Samana Siddiqui

As much as Ramadan is about building individual God-consciousness (Quran 2:183), its community spirit is undeniable. The blessed month of fasting brings Muslims from virtually every strata of our community together and in contact with each other.

Muslim Students’ Associations (MSAs) are the best way to stay in touch with the Muslim community on college campuses. They have been a presence for almost 60 years, when the first MSA was established in 1963 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

It describes elder abuse as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action” in relationships where there is an expectation of trust, causing harm or distress.

Two weeks before Ramadan is the time to hit the accelerator and speed up our efforts to prepare for the blessed month so we can reap its tremendous rewards. Here are some things to take care of at this point. 

Growing up in multicultural and cosmopolitan Montreal, the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec, I was raised in diverse neighborhoods all of my life. I had also experienced snippets of racism as a dark-skinned, Hijab-wearing Musilm at times.