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How Islam led me to a place of belonging
Rosalinda Wijks, a young Dutch woman who identifies as Afro-Surinamese, speaks about converting to Islam, seeking a like-minded community of Muslims, and her brief foray into leftist political...
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The hijab obsession: moving on…
The overwhelming focus on hijab contradicts the principles of modesty and moderation, writes Sya Taha. A recent survey on Facebook revealed the most popular topics amongst Muslim women today: hijab,...
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Honest goodness: embracing simple diets
Read food labels closely and don’t be swayed by healthy-sounding slogans, writes Sya Taha. Image: SXC I used to think whole wheat bread was better than white rice, that vegetables grown in temperate...
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A quick guide to Islamic empires
History is dreary no more when the subject is the political theatre of Islam’s Golden Age. By Sya Taha. The interior beauty of the Alhambra (Image: Fotolia) When I was a young Muslim kid growing up, I...
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In her own words: a fresh seedling who’s growing a greener Ramadan
For Nur Khairiana binte Mohamad Malek, a park manager in Singapore, there is always a new project to do, friends to help, needy kids to mentor and classes to take. In 2013 she gathered a small group of...
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Why do we abstain during Ramadan?
Sya Taha looks in the Qur’an for a deeper meaning of fasting in the Holy Month. (Image: Dreamstime) My earliest memory of fasting was at four years old. Waking up at 5.30am together with my sister and...
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Better together: embracing holidays of multiple faiths and cultures
Sya Taha takes a deeper look into festivals and celebrations in intercultural and interreligious families. Eid prayer in Holland Coming from a purely Malay family with Javanese roots, I took for...
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Behold Morocco’s tapestry of tiles
While you’re taking in the major sights in Morocco, don’t forget to spot these humble pieces of art. Words and images by Sya Taha. If you travel to Morocco, you can’t help but marvel at all things big...
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Asked to remove her hijab, this photographer created a picture of principles
It’s not always easy to live by your principles – but it’s always worth the effort. Aqilah Nizar, a Malaysian-born photographer who now works in Brisbane, Australia, knows just what this struggle is...
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Why McDonald’s is Not Halal
Sya Taha takes a look at relevant verses in the Qur’an to examine how permissible the fast food giant’s offerings really are. I grew up in Singapore, where our minority Muslim community enjoys the...
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