Islamic Embroidery: Handcrafted art steeped in history

Embroidery was a very important art in the Medieval Islamic world. One of the most interesting accounts of embroidery were given by the 17th century Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi, who called it the “craft of the two hands”. Because embroidery was a sign of high social status in Muslim societies, it became a hugely popular … Read more

Moving the world from a wheelchair

The story of one young man’s struggle to realise a fulfilling role in society. By Nashwan Arshyq. On 11 March 1988, a married couple rejoiced as they welcomed their first child into the world. Rafail Edwards and Hashimah Hamidon looked forward to building their family around their precious bundle of joy, Kashif Edwards. Life was blissful until … Read more

Photo Essay: A Working Ramadan

In a series of photographs, Zinah Nur Sharif captures the theme of work during Ramadan’s fasting hours in London. In Muslim-majority countries, working hours may be shortened or even put on hold during the  sacred month of Ramadan. This allows Muslims to focus on other things and ease their workload during the fasting hours. However, for those … Read more