• Aaima Azhar
• Aimen Khan
• Maher Handous
• Cool otr

Use the link below to purchase your tickets

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expressive-echoes-tickets-771040281237

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The post *Important* Update on “By The Pen” Islamic Calligraphy & illumination Exhibit appeared first on Jalya.

Use the link below to sign up

https://onunywmj.paperform.co/

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Join Kitabnet for a special Back To School Book Fair at B-Smart.

Discover over 1,000 Islamic books and games for kids of all ages. Plus, don’t miss our new additions: Islamic Lego Masjid Nabawi and Kaaba!

Date: Sept 23 & 24 (Sat & Sun)

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: B-Smart, 10807 Castle Downs Road, 2nd floor, Unit 211

Explore a variety of Islamic books, Arabic literature, and games designed just for children. Kitabnet is excited to introduce the 3rd volume of the Clear Quran for Kids.

Kitabnet are happy to announce that 10% of all sales will be dedicated to supporting the victims of Yemen and Libya.

Share this invite with friends and family who love books. Let’s create a fun gathering of young readers and foster a love for reading in our kids.

The post Kitabnet’s Islamic Book Fair Sept 23rd & 24th appeared first on Jalya.

What makes you passionate about writing?

My mother has a master’s degree in literature and works as an English teacher, so I have had the fortune of being raised with a love for reading and writing. When I was a baby, I lived steps away from the local library, and my mother would take me there every single day. Those frequent library trips led to me finishing the entire children’s section by the time I was two years old, and after moving to another city with another library, I finished their children’s section by age four. My love of books only grew stronger as I moved into chapter books, but no matter how many books I read at that age, I could never find a story with someone like me. Why weren’t there any Muslims or South Asians in the books I read?

Alhamdulillah, writers from various backgrounds across the world have been working very hard to fill that gap, and diverse literature has become much more prominent and accessible within the last five years. There is still a lot of work to be done, though, and I would like to support this cause by sharing my story through poetry and books. I have been writing poetry since I was ten years old and I have recently started looking into the publishing process for children’s books. I am especially interested in contemporary middle grade stories that focus on pressing issues that Muslim children have to deal with in this day and age. These books can serve as a guide for young Muslims on how to deal with the unique struggles they face in school, at home, or even within themselves.

Your First Poetry Book is out now, “In Search of Peace” What inspired you to write it?

Oftentimes in life, we find ourselves caught in cycles. This includes cycles of sin, cycles of depression, cycles of frustration with ourselves, or anything else that hurts our soul. It can be difficult to escape these cycles, but most definitely not impossible. “In Search of Peace” brings to words the journey of breaking free from such cycles with the help of our religion. The teachings of Islam can help us shift our mindset from that of hopelessness to hopefulness, and from there, we can work towards navigating the challenges of becoming a better version of ourselves. “In Search of Peace” emphasizes Allah (swt)’s everlasting presence throughout the entire journey, including in our most trying moments, as well as His mercy and compassion when we start to slip. Once again, it’s definitely not easy, but I hope the book inspires the belief in others that change is possible, no matter how many times we fall back into our old ways. Anything is possible if Allah (swt) is by our side.

I’ve wanted to write this book since I was fourteen after undergoing such spiritual challenges on my own, but it took a long time for the right words to come to mind in order to convey this message. I hope that anyone who is struggling with believing in themselves can take away something from this book and feel even a little more confident in their ability to improve and thrive against any challenge in their life.

What is your writing process like?

I hate brainstorming and planning ahead with my writing for some reason. Whenever I used to take tests in school that involved writing a story, I would write the story first, then fill out the required brainstorming page! I find it much more fun to just come up with things as I go. It’s almost like a little suspenseful journey in itself, not knowing what’s coming up next and simply enjoying the creative process.

My writing inspiration comes from anything that happens in my day-to-day life that I find interesting. From a failed test, to a sudden rainstorm, to an interaction with a friend, I enjoy looking at the meaning behind everything and finding a lesson in it, no matter how small. “In Search of Peace” was based off of these types of little moments in my life that added up to create one big spiritual journey.

Who are some of your favourite authors and books, and how have they influenced your writing?

When it comes to books regarding spirituality and reflection, I love Asmaa Hussein and Yasmin Mogahed’s works. It’s extremely difficult to be vulnerable and expose your challenges to the entire world, but in doing so, these incredible women have helped tens of thousands of people work towards healing themselves and developing a stronger relationship with Allah (swt). Their efforts have displayed the sheer power of words that is sometimes underestimated or underappreciated. I still love writing for fun, but to be able to use my words to support others through challenging times, like they have, is a big goal of mine.

What are your future goals as a writer and teacher? What areas would you like to teach, and do you have any plans to write more books?

Inshallah, as an English teacher, I hope to encourage children to utilize the power of self-reflection in order to become the best in whatever they choose to do. I also hope to break the myth prominent among students that English, as a subject, is useless and boring, and instead help them work towards a stronger relationship between themselves and the words they write. English isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but strong writing and thinking skills can later translate to success in science, math, or whatever a student chooses to pursue, even though they don’t see that connection yet as young teens.

As a writer, I hope to Inshallah continue writing as much poetry as possible, but I also want to contribute to the world of children’s chapter books one day. I especially want to write about characters that are confident in their religious identity and use their strength of faith to tackle challenges in their life.

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What interested you in becoming a writer and then creating Freeverse Editing?

I have always had a deep passion for writing since I was young. To me, writing is the most eloquent form of expression. I love the deep intricacies of wording and communication, and I’ve always been one to really delve into the characteristics of what makes strong writing. Through my undergraduate degree in business, I wrote a multitude of papers for various courses and really discovered my talent and passion for writing and editing. I began writing poems and performing spoken-word poetry in my spare time. Since then, I have broadened my horizons- having written business blogs, commercial scripts, speeches, website content, and more. I have expanded my editing services to academic papers, resumes, and personal statements.  

Writing, at times, can be downright monotonous. What are the ways through which you can dispel boredom while writing? What is your writing process like?

Like most hobbies, passion is critical. The most important thing when it comes to writing is to be truly passionate about it. When it comes to my own personal writing- I use a multitude of approaches. I can tend to be one to quickly jot down ideas as they come to me and let them build over time, until these scattered ideas become enough for a concrete idea that I turn into a written piece. Other times, I will have the same reoccurring thoughts over time and conceptualize a way in which I can turn these thoughts into a written piece that takes me only minutes to write. The beauty of writing is that writing can be completely figurative- as it can contain a deep concept without explicitly explaining that concept. I like to let my thoughts brew and then bring everything together to create a piece. For me, writing never gets boring because I keep variety in my writing. As well, I like to write on many different topics that require fresh thoughts and ideas consistently.

What inspired you to start writing poetry? Who are some of your favourite poets? Why do you like their work?

In school I loved to read Shakespeare. I’ve loved the eloquence of the writing paired with the deeper concepts of love, life, and death. As I’ve gotten older and become closer to my religion, I have taken a great appreciation for the infinite eloquence of the writing in The Holy Quran and the Ahadith of The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Reading Quran and Hadith have majorly increased my intellectual capability, while vastly advancing my writing style.

What is your writing Kryptonite? What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? What are common traps for aspiring writers? Have you ever gotten writer’s block, and how have you dealt with it?

I would say that writing on short timelines is a very difficult task. It can be done, but the best writing is writing that comes over time and is not something that is spewed out in the matter of minutes or hours. I tend to not get writers block on a personal level because I do not put time constraints on my personal writing. As for my professional writing for Freeverse, I ensure that I get a good idea from my clients of their expectations and what subject matter they want me to cover in the writing. This has been my tried-and-true formula to avoid writers block and produce quality work.

Who is your biggest writing/literary inspirations? Whom do you aspire to be like, and what is your main goal for Freeverse Editing? 

My goal for Freeverse is to grow a large clientele and become a one-stop-shop for all things writing and editing related. We can write anything excluding academic papers! Whether it be a movie script, commercial, website, social media post, or other, we are your go to! 

Where can people learn more about you and Freeverse Editing? 

Currently I can be found on Instagram @freeverseediting or contacted via cellphone at (780) 966-6246. Admittedly, my Instagram has lacked activity but stay tuned for some exciting developments coming soon!

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Discover the art of Dabkeh with CPCA’s skilled instructor Tha’er M Askar.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WXqnk79b4y6NVKzeFzgRK_a_CXVEFMmm7j35-dUldYY/viewform?ts=64c685eb&edit_requested=true

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Heritage Festival is happening this weekend with an unforgettable celebration of culture and history! 🎉 This year, the festival will be at a new location at the Edmonton Expo Centre, Borden Park, and Exhibition Land. 🏞️ Heritage Day is filled with diverse traditions, mouthwatering cuisines, and captivating performances. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!🅿️ Park & Ride:

Do you need to know how to attend the Heritage Days Festival this year? No need to stress out we’ve got you covered. Check out their different options this year to make your journey convenient and stress-free below.

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