If I’m in a situation where something being discussed in class (in university) sounds like it is misrepresenting Islam, is it my responsibility to say anything? How do I confront my professor that I feel uncomfortable about it? Omar Zia January 17, 2021 Faith When a Muslim sees racism or abuse, they have an obligation to stop the oppression. The credo of Muslims includes standing up for all people who are oppressed – this includes Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-... Read More...
If you are a politician or wanting to become one, how do you play that role while sticking to Islamic values? Omar Zia January 3, 2021 Uncategorized As humans, we often wear multiple ‘hats’ representing a plethora of identities. These identities may be based in culture, language, nationality, gender, athletics, place of employment, career and, of course, f... Read More...
What is your advice to Muslims suffering from mental health issues? Does it mean we are bad Muslims? Omar Zia December 20, 2020 Friends Thank you for your question. We are living in a time where our global society is becoming more aware and more accepting of the fact that stress is a reality of life and maintaining our mental health and well-b... Read More...
I want to make my relationship with my parents better and stronger, as I feel that we have drifted apart. How do I go about doing that? Omar Zia December 13, 2020 Family Thank you for your question. First, it’s important to understand that this is a normal part of growing up. When we are young, our parents are the centre of our universe and we cling to them all the time. Howev... Read More...
How do I explain to my family members that it’s not Islamically okay to be racist? Omar Zia December 6, 2020 Family Thank you for your question. When having a conversation with anyone about racism, it’s important to begin by defining terms so that a person can recognize their behaviour within the given definition. For examp... Read More...
How can I give constructive criticism to a friend without offending her? What if she gets offended regardless? Omar Zia November 29, 2020 Friends When wanting to offer criticism we begin by asking ourselves, “What is my intention?” Then we ask, “What will be the impact?” There are times that we have good intentions, but the words come out wrong and the ... Read More...
When I first started wearing hijab, my parents were supportive and proud of my decision. Recently, however, they’ve started telling me to loosen it and let my hair show, saying how much better I look without it. How do I make my parents happy while also standing by my beliefs? Omar Zia November 15, 2020 Faith From an early age we are often taught to obey our parents and we develop a fear of disappointing them through disobedience. When a person becomes ‘of age’ the realization sets in that accountability is not to ... Read More...
How do I find the courage to ask my teacher to leave class to read Dhuhr during school in winter? Omar Zia November 8, 2020 Faith The Human Rights Commission of Ontario states, under its Policy on creed and the accommodation of religious observances, that “Under the Code, employers, unions, housing providers and service providers have a ... Read More...
What is the best way to put someone in their place when they make a hurtful comment about you without being disrespectful or hurting their feelings? Omar Zia September 27, 2020 Friends The central theme in the Qur’an and, indeed, in the life of a Muslim revolves around two phrases “Enjoin all that is good on yourself and your environment” and “Work against all that is wrong in yourself and i... Read More...
I find it hard to say “no” to people sometimes. How do I handle these situations without hurting the other person and without putting a bad impression on myself? Omar Zia September 20, 2020 Lifestyle Having a ‘Heart of Charity’ is part of the development of the Muslim identity. As such, we may find ourselves actively seeking out opportunities to have a positive impact in our communities and respective envi... Read More...
