Taha Ghayyur

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.

Creating and pitching a “newsworthy” Ramadan story requires significant planning and legwork, but it’s all worth it. Let the world see the beauty of your faith and culture. Let everyone experience it! What’s there to hide?

A thoughtful and thorough planning of Khutbas in advance will multiply the benefit for millions of Muslims who lend their ears, minds, and hearts for 30-45 minutes every week, especially during the Ramadan and Eid seasons.

Here is a selection of some powerful sayings of the Prophet to help us stay positive and productive in all circumstances.