By Malak Kassem

Mar/Apr 25

According to a 2022 report by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, about 1.2 million out of 8.4 million New York residents are food insecure in America’s largest city. The New York City Council confirms that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides assistance to more than 1 million New York City households every year. While SNAP supports many food insecure households, nonprofit organizations are likewise essential in providing support to vulnerable communities across the city. They are safe havens for people to seek resources, advice and direction. According to NGO Base, a source for information about NGOs throughout the world, there are 245 registered Islamic nonprofits in the State of New York. However, many registered on this site are mosques, a fact which fails to account for nonprofits that are established by the Muslim community but are not necessarily Islamic institutions.  

According to a study by the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) , only 38% of surveyed food pantries in New York City offered halal options. According to a PBS report, more than 185,000 asylum seekers have entered the country since 2022, with many arriving from African Muslim-majority nations such as Senegal and Mauritania. As halal food remains inaccessible in most food pantries, traditional community support systems, such as mosques, are utilized year-round, but become especially exhausted during Ramadan when Muslims need regular access to halal food in order to break their fast and sustain their nutrients every day throughout the holy month. 

“The prices in New York City have skyrocketed so much that it’s very hard to afford the bare minimum,” said Zahra Omairat, the communications coordinator at Brooklyn’s Asiyah Women’s Center, an organization that supports Muslim women and children who have survived domestic violence. “But we try our best to alleviate some of that off their shoulders. New York City’s shelter system is not very accommodating for Muslim women, especially when it comes to halal food.” Asiyah helps alleviate food insecurity by helping clients navigate food and cash assistance programs such as SNAP and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. 

Omairat explained that oftentimes, government assistance isn’t enough. “Some women get $100 a month, which is a low amount of money for someone with multiple kids, or even just for herself,” she said. 

Asiyah also collaborates with local grocery stores to donate items such as chicken, produce, bread and rice for distribution. Her team reached hundreds of clients last Ramadan. They also plan to host weekly iftars for Ramadans in the future. 

Shahana Hanif, representative of Brooklyn’s District 39 and the first Muslim and Bangladeshi woman elected to the New York City Council, campaigned during the Covid-19 lockdown when her neighborhood of Kenington was hit especially hard. “Every supermarket shut down. It was very overwhelming,” Hanif said. “Immediately, my sister and I put together a fund relief for undocumented Muslims in particular because a lot of the food pantries were not giving additional funding to people who literally didn’t have anything.”

Many community members in Hanif’s district struggle to pay rent, land a decent-paying job, or afford basic amenities like childcare and even food. “It is imperative for me as an elected leader to ensure that the needs of our communities are met. And the needs of our communities are not unique,” she said.

In partnership with local organizations such as the Arab-American Support Center and Muslims Giving Back, Hanif and her sister created a food survival fund so that families won’t have to worry about putting food on the table and can instead allocate their money to other necessities such as rent. 

“This is our community,” Hanif said. “There is no shame asking for food or being on a line for food. We will work together to make sure that everyone is fed.” 

During Ramadan, Hanif’s office expands food distribution, surveying local residents about what they need for holiday preparations. They also hold an annual iftar dinner at Avenue C Plaza in partnership with the group Arts & Democracy. This is Hanif’s favorite Ramadan event. Her office purchases food from local halal restaurants and holds performances by local artists before taraweeh prayer.  

Amal Rady, the community manager at Malikah in Astoria’s Little Egypt, runs a halal food fridge at a local mosque year round alongside Wellness on Wheels. Malikah is dedicated to advocating against gender and hate-based violence through self-defense training, healing justice workshops, economic empowerment programs and community organizing. Like Asiyah and Councilmember Hanif, Malikah is involved in combating food insecurity. “We are rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to live with dignity and safety and have access to the resources they need to thrive,” Rady said. 

Most of Malikah’s clients are Arabs, Muslims, asylum seekers, and/or refugees. “There are a lot of things that are swept under the rug,” Rady said. “[Arabs and Muslims] don’t have access to resources or benefits that other communities may be able to access.” These benefits include government assistance. 

This Ramadan, Malikah is partnering with Islamic Relief USA to host a food truck outside their office twice a week to provide hot meals for iftar. The organization will also hold an iftar dinner at the Museum of Moving Image (MoMI) where the team expects to break their fast with about 200 asylum seekers. 

Malak Kassem, a journalism student at St. John’s University, has interned with Press Pass NYC and United Planet. She has written for The Torch, Prism Reports, and Gargoyle Magazine.

The post New York Community Leaders Help Muslims Combat Food Insecurity appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By Naazish YarKhan

Mar/Apr 25

The news continues to leave many of us feeling powerless. Anxiety, loneliness, and depression are rampant among Americans. But there is an antidote, albeit an often overlooked one. According to Psychology Today, no matter our age, finding ways to “exert your positive energy and positive power” keeps us from sinking into the quicksand that is negativity and despair. Helping others and doing good counteracts despondency by triggering dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, our brain’s “feel good” chemicals. 

For some, this comes in the form of picking up a friend’s child from school when they can’t or delivering a meal when a neighbor is ill. For others, it’s driving a friend to the airport, or smiling and waving hello as you cross paths. Every good deed we do for others, no matter how big or small, has the power to alleviate our own feeling of helplessness. 

Community, Belonging, Purpose – Ingredients for Wellbeing

Community nurtures a sense of belonging, creates a support system, and provides purpose, all elements that fuel wellbeing. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states, “We’re social beings, and we are not meant to live in isolation. Community is critical for us to thrive, especially for [those] already experiencing the common symptoms of loneliness and isolation.”  

Naz Hassan of Downers Grove, Ill. finds purpose by investing in her community. “After being a wife and mother for 27 and 24 years respectively, I’d come to a point where household responsibilities felt humdrum, mundane,” she said. “With my volunteer work, I fill a hole by connecting with others. I return home as a much better wife, a much better mother. Plus, I get household responsibilities done with a lot more heart.”

Hassan, a mother to five, recently accepted a volunteer role as co-chair of the Interfaith and Outreach Committee at the Islamic Foundation mosque in Villa Park, Ill. She also decided to renew her involvement in community organizing with DuPage United, an interfaith organization where volunteers create systemic change by engaging with local politicians and townships. Though her avocations take up relatively little time, her interests already feel like life savers, Hasan shared.  

“DuPage United’s advocacy for mental health initiatives reeled me in ten years ago,” she said. After a decade-long hiatus from DuPage United, Hasan resumed volunteering with the organization once her older children had grown and flown. It was DuPage United’s affordable housing initiative that drew her in this time. 

“DuPage United gets to the heart [of] where the need is for people on the fringes, those who are suffering the most,” Hassan said. “Volunteering is important to me because serving humanity is important to me. We are put on this earth to do good. All of humanity are the people of Allah.”

Indeed, finding a sense of community and “using our personal strengths can make us healthier, happier, and more successful”. 

Bloom Where You Are Planted

In the shadow of George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests, principal software engineer Fatima Azfar could have succumbed to the nation’s shared feelings of helplessness and overwhelm. Or she could be a force for good. 

At her first job out of university, at the Chicago-based West Monroe Consulting where she had only been working a year, Azfar, a resident of San Jose, California, had a proposal. In an industry that required employees to wine and dine clients, practices that were contrary to Islamic values and those of some non-Muslim co-workers, Azfar wanted to serve as a catalyst for change. With encouragement from the founders of the Black Employee Network, she became the co-founder of the Interfaith Employee Resource Group (ERG) at West Monroe. The group’s intention was to bring Muslims together in mutual support.

Her employers’ response surprised her. “It was wonderful to see the company welcoming the endeavors of their only hijabi employee striving to create a space for her community,” she said. It took twelve months from introducing the idea of the ERG to its official launch.

“I sought out the support of key figures within the company and built a strong network of leaders through one on one coffee chats,” Azfar said. “I explained the idea, the purpose, and got not only their agreement, but their passionate support. Engaging them personally was key.” 

She made sure to incorporate their feedback and personal passions into the initiatives the ERG planned. “It allowed our first year to be filled with excitement, and engaged ERG leaders,” she said.

She explained that grassroot initiatives often prevail through key supporters. “If someone has created something similar [e.g. the Pan-Asian Network Employee Resource Group (ERG) or Women Leadership Network at West Monroe], harness their leaders for your own initiative. Learn wisdom from their experiences. Follow their example.” 

By 2021, the ERG expanded to become an interfaith organization. The group’s wins include a Ramadan campaign, “Acts of Kindness,” an iftar and a “Fast for a Day” event in several of the company’s offices. Azfar’s ERG hosted an Abrahamic Faiths panel to share religious texts while also co-hosting intersectional events with other ERG chapters. They held bi-annual, virtual, firm-wide employee town halls including a talk by speaker Dalia Mogahed (Director of Research at Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in Washington, D.C.) to address issues facing religious minority groups in the U.S. “Office operations opened up prayer rooms in all our offices, and the Interfaith ERG stocked them with hijabs, prayer rugs, tasbeeh, and religious texts,” Azfar said.

Azfar’s decision to lean into her positive energy and sense of personal power earned her recognition as one of EqualityX’s Top 50 Influential Muslims of 2024 in America, an award for Muslims who’ve embraced their faith in the workplace as a catalyst for positive impact in their communities. 

Practice Corporate Social Responsibility for Good Health

Helping people and changing lives provides us with health benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Research shows that people who are part of strong communities tend to have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of obesity,” the institution said. “They are also more likely to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.”

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hicksville, N.J., Acutis Diagnostics launched its Social Responsibility Response Committee. It helped counter some of the collective helplessness felt across the country.

One of its most impactful initiatives was Letters to Elders, during which staff wrote letters of hope and cheer. Also, during the quarantine, employees made 40 wish lists come true through the KiDS NEED MoRE Holiday Cheer Bus event. They also visited 11 local families whose children were battling cancer. Crucially, they learned that in some families more than one child had a life-threatening illness, while others fought financial hardship. 

Encouraging self-agency, the company had employees decide which initiatives to support. “Instead of the typical top-down approach to corporate citizenship, the company put the team in the front seat,” CEO Jibreel Sarij wrote on LinkedIn. “Our colleagues set the agenda and carried it forward from the hallways of our offices to the communities we belong to.”

Through the years, Acutis Diagnostics has sponsored a single mother’s rent for a year, conducted blood drives for the New York Blood Center, and raised school supplies for Wyandanch School District. Staff have donated personal care products and food to ECLI-Vibes on Long Island and to the South Brunswick Food Pantry in New Jersey through their Thanksgiving Initiative. In addition, the company recognizes Earth Day with an Annual Campus Cleanup on grounds at their headquarters. Acutis Diagnostics was also among the first companies to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, according to its LinkedIn Profile. The company’s efforts dovetail with a research paper titled “What Do Muslims Say About Corporate Social Responsibility?” which states, “[Muslims] must utilize their potential by shouldering the responsibility of maintaining and developing the universe.”

The Hidden Power of Sadaqah and Zakat

Muslims in the U.S. donated approximately $1.8 billion in zakat in 2021, according to the Muslim American Zakat Report. In 2019, the Muslim American Philanthropy Report found that American Muslims are 81% more likely to contribute to organizations that address domestic poverty outside of their own faith. This trend was corroborated again by the 2021 Muslim American Giving Report that found Muslims had donated an estimated $4.3 billion to non-religious causes that year. The report also shared that Muslims donated more to civil rights causes that weren’t faith-based initiatives as compared to the general public.

While giving is often motivated by a sense of religious duty and a belief that those with more must help those with less, the psychological and health benefits are still other reasons for  Muslims  to continue being the good neighbors they are.  

Naazish YarKhan is a writer and educator. She teaches online writing workshops for grade 3 to 12 and coaches applicants on college essays as founder of WritersStudio.us. Her writing has been featured in NPR, PRI, Chicago Tribune, and more.

The post The Healing Power of Doing Good appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By: Wendy Díaz

Jan/Feb 25

In the September 10, 2024 U.S. presidential debate, both the Democratic and Republican nominees took turns taking shots at one another during primetime. One of the more outrageous claims made during the debate came from Republican nominee and current president, Donald Trump, who alleged that Haitian immigrants in towns like Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. This outlandish claim went viral resulting in internet memes, reels, and even catchy musical parodies. But this false assertion was not the first-time that Latin America immigrants became the subject of contentious debate. In his first foray into presidential candidacy, Trump, speaking at Trump Tower in Manhattan on June 16, 2015, claimed, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. . . They’re sending people with a lot of problems. . . They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists.” Such inflammatory and hateful rhetoric fuels Hispanophobia, an irrational fear, hatred, or bias against people of Hispanic or Latino origins.

Among Muslim Americans, the ummah is diverse; various ethnic groups coexist under the banner of Islam. However, just because Islam emphasizes equality does not mean that prejudice is nonexistent amongst Muslims. In a society where leading politicians fan the flames of bigotry, it is common to see the same type of prejudice manifested in religious spaces. For Latino Muslims, these prejudices can take various forms, from microaggressions to the lack of inclusion of Latinos in leadership or decision-making roles within Islamic institutions. 

Prejudices often come from a lack of understanding or exposure and Muslims from immigrant backgrounds may be less familiar with Latin Americans compared with other American communities. Stereotypes about Latino Muslims often contribute to a limited perception of their role within the community, including assumptions about their level of religiosity, education, and/or their socioeconomic status. Likewise, the broader American Muslim community may experience separation from their Latino neighbors due to competition for communal resources, differences in historical struggles, and/or misunderstandings stemming from linguistic barriers.

The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s (ISPU) American Muslim Poll 2019 survey showed that Latino Muslims are the fastest growing group of Muslims, making up 8% of the Muslim American landscape. Yet despite the growing number of Latino Muslims, discrimination and lack of awareness about the Islamic influence on Latin America persists. Many Latino Muslims find themselves having to navigate a space where they are either assumed to be newcomers to the faith or perceived as less authoritative in Islamic matters because of their cultural background. This erasure of Latino Muslim identity reinforces the idea that Islamic knowledge and leadership are reserved for certain ethnic groups, a misconception that runs counter to the universal message of Islam. Additionally, language barriers can exacerbate these feelings of exclusion when resources are unavailable in Spanish, leaving Latino Muslims feeling discouraged and disconnected.

To combat Hispanophobia, Muslims everywhere should be reminder of Islam’s teachings on racial equality. In the Prophet Muhammad’ final sermon (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) he declared that no Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab and vice versa demonstrating that racial and ethnic biases are alien to Islam. To continue to resist Hispanophobia, this message must be regularly reinforced, not only during the Friday sermon but through everyday interactions. 

Islam’s Historical Ties to Latin America

The historical presence of Muslims in places like the Iberian Peninsula (where Muslims ruled from 711 to 1492) profoundly influenced art, architecture, language, and culture throughout Latin America.  But connections between Islam and Latin America go beyond the Iberian Peninsula. North and West Africa also played significant roles in shaping Latin American history, particularly through the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which brought enslaved Africans, including many Muslims, to the Americas. This African Muslim influence, deliberately erased by colonial powers, left its mark on cultural and spiritual practices throughout the Americas. Additionally, waves of South Asian and Middle Eastern immigration to Latin America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries introduced additional Islamic influences, as migrants from countries like India, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine became integral parts of Latin American society. These migrations continue to this day, contributing to the presence of millions of Muslims in Latin America. 

Currently, Latino Muslim organizations are serving their communities in Islamic centers, as Latino imams, and as Muslims activists, contributing positively to the American Muslim community. These contributions must be acknowledged and celebrated as they provide models of leadership, activism, and scholarship that enrich the broader Muslim American discourse while also combating Hispanophobia throughout the country. By educating Muslim Americans on these shared historical and cultural links, we can foster a greater sense of connection between Latino Muslims and the rest of the ummah.

Growing Visibility

Every year, there are Latino Muslim events in New York, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and beyond, reflecting the Latino Muslim community’s vibrant growth across the U.S. These events range from cultural celebrations to conferences and educational seminars, providing spaces for Latino Muslims to connect, learn, and contribute to the ummah. In parallel, new organizations continue to emerge and to serve their communities through social work, dawah, education, and publishing. Organizations such as the Latina Muslim Foundation in San Diego, Ojalá Foundation in Chicago, the Latin American Institute of Muslim Women (ILMM) in Atlanta, and IslaminSpanish in Houston are examples of Latino-led initiatives dedicated to outreach, community development, and educational programs.

Additionally, Islamic educational institutions in the U.S. such as Zaytuna College, Bayan Islamic Graduate School, Qalam Institute, and Mishkah University, have seen an increase in Latino representation among their student bodies. Students attending these institutions are actively engaging with Islamic scholarship gaining the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Upon completion of their studies, these students, will have mastered  Arabic and become familiar with sacred Islamic texts. They can then  return to their communities to teach and provide guidance grounded in both Islamic tradition and a Latino cultural understanding.

Allies and Friends

Latinos and Muslims often live side by side in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and San Diego. Naturally, this proximity leads to interactions and shared experiences through positive curiosity and productive dialogue. As a result, many Latinos in the United States can explore  Islam through their relationships with Muslim neighbors, friends, classmates, and co-workers. In these environments, exposure to Islamic practices and values becomes a catalyst for Latinos to explore the faith more deeply.

It is no surprise, therefore, that cities with the largest Muslim populations also have the highest numbers of Latino Muslim converts. Active community outreach, dawah efforts, and resources like Spanish language Quran translations have helped bridge the gap for those interested in learning about Islam. Organizations like IslaminSpanish in Houston provide vital support for Latino converts, making the transition smoother by offering culturally relevant guidance. This growing connection between Muslims and Latinos, particularly in cities with large Muslim communities, is driving a notable rise in Latino Muslim conversions.

The ISPU report, “Latino Attitudes Toward American Muslims and Islam,” revealed a nuanced view that can serve as a foundation for fostering understanding and collaboration between Latino and Muslim communities. It indicates that Latinos generally exhibit lower levels of Islamophobia compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Participants in the study frequently identified commonalities between their immigrant experiences and those of American Muslims, to include aspirations for liberty, a desire for financial stability, and a better life for future generations. Moreover, the report highlights the importance of personal interactions in shaping positive attitudes and identifies many Latinos reporting meaningful relationships with Muslim Americans. 

The report goes on to suggest that educational initiatives providing foundational knowledge about Islam can significantly alter perceptions. For example, when participants were exposed to information about the pillars of Islam and the experiences of Muslim women, they were more likely to view Islam as a faith with similarities to their own beliefs. By amplifying Latino voices and experiences in mosque activities and leadership, Islamic communities can cultivate a more inclusive atmosphere that honors diversity and promotes unity. 

Suggested Ways to Build Relationships

Building fruitful relationships with the Latin American community, starts with creating spaces for open dialogue and meaningful interactions. Mosques and Islamic organizations can play a pivotal role in this process by hosting cultural exchanges, offering Spanish language resources, and engaging in outreach specifically tailored to Latino communities. Inviting Latino Muslim speakers and subject-matter experts to Islamic conferences, educational events, and community gatherings also ensures that the voices and contributions of Latino Muslims are amplified and celebrated. Additionally, sponsoring Latino Muslim students and volunteers to pursue Islamic education, locally or abroad, helps empower the next generation of leaders, scholars, and community advocates. These efforts can combat the isolation that Latino Muslims may feel and build solidarity with non-Muslims who may harbor misconceptions about Islam. By focusing on shared values, Muslims can build bridges that dismantle prejudice and highlight the diversity that strengthens the ummah.

Addressing Hispanophobia within the Muslim community requires intentional efforts to reflect on our own biases and to take active steps to uplift Latino Muslims. When we create communities that honor the diversity of the ummah and actively work to erase prejudices, we can not only better represent Islam’s values but also build more inclusive, empowered, and united Muslim communities. The findings from the ISPU research emphasize this potential for collaboration and cooperation. By recognizing shared experiences and fostering open dialogue, we can combat not only Hispanophobia and build a more cohesive and resilient community where all individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive together in mutual respect and understanding.

Wendy Díaz, a Puerto Rican Muslim writer, poet, translator, and children’s book author, is the Spanish content coordinator for ICNA-WhyIslam. She is also the co-founder of Hablamos Islam, a nonprofit organization that produces educational resources about Islam in the Spanish language.

The post Addressing Hispanophobia and Embracing Our Latino Neighbors appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By Sundus Abrar

Jan/Feb 25

The Canadian government pledged to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040. Toward this end, Canada has passed multiple legislative acts aimed at supporting Canadians with disabilities including the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) in 2019 and the Canada Disability Benefit Act (CDB Act) in 2023. For its part, the CBD Act establishes a framework for an annual, income-tested benefit for eligible working-age people with disabilities living within the Canadian provinces.

Muslim Canadians are doing their part toward helping those with disabilities, too. An example of these efforts is the Muneeba Centre which, some would say, is tucked away in plain sight. “Everybody misses it the first time,” said Rabia Khedr, CEO of the Disability Empowerment Equality Network (DEEN). DEEN is a fully registered charity that evolved from the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities. 

The Muneeba Centre opened in 2016 after the property underwent a renovation to make the location accessible. Khedr (BA, University of Toronto, MA, York University), is one of four siblings living with a disability, and has long been involved in Canada’s mainstream disability rights. She quickly realized that more needed to be done for this population within the Muslim community.

“There’s this common misconception that if you live in Canada, you are taken care of by the government,” said Khedr.

In fact, benefit funding for Canadians with disabilities is limited, while the services that are offered are often not mindful of the culturally sensitive requirements across Canada’s diverse communities. For instance, same gender support workers are not guaranteed to Muslims with disabilities living in care facilities. During a visit to the Muneeba Centre in Mississauga, Ontario this summer, I saw  a focused service and a determined energy even on a quiet Friday afternoon. I appreciated the artwork created by program attendees that was proudly displayed on the walls which included  handmade cards neatly stacked on a folding table. There was also  a detailed schedule of activities and pictures of past cooking programs pinned on the kitchen bulletin board. While I perused the artwork, the DEEN staff took turns completing training and attending Jummah prayer while ensuring the care of individuals who participated  in programming activities in the facility’s backyard. 

A Subset Minority

Muslims with disabilities experience discrimination that is further amplified given that they constitute a  subset minority. Khedr, who lives with  blindness, recounts taking her brother to urgent care a trying situation which quickly became even more challenging given that  her brother is  limited in expressing his needs. According to Khedr, their attempt to seek medical attention was further aggravated by a nurse’s dismissive approach in ensuring accessibility. Racial bias became clear as she attempted to educate the nurse about her brother and family’s circumstances and was  met with patronizing disdain. Khedr recognized that there was a  gap in the healthcare system for minorities with disabilities that needed to be addressed. Yet despite the severe shortcomings she experienced with her brother, she broached the incident as an opportunity for education and tactfully reported the interaction: “I didn’t want her to lose her job, I just wanted for her and others to be informed about how to accommodate individuals with disabilities,” said Khedr.   

Similarly, when approaching the Muslim community, Khedr’s initial focus was on education. This led her to engaging a khutbah campaign  highlighting the concerns and needs of those with disabilities and their families:  “Disability in the community is an invisible problem – if we don’t see people with disabilities there’s often this assumption that well there must not be any,” said Khedr. Concerns of people with disabilities are often overlooked as lack of access often translates into lack of interaction with the broader community. Khedr also shared her personal experience with this communal invisibility as her own family retracted from attending the  local mosque in Mississauga after a deeply impactful event during her childhood: “My brothers, who have developmental disabilities, made involuntary sounds. The imam announced, “Sisters if you can’t keep your kids quiet, then keep them at home.” My mother took that literally and we didn’t go back for years until my grandfather’s janazah (funeral),” said Khedr. 

Khedr’s focus shifted in the early 2000’s when she realized her shared concerns with other members of the community in similar circumstances. She discovered other community members who either had a disability themselves or  had family members with special needs. Khedr’s family originates from a small village in Pakistan and  she came to Canada as a four-year old. She acknowledges her circumstances would have been different if her family had stayed in Pakistan: “I would have had a very different life living there, probably would have been washing someone else dishes,” she said. However, relatively better circumstances don’t mean that enough is being done to support people with disabilities in Canada. Thus, Khedr and her peers started actively working to address their needs. And while  DEEN has a focus on addressing the specific cultural and religious needs of disabled members of the Muslim community, they welcome people belonging to other faiths as well. 

Initially DEEN planned to rely on area mosques and other community spaces to offer programming, but a lack of consistency in securing these spaces led to establishing the Muneeba Centre. In addition to their Mississauga center, DEEN also operates chapters in Scarborough and  Ottawa and is currently striving towards raising funds for a facility in Scarborough.  

People with disabilities and their caregivers face  a severe dropin support and opportunities to socialize once they age out of the education system at the age of 21. DEEN is dedicated to filling this gap by  supporting adults with disabilities: “It’s not healthy for adults to be around their parents all the time, and its hard on the parents too,” said Khedr. The Muneeba Centre is crucial in conducting DEEN’s ongoing work which consists of several daily, weekly, or biweekly programs. DEEN also hosts special events and webinars to address relevant topics such as filing taxes for disabled adults. DEEN’s programming offer respite to adults with disabilities by creating opportunities for them to socialize, learn essential skills, and interact with other individuals outside their family: “The biggest fear parents have is who is going to look after my child when I am no longer able to,” said Khedr.  These programs aim to overcome the isolation, frustrations, and worries of families whose membership includes adults living with disabilities. 

DEEN has steadily grown  in their ability to meet  the needs of adults with disabilities by employing a wide range of  thoughtful services. But these services are not entirely visible on social media platforms. This is by design. Khedr’s determined patience in educating the Muslim community would not be successful without careful consideration of the hopes and expectations of those that seek support in DEEN: “I am interested in helping people and serving others. I want to be sure that we can meet the needs of people. We don’t want to get their hopes up,” she said. Khedr has been tactful and shared DEEN’s efforts cautiously on social media to avoid any potentially discouraging scenarios so that families and caregivers are protected from potential disappointment. 

Building Capacity

Muslim immigrants have realized tremendous potential and undergone financial growth in Canada, yet there is a lack of sustained focus in addressing the needs of subset minorities within that community.  As a result, DEEN’s focus has been to build and maintain trust by consistently aligning services with the expectations of those that seek support: “Everybody jumps on a headline cause, but we need to build capacity by collaborating on a big picture plan,” explained  Khedr.  

“We don’t build capacity. We build these schools and mosques that only meet the needs of a very specific ethnic group or a very small part of the community. Disabled people are not a priority. No one is willing to commit substantially and even maintaining visibility requires significant resources.”

All of DEEN’s staff and board members either have a disability themselves or have family members with disabilities: “What makes us unique is this is personal to us,” said Khedr. This attachment to and understanding of the cause has certainly contributed to the consistency with which DEEN has continued to grow and serve.  Armed with her trademark patience, Khedr is undeterred and is optimistically moving forward: “The big dream is respite residential services,  an Islamic model of long-term care for folks with disabilities.” Currently Muslims with disabled family members in respite care, a short-term care that provides temporary relief for caregivers,  are not given the assurance that their loved ones will receive care that aligns with Islamic values. For instance, caregivers tending to personal and hygiene needs may be from the opposite gender. 

The challenge that DEEN faces is sustaining funds and visibility. While it has received some government grant funding, it’s not enough. Khedr urges consistent collaboration from other organizations to invest in DEEN to sustain and grow the services to continue offering care and programming which is mindful of Islamic values. 

Khedr holds an acclaimed position in her field. “I work in a space I created.”  In addition to being a mother of four and CEO of DEEN, she currently also serves as National Director of Disability with Poverty. Previously she was a Commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She has also been awarded Daniel J Hill Human Rights Award for distinguished service. She is not hesitant in persistently advocating for disability rights and support: “I always say I can’t see any dirty looks people may give, so I will keep at it.” 

To learn more about DEEN Support Services and donate, visit: https://deensupportservices.ca

Sundus Abrar is a freelance writer.

The post Striving for Equality and Empowerment for Disabled Canadian Muslims appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By Misbahuddin Mirza

Nov/Dec 2024

The light drizzle had cleansed the air enough to allow the rising sun to brighten up the sky into a fairytale blue. A steady stream of vehicles packed with enthusiastic sports contestants, along with their families and friends, streamed into the grounds of St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, N.J. The borough, located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan area. is a commuter town of New York City. 

Smoke rose from the BBQ grills firing up to grill kababs and burgers. Parents lined up to buy their early morning coffee while volunteers directed participants and teams toward their venues. 

Electronic display screens, timers, equipment, and umpires were ready and waiting to start the games exactly on schedule. Salaudeen Nausrudeen, founder and president of the Islamic Games of North America, constantly walked around calmly between the various hosting locations. The Uzbek teams appeared to be winning all the martial arts medals. Girls from all over the world competed vigorously in events from basketball to track & field and to taekwondo, and boys’ teams competed in games from soccer, basketball, volleyball, and football to martial arts.

Teams from New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Delaware, and Massachusetts participated. Held on June 8-9, this event featured 32 basketball teams, 71 soccer teams, 12 volleyball teams, 8 cricket teams, and 12 flag football teams, all of which competed fiercely to win trophies and medals. There were individual events for males and females in table tennis, martial arts, track (100, 200, and 400 meters), pickleball, fitness course, arm wrestling, and other categories.

Nausrudeen, a Guyanese native, grew up in New York City and currently lives in Orlando. An avid fitness enthusiast, he rides 75 miles per week and is involved in weekly basketball and fitness training events. During his high school years in New York, he started “Mujahid,” one of the first organized Muslim basketball teams that traveled across North America to participate in tournaments and build connections with communities and athletes. 

Inception of Islamic Games

In 1989, he created the Islamic Games to provide a platform for Muslim athletes to meet, compete, learn, and celebrate each other. In 2006, the Islamic Games was rebranded and relaunched in New Jersey, where male and female athletes of all ages participate annually.

He says that sports are halal, healthy, and encouraged in Islam. The development of sports programs, leagues, academies, and teams in Muslim communities across North America revealed a need to develop a platform that would bring them all together to showcase athletes and teams and to celebrate their accomplishments. 

According to Nausrudeen, “The Islamic Games today has grown to an event that is beyond the athletic skills. It is a grand display of diversity and unity with more than 40 different nationalities, 30 Muslim schools, 5,000+ male and female athletes of all ages, 400+ teams, 200+ events, 1,000+ games, and 200+ partners in four cities across the USA and Canada.” 

The participants in these New Jersey games were natives or descendants of natives from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Guyana, Indonesia, Bosnia, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Kenya, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria and Afro- and Latino-Americans. This year, the Islamic Games were held in Dallas, Chicago, and Brampton (Canada).

A team of directors and event managers, as well as about 80 volunteers, manage the event, which costs each location $75,000+ to host. These expenses are primarily met through sponsorship, registration, and other fees.

Talking about these challenges, Nausrudeen says there was a dearth of sponsorship from Muslim companies and brands; insufficient women’s participation at the community/masjid level; a lack of efficient and professional sports infrastructure in Muslim communities; and a lack of funding for schools and communities to send teams and athletes.

Future plans include adding badminton, pickleball, cycling, 5K, swimming, archery, and other sports; expanding to more North American cities and globally with international partners; and providing support, training, and resources to communities, along with leagues to grow and develop their sports program.

Misbahuddin Mirza, M.S., P.E., is a licensed professional engineer, registered in the States of New York and New Jersey. He served as the regional quality control engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation’s New York City Region. He is the author of the iBook “Illustrated Muslim Travel Guide to Jerusalem.” He has written for major U.S. and Indian publications.

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