Taha Ghayyur It’s that spiritual time of the year again. Muslims are looking forward to a month of spiritual revival; Masjids are getting ready to welcome the eager worshippers; Imams are rehearsing for daily Quran recitals and religious reminders; organizations are finalizing their programming and fundraising plans, and families are gearing up for a month of bonding, spirituality, and charity. It’s often assumed that mothers are supposed to plan most of the wonderful activities for their children. So how are fathers supposed to make Ramadan special for their families? What does an engaged f ..read more

Samana Siddiqui The Gallup Center reported in 2009 that Muslim youth in America aged 18 to 28 are the least happy and the angriest compared to youth of other faith groups in America.  Twenty-six percent of young Muslims, compared with 14% of young Protestants, say they experienced anger. There seems to be a lot to be angry about. Apart from the usual stresses and pressures of the tween and teen years, ranging from the physical and hormonal, to the emotional and psychological, Muslim youth often have to deal with subtle and open discrimination based on their faith. It’s easy to fall into ..read more

Zahirah Lynn Eppard There is no way to overemphasize this important fact – as a parent you are your child’s first teacher. In this role there are huge responsibilities and plenty of opportunities. There are five significant ways every parent can help children improve their social skills. These include coaching, modeling, role playing, shaping the environment, and talking. By being mindful of your own interactions with your child(ren) you can help them learn to navigate social situations and improve interpersonal skills.  Be a Supportive Coach Sometimes we relegate the need and work of c ..read more