By Muhammad Hadi

Jan/Feb 2024

The death of a single person casts a shadow over a community, drawing people together in shared grief. When a family is lost, the community’s fabric is torn, left with a wound that struggles to heal. Yet, what happens when whole generations are systematically wiped from existence? The pain and loss are magnified, yet the response from those powerful enough to make a difference is often muted, hidden behind justifications and political tapestries. Innocent children, whose only understanding of the night sky was the stars, are now acquainted with the darkness of man’s inhumanity. Their laughter and dreams, once so vibrant, now lay buried under the weight of rubble and indifference. The world, it seems, looks away, unable to face its reflection in the tragedy.

These images and stories haunted me, a relentless stream of what seemed like distant problems. And yet they were all too real for those living them. “We can’t do anything,” becomes a convenient curtain to hide behind. But I saw through it every time I closed my eyes and every time I heard the news. It was a lie told to soothe the world’s disquieted conscience, a shield against the harsh truth that we are all, in some way, connected to these distant tragedies.

As a student in the Bay Area, already immersed in Islamic multimedia and juggling academic pressures, I felt the pull of these global issues. They demanded more than my attention; they demanded my voice and my action. I realized that my daily struggles, exams and projects paled in comparison to the plight of those who had lost everything. The idea of starting a clothing brand had once been a flicker of inspiration for me, a way to express my creativity and individuality. But as I grew more attuned to the cries for help echoing from lands I’d never walked, that flicker transformed into a blaze of determination.

Hobby to Platform

What started as a cool hobby began to morph into a brand in my mind. It was no longer just about fashion or trends; it became a potential platform, a way to merge my creative impulses with my deepening desire to effect change. Between classes, I sketched designs, each line drawn being a silent pledge to the cause I was slowly, but surely, embracing. I found myself staying up late, my mind racing with ideas of how to use this platform for something bigger, something meaningful.

As the months unfolded, LUMOS started to really come into its own. The name, meaning “light,” became symbolic of my aspirations. I wanted LUMOS to be a source of light in the darkness, a spark of hope against despair. It wasn’t just a label; it was a statement, a commitment to shed light on the harsh realities that seemed to be shrouded in the shadows of the world’s attention. The brand began to represent a beacon of awareness, illuminating the stories that were otherwise overlooked.

Infusing garments with stories that matter became my mission. Using the language of design to speak truths that words alone couldn’t capture, each piece from LUMOS was more than just part of someone’s wardrobe. They were conversation pieces, quiet yet powerful advocates for those whose voices were being drowned out. I wanted each design to be impactful, to resonate with the wearer and the observer, to start conversations and challenge perceptions.

LUMOS was set to be a line of clothing that did more than just look good. It was about clothing that felt good — not just in texture, but in the conscience. Every sale, every thread, every color choice was intentional, designed to capture attention, to spark dialogue, to make people stop and think and, hopefully, to act. It was fashion with heart, style with soul, and threads with a cause. The intersection where aesthetics met ethics, where every item carried the potential to light up not just an outfit, but also a path to change.

The rallies — the outpouring of support for the world’s oppressed — were a turning point. It was a global call to action, and it spurred me into motion. LUMOS was no longer just an idea; it had become a necessity. I rallied my friends, classmates and community members. Together, we poured our collective passion into making it a reality. I was inspired to see fellow students, previously uninvolved, dedicating hours to support this cause. They went out of their way to promote our first event, ensuring that our community was aware and engaged.

Our first event was more than just a sale; it was a statement. The community’s response was overwhelming. They didn’t just buy clothes; they bought into an idea, a movement. We nearly sold out what was merely a preview of our brand, and the proceeds — more than $400 — went straight to emergency humanitarian aid. This event was proof that even as students, our actions could resonate. It was a testament to the power of collective action and a beacon of hope for the future.

As we prepare for our official launch, I stand ready to weave our message into the broader tapestry of social consciousness. With designs that champion unity and echo the moral imperatives of our faith, we seek to dress the world not just in clothes, but in hope, solidarity and action. Our upcoming collections will continue to fundraise, educate and rally a community of believers in the power of change. Through LUMOS, we’re not just creating fashion; we’re creating a movement. We’re changing the narrative, proving that even the smallest of voices can make the loudest of echoes. 

The world may whisper, “We can’t do anything,” but through LUMOS, I shout back, “Watch us.”

Muhammad Hadi, first prize winner in the Islamic Horizons “Palestine on my mind” writing contest, is a multimedia content creator based in Bay Area, Calif. For the last six years, he has started and grown projects for youth, including a podcast interviewing Muslims in tech, medicine, animation, education, and more. He is currently a senior in high school, and working as a growth engineer at a Y Combinator-backed startup. His Palestine-themed clothing line is available at https://lumoswear.com/.

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By Sanaa Asif

Nov/Dec 2023

When Muna Mohamed was younger, all her goals revolved around playing basketball. It was an easy way to make friends, connect with people, and build a community. However, there was one issue: As most basketball leagues at that time didn’t allow women to wear the hijab while playing, Mohamed would often find herself sitting on the bench. This continual frustration inspired her to become a youth basketball coach for her community and, later on, the founder of her activewear brand, Kalsoni.

As a youth basketball coach, Mohamed wanted to empower girls to play basketball regardless of where they came from and, most importantly, to embrace and wear their hijab proudly. Her interest in advocating for more inclusion in sports, regardless of religion or culture, became an initial steppingstone for her brand. 

This interest peaked at Augsburg University, where Mohamed participated in an undergraduate research project that proved clothing was the number one barrier why East Asian Muslimas weren’t physically active or participating in sports. Her interest grew when she became involved with a University of Minnesota project that encouraged young women to design their own activewear. These experiences provided her with the encouragement to let her creativity flow.

Her first design project was to create a modest uniform for her team. She then drafted a business plan and started pitching in competitions where entrepreneurs competed for funding. However, Mohamed found that these competitions weren’t a good fit for her ideas, because her audience didn’t usually include people who could see a direct benefit from her product line. “If investors looked like me or my community or even understood the problem, I think the results would have been different,” she said.

Training at Target

Mohamed shifted her focus to grants and incubator programs, specifically through Target. “They selected ten businesses to work with, from clothing and food to baby products, and they taught us so much — concepts such as marketing and sales strategies, how to build a business, social media techniques and other important skills.” Mohamed and her fellow members graduated by crafting and presenting a pitch.

She continued learning and wasn’t afraid to edit her business plan. “I wanted to make sure I know how to build a business, as well as find the best fabric for hijabs and tops. I wanted to ensure that I provide the best quality clothing for women,” she added. In the beginning of 2022, Mohamed launched Kalsoni. 

In Somali, Kalsoni means confidence. “I wanted to ensure that any woman who wants to dress modestly while being active should feel confident about what she’s wearing,” Mohamed said. While she built Kalsoni to create modest activewear for Muslimas, her customer demographic evolved as women from diverse backgrounds began looking for more modest clothing while being physically active or traveling. Kalsoni products are now being shipped to Canada, Norway, and Africa.

Eventually, Mohamed joined a program through REI, a retail and outdoor recreation store, and was able to display her products in two of their Minneapolis locations. “That opportunity of building relationships with major retailers took Kalsoni to the next step in showcasing that we don’t have to go shopping at the men’s section,” Mohamed said. “Folks didn’t have to shop online and wait for their orders to be delivered.” 

The Kalsoni Vision

As Kalsoni continues to grow and reach new customers, Mohamed hopes to exhibit her products in more stores outside of Minnesota.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m really lucky that in our Somali community that when one sister wins, we all win,” she said. “My goal is to be able to spread out the production and bring it over to different states and countries so that it’s easily accessible.” She also hopes to not only build collections, but also experiences. 

To carry that vision forward, Mohamed now closely works with Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit that combines exercise and education to promote healthy lifestyles for young girls. She provides sports hijabs for girls running the annual Girls on the Run 5K. “I want to continue building relationships with organizations that work with Muslim athletes and strengthen partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and sports organizations,” she said. 

Through clothing, Mohamed hopes to connect women from all over the world. “I want to be of service to people and bring together a community of women, not only Muslim women but all women in a space where they can be comfortable with one other.” 

Sanaa Asif, a student at Hinsdale Central High School, is an avid reader and loves to learn about other people’s stories.

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By Sanaa Asif

Sept/Oct 2023

While the Covid-19 pandemic robbed many of a sense of normalcy, there was a silver lining for some. Job losses and no social life enabled people to explore creative interests and try novel business ventures. Just like someone on a fitness journey may reach out to a personal trainer, new entrepreneurs began seeking advice from business coaches to help navigate their transition to business owners.

Bushra Murad from Canton, Mich., is the owner of Barakah Boutique, an Islamic lifestyle business of high-quality products curated from different Muslim creatives. She started her business in 2020, just a few months after she had joined a Muslim entrepreneurship group. “That group was how I started learning from different Muslim businesses,” Murad said. “It gave me the confidence to take the leap of faith.”

Asma Iqbal, from Northern Virginia, had just started her Islamic gift wrap business when she was intrigued by a free business workshop she saw online. “I signed up and was blown away by the content and community that came with it,” Iqbal said. Her venture, Mubarak Paper Co. focuses on high-quality Islamic kid centered gift-wrapping products and specialty items like Eid ribbon and stickers. Soon after taking the workshop, she joined a one-year Islamic business coaching group.

Islam and Business Advice

Both entrepreneurs observed that their business coaches helped in jump-starting and rapidly growing their businesses. However, what stood out most was how their coaches integrated Islamic values into their guidance. “It’s very beneficial to have a Muslim coach because they’ll keep you in check in terms of what your intention is or what is the end goal of your business,” Murad said. Often, Muslim coaches meld strategies they’ve learned from non-Muslim coach mentors with Islamic values to bring holistic advice to Muslim clients. Murad often has exclusive sales in her boutique where all proceeds go towards Muslims in crisis. 

Hafsa Taher, from Toronto, Ont., used to run a business before she became a sought-after business coach for Muslim women. She urges her clients to merge Islam and business to become a stronger believer. She highlights the fact that Muslims should strive to live with the end goal of earning a place in Paradise. “What if your business is one of the ways you get to Jannah?” Taher asks. “It could be making someone’s life easier or making one person smile. These all could be ways of earning good deeds.”

Some entrepreneurs argue that having a Muslim business coach isn’t necessary, as many coaches from other faiths also cherish values like spending time with your family and practicing good ethics. However, having a Muslim business coach can bring more to the table. For instance, Taher shares “Business duas you can make on the Day of Arafah” on her social media. Some of her most popular  posts are “Islamic Affirmations for Muslim Entrepreneurs” and how you can “Post Less, Sell More” so you can spend more time with the people you love. 

Tie Your Camel, But Don’t Strangle It

An important Islamic value often discussed in the business world is rizq. Loosely translated as provision, rizq can be defined as anything that benefits or brings goodness. Taher reminds her clients that God is the source of all rizq — not products, sales, or clients. She believes it is necessary for businesses to bring the hustle into working toward their goals, instead of sitting back, waiting for God to provide for them. However, she believes in working smarter, not harder. 

Her popular analogy is “Tie your camel but don’t strangle it.”  What is strangling a camel? Taher says that means hustling so hard that you can’t even breathe. Hustling like you provide for yourself. You make the plants grow. Where in fact God is Ar-Razzaq (The Ultimate Provider.)

What is a Good Business Coach?

A good business coach not only helps to grow a business, but also helps to equip a business owner with the tools they need to be successful. Just like a personal trainer can’t actually do the push ups for you, but he or she can show you good form. A trainer can suggest the best times to work out, and what to eat before or after. 

“A good business coach will equip you with the skills, tools, and habits for you to become independent,” Taher said. “A good coach will make sure you can think independently and you’re trusting your own instincts to move forward in your venture.”

Finding a Good Business Coach

For someone just starting in their business, it can be difficult to choose which business coach will suit their needs and fit their budget. 

“I think it is important to look at the coaches themselves,” Murad suggests. “Check out their qualifications, experience, and the type of industries they have worked in, because that will help you to decide if they would be a good fit for your business.” For example, if your business is product-based, a business coach specializing in selling products would be more beneficial than a coach specializing in providing services. 

“Shop around,” said Iqbal. “Many coaches offer free introductory workshops or go live on social media. That’s a cost-effective way to see if their values align with yours.  Make a list of what you hope to gain from a coach.” The most important thing when finding a business coach is making sure that they are able to help the business where it needs it most, such as email marketing, or product pricing. 

Short Term or Longer

Depending on your business needs and size, your relationship with a business coach can be for a few months or even a few years. After a few months of having a business coach, Iqbal realized it was more beneficial for her to join a group of like-minded small business owners she trusted. She preferred to openly discuss anything business-related with a group of entrepreneurs.

Murad, on the other hand, Bushra thinks a business coach is a valuable investment. Accountability is one of the biggest advantages. “A good coach will bring a new and fresh perspective which can help you with growth,” she said. “But of course, you have to be ready to follow their suggestions and do the heavy lifting.” 

Sanaa is a student at Hinsdale Central High School. She is an avid reader and loves to write and learn about other people’s stories.

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By Kiran Ansari

Sept/Oct 2023

“If we don’t speak to our children in Urdu, the language can die with us.” This realization hit hard for Nadia Siddiqui from San Jose, Calif. Twenty years ago, there were not many online resources. With no extended family nearby, she was worried that her children – and grandchildren – would not know how to speak their mother tongue if she didn’t put in the effort.

It helped that her husband was also an immigrant from Pakistan. They made it a point to converse in Urdu only and focused on it more than English when their children were young.

“The kids will automatically pick up English from TV and school,” Siddiqui said. “That’s the factory default setting for our North American kids. If we value our mother tongue, then we must put in time to preserve it.”

Mirela Uddin from Algonquin, Ill. made it a point to speak to her children in Bosnian only. She subscribed to a Bosnian language TV channel at home and had the kids Skype with their grandparents regularly. She also spent a couple of months every summer in Bosnia so the children could soak in the language and culture. She believes the Bosnian weekend school and weekly talk in Bosnian at the mosque also helped reinforce the language.

“80-90% of my conversation with my kids is in Bosnian,” Uddin says. “Since my husband is not from Bosnia, and we didn’t have many Bosnian friends here, I knew I had to put in the work.”

Today, her older kids can carry on a conversation in Bosnian. They can order food and converse with the locals. Her daughter even has some Bosnian songs in her playlist. Uddin feels learning an additional language at a young age could have increased their affinity to learn new languages. Her college-aged daughter is also fluent in Spanish.

Siddiqui also took her children to Pakistan regularly. Even though their cousins in Pakistan were encouraged to speak in English, hanging out with extended family and domestic help made a big difference. She started with teaching her children the names of objects in Urdu. Later came stories and the famous “Urdu game” on long car rides and waiting at the doctor’s office. Siddiqui used to say “tree,” or “red,” and the kids would compete to see who could translate in Urdu the fastest. What ensued was a lot of learning – and laughter. After all, keenoo (orange) and konee (elbow) do sound alike.

Enter YouTube and Co.

While Siddiqui didn’t have many resources, parents today can supplement their efforts with online help. Tamania Jaffri in Calgary, Canada has been working tirelessly for the last eight years to preserve the language with her blog, urdumom.com. She loves sharing ideas with families to pass on language and culture to the next generation. Viewers saw her kids grow up on her weekly Urdu story time on Facebook. Recently, she started a YouTube channel called Urdu preschool with familiar rhymes for the littlest ones.

“The response has been amazing,” Jaffri said. “I have years of material based on my experience, and I love taking names of children during the video. Families write to me about how their kids would love to hear their name called out on TV.”

Oregon-mom, Rinad Qutub wanted her children to have educational screen time that helped them learn Arabic. She collaborated with Abrar Shahin from New Jersey and came up with the idea of Kalam Kids after noticing their children responding well to video content. Kalam means words or speech in Arabic. They wanted kids in multilingual households to have access to conversational Arabic. 

“The response for our YouTube channel has been overwhelmingly positive,” Qutub said. “Nothing makes us happier than seeing little ones smiling and engaging with our videos.”

Like other languages, there are many dialects in Arabic. “It’s tough to cater to all dialects because even between the two of us, we say words differently,” Shaheen added. “When choosing which words to use, we refer to traditional Arabic.”

Parents – the Best (and Free) Resource

Jaffri believes that the best tool for passing on language is the parent themselves because children model after them. So, a parent who actively speaks the language with their child, and sings/plays/reads in the language is the best resource. Her videos give parents ideas and remind them of poems and stories in Urdu they might have forgotten themselves.

“The most important thing parents can do is to love and respect Urdu,” Jaffri said. “We carry a lot of colonial baggage in our disdain for Urdu and consider English superior. Children are smart and can pick how their parents feel about the language.”

The Kalam Kids ladies agree that a multimodal approach yields the best results.  They encourage parents and caregivers to watch and repeat the videos along with their little ones to promote an active learning environment. They stress the importance of including learning a language in the daily routines.

Multilingual Households

Children can learn another language even if their parents don’t speak it. The key is that they continue to practice the concepts with someone who can. Today, thanks to Kids Bolo, that can also be online.

In addition to leveled Urdu-English books, and an innovative Urdu talking pen, the Kids Bolo online Urdu conversational classes have become very popular. They have around 200 kids from the U.S., Canada, U.K, and other countries outside Pakistan enrolled in their monthly subscription model.
  

“As parents whose children were born in the West, we felt our choice of relevant resources was limited,” said Masooma Aftab from Toronto. “So, my husband Hamid and I leveraged each other’s professional degrees (Finance/Start Up and Early Childhood/Youth Work) and created those resources ourselves.”

In 2020, they launched as “Inglish For Kids” and sold thousands of books. They used that feedback to rebuild the products from scratch and relaunched as Kids Bolo. Their Urdu taking pen has been very popular as it allows kids to read books in Urdu on their own.

“Bilingualism has many cognitive and social benefits,” Aftab said. “Learning your heritage language not only connects you to a larger community but it helps preserve the culture – its mannerisms, dialogue, nuances. To preserve it, you must practice it out loud and increase exposure like being around people where you hear it consistently.”

“This exposure doesn’t need to come from parents. However, it is extremely helpful if the home environment is supportive of language acquisition and participates in the ‘back and forth’ dialogue,” Aftab said. “Dialogue with other children that are at the same learning level does wonders for learning. In many cases, I have seen both the child and parent hone their Urdu language skills together – which is phenomenal as it enhances bonding between generations.”

Hard Work Pays Off

It can feel daunting to introduce a new language. However, it is possible — and rewarding. You could play regular games like Go Fish or Charades, but in the other language. You could also stick flash cards around the house for kids to remember what a clock or table is called in their mother tongue.

A new language can be fun as long as it doesn’t feel like a chore or homework. “Kids learn best and fastest when they are having fun,” said Qutub. “We find that singing songs and implementing language into games and activities is most beneficial. Just be silly and have fun. “Parents do have to put in extra effort at first. Later, they can enjoy seeing their vocabulary increase and how the children gain more confidence in a beloved language. They don’t have to become poets or scholars in the second language. But if a language can bring them closer to grandparents and their heritage, it is worth the effort for future generations as well. It does not have to be perfect. However, with practice and love, it can be well worth it.

Kiran Ansari is the Assistant Editor of Islamic Horizons. Even though her three kids are at different levels of Urdu fluency, she is grateful that they keep trying. 

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By Hamza Mohammed

Sept/Oct 2023

Many Muslims grow up hearing and seeing sunnah foods around them. From grandpa breaking his fast with dates, to grandma sprinkling black seeds (nigella sativa) in her famous potato curry, and mom giving a spoonful of honey to relieve a cough. 

However, it is interesting to study whether these sunnah foods continue to be in one’s pantry after parents and grandparents are no longer around. Do college students and then young parents rush to the nearest pharmacy when they have a bad cough, or do they reach for the jar of honey? 

Quick and Easy Snack Bars

If there’s one thing that everyone is nowadays, it is busy. From professionals to parents, students to service professionals, everyone is stretched for time. That could be one of the main reasons why some companies have introduced sunnah foods in more accessible forms. 

Cure your World is a Muslim owned and operated company that produces a unique snack, the Cure Bar, as well as black seed products and supplements. Founder, Zobaida Falah fell victim to junk food as a student. When she became a teacher, she witnessed this trend continuing with her students who were also consuming junk food throughout the school day. Zobaida created Cure Bars in an effort to provide an alternative to unhealthy, readily available snacks. She was inspired by her  grandmother, whom she watched prepare a mix of nuts, seeds, and honey each morning as a child. Zobaida’s grandmother called it her “secret cure for everything”, and believed it to have medicinal values and that it protected her from illness.

Manufactured in Washington and Ohio, Cure Bars, which increased in popularity after being featured in an AJ+ viral video, come in three flavors: Peanut Butter, Roasted Almonds and Honey, and Coconut Cashew. In addition to black seed and honey, the bars also contain healthy ingredients, such as oats, sesame seeds, and chia seeds and are a great source of magnesium and zinc. CURE also sells black seed products and Supplements, including black seed oil, black seed oil capsules, and turmeric and black seed powder capsules. 

“The benefits of black seed are extraordinary,” said Noor Salem, author of Sunnah Superfoods: Miraculous Remedies & Recipes that will change your life forever. “They’ve been found to contain benefits for preventing cognitive decline, obesity, bloating, arthritis, inflammation, and blood sugar dysregulation to name a few. Honey has incredible healing benefits that researchers continue to uncover. Some include suppressing cough, balancing blood sugar (which many find surprising), and healing the intestinal lining. Both this book and her “Sunnah Superfoods for Kids” are available on Amazon. 

“There is healing in black seed for all diseases except death.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5688, Book 76, Hadith 11].

Yummy Gummies

In 2021, Aresh Saqib launched Sukoon Nutrition, Muslim owned and operated company that makes Halal gummies using foods such as black seed, honey, and elderberry. He got the idea after seeing his father, a medical doctor, eat black seed and honey together every day for 20 years. It always blew his mind how his father almost never got sick, even while working 12-hour shifts at the hospital. 

Their biggest surprise has been how customers have reacted to the gummies. “We never thought it would get as big as it has,” Saqib said. “Alhumdulilah the gummies have helped hundreds of people with ailments such as joint pain, hair loss, blood sugar levels, immunity and more. Some have even told us they were in pain for years until they tried our gummies.”

“I love Sukoon gummies,” said 9-year old Soha Rasul. “My mom said many of the gummy vitamins at the store are not halal, so I was so excited to try these. They taste just like candy, but are good for you. I wish I could have more every day.”

Sakoon Nutrition contributes a portion of each of their sales to charity. Located in Laguna Beach, Calif. their five different types of gummies are sold across the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and in the U.S. 

However, like many companies, they have had their share of challenges. “One of the biggest challenges, he said, has been growth,” said Saqib. “After the Tik Tok honey moon phase died out, which was when everyone was getting 10,000 views a video, they had to pivot to paid social media advertising. Growth has been slow but steady,” he added. 

Pure Honey

Founded in 1995, two brothers in Kuwait shared their pure honey to friends and neighbors. Today, Mujeza Honey, based in Tampa, Florida, is one of the world’s leading companies in honey production. They produce a variety of different types and flavors of honey including turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and black seed. 

“One of the biggest struggles was making sure people know that we sell natural, authentic honey,” said Omar, one of the founders. “Many companies use sugars and syrups rather than real honey. We were also surprised how online sales through our website and Amazon have helped the business grow. We got far more customers than we could have at a retail store.”

Mujeza Honey has received many international certifications.They sell more than 15 different types and flavors of honey, and their products can be purchased at more than 500 retailers in 20 countries as well as on their website.

Worth a Shot

Dua Aldasouqi, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Champaign, Ill. agreed  that black seed is used in many types of disease management. One of the most common ways of it being consumed today is through black seed oil. Research has shown good results of black seed treating diabetes  and types of heart diseases. She said that honey has been used medicinally in many civilizations in the past. It has antibacterial properties, and can also be used to treat some colds and skin conditions.

With thousands of reviews on Amazon, many people are also trying out paraben-free black seed toothpastes and hair growth oil. 

“While it is hard to accurately judge the intentions of companies making these products,” said Aldasouqi. “I believe if it brings youth closer to sunnah foods, it is a great initiative.”

Hamza Mohammed, attends Farragut High School in Tennessee. He is an avid reader and enjoys writing in his free time.

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