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                      Mission Statement

                      -We, at KIH, want to unite the Ummah with our content. 
                      - We want to help youth who, like us, are born of two cultures. 
                      We want to provide a safe area for them to build upon the cultural foundations they have inherited from their ancestors, without pressuring them to cling to it blindly.
                      - We want to empower youth to make decisions about their future that they can be proud of.
                      - We want to provide a comfortable environment where everyone is an equal and has the right to express an opinion.
                      - We want to bridge the gap between University and High School.
                      - We want to be a Halal means of entertainment for the Ummah by the Ummah.
                      - We want to showcase and endorse youth talent.
                      - We want to be a vivid part of the Muslim social scene.

                      And most importantly...
                      - We want to shatter stereotypes.


                      Officially Recognized UofT Club

                      Assalamulikum,

                      Alhamdulilah with your support we have been approved as an officially recognized campus group at the University of Toronto.
                      Ulife Recognition - (https://ulife.utoronto.ca/organizations/view/id/2627)

                      University of Toronto Students' Union Recognized. 

                      To hear about our events, updates, and further support us, sign on to our membership list.

                      If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to email us at inquiries@keepingithalal.com.

                      Click Here to Read the Constitution

                      MEET THE EXECUTIVE TEAM


                      Anas Ingar.
                      President - University of Toronto Campus Group
                      Founder, Editor & Writer
                      Avidly Athletic and Academic

                      anas@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalamulikum all!

                      My name is Anas Ingar and I get called everything from Anas to Ingar to any other butchered annunciation of my name. Born and raised in Toronto since February 1990. I've lived in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park ever since, which is no less than living in India or Pakistan. I'm an Indian Gujarati, but, like my name, I am often confused for a variety of different nationalities. So, as a future occupation I could be a secret service agent.  As a graduate from Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, I am currently in my fourth year at University of Toronto (St. George Campus) studying Physical Health and Education.

                      After having been a part of various Islamic events ranging from the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) to Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) to being the president of the Muslim Students' Association, it became clear to me that Muslim youth have a lot to offer the world. This was the idea behind this site.

                      This site is just a stepping stone and we are currently working on greater initiatives, that depend on the success and outcome of this site. InshAllah, I hope to have a publication dedicated to Muslim Youth Art!
                      JazakAllah for your time, love and support.



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                      Aisha Raja.
                      Promotions and Public Relations- University of Toronto Campus Group
                      Our tree hugger
                      aisha.raja@keepingithalal.com

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                      Asalamu Alaikum People!!

                      Peace be with you all.

                      Let  me tell you a little story, once upon a time there was a princess named Aisha…..Ok just a wanabe princess but in reality just an average Muslim-Canadian- Pakistani girl looking for some excitement…

                      Oh man I really don’t like talking about myself,  however I will try giving it a shot here…

                      My name is Aisha Raja,  a believer, a  traveller, an enthusiast , a listener, a thinker, trying to make this world a better place one smile, one hug, one step, and two tea cups at a time.

                      Studying Ethics, Society and Law, while squeezing in Political Science and Environmental Studies at the monstrous UofT , all the while balancing family, school, friends, work, and volunteerism, I’m not one to sit still for too long.

                      I love meeting new people, sharing experiences, passing on love being loved, and taking in the beauty that surround us. I enjoy adventure being outdoors in the woods playing sports, reading books, drinking tea being involved in the community is really important to me and I am a very proud tree hugger!

                      I want KIH to be a place and community which anyone  can turn to, to speak their mind, let their creative leashes loose, starting engaging with one another, and creating a better understanding amongst one another. We will only be able to accomplish all of this with your love and support!!

                      Peace and Love to You All!!!




                      Marzia Niamah
                      Treasurer  - University of Toronto Campus Group
                      Our quirky, witty girl!
                      marzia@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalaamu alaykum everyone, may the peace and blessings of Almighty God be with you all.

                      My name is Marzia Niamah and I am currently in my 3rd year at University of Toronto studying Neuroscience. I came to Canada at the age of 8, before which I lived in Los Angeles for 6 years, but was born in Bangladesh. So I guess you can call me a proud Can-eri-deshi. Even though I have not lived in Bangladesh for long and may not remember anything, my extended family is a big part of my life. I have an elder brother and my parents are my best friends, although they’d hate to admit it in front of others.

                      Most would assume my journey would lead to medical school but my interests lie in clinical research and also teaching. On the U of T campus, I have been involved with the Muslim Students’ Association, but also off-campus at Reviving the Islamic Spirit, Journey of Faith and Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament. Keeping it Halal is different in that it is a unique and inspiring way to engage with today’s Muslim youth and I always strive to be a part of something new and refreshing.

                      Aside from academics, I enjoy sports that require minimal equipment such as volleyball, basketball and soccer. A handful of novels have taught me lessons and the archives on tumblr also tell great stories, but articles and textbooks are merely conventional. I’m a big ‘70s-‘80s movie buff and enjoy classic television humour that my generation rarely provides. All in all, my friends and family would describe me as quirky, witty and exceedingly sarcastic. It can be hard to see those traits at first as I tend to smile with all 32 teeth and ask generic questions.

                      As KIH’s Treasurer, you may not read much more from me but inshAllah this will not be the last. JazakumAllahu khayran for reading “About Me”!

                       



                      Saad Mahmood
                      General Secretary -University of Toronto Campus Group
                      Our psych expert
                      saad@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalamu'alaikum Curious Reader,

                      My name is Saad Mahmood. I'm going into my second year at UofT studying psychology (it's a real science!). ادرس اللغة العربية  .ايضا I will be the secretary for the amazingly adequate UofT campus group for KeepingitHalal.com. Born in Pakistan, raised in Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the wilderness with baboons....well, not really. I love traveling, enjoy reading (specially Islamy stuff :D), and all sports that I'm good at :). InshAllah I hope to continue studying psych to a doctorate level, and one day become an eligible bachelor....I mean...become someone successful.

                      I decided to join KIH because of the amazing chance that this initiative allows Muslim youth to connect with their faith. In a western education environment where it is so easy to get disengaged from your faith, the availability of a medium where Muslim youth can express themselves while being around positive influences is highly important. KIH does just that. It provides a place where youth can see that Islam isn't just for cranky, old uncles at the masjid, and see instead the empowerment and beauty that Islam can bring to their own lives. This...is something worth being a part of. May Allah continue to shower His infinite mercy and blessings on the KIH family and those who have put their efforts to keep it going.

                      P.S. I'm also here to tip the gender scale a bit to the male side :D...this will come in handy when the sisters decide to stage a takeover.

                      Wassalamu'alaikum




                      Nafisa Chowdhry
                      Artistic Scout- University of Toronto Campus Group
                      Our smiling girl
                      nafisa@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalaam Alaikum / Peace be upon you KIHers!

                      My name is Nafisa Chowdhury. I am in my third year at UofT studying for a double major in English and Islamic Studies. I was born in Bangladesh and came to Canada when I was four. I love hanging out with friends and family especially when food is around! I really like to learn new things and have new experiences. All these things I love because they let me appreciate Allah better by showing me what He has created. As you can tell I'm a pretty lovey and positive person! Writing gives me an opportunity to sit down and reflect on what I learn from my experiences.

                      I hope you have fun on Keeping it Halal and feel free to submit your work! May Allah reward you!








                      MEET OUR WRITERS



                      Zenaira Ali
                      Writer
                      Every Night She Attempts to Save the World
                      zenaira@keepingithalal.com

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                      Asalamualaikum everyone, may the peace and blessings of God be with you. 

                      I was born and raised in Toronto, specifically North York. As such, I love the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. If you'd rather support the Sens, Canadiens, or Lakers, I'd rather not talk to you. I'm just joking. 


                      Along with being a proud Canadian, I consider myself Pakistani at heart. May Allah subhana wa ta'ala give the people of Pakistan strength in the face of travesty. Like many Pakistanis, I start my days with parathay and end them with rotis. I absolutely love gol guppay, pakoray, biryani, and pretty much anything that's spicy. Even if it isn't spicy, there's a good chance I'll still like it. 

                      I also love to read and write, and I hope that my articles on keeping it halal benefit us all in one way or another insha'Allah.

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                      Rabia Khokhar
                      Writer
                      The Poetic Writer
                      rabia@keepingithalal.com

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                      Peace be to you all.

                      My name is Rabia Khokhar, I was born in Pakistan in July 1991. I moved to Canada at the age of 6. Although my family repeatedly reminds me that I am adopted and that my adoption papers will expire soon, I assure them I must be there’s because I love to write and so did my grandfather, thus there is blood connection (lol).

                      I graduated from Downsivew Secondary school and I am currently in my second year at York University (Uofters please don’t hate like “Yorkies” learn to appreciate) majoring in Humanities and a minor in English.  I am also in my first year for my teaching degree which I am doing concurrently with my B.A. degree.

                      I have a strong passion for writing and what I enjoy most is writing from the side of the oppressed, silenced or “othered,” this works really well for me because I have a strong passion for justice and am an advocate for all innocent people worldwide who are tortured or belittled. I like to think that through my words these silenced people can be given a voice and for a few moments the world really is their stage.

                      I currently write for a monthly magazine called, ‘UmmahTimes’ which is published by the Al-Haq Corporation and is distributed in an around the GTA and a monthly newspaper called ‘The Vandoo’  which is run by one of the colleges at York University. I love the city life and cannot imagine living anywhere else but Toronto.

                      In my spare time I like to write, read, watch sunsets from my kitchen window, listen to spoken word artists, talk, annoy people, think of ways to dispose the countless flower vases that inhabit my home because of my mother’s obsession with flowers, catch up on sleep, research and learn new things, imagine my life if I had a cat and learn how to cook.

                      I hope and pray that my articles and poems will benefit you in some way, I thank you for your time.

                      God Bless,

                      Rabia


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                      Maryam Mughal
                      Writer
                      The International Voice

                      maryam@keepingithalal.com

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                       Assalamualaikum everyone!

                      My name is Maryam S Mughal and I’m in my second year at the University of Toronto (St. George Campus) in the Faculty of Physical Health and Education. I’m originally from Pakistan but having lived in Saudi Arabia for 12 years and growing up there has allowed me to connect to Islam at a greater depth and enabled me to become dedicated to its tenets. I’m currently living in Toronto with my older sister as an international student. 

                      On my road to becoming a kinesiologist and also generally, I’m passionate about healthy eating and living. As our body is an asset from Allah (SWT) I believe it is our righteous obligation to take care of it and by all means have the appropriate amount of intake of nutritious food balanced with exercise in our daily lives.
                      I love the outdoors, camping, recycling and connecting to the earth in any natural or humble way possible by joining environmental campaigns and groups. I also enjoy various kinds of sports including basketball, badminton and any other activity that gets the heart pumping! Reading, writing poems, watching documentaries, travelling, tasting good food from various ethnic backgrounds, connecting to my roots and Muslim community, and understanding people are some of the other things I’m interested in.I hope to be the change for the betterment in any way possible either through my words or actions, be it major or minor.


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                      Imane Houzmali
                      écrivain
                      International Writing Director
                      parlez-vous francais?
                      imane@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalamo allaykom,
                       
                      Je m'appelle Imane Houzmali, et je suis d'origines marocaine. Je vivais à Casablanca -l'une des plus grandes villes du Maroc- depuis ma naissance en 1992. C'est après avoir finis mes études au lycée en 2010 que je suis venue au Canada afin de poursuivre mes études universitaires. On est six dans la famille; mes parents -que j'adore plus que tout au monde-, mes deux frères et une petite soeur. J'ai consacré ma première année universitaire à étudier l'anglais à l'université de Toronto où je souhaiterai par la suite commencer mon programme d'architecture InchAllah.
                       
                      J'adore voyager, lire des romans policiers et pratiquer du sport. 



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                      Fatima-Zahra Houzmali
                      écrivain
                      numéro deux en français
                      fatima@keepingithalal.com

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                      Assalamo Allaykom,

                      Je m'appelle Fatima-Zahra HOUZMALI - je suis fière de porter le prénom de la fille de notre prophète Mohammed (que la paix et la bénédiction d'Allah soient sur lui) - .

                      Je suis née en 1989 à Rabat la capitale du Maroc et j'habite actuellement à Salé.

                      Je suis étudiante en cinquième année à l'Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion à Casablanca, option " Audit et contrôle de gestion".

                      Puisque les études en management nécessitent un apprentissage parallèle à la diversité du monde, j'apprends plusieurs langues à savoir : l'anglais, l'espagnol, l'allemand et le japonais.

                      J'aime lire, écrire, regarder les matchs de foot et voyager.


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                      Hirra Sheikh
                      writer
                      fast tracker, try to keep up
                      hirra@keepingithalal.com

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                      _Asalamualaikum people!

                      My name is Hirra Sheikh. I am currently a third year student at York University majoring in Health Studies. I’ve been a Toronto resident since 1992, which begins with the day I was born. My parents are originally from Multan, Pakistan. I have had 2 conscious visits to the country, both of which have been fantastic experiences.

                      I love to write in general, especially pertaining to topics related to personal development, as well as current political and social structures in various areas of the world. I have particularly found growing up in Canada, having a Pakistani background, I’ve always been interested in how such factors become crucial determinants of how we mold and perceive our selves and are perceived by others. I usually write for personal ratification of social and religious constructs. I have recently written for The Muslim Voice Magazine as well, which runs under the umbrella of the University of Toronto’s Muslim Students Association. I’ve been a part of many Islamic events, which include the annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit and Journey of Faith conventions.

                      Aside from being a self-proclaimed bookworm, and a bit of a gym-rat, I also love ‘Family Time’: which includes quality social (and do NOT forget the eating) time with my exceptionally large direct and extended family.


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                      Saleha Faruque
                      writer
                      looking for a better tomorrow today
                      saleha@keepingithalal.com

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                      _Salaam Alaikum and Peace be onto you.

                      Greetings!

                      My name is Saleha. I am currently completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Recently becoming involved with campus clubs has led me to acquire a greater understanding and appreciation for community work and involvement.

                      Always having a keen interest for law and international relations, my majors are in political science and criminology. I greatly enjoy reading and writing under these topics. In the process of becoming a better writer I always aim to stay updated with current social and political events, especially those that involve the Muslim community.

                      Learning about those less fortunate, along with years of travel, has also inspired me to include such sensitive but dire subjects in my research and writing process.

                      I strongly believe that we as a community must stay aware of the injustices around us, in order to collectively move towards a better society.

                      Writing short story fiction has always been a passion, and I hope to publish a novel some day, Insha-Allah (God willingly). I have faith that writing for Keeping It Halal and interacting with its readers will inspire me to reach this dream of mine.

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                      Meet Our Graphic Editor


                      Moorgs (Sajid Malgi).
                      Founder & Graphics Editor
                      Comical genius and graphic design master

                      moorgs@keepingithalal.com

                      'Sup. Nice keffiyeh.

                      My exercise bike keeps this particular blog powered, a special deal set with Weebly. I'm currently being held captive in an unfinished basement somewhere in Toronto, Canada by the bloggers of this site. 

                      As an act of mercy, my captors let me have a say in this "About Us" section. You see, as luck would have it, they are completely illiterate and rely on their deeply-conditioned-barely-capable-but-well-behaving hybrid house pets (composed of only the most intelligent components of the iguana, ferret, and turtle) to compose their literary pieces on here (via elaborate  psychokinetic  command  transmitting  headpieces). 

                      Thusly, I am able to relay all of this to you right under their very nescient noses.

                      Incredible? Yes, you can say that. A fantastic fabrication? Unfortunately not.

                      I was severely lacking in the brawn department (not hard to see from the picture provided, I imagine); a drawback of dedicating too much time to creating the very same ground breaking devices my kidnappers are utilizing to run this blog now. I was trumped one late night after the completion of one such project: the littlest one of the bloggers was the most ruthless in the process of my capture.

                      I have been caged for some time now, and in that time have undergone some changes.

                      Soon my muscle laden body and I shall be out again.

                      But I'm not exacting revenge or anything like that.

                      I kinda needed time away from the computer.

                      And the exercise too.

                      Peace be with you.


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                      © 2009 by Keeping it Halal (KIH). All rights reserved