Taha Ghayyur

As our Masjids and Islamic centres become deserted over the next few days due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s a golden opportunity for community organization and Masjid boards, managements, Imams, and volunteers to think out of the box.

1. First things first: Figure out the real priorities in your life. What’s worth spending an hour on? What comes first? What is a must-do and what is good-to-do?

He did not have access to an iPad or a Google calendar, nor did he have the luxury of a secretary who managed his appointments and itineraries.

Yet, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the most disciplined and productive human being and leader known.

Every time I witness Sharia being targeted and abused with such abhorrence, it sends chills down my spine. Not because I am intimidated by such actions. Not because my faith is shaken. It saddens me because the Sharia that I know of and that I live everyday is neither primitive, nor repressive.

Building trust is like building a bridge. It requires multiple skills and steps: intention, determination, strategy, architecture, engineering, and gathering supplies. It involves labour and at times risks. It needs constant care and maintenance.

Although some Masjids and Islamic centers have become more youth-conscious and youth-friendly over the past decade, we have a long way to go in terms of meaningful youth engagement.

Numerous so-called anti-terrorism pundits and experts have debated and proposed potential causes of violent extremism by young Muslims and convert Muslims from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. However, most analyses fail to address the real, at times basic, roots that we can control at the grassroots level.