The world’s most successful economies cooperating in the interest of stability is a fairly admirable goal. Say what you would like to about what they ultimately accomplish, but if you were to design a miracle solution to all the world’s ills, chances are it would start with world powers talking to each other.  
  

In Islam intentions play a huge role and any action can become a means of reward if done for the sake of Allah.

For example, if I were to go out and play basketball with the intention that I will become stronger and will do good with my strength I will accumulate reward for playing. For the same event I could also go with the intention to increase my brotherly bond with the people I am playing with and this would also be an intention that would grant me reward. The same thing done with no intention will reap me no reward.

 Such a task that would in no way seem religious can become a means of salvation for a Muslim because we do not know which deed of ours will lead us to paradise. Therefore, we should make good intention for the sake of Allah with every deed we do no matter what it is.

What is beautiful is that one attains reward the moment a good intention is made. What is even greater is that one still receives reward even if the action is not carried through.  The same is not applied to when a bad intention is made; one only acquires sin when the sinful action is committed.

So, don’t wait or hesitate let the good intentions begin!

*Reward here is reward with Allah (God).

With the advancement of technology and the vast methods of communication introduced in the past centuries, it is not difficult to say “it’s a small world after all.” Flying south of the border last week got me reflecting on the greatness of Allah swt. A simple action like looking down from the airplane window does not seem like a huge deal when one thinks about it, yet when you look at it from the perspective of being the creation of the Lord who created the rest of this earth, and the heavens above, you cannot help but praise Allah swt. Looking down thousands of feet and seeing how small homes and buildings look, let alone the invisibility of human beings, it makes you realize how insignificant we are on the scale of the physical world.

What forces me to further think about Allah’s creations is the fact that there are billions of people in this world, and trillions of animal and plant species, all of which are the creation of Allah swt. All the places in this world that we travel to, from East to West and North to South, different kinds of people, the various species of animals and nature’s secrets are all the creation of the Almighty. This world is a treasure that Allah swt has given to us to live in, discover and learn from. Races are broken down into various cultures and within cultures there are many sects, but what unites us all is that we are Allah’s creation. The poor, the rich, the proud and the humble are all innately the same creation to the creator.

Allah swt has blessed us with endless resources and a world of treasures to utilize and discover, and above all, appreciate. It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could deny the existence of the Almighty, let alone not praise Him endlessly. My heart could not fail to say SubhanAllah whenever I looked down from the plane and around my new surroundings.

To end off, I’ll quote an aaya from the Quran, Sura Ar-Rahman, which summarizes my feelings beautifully, “Then which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?” (55:13). This reiterate s how much we have to be grateful for, and reminds us of the greatness of Allah swt.