She’s cool, she’s suave, she’s full of heart. Alia Khan is one of the big hitters in Islamic fashion and in this intimate interview with Aquila Style, she reveals her motivations behind her business, the Islamic Fashion and Design Council (IFDC), women’s rights, hijab, the gradual fusion of cultures that is beginning to happen in Islamic fashion … Read more
President Obama is the first and only American president to recognise the important role that Muslim communities play in the world — not just for today, but also for the future. The person tasked with connecting the US to Muslim communities around the world through their youth is Farah Pandith. By Sofea Famian. The rumours are … Read more
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
Stylish and poised mother of two, Norfasarie wows us with her timeless taste. By Shea Rasol. A successful woman at such a young age, Norfasarie Mohd Yahya is Singapore’s rising gem. As the director of SPA by Norfasarie’, she has gotten ladies near and far queuing for appointments to pamper themselves at her establishment. Describing her … Read more
Brought up in a multicultural household in Sydney, MasterChef participant Amina Elshafei speaks to Tazin Abdullah about what inspires and moves her to cook. Food court at the Blue Mountains, Sydney. Typical packed lunchtime crowd at a tourist destination. You finally get to the end of the long queue knowing that, like every other time, you’re going … Read more
It’s not always easy to live by your principles – but it’s always worth the effort. Aqilah Nizar, a Malaysian-born photographer who now works in Brisbane, Australia, knows just what this struggle is about. After studying architecture, she decided to work on her passion in photography instead. As a young Muslim woman of color who finds … Read more
In the first of this series of profiles on the world’s most influential Muslim scholars, Omar Shahid digs beneath the surface to discover the man beneath the title of sheikh. All images from Hamza Yusuf and Zaytuna College Facebook page. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf is what you might call a celebrity scholar. After giving a talk, he is often besieged by eager … Read more
This prominent American scholar, academic and activist often finds herself to be the only Muslim female scholar on stage at conferences. She spoke to Omar Shahid. The idea that Islam oppresses women has been allowed to flourish right across the world. Islamophobes, right-wing commentators and neo-conservatives will use it as a platform to launch scathing attacks … Read more
We’re frequently delivered the same old Muslim women’s trope – the placid housewife, or the shackled bint who doesn’t know any better. But there aren’t many who challenge stereotypes as strongly as writer Samina Ali. She speaks to Amal Awad about Muslim feminism and her journey into it. Perhaps more extraordinary than Samina Ali’s activism is the … Read more