Samana Siddiqui

It had been ten years since she had set foot in a mosque. Being at university had broadened her mind in many ways, one of them being her reconnecting with Islam.

She had begun praying five times a day a month ago, and now felt ready to pray in public, at the university's Juma prayer.

For veteran activists, the loss of Dr. Edward Said is obvious. Thank you Dr.  Said. May more voices for Palestine like yours emerge at a time when we need it the most.

Have you noticed your boss, supervisor or co-workers have been having a hard time looking at you straight in the eye in the last few days? Has the war on Iraq, which has just begun, been causing problems for you as a Muslim in your workplace?

Maybe if we start listening to people and giving them due importance, whether it's the wife of a prominent reporter, an Afghan refugee or a suffering Palestinian mother, people will not have to resort to violence, terrorism and bombs. Instead, we can deal with issues fairly so that fewer children will have to open their eyes to a world filled with horror, without their fathers and mothers.

Ramadan, as usual, has flown by. "I ask myself why oh why" these questions and see what you can do to make the most of what's left of Ramadan this year, Insha Allah.

Muslims are now a new, although small, variable in the most powerful nation of the world. Here's a brief synopsis of what Muslims achieved and areas where we failed across the globe this year.

Behind every front page news story and sound byte is the person who is the focus of the drama, the newsmaker. These are the people whose stories, achievements, failures and successes fascinate and enthrall audiences.