Mothers & Daughters In Conversation

On May 22nd we had our inaugural Communi-tea Social where we gathered for a high-tea experience and to discuss and explore the relationship between mothers & daughters, types of mothering, and how our various community spaces support and affect the mother-daughter relationship, in conjunction with NORMM (Network Of Reintegration & Muslim Mentorship) and Islamic Relief Canada. It was an eye-opening, deeply moving event. You can view the gallery here and see a sneak peek below!

Shoutout to Leteni Kahawa and Sweet & Savoury Bakes for catering this event. They are both Muslim-Canadian, women-owned, small businesses and we are delighted to support them and be supported by them in turn.

Interviews with Authors

We were also blessed to continue with our interview with an author series. We have two for you for this newsletter! The first is an audio interview with Hajera Khaja, who has published both fiction and nonfiction and is also an editor at Ruqaya's Bookshelf.

Our latest interview was with the incredible Suma Din, author of Turning the Tide, Dear Mother, and more! You can watch this eye-opening and reflective exchange below.

Are you a writer or the friend of a writer? Reach out to us on our site (or DM us on Instagram) to request a free interview. We want to promote and support authors, no matter if they’re traditionally published, self-published, or not-yet published!

Layali

Last but certainly not least, on June 27th, we launched Layali: Nights of Poetry & Praise, an intimate, women-only gathering of poetry and song in praise of the Divine and His Beloved ﷺ, inspired by Islamic tradition and drawing on a variety of cultural roots.

We’ve been wanting to do an event like this for a long time because we wanted to provide an avenue for Muslim women to explore and enjoy music and musicality rooted in faith and history. We were blown away by the reception; it was a wonderful, joyous experience that we are excited to hold again and again.

Check out the gallery and some audio snippets here!

We were once again blessed to have Sweet & Savoury Bakes catering for us—but for the first time with a full course meal rather than houer d’oeuvres; everything was delicious!

We also held a raffle, giving away a beautiful activity journal designed and sold by Canadian small business owner Mala Ali, featuring the 99 Names of Allah. You can find and purchase her beautiful journal on Etsy.

What’s Next

Alhamdulillah, we were able to secure sponsorship for future Layali gatherings, which means that registration will be free moving forwards! Interested in attending? Layali will occur on the last Saturday of every month; you can join us next on July 25th, 2026. Stay tuned for further details!

And that’s not all…

Yes! We’d love to feature or hear your poems and songs! Submit here and spread the word; we’re accepting submissions in all languages!

Thank you so much for reading and supporting this Society. By doing so you’ve become a patron of the arts, and we simply couldn’t continue without you. Until next time, everyone.

Happy reading and writing!

Communi-Tea Socials!

With our socials, we aim to offer you events that allow you to gather with like-minded individuals for a delicious high-tea experience and enlightening and invigorating topical discussions with, of course, a creative element grounding it all. We are greatly honoured that our first Communi-tea Social is brought to you in collaboration with NORMM; this unique gathering blends literary engagement, authentic dialogue, and applied community capacity building.

Join us for…

•⁠ ⁠Discussion, reflection, and poetry with author Nida Rashid

•⁠ ⁠Guided round-table discussions

•⁠ ⁠Storytelling and audience engagement

•⁠ ⁠Community-building conversations

•⁠ ⁠Interactive focus groups exploring how our masājid and institutions can better support women, youth, and families

Details

📅 Friday, May 22, 2026

🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📍 10 Eva Rd. Etobicoke, ON M9C 0B3, Party Room, Ground Floor

👥 Limited Seating Available

🌸 Women Only Event

If you’re a mother or simply a daughter, you don’t want to miss out on this exclusive and free event, and spots are limited, so make sure you secure yours now!

REGISTER NOW!

What’s that? You recognize the name Nida Rashid? Well you should! Nida was our first author interview and has written several poetry collections, including Post Parting, From You...to You, and HumDrums. Excitingly, Nida will be reading a selection from Post Parting at our Mother’s and Daughters In Conversation event, and sharing her wisdoms and perspective on being a mother and a writer. You can (and should!) read her fantastic interview here.

We’ve actually been doing a series of author interviews on our site since the beginning of the year. Never fear if you’ve been out of the loop; you can catch up with all of them on our blog, and stay tuned for more! We’re hoping to transition into audio-visual interviews soon!

That’s all we have for you for now, but we promise you: there is so much more to come for this Society, and we could not do it without your past and continued support. We greatly appreciate you and we hope to see you at our inaugural Communi-tea Social! If you can’t make it, do spread the word. Your support helps us to grow and continue to offer events and materials that engage you creatively, educationally, and socially!

Jessica Rodriguez Photography (IG: @jessicarodriguez.photos)

Here’s a little more about her in her own words.

“I loved writing when I was a child. I have vivid memories of going to the creative writing table in my first grade classroom to write stories when I finished my schoolwork early. I wrote just for fun in those days. As a teenager, I still wrote a lot, but it was mostly for school projects. ​

I didn’t write for fun anymore, but Language Arts was still my favourite subject.

​I got married young and had children right away, and for those first several years of marriage and parenting, I didn’t have time (or didn’t make time) for any creative work of my own. Once my children were older, I decided to write a book. I knew that many people attempted to write books, but a very small percentage were actually published, so I didn’t have very high hopes that I would actually become a published author, but here I am! InshaAllah, February 1st will be the one year anniversary of my book’s publication, alhamdulillah. I really enjoyed the writing and publishing process and I continue to write, always collecting and working on new ideas.”

You can follow Charlene on Instagram at @charlene.r.smith. You can also download the teacher’s guide to her book here for free!

What was your first creative writing piece, as far as you can remember?

My first creative writing piece that I can remember is a story I wrote about a turkey when I was in second grade. I don’t remember what happened in the story, but the last line was “’My name is Bob’ said the Turkey and danced out the door.” My first real creative writing piece as an adult was my book, Game Changers. I wrote several biographies of different athletes and went through several drafts, but these stories ultimately became my first book.

Did you always feel drawn to creative writing? What got you into creative writing?

I was drawn to creative writing as a child, but as I became a teenager and then an adult, life became busy and I didn’t think about creative writing very much. It was once my children were all a little bit older that I decided to start writing again. I love reading and books in general, so I thought it would be nice to try to write a book myself. ​​

Who were some of the major influences or supports, real or fictional, in your creative writing journey?

I am influenced and inspired by all the Muslim authors out there. When my children were young, there were hardly any Muslim-authored children’s books available. I remember finding Muslim Child by Rukhsana Khan in our public library and being so surprised and excited. Some of the first YA books I saw by a Muslim author were books by Na’ima B. Robert, and I loved them.

​Now, alhamdulillah there are so many Muslim authored books, they take up several shelves on my bookshelf and I only own a fraction of those available! Two of my favourite authors and biggest supporters are S. K. Ali and Rahma Rodaah. The Muslim author community is very supportive and helpful and I am so grateful for all of the authors who have helped and supported me along the way!

What’s your ideal writing environment like?

My ideal writing environment is at a noisy cafe, without music. I can’t concentrate if music is playing and I can’t concentrate if it’s too quiet—then random thoughts creep into the silence and make it hard to focus. I prefer to write at a cafe because my home is too distracting—there is always so much other stuff to do at home that pulls me away from my writing. ​

Are you interested in exploring other genres of writing? If so, which?

Yes! I am interested in exploring many different genres. I would love to write a YA novel, an adult novel, a picture book and maybe some early reader chapter books as well. I have so many ideas and aspirations—inshaAllah at least some of them will come to fruition

Can you tell us a little more about your ideas for future projects?

I have ideas for stories about marriage, children from blended homes, and of course, hijabi athletes.

MashaAllah! So, are you working on anything currently?

I am currently sort of working on several different ideas, but not working on anything officially at the moment. ​

Awesome, tawfeeq with all your ideas! I think I know that answer, but I’m curious; what is your favourite piece of written work, currently, of your own? And why?

Game Changers is my favourite! It is the book that made me feel like I can actually call myself an author. And it’s about a topic that is very important and close to my heart. ​

What are some of your favourite elements of writing/to write about?

I really enjoy writing dialogue and writing about relationships of all kinds. ​

What inspires/motivates you the most when writing?

When I write, I think about the message of my stories and how they can inspire and help other people, and that keeps me going. ​

Do you have any goals with your writing, moving forward?

My goal for my future writing is to write books that help people improve their lives, expand their horizons, or learn something new. ​

Switching gears a little: what’s something you find helpful/inspiring, as a lover of creative writing?

I find a lot of inspiration from reading. I think that reading is one of the best things to do if you want to be a better writer. ​

On that note, what are some of your favourite reads?

Ooh, this is a tough question. There are so many books I have read and love. Some of my all-time favourites are: Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa, Fledgling by S.K. Ali, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, and Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy.

Last but not least: Do you have any advice/words of wisdom/things-you-wish-you-knew-earlier that you would tell other writers?

If you want to write a book, just do it. Even if you only write a few lines each day, if you are consistent and keep at it, it will eventually get done. But if you just keep dreaming about, thinking about, and talking about writing a book, without ever actually doing any writing, it won’t ever get done.

I also think it is very important to learn about the craft of writing. I found it very valuable to take courses about writing as well as to listen to podcasts about writing and read craft books. ​

Thank you so much Charlene! This was both an inspiring and motivating interview, and we appreciate you sharing your time, words of wisdom, and books recs with us!​ If you, dear reader, found this as exciting an interview as we did, drop us a comment, and don’t forget to support Charlene in her writing!

Interested in being interviewed? Want to promote a writer friend? Reach out to us! The only requirements are:

1. that you/they are an author, whether published traditionally, through self-publishing, on a blog, site, fanfiction archive, Instagram, Wattpad, etc. We are not picky! We want authors to own that they’re authors!

2. the author’s work is fiction, non-fiction, fanfiction, poetry, songs, or anything else that is written (we are not interviewing artists of other media at this time, but stay tuned for changes!)

3. the author’s work belongs to themselves (in the case of fanfiction, transformative works are allowed) and has not been “written” by generative AI

Send us a message through our contact page and someone from our team will get in touch with you!

What was your first creative writing piece, as far as you can remember?

As far as I can recall, I believe it was when I was in grade 7...probably around the time I was about to leave Abu Dhabi to move to Canada. I think it was a poem to one of my friends in school.

Did you always feel drawn to creative writing? What got you into creative writing?

When I was younger, I liked writing rhyming poetry. I wasn’t good at it, but I enjoyed doing it. As an adult, I love reading a good rhyming book or poem, but I find it harder to rhyme now because I don’t want it to feel forced. Creative writing was my way to express my feelings for others and sort my own feelings as well. Writing in journals/diaries, and letters that I never posted, is what got me through the first few years of being in Canada. ​

Who were some of the major influences/supports, real or fictional, in your creative writing journey?

Honestly, I don’t know. I loved reading books and stories by Enid Blyton as a kid. My parents always encouraged us to read. I think I got my love of writing from my mother, though. Even though I don’t remember her writing creatively, I do recall her writing in her journal every day for years. Apart from my parents, one of my maternal aunts and a few friends have also been extremely supportive of my writing. ​

What’s your ideal writing environment like?

Oof, this is a tricky question because I don’t think I have discovered it yet. However, I do find that I write best when it is quiet. I actually prefer writing with a pen/pencil on paper for the first draft and then typing on the computer. This has not served me well though, because I don’t always have my computer with me. Now, if I want to write something, I will just use a notes app on my phone and start. This way I can go back to it when I have time instead of never starting. Oh, I also usually write on my bed. Not the best for my back and neck but—baby steps!

What creative writing project or story would you love to devote your time and energy to, if you could?

There are two stories in my mind that I would like to turn into picture books. I have been working on them on and off but have not fully dedicated myself to them due to other commitments. ​

Do you mind telling us a little about them?

No, I don’t mind talking about it. My rizq is with Allah and so is everyone else’s.

The first ever manuscript I wrote was about a 2nd grader going back to school after summer vacation to find a new kid in his class whom he wants to befriend. But he has challenges. The first draft is all I did. I never went back to it, but it is something I wish to refine and resubmit.

The second idea is very close to my heart. It has to do with how certain cultures deal or rather, don’t deal, with allergies to nuts. This is one I have actually gotten feedback on from a couple of other writer friends and may go back to it soon inshaAllah.

Tawfeeq with both! Now, what is your favourite piece of written work, currently, of your own? And why?​

My favourite piece of work of my own is a poem I wrote back in 2018. I called it Weeping Willow when I first shared it on Facebook and then changed the name to Life of a Tree. I like it because it reminds me to hang on to hope in times of difficulty.

What inspires/motivates you the most when writing?

My inspirations usually come from watching other people’s lives, but my motivation is the children around me. I want to give them something to read in which they can see themselves.

Are you working on anything currently?

Yes and no. I have drafts of the aforementioned stories that have been sitting untouched but I reread them every few months because I do want to put that work out. But I am not actively working on them because life has a way of happening and writing is always the first thing that takes a backseat.

That’s completely relatable. Switching tracks a little: what are some of your favourite reads?

I actually enjoy reading middle grade novels! They allow me to feel accomplished because I am actually able to finish reading them. ​

Back to writing; what are some of your favourite elements of writing/to write about?

I will be honest, I don’t think I know the answer to this. When I am writing, I kind of just write so things flow together. This is probably one of the reasons I also struggle with making my stories better. But it is a skill I do wish to continue working on. ​

Speaking of skills, do you have any goals with your writing, moving forward?

Yes, I want to finish at least one of the drafts and have it ready to query. When that will happen, I do not know, but that is my goal. ​

Tawfeeq inshaAllah! Do you have any advice/words of wisdom/things-you-wish-you-knew-earlier that you would tell other writers?

I don’t really know whose words these are but I learned them from Hajera Khaja, the editor for Ruqayya’s Bookshelf: you are a writer because you write. These words really helped me accept that I can be a writer. And yes, I may not be a recognized or published author yet, but that does not mean I will never be.

I would advise all new writers, or those who have put it off, to believe in themselves. Write--not for the world, but because you enjoy it. It is a gift from Allah and using it is the best way to show Allah your gratitude.

Masha’Allah, an excellent reminder! Can you share with us what else you find helpful/inspiring, as a lover of creative writing?

Reading. Recently, I read a couple of books from genres I don’t generally read from and really enjoyed them. It made me realize there are many ways to write. Reading the genre that you wish to publish in is also very helpful. I love reading picture books with my kids because it gives me ideas of what children like and dislike.
​
Inspiration is everywhere. We just have to be open to seeing it. ​

Sana, your answers are so motivating! We thank you very much for allowing us to interview and wish you all success with your writing and business!

Drop a comment, dear readers, if you were also moved by Sana’s words and relate to her current relationship with writing; together, we can inspire and support each other.
​
Interested in being interviewed? The only requirements are:

1. that you are an author: whether you’ve been published traditionally, through self-publishing, on a blog, site, fanfiction archive, Instagram, Wattpad, etc. We are not picky! Own that you’re an author!

2. your work is fiction, non-fiction, fanfiction, poetry, songs, or anything else that is written

3. your work belongs to you (in the case of fanfiction, transformative works are allowed) and has not been “written” by generative AI

Send us a message through our contact page and someone from our team will get in touch with you!

“The most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character, and the best of you are the best in behavior to their women.”

—Tirmidhi

As Black women, we have a great capacity to survive and, one would argue, thrive. Despite all that befell us over the past 500 years, we participated in communities and societies and made great contributions to bettering those communities and societies. We’ve held our families together, providing education and inventions while, at the same time, holding onto and passing down the cultural and spiritual heritages of the Black communities and societies we belong to.

How well we thrive is a litmus test of how equitable, advanced and civilized the communities and societies we find ourselves in are. In a healthy, sound society, women (and especially Black women and girls) are valued, and their worth and contributions are not only advocated for but also found essential to the collective growth and prosperity of their societies and communities.

Take, for example, the West African Sokoto Emirate (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso), founded in 1804 by the Fulani scholar, Shehu Usman dan Fodio.

Aisha Balarabe Bawa writes in Historical Narratives of Women’s Contributions to Education in Northern Nigeri: “In Islam, seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female.

​In view of this, the renowned scholar Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio was categorically clear on the affairs of women in relation to education, where he counseled them to seek knowledge.

The 19th century jihad and the subsequent establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate produced great scholars including women.”

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another.”

—Quran, Surah Al-Tawba, 9:71

In her famous speech in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio, Sojourner Truth asked, “Ain’t I a woman?" Afro-feminism is founded on that same question. While White feminism asks "Am I not an equal citizen?", Black women have had to ask "Am I not a human, a woman, and—lastly—an equal citizen?"

Black feminism took form in response to a loss of agency and power, and to fight erasure. Knowing we have an intellect and unique spirit in a world that is designed to take from our gifts while simultaneously silencing or ignoring our personhood, Black women of the diaspora felt compelled to fight for a just and equitable place in the societies they found themselves in.

“You can never have civil rights until you have human rights. Human rights represent the right to be a human being. Whenever you are recognized and respected as a human being, our civil rights are automatic.”

—Malcolm X

Anna Julia Cooper, who was known as the ‘Mother of Black Feminism’ alongside such famous names as Ida B.Wells, Frances Harper Watkins and Mary Church Terrell, created the National Association of Colored Women. Alongside Cooper's essays and speeches (see, A Voice From the South), these women offered one of the first clear articulations of Black feminism. The organisation's motto was “lifting as we climb” and insisted that equality for Black women would also advance the entire African American community.

In contrast to these women, the African Muslim women of the early to mid-19th century, from Egypt to Nigeria, were scholars, state-builders and educators of both men and women. Nana Asmau and Tut Bit al Tah are just two of hundreds of nearly forgotten Muslim scholars.

In her essay ‘Female Islamic Knowledge in Africa: A Forgotten Story’, Britta Frede says, "I have been able to identify fifteen female Islamic scholars writing in Mauritania since the eighteenth century. One of these scholars was Fātima Bint Muhammad Mahmūd Ibn 'Abd al-Fattāh al-Abyayriyya (d. before 1882, known as Tūt Bint al-Tāh). She was obviously an important Islamic scholar in the nineteenth-century Sufi community of Sheikh Sīdiyya. She was not only famous for her beautiful script, but, according to a local publication, ultimately authored around sixteen texts."

Aisha Balarabe Bawa states:

"Nana Asmau was well known as an influential Islamic scholar. During the jihad, she was a teacher to both men and women. She acted as a role model and encouraged other women in the caliphate to pursue education and influence local communities.

Asmau’s main contribution was the formation of the Yan Taru organization in 1830, for the purpose of facilitating women's education. This organization consisted of a network of Muslim women who had been trained as teachers under Nana Asma’u and had worked with her to educate women and children in Islamic religious and literary education. These women and girls came from remote areas to attend her classes, and when they became well-educated, they returned to their towns to teach married women and those who were not able to attend the school. They were led by knowledgeable women called Jajis. The result of this massive women’s education campaign was the production of articulated scholarly women called, ‘the learned’.

Prior to the formation of the Yan Taru, Asma’u began by teaching children and women of her household, then extended to her neighbourhood, and then to the community as a whole. Asma’u defined education as a women’s political space and used education as a tool for state-building.’ ‘Over fifty books were written by women, enough to demonstrate the existence of a group of highly intelligent, educated, articulated and determined women scholars.’ "

Contrast that with the fate of women after the British colonial conquest of the Sokoto Emirate 1903.

"...with the incorporation of Nigeria into the international economy as a supplier of raw materials, new patriarchal conceptions of the appropriate social role for women dictated by colonial administrators and missionaries changed the position of women socially, politically and economically. The introduction of western education also favoured only men. Schools were established to train men to serve as clerks, interpreters, etc, for the colonial administration. The schools that were established for the girls were geared towards making women good mothers, good housewives and epitomes of elegance and reticence."

The colonial conquest that swept across Africa and Asia—what the British termed ‘the Middle East’—all but erased and destroyed African and Asian Muslim female scholarship. The result of colonialism was generations of high illiteracy, loss of fundamental human rights, and ignorance of Islam and women's high status within it.

African and Asian women are slowly reclaiming what was once taken from them, and as more understanding of the past comes to light, so does the realization that those pre-colonial societies had much more to offer them than previously believed.

In his autobiography, Malcolm X states, “One thing that I became aware of in my travels recently through Africa and the Middle East, in every country that you go to, usually the degree of progress can never be separated from the woman.”

“If you are in a country that’s progressive, the woman is progressive. If you are in a country that reflects the consciousness toward the importance of education, it is because the woman is aware of the importance of education. But in every backward country you’ll find the women are backward, and in every country where education is not stressed it’s because the women don’t have education.”

Black feminism arose out of a need for Black female voices to advocate for themselves, because the status quo was either responding to Black men or White women in the fight for racial and sexual liberation. Although the roots of Black feminism in the United States can be traced to the mid-19th century, the Black feminist movement did not gain prominence until the 1970s. During the 1960s and ’70s—the period of the second wave of mainstream feminism—Black women were largely excluded from positions of leadership within women’s rights organizations, and their concerns tended to be marginalized.

“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”

—Malcolm X

Second wave Black feminism emerged in the mid 20th century with the advent of the civil rights movement. Institutional racism, sexism and classism became the next fight for African American women. For African women and African women of the diaspora, the fight against colonialism and imperialism was also underway. Throughout the 1950s through to the late seventies, these two battlefronts were waged by our grandmothers and mothers.

Read More

​How long have you been writing?
​
I started writing for myself when I was around 11 years old. It was always poetry to start—I loved to rhyme.

What was your first creative writing piece, as far as you can remember?

I wrote a song called “Puppy Dog Face” about people who use their innocent charm to get away with mischief. The song had a great hook, “don’t give me that puppy dog face, that puppy dog face”. My sister and her friend found it and made so much fun of me that I deleted it from the computer.

Did you always feel drawn to poetry? What got you into writing poetry?

Yes. I always felt drawn to tones and rhythm. Poetry appealed to me, ironically because of Quran recitation (in the Quran itself, it is repeated that the Quran is not mere poetry for entertainment). The calming tones, and various recitations led me to recognize how words can carry powerful meaning in their rhythm. When I discovered spoken word poetry on Youtube, I was completely mesmerized.

Once, in high school, I had to present a biology project but had only 24 hours to come up with a presentation. I realized poems are easy to memorize, so I made a 3 minute spoken word poem about the topic. My science teacher was so impressed that science could be presented in an artistic form—I got an A. From then on, whenever I needed to remember a difficult topic—I wrote a poem.

Who were some of the major influences/supports, real or fictional, in your creative writing journey?

Sarah Kay - her spoken word on Youtube is what helped me gain confidence to speak my poems aloud. My friends - who would read my poems and tell me they felt something in reading it.

What’s your ideal writing environment like?

Poetry hits me at odd times. I don’t think I’ve ever sat and wrote in a spot. I could be on a bus, in the car, or in bed, and a line will come to me and I’ll jot it down on whatever I can--my phone, a notebook--and I’ll take it from there. It’s often in the stillness of being completely immersed in the present moment--so it could be any environment. As long as I am present, I can write. If I had to create an ideal environment to write, it would be in a cafe, at night time, no music, dim lights, in a notebook, with other focused writers around.

What was the process behind getting your first poetry collection out?

One of my mentors, Aunty Rafia (Allah have mercy on her) kept pushing me to get my poetry out. She introduced me to someone who had published books on Kindle’s self-publishing platform, and after seeing the way it worked, I began organizing the poems I had written over five years into themes. Once I had a rough manuscript, I had no excuse but to try to publish.

What is your favourite piece of written work, currently, of your own? And why?

Ah, this completely depends on my mood. But one of my most memorable poetry experiences was writing “Watching the Garbage Men”. It starts, “ the remains of our humanity/the evidence of our breaths/is being lugged away by two men in vests”.

In my master’s program we had an “Everyday Life Project”, where we had to turn everyday moments into art. I noticed the garbage men that day and jotted down a few lines--and I went up to them and asked if I could read them the poem. I think in that moment as we all paused and listened to a poem, they were completely stunned. But I felt that my poem had given them a memorable experience in their daily job. I think the line I am most proud of in that poem is, “All of our junk has the same fate/even if some bags carry more weight/as our weekly remains are emptied by these men/they allow us to begin to live again”.

What inspires/motivates you the most when writing?

Writing feels cathartic. The feeling of writing something that’s been stuck in my heart or mind itself is inspiring. So the more I write, the more I am motivated to write. I especially feel motivated when I read a poem or a line in a novel that I have to sit with for a bit, and wonder how I can recreate that moment.

Are you working on anything currently?

Yes! I’m working on turning my Everyday Life Poems into a compilation that includes more everyday moments. I am also working on a non-fiction teaching manual to help with literary instruction.

Do you only write poetry, or are you interested in other genres?

I am interested in trying to write novels. Poetry captures moments, but storytelling is a collection of moments. I have jotted down many ideas and characters but am struggling to put it all together. I have written some short stories. For some reason, all my short stories end up being silent horror, psychological thriller, and dark comedy types. So I’d like to explore that a bit more.

What are some of your favourite reads?

This is a hard one, so I’ll list books that I can read again and again.

Adam Bede or Middlemarch by George Eliot. Eliot writes as if she is painting a picture. Her stories feel so real and the sentiments feel so familiar that you cannot help but see yourself in her writing, even though she’s writing in the 19th century. She is known for her realism, but there’s something magical there.

Harry Potter by J.K Rowling - these are classic comforts.

Holes by Louis Sachar. I probably read this once a year. It is masterful story-telling.

I recently read Circe by Madeline Miller and it’s been a long time since a book felt that good to read; by the end I was completely stunned and couldn’t stop thinking of some of the moments in the book.

What are some of your favourite elements of writing/to write about?

I like writing about everyday emotions that anyone can relate to. I like turning the mundane into meaningful moments and metaphors that feel spiritual.

Do you have any goals with your writing, moving forward?

I want to write as a full-time career instead of a side hobby I delve into whenever inspiration hits.

Do you have any advice/words of wisdom/things-you-wish-you-knew-earlier that you would tell other writers?

I wish I knew earlier that writing does not require a degree. It sounds cliche but whatever you need to write is already within you, so all you really need to do is keep writing.

A big thank you to Nida for agreeing to this interview! We hope it has wonderful impact, but the best way for us to know is to hear from you, ​dear readers. Drop us a comment; we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Interested in being interviewed? The only requirements are:

1. that you are a published author: whether traditionally, through self-publishing, on a blog, site, fanfiction archive, Instagram, Wattpad, etc. We are not picky! Own that you’re an author!

2. your work is fiction, non-fiction, fanfiction, poetry, songs, or anything else that is written

3. your work belongs to you (in the case of fanfiction, transformative works are allowed) and has not been “written” by generative AI

Send us a message through our contact page and someone from our team will get in touch with you!

“Zamba Boukman, also called Boukman Dutty, a Papaloi or High Priest, was a literate Muslim; his chief assistant, the mambo Cécile Fatiman, a likely cognate with Fatima (and indeed, Cesil Fatima in Haitian Kreyol), might also have been Muslim.”

​ ​(Diouf 1998, 152-53, 229)

Do you sense it? The spiritual revolution awakened by Dutty Boukman in the mountains of San Domingue--present-day Haiti--to the rubble of Gaza? The great evil of European chattel slavery and occupation has kept this spiritual revolution alive.

When Cristóbal Colón (aka Christopher Colombus) a Spanish Jew, left Spain and landed in the islands of the Bahamas, he brought with him the oppression of the very empire that was oppressing his own people. Five centuries later, the ghost of that landing continues to haunt the world.

The Haitian uprising, its revolution, and its final phase of emancipation is a blueprint of how freedom is won. A man who wakes up to his own oppression and that of others, who sees that death is inevitable but an honourable life is not necessarily given to you, who becomes fully awake to the reality of his purpose, is a man that must be feared. He--like Boukman, Toussaint Louverture, and Jean-Jacques Dessalines--cements his name in history, carries his nation forward, and is the rallying cry of all oppressed people.

“...[C.L.R James] cast doubt on the assumption that the revolution would take place first in Europe, in the advanced capitalist countries, and that this would act as a model and a catalyst for the later upheavals in the underdeveloped world. Secondly, there were clear indications that the lack of specially-trained leaders, a vanguard, did not hold back the movement of the San Domingo revolution.”

--C.L.R. James: A Revolutionary Vision for the 20th Century

​As this new century marches forward, the old beliefs, ideas and traditional behaviors are again questioned. Societies and communities finding themselves in an existential crisis. The decay that the last century became with its excessive materialism, anti-God, individualistic humanism-- coupled with a loss of religious, social, and political community, and the destruction of familial bonds--has created (especially in Westernized societies) an apathy that is more destructive to the human soul than any other state.

We have to understand this is by design. The state actors involved in the push for apathy do not fear the people. They know that even though people are aware that their livelihood, communities, and societies in general are not quite what they should be, and that every generation is becoming not only spiritually poor but materially poorer than the previous generation, most just shrug this malaise off and lose themselves in the next shiny thing.

The debt of nations is out of control and personal debt is drowning many people. The notion of the traditional family has been obliterated, and traditional communities are, in many cases, fractured and disjointed. The war on religion has seen many churches closed; what used to be the center of Western communities and places of charity, commune and education, though flawed.

The school system, and education in general, have also come under attack through budget cuts, unsupported teachers and a general declining standard of education. The few non-apathetic people feel powerless to effect change and resort to safe methods of resistance without ever leaving the paradigm they have subscribed to.

Dissolution has set in and the rot continues to grow.

However, this can only last so long before someone or something begins to waken the minds yoked to this manufactured apathy. It is the law of all sick societies and systems--the disease eventually kills its host.

“Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression, because power, real power, comes from conviction which produces action, uncompromising action. It also produces insurrection against oppression. This is the only way you end oppression—with power.”

—Malcolm X

At the end of the eighteenth century, Boukman and Cécile Fatiman gather two hundred supporters in the Morne-Rouge area of Saint Domingue. After months of planning at a ceremony called Bois Caïman, the revolt begins.

Through strategic maneuvering, these leaders successfully unite a vast network of Africans, mulattoes, maroons, commanders, house slaves, field slaves, and free blacks. During the last weeks of August, the formally enslaved rebels move through plantation after plantation, burning, killing, and liberating many of the enslaved people who also join the rebellion. The plantation owners are overwhelmed immediately, French troops are badly beaten, and colonialist officials seek help from Cuba, Jamaica and the United States...but no help comes.

Battles rage and the capital eventually burns. Troops are sent from France and Boukman is killed in battle. The plantation owners, colonialists, and soldiers are vicious in their retaliation. Boukman’s head is severed and displayed as a warning and in revenge.

Despite shifting allegiances; power struggles between the French, Spanish, British and the United States; vicious attacks from colonial forces; and threats of slavery being re-enforced, the revolutionaries of Saint Domingue cannot be conquered.

After nearly twelve brutal years, the French surrender, the other colonial powers withdraw and the new Republic of Haiti is born.

“The renaming of French Saint Domingue as “Haïti” remains the only case of a Caribbean colony undergoing a radical change of name on achieving independence. Apparently meaning “rugged, mountainous” in the Taino Arawak language, the word was assumed to be the aboriginal term for the island Columbus christened “La Espanola.” The choice of name raises interesting questions about ethnicity and identity, and historical knowledge in the Caribbean.”

--New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids 71 (1997), no: 1/2, Leiden, 43-68

In choosing a Taino name, ‘Haiti’ became a symbol of radical remembrance of their brothers and sisters who fell to the Europeans, but whose souls still imprinted themselves on that land.

Little is truly known of the contact between the remaining Taino peoples and the leadership and architects of the Haitian revolution; what is known is that there was some knowledge and awareness of Haiti’s former inhabitants. Some Taino still lived in the remote southern coast of Haiti; those remnant people resisted colonial erasure.

The renaming of Saint Domingue to Haiti was also, at the time, an acceptance of the multi-ethnic society. With the various enslaved Africans, mixed race peoples, and indigenous Amerindians brought to Saint Domingue, a neutral, anti-European name helped connect and unite all inhabitants in this new free country.

​The Baron de Vastey (1814:2-3), a leading statesman of new Haiti, began his Système Colonial Dévoilé, published in 1814, with a long reflection on the fate of the Tainos.

“O soil of my country! ...Is there another whose unhappy inhabitants have experienced greater misfortune? ...Everywhere I tread or cast my gaze, I see shards, jars, tools, figurines, whose form bears witness to the infancy of art, [and, in mountain caverns, whole whitened skeletons] these remains that attest the existence of a people who are no more.”

“Natives of Haiti! I stood guard, I fought, sometimes alone, and if I am delighted to put back in your hands the sacred trust that you confided in me, remember that it is now your turn to preserve it…And you, a people who has experienced misfortune for too long, witness of the sermon that we utter, remember that it is on your constancy and courage that I relied when I embarked on the career for liberty, in order to combat the despotism and the tyranny against which you fought for fourteen years…”

--Procès-Verbal de la Proclamation de l’Indépendance d’Haïti (Statement on the Proclamation of the Independence of Haiti) Dessalines

When the people of Haiti won their freedom, they celebrated by eating soup joumou. This was a revolutionary act. The hearty dish commemorates January 1, 1804, the day Haiti was liberated from France. The soup was once served to French slave masters, but the slaves who cooked it were forbidden to eat it. After they won their independence, Haitians prepared and ate the soup to celebrate their freedom.

Haiti was the world’s first and only slave nation in history that won its own freedom. The brutality of chattel slavery in Haiti, and in the Caribbean in general, turned this simple act into a rallying cry to all of the Americas. The making of this soup wasn’t about imitating the master, or of creating a sense of equality.

When one understands the utter depravity experienced by the enslaved Haitians and of the enslaved in general, one can see that this act of eating soup joumou was an act of re-establishing their humanity, dignity and ownership of their own production and of their economic ownership over what they laboured to grow. Every ingredient came from their labour, made the colonial powers rich, and kept slavery lucrative.

​And thus Soup Joumou, once used as a dehumanizing tactic, became a dish of liberation.

“Speaking for the Negro, I can say, we owe much to Walker for his appeal; to John Brown for the blow struck at Harper’s Ferry. . . and to the anti-slavery societies at home and abroad; but we owe incomparably more to Haiti than to them all. I regard her as the original pioneer emancipator of the nineteenth century.”

— Frederick Douglass

The Haitian revolution did not just have a ripple effect throughout the nations of that time but continues to be felt to this day. European chattel slavery was a brutal system sanctioned by the Church and almost overwhelmingly accepted by European societies. The colonialist power players worked hard to dehumanize African human beings, creating racial hierarchies to permanently enslave Africans and their descendants.

The Haitian revolution destroyed those beliefs; the successful planning, execution and demands of the revolutionaries shocked Europeans and their American counterparts and planted the seeds of revolt throughout the Americas.

Violence kept slavery going and that became the basis of the United States. The gun prevalence in the U.S. began as the way to slaughter and subjugate the indigenous tribes, fight the British, and keep the enslaved in line. The legacy of slavery ushered in the consumeristic society we live in today. People suffered and died for luxury goods like sugar, coffee, chocolate, and indigo. Oil and mineral extractions being brought out of the earth continues this legacy of overconsumption of non-essential items, which has caused a poisoning of the air, water, and earth, making us all sicker--just as their counterpart, sugar, does.

And yet, freedom was gained through violence...but that is because of the violent nature of slavery itself. It would have been impossible for the enslaved to gain their freedom or for lands to become independent peacefully.

The idea of a ‘peaceful’ revolution came from the landowner class, such as Ghandi, who himself wanted liberation from the British...but was accepting of the status quo of the caste system and the continuation of the lower caste under subjugation. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders of the mid 20th century were heavily influenced by Gandhi.

Malcolm X famously said, “You don’t get freedom peacefully. Freedom is never safeguarded peacefully. Anyone who is depriving you of freedom isn’t deserving of a peaceful approach by the ones who are being deprived of their freedom.”

As this new century marches on, we must remember, learn, and honour the people that fought to live in freedom, dignity, and in control of their own livelihood. We cannot stay in this apathetic, static lifestyle while new imperialistic power structures are being implemented. Our perceived rights and freedoms can easily be rolled back to the 17th century. Our societies can easily become like enslaved societies again. We can already see many gains disappearing while we scroll endlessly on devices powered by rare earth minerals dug out of the earth by Congolese and Southern American mine ‘workers’ with very few rights, whose countries receive very little to no financial returns on their labour.

Haitians haven’t forgotten their past and even if they wanted to, the European powers do not allow them to forget. They are financially punished to this day for their victory against France and, in fact, against the holy belief in white supremacy itself.

“The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba--yes Cuba too.”

— Malcolm X

2025 may be drawing to a close, but we at Sakina Literary Society of the Arts are gearing up for an exciting 2026…but never fear if you simply can’t wait until then; we have a couple more events lined up for you!

Coffee & Connect

Sisters Only Gathering — Limited Spots Available!

Join us in conversation as we discuss Imam Jamil Al-Amin’s legacy, his life of sacrifice and unjust incarceration, and his book, Revolution by the Book: (the Rap is Live), which stresses that real revolution begins within ourselves upon our recognizing the sovereignty of God as Creator and Lord.

We will examine how faith over fear prevails in the fight for freedom and justice, as well as explore themes of spiritual welfare, community building, and unity.

🗓 Wed, Dec 24 | 7–10 PM
📍 10 York St, Toronto
✨ Women & girls only – limited spots!

RSVP Now!

Who was Imam Jamil Al-Amin? He was a convert born as Hubert Gerold Brown, and he headed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, was a member of the Black Panther Party, author of autobiography Die Nigger Die!, and an American freedom fighter who was wrongfully incarcerated. He endured more than a decade of horrible mistreatment in prison before succumbing to cancer on November 23, 2025, but his spirit remained unbroken when God called for his return.

We pray that he and all those enduring injustice and oppression be relieved from their suffering, have their rights returned to them in this world and the next, and are made beloved to the Beloved (صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) and our Creator. Ameen!

Ink Well Collective

We’ve had three meetups so far, in Scarborough, Mississauga, and Vaughan! Just before 2025 ends, we hope to squeeze in one more meetup in Toronto. Shoutout to the attendees who’ve braved the weather and the doldrums to gather and write!

Our next meeting will be on Friday December 19th at 7:30 pm. Location is TBA - we’re looking for a cafe open at the apparently late, late hour. Send us your recommendations, if you have any!

Want to learn more about Ink Well Co. and how to become a member? Click the button below!

Ink Well Co.

Fellowship Feature: “I want to be…”

Last but not least, we are honoured to share with you a poem by Ink Well Co. member Noorjahan Shaikh.

❝ I want to be that tree growing through stone
Ebb the ways of brain patterns that leave me feeling alone
I want to be the sea turtle that made it off shore
I need to make those wizard changes to make the me more
I want to start on that path where I have not been
To consider new ways opportunities to help left unseen
I want to feel strong hopeful worthy and clear
So I can be more than just a person who was here ​❞

Want to submit your work, in part or in full? Click on the link below! You do not need to be a member of Ink Well Co. for your work to be considered, though of course we’d love to offer you (free!) membership. And fun fact: you can submit anything, as long as it’s yours! We welcome all creative pieces, including but not limited to written work, digital or traditional art, music, videos, photography, and calligraphy!

Submit to us!

That’s all from us for now! Until next time,

Happy reading and writing ✒️

On October 18th, we held our second Coffee & Connect event. This one was titled Roots & Resistance: A Tribute to Assata Shakur, wherein we remembered and honoured the legacy of the late, great Assata Shakur—woman of resistance, member of the Black Panthers, godmother to Tupac Shakur, and exile from the U.S.

We also paid tribute to many other great female revolutionaries, including but not limited to Sayyida Khadijah (رضي الله عنها), Harriet Tubman, Nana Asmau, Amy Garvey, and Sister Souljah.

Check out our gallery for a look at how it went!

We had an amazing recitation of contributor Zaakirah Rose’s poem The Black Mother as well as a live performance by young artist Maysara.

We then wrapped up the night with a spirited discussion on revolution, resistance both violent and peaceful and Islam’s approach to both, and the humanitarian crises afflicting both Sudan and Palestine, as well as the global responses to both.

We also featured Sadagaat Canada, a registered not-for-profit organization collecting and disseminating aid to Sudan and its people. Visit them and give what you can to help our brothers and sisters there.

So ends our recap—now for what’s coming!

Namely, Ink Well Collective is having its second writing meetup at Studio.89 on Friday November 21st at 7:30 pm! We invite you to join us to write (anything your heart desires or a deadline demands), socialize with your fellows, and—if you’re a member—collect November’s membership memento.

Interested in getting a goodie? Membership is free; just fill out the form at the bottom of Ink Well Co.’s page. Want to bring a friend? Please do! No pre-registration is required; the more the merrier! And unlike Sakina Literary Society of the Arts other events, Ink Well Co. is open to men and boys as well.

We hope to see you there!

That’s all for now everyone, but stay tuned! We have more events planned and we’re very much looking forward to them. Until next time,

Happy reading and writing!

The Black Mother

by Zaakirah Rose. This poem was first recited at our Coffee and Connect event—Roots & Resistance: A Tribute to Assata Shakur—in October. We share it now in full, here, in case you missed it. (A recap of the event will be shared in our next newsletter!)

❝ ​I am the Black girl that crossed the dark sea
Carrying in my body the seed of the Free
Now home on Native land
I am the woman who worked on the field
Bringing the cotton and the cane to yield
I am the one who laboured as a slave
Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave
Children sold away from me, husband auctioned off, mamas voided too
No safety, no love, no respect was I due
A prey to white violence, a slave to white lust
No value, low-priced
Back then I sucked salt and bit the dust
Four hundred years deep in the South
But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth
God put a dream like a steel drum in my soul
Freedom gave fire to this body turned cold
Now, through my children, I’m watching the seed grow,
Post up like the Fruit,
Now, through my children, I’m hitting the goal.
Realize child the blessings denied to me
I couldn’t read then, I couldn’t write
I had nothing back then, not even the night
Some days the road was hot with sun
But I had to keep on till my work was done
I had to keep on! No stopping for me--
I was the seed of the coming Free
I nourished and nursed the dream, the struggle
That nothing can smother
Deep in my breast--
The Black mother
I had only one hope then, but now through you,
Black children of today, my wildest dreams must come true
All you dark children in the world today out there,
Remember my blood, my sweat, my tears
Remember my years, heavy with sorrow-
And make of those years a torch for tomorrow.
Make of my past a road to the light,
A revolutionary path
Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night. ❞

How Storytelling Saves Lives

by co-founder Na’eemah Martinez

How every good Bahamian story begins:

“Once upon a time and a good old time
Monkey chewed tobacco and spit white lime”.

“Have ya’ heard of B’rabbi and Br’fox? ‘Vell, B’rabbi is a rascal and his biggest nemesis is Br’fox. No two characters ever did hate each other like those two.

I blame B’rabbi the most though—now hear me out. A fox is doing just what foxes do; why now B’rabbi think he can just harass Br’fox all day every day and not think a fox will come for him? What kinda thinking is that?

That rascal was just bored, I think. Bored and maybe a bit jealous? ‘Cause Br’fox came up with some real clever tricks to trap him. Who can forget the ‘Ta’ Baby’ incident of ‘31? Ya never heard of the ‘Ta’ Baby’ incident? ‘Vell chile! Br’fox made a tar baby to catch and vex B’rabbi. And it almost work too...but unfortunately B’Boukee has a weakness too; he too greedy!

You want me to tell you about the ‘Ta’ Baby’ incident, ya say? I ‘ain gat time today but it’s very famous ‘round here. Ol’ Mrs. Pratt down the road, she gat time, ask her, but make sure ya gat time because the Lawd is my witness, that woman can run on!”

*

Storytelling saves lives.

If you ever sat at your grandmother’s knee or when the best ghost storyteller in the world was braiding your hair, you would agree. I never drank whiskey and walked by a graveyard, and I was ever suspicious of strange looking foods given to me by former enemies. It was the stories that saved me and will save you too. This was how it is in the Caribbean; moral lessons, sighting dangers, knowing your enemies and protecting yourself—all cemented by the stories that were told by grandparents, neighbours, strangers and the like.

Tales are told before we even enter the school systems, and their lessons and warnings become part and parcel of the soul. Algebra may be forgotten but not Anansi’s tricks. Not the fear of the spirit world when you are doing wrong. A suspicious decor hanging in a mango tree triggers a warning in the brain: ‘Obeah? Voodoo? A subtle warning—do not touch! Why? Because of the story of the obeah man who hung spells in his mango tree. All sworn to have really happened, backed up by your own run in with a possible ghost, evil spirit or a shudder from a place you have never been before. See, my neighbour Nova told no lie when she told of the spirit that followed a drunk and disrespectful man from the graveyard!

Still not convinced on the life saving power of storytelling? How many disobedient children ended up in peril? How many people fell for their enemies’ tricks? How many men underestimated the vengeance of a hurt, scorned and broken woman? None of them heeded the warnings of Aesop, Anansi, and countless folk tales of men and women surviving against all odds.

Read More

Last but not least…take a look at the first of the monthly mementos for our writing group, Ink Well Collective!

Buttons! These are for members only, but have no fear—becoming a member is as easy as registering here. By becoming a member, you’ll also get emailed updates on meeting times & locations, and the opportunity for your work to be celebrated on Ink Well Co.’s page and SLSoA’s socials!​ And don’t worry; you won’t have to commit to attending every meeting just because you’re a member. We know life doesn’t always work out that way.

Ink Well Co. also has a new FAQ section, which we’re sharing here for your convenience.

FAQ

Who can participate in and/or become a member of Ink Well Co.?

Anyone who wants to write with us! While Sakina Literary Society of the Arts is aimed primarily at serving Muslim women and girls, Ink Well Co. was established to meet the needs of all Muslim creatives as an under-served community. Non-Muslims are still welcome to attend and join, so long as all attendees conduct themselves respectfully.

What does a session look like?

At the start of our session, we’ll greet each other and introduce ourselves. Then, we’ll do a 30 minute writing sprint. Once the timer runs out, you’re invited to discuss your craft, plans, struggles, and successes, or share your work.

Do you offer virtual sessions?

Not yet! Ink Well Co.’s goal is to offer writers a way to socialize as well as write in a communal environment. Still, we understand that virtual sessions might sometimes be more accessible for you, so we have plans in the works! Watch this space!

Are sessions structured around writing prompts?

Nope! The idea behind Ink Well Co. is to create a space for writers of all types and genres to gather together to work on their individual projects and tasks...and prompts wouldn’t suit every type of writer/writing. But for those who want prompts, we’re happy to provide them!

I don’t consider myself a writer/I just have homework to work on/I just want to check out Ink Well Co. Can I still come?

Absolutely! As long as you’re respectful and join us in writing something, whether it be homework, a journal entry, or a to-do list, you’re welcome!

I have a suggestion regarding Ink Well Co. Where can I share it?

We’re happy to take suggestions, comments, and ideas. Please submit them to Sakina Literary Society’s contact page ​and we’ll get back to you. Alternatively, you can discuss directly with Sumayyah at one of the meetups.

Don’t forget—our first meeting is Friday, November 7th at 7:30 pm at Edill’s Coffee House. Drop-ins are welcome, though the cafe has a limited seating for laptop use, so it’s best if you register so we can confirm a seat for you (or just bring a phone, notebook, or tablet to work on instead).

We look forward to seeing you there!

Until next time, happy reading and writing!

Before we get into that though, we want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended our parent organization Baraka Umm Ayman Foundation’s event, Cycles of Care: Prophetic Guidance on Menstrual Health with author Chantal Blake! The turnout was incredible, your vulnerability was moving, and we all learned so much about ourselves, our bodies, and our Creator and His relationship with us.

Missed out? Want to reminisce? Check out the gallery of the event! And thank you to our contributor Sumayyah, acting in her capacity as a photographer, for capturing these moments.

Following on from that, SLSoA has got not one, but two new events coming your way!

October - Coffee & Connect

Sisters Only Gathering (Registration Required)

Theme: Community Check-Up | Women in the Struggle | Honoring the Legacy of Resistance

Join us for an evening of reflection, poetry, and connection as we honour the legacy of Assata Shakur — a symbol of courage, faith, and resistance. This is a space for women and girls to inspire one another, discuss meaningful social issues, and unite in the spirit of sisterhood and empowerment. Come for the conversation, stay for the community.

🗓 Saturday, October 18, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 10 Eva Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9C 0B3
•⁠ ⁠Party Room, Ground Floor
•⁠ ⁠Guest parking available — press intercom and state “Guests of 805.”

RSVP now! Spots are limited, so make sure to secure yours!

SLSoA’s contributor and poet in her own right, Zaakirah Rose wrote a beautiful poem inspired by current events, Assata Shakur, and this October’s Coffee & Connect event. Here’s a sneak peek at The Black Mother:

❝I am the Black girl that crossed the dark sea
Carrying in my body the seed of the Free
Now home on Native land
I am the woman who worked on the field
Bringing the cotton and the cane to yield
I am the one who laboured as a slave
Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave
Children sold away from me, husband auctioned off, mamas voided too
No safety, no love, no respect was I due
A prey to white violence, a slave to white lust
No value, low-priced
Back then I sucked salt and bit the dust
Four hundred years deep in the South
But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth
God put a dream like a steel drum in my soul
Freedom gave fire to this body turned cold...​​❞

Read the full poem on the blog!

November - Writing Meetup

Welcome to Ink Well Collective

↳ hosted by Sumayyah A.
kaatiba.com | instagram.com/@kaatibawrites

Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis’ literary group Inklings, this collective is an endeavour to make writing less of a lonely art, to encourage consistency, to inspire creativity, and to create an opportunity for Muslim writers to meet each other and their goals.

First Session 🖋 Friday Nov. 7 | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Location* 🖋 Edill’s Coffee House - 1412 Kennedy Rd #1A, Scarborough, ON M1P 2L7

*Session locations will rotate between Mississauga, Scarborough, Downtown Toronto, and Vaughan. Specific locations to be listed with each session date.
​
Registration 🖋 Optional! Drop ins are welcome, but registering is free and makes you an official member of Ink Well Co. ​ Membership will also grant you a monthly memento, emailed updates on meeting times & locations, and the opportunity for your work to be celebrated on this page and SLSoA’s socials!​
​
Attendance is never mandatory - we know life doesn’t always align with our plans.

Become a member here!

We cannot overstate how excited we are for both events! We’d love to see you there, would deeply appreciate it if you could spread the word, and look forward to offering you more great events, workshops, and gatherings like these.

Until next time, happy reading and writing!

Sakina Literary Society for the Arts is a project by Baraka Umm Ayman Foundation (BUAF), which aims to facilitate and support women and girls of the African diaspora through events that uplift and inspire, both spiritually and educationally.

So what’s this event? Well, before we get into it, we have a question for you…

You can learn about how, and much more, at BUAF’s exclusive summer event for Muslim women and health practitioners!

Cycles of Care: Prophetic Guidance on Menstrual Health will take place over not one, but two days. You can register for either or both - although Saturday’s event is a professional development workshop specifically for health care practitioners.

Register Here!

That’s not all! Chantal Blake, author of Peaceful Periods: Holistic Womb Care for Teens and founder of Honored Womb is our keynote speaker. She is a womb wellness educator and writer with a professional background in nursing, environmental engineering, and peristeam hydrotherapy. She weaves the fields of medicine, environmentalism, and holistic self-care into fascinating and practical instruction for women of all ages. Her book is an informatively curated reading journey for young women that is both empowering and enlightening.

We are so excited to be sponsoring this event. We truly believe it’ll be a phenomenal, eye-opening, healing experience, and we encourage you to spread the word and join us, learn with us, and celebrate with us!

Register Here!

We hope to see you there - make sure you secure your spot! Until next time everyone, happy reading and writing. ♥𓂃✍︎

Hoping to reminisce on the stories told and bonds formed? Missed out and want a glimpse into this and other events? Then check out our new gallery, with photos from SLSoA’s co-founder and photographer Sumayyah (who can also be found at Finder’s Capture).

That’s not the only new addition to our website! We now have a dedicated page to our team, which will grow and change as our crew does, God willing.

And thanks to all you wonderful sisters, we also have a testimonials page, and would love to collect more. We are, after all, only as strong as our community. Consider submitting your reviews to us on our contact page!

Last, but certainly not least, we want to give you a sneak peek into an upcoming major summer event. We don’t want to spoil too much but…

1. It’s going to take place over three days in August

2. It’s going to feature a renowned author

3. It’s going to be focused on women’s health

It will also be in collaboration with the Baraka Umm Ayman Foundation, which aims to facilitate and support women and girls of the African diaspora through events that uplift and inspire, both spiritually and educationally.

That’s all for now, folks. Until next time, happy reading and writing. ♥𓂃✍︎

In April of 1964, Malcolm X left the United States on his first extended trip aboard. He visited Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Morocco and Algeria.

He made the pilgrimage or hajj to the Holy city of Makkah that every Muslim seeks to complete, which entitled him to the use of "El Hajj" in his name and he became known in the Muslim world as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.

The Hajj solidified his journey towards traditional Islam and embracing a more inclusive and universal practice. It was a transformative experience that fundamentally shifted his worldview. The following excerpts are taken from letters written from abroad.

Jedda, Saudi Arabia
April 20, 1964

Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by the people of all colors and races here in this ancient holy land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciouness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.

Last night, April 19, I was blessed to visit the Holy City of Makkah, and complete the "Omra" part of my pilgrimage. Allah willing, I shall leave for Mina tomorrow, April 21, and be back in Mecca to say my prayers from Mt. Arafat on Tuesday, April 22. Mina is about twenty miles from Mecca.

Last night I made my seven circuits around the Kaaba, led by a young Mutawif named Muhammad. I drank water from the well of Zam Zam, and then ran back and forth seven times between the hills of Mt. Al-Safa and Al-Marwah.

There were tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans, but were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe could never exist between the white and non-white.

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases the race problem from its society. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with, people who would have been considered "white" in America, but the religion of Islam in their hearts has removed the "white" from their minds. They practice sincere and true brotherhood with other people irrespective of their color.

Before America allows herself to be destroyed by the "cancer of racism " she should become better acquainted with the religious philosophy of Islam, a religion that has already molded people of all colors into one vast family, a nation or brotherhood of Islam that leaps over all "obstacles" and stretches itself into almost all the Eastern countries of this earth.

The whites as well as the non-whites who accept true Islam become a changed people. I have eaten from the same plate with people whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blonde and whose skin was the whitest of white - all the way from Cairo to Jedda and even in the Holy City of Mecca itself--and I felt the same sincerity in the words and deeds of these "white" Muslims that I felt among the African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.

True Islam removes racism, because people of all colors and races who accept its religious principles and bow down to the one God, Allah, also automatically accept each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of differences in complexion.

You may be shocked by these words coming from me, but I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experiences and knowledge unfold it. The experiences of this pilgrimage have taught me much, and each hour here in the Holy Land opens my eyes even more. If Islam can place the spirit of true brotherhood in the hearts of the "whites" whom I have met here here in the Land of the Prophets, then surely it can also remove the "cancer of racism" from the heart of the white American, and perhaps in time to save America from imminent racial disaster, the same destruction brought upon Hitler by his racism that eventually destroyed the Germans themselves.....

Never have I been so highly honored. Never have I been made to feel more humble and unworthy. Who would believe the blessings that have been heaped upon an American Negro?...

...A car, a driver and a guide, have been placed at my disposal, making it possible for me to travel about this Holy Land almost at will. The government provides air conditioned quarters and servants in each city that I visit. Never would I have even thought of dreaming that I would ever be a recipient of such honors—honors that in America would be bestowed upon a King—not a Negro. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds.

Sincerely,
El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X)

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From the Author

Assalamu alaikum. I am 48 years old and I'm going through this life and its blessings with challenges looking to solidify and ground myself with good company insha Allah. I've sent this in because my Lord gifted me this blessing and I hope to give and receive through this connection with the Sakina Literary Society of the Arts.

May 17th was our inaugural Coffee & Connect event in celebration of Malcolm X’s centennial birthday, and it was a blessed, thought-provoking, moving, and interactive evening. We at the Sakina Literary Society for the Arts would like to thank our sponsors NORMM and the Baraka Umm Ayman Foundation, as well as our caterers Sweet and Savoury Bakes and Leteni Kahawa, for making this event possible.

We would also like to extend a special thanks to all our attendees - we had an amazing time and we were so delighted by your thoughtful conversations and passionate engagement.

But wait, there’s more! We have an exciting summer planned; see below for our upcoming events. We hope to see you there!

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Until next time everyone,

Happy reading, writing, and creating!

Looking at the remnants of my great grandmother’s home (or, as we called her, Mama or ‘Grand Dame’ to you)—it was here I learnt Prophet Elijah came to visit, ghosts and evil spirits get revenge and grief turns into song between Nova’s knees singing of burials while braiding hair.

Here was my first experience of death and that buildings could sway to negro spirituals that grip the soul. Of where insanity and family charity intertwined. The place where generations grew under poverty’s roof. One cent candies and possessed snakes came from the neighbour's house.

Imprinted forever upon little Nikkie’s soul: Mama’s lap and watchful gaze rocking on the porch, a hard black woman turned soft with babies placed in her care.

The legacy then passed to Mummy, the grandmother, depending on how she ruled and a new home. Jujus, soursop, goat pepper trees, bush medicine cured the body and the soul. Old cars rusting on the side and rats like cats forever at war; sometimes they won but we never stopped fighting. Her flowers and hedges were her pride, hibiscuses that I competed with the bees for its nectar. A walkway lined with fragile flowers as if they were an audience watching a fashion show. A massive evergreen that blocked out the unrelenting Caribbean sun, shading and darkening our bedroom.

I say ‘our’ because that is where I would sleep, to hear her prayers that seemed to last all night. The fireman, the policeman, the government, I believe owe their safety to her. She loved her island nation, forever a revolutionary for her people, even when the revolution died long ago. It is where I discovered Malcolm X, Bob Marley, good reggae and rude boys. Dancing in the kitchen, belly laughs while grits and johnny cake burnt on the stove. The pastors shouted from the t.v, the radio, and competed with Dallas and Dynasty for attention. Her house was loud, chaotic, terrifying, silent and lonely. The Devil, she swore, hung around under Jesus and John F. Kennedy’s watchful gaze. I learned prayer and a mother’s love combined to keep her little kingdom from exploding.

Beautiful beaches were my playground and prayer ground, trees my refuge and books my world. School work, my prison and writing my escape. Home with Char and Dave, or Mom and Step Dad to you. This was a complete opposite of Mummy’s house. Schedule, order, apples and granola. Quiet and education was the norm, yet it is where I developed belief in God and life passions. Because silence brings reflection. The groundwork was laid in Mama’s house, through those negro spirituals in the jumper church and silent wisdoms on her lap, to African stories of ’bir rabbie’ and ‘bir fox’ in Mummy’s house, when thankfully the power went off. No electricity meant story time. Char/Mom too is a great storyteller. In our tales we stay alive, connected to an African soul, long lost but never dead.

Home then moves around the world from the West to the East and back again, but the heart never travelled with the body. I think it stayed in Kemp Road, happy in the innocence of poverty, the last place any one in the world would think to look for it. The last place the Bethels, Millers, Gibsons Smiths, Thomas’s and a Martinez called home.

Photograph via Daniel Demeter

The brilliant blue skies above the ancient city of Damascus are suddenly filled with small black dots moving in formation, left to right, in circles or in waves.

​It was a hypnotic sight that I would watch like a TV show in the late afternoon from my apartment window. The pigeon coop was on the rooftop of the apartment building across from the beautiful 13th century Mosque of Muzaffar, commonly known as Jami' al-Hanabila. The ancient white minaret adorned the brilliant blue Damascus sky and as that bright sunlight hit the white stone, the effect was transcendent.

The pigeon man stood on the rooftop with his long pole, which he had tied a small strip of white cloth to the end of. The pigeons swayed left to right, up and down, swirling in the blue sky like little ballerinas on wings, obeying the pigeon man’s every command. I watched his skill; the calls that he made to the pigeons would puncture the relative stillness of that corner of Jabal Qasioun (or Mount Qasioun), where our latest apartment was situated.

My children played quietly with their toys as the peace that this particular area exuded permeated through our home. When people think of Damascus, peace is not usually a word they tend to associate with it. But Damascus is strange that way—especially, I felt, this particular mountain. The pockets of peace or times of tranquility can be as overpowering as the violence that lies in its shadows.

The pigeon man became a pastime that filled those days with a sense of order. After the late afternoon prayer, he and his pigeons began their ballet. I would sit watching him and wonder at his mastery over these birds, always amazed that they didn’t try to escape. I sensed what only can be described as love between them, and that kept me watching. It was more than master and servant, it was more than a command of man to birds; they were as if one. The man ended and the birds began.

These fanciers, or pigeon fliers, are descendants of an ancient Syrian practice that continues to this day. War and modernity has impacted this long heritage but on the rooftops of Syrian cities, one can still see the pigeons (or, for most fanciers, doves) performing their dance.

"By my life, I love the house wherein Sakina and Rabab live. I love her and for her would all my fortune sacrifice, without blame."

Lady Sakina’s merriness and elegance did not preclude her from her devotion to Allah which sometimes reached a degree of complete occupation with worship. When al-Hasan al-Muthanna, her paternal cousin, asked for her hand in marriage, her father told him, “I have chosen Fatima for you. She is the most from among my daughters to resemble my mother, Fatima. But Sakina is mostly engrossed in her devotion and worship of Allah.”

Lady Sakina accompanied her paternal aunt, Lady Zaynab, to Egypt. The majority of the narrators and historians unanimously agree that Lady Sakina married three times: first to Mus’ab ibn al-Zubayr, followed by Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Abdullah, and then Zayd ibn Amr ibn Uthman ibn Affan.

If the West may boast about the salonieres of the 18th century, the Arabs would be speechless with wonder at the salons held by Muslim women in al-Andalus which predated the western salons by centuries. The salons of Walada Bint al-Mustakfy in the eleventh century CE were a gathering for scholars, poets, artists, and writers. al-Walada’s salons were not the first in Islam.

​In the first century after the Prophet’s ﷺ emigration, the women of al-Medina al-Munawarra hosted salons and the first to institute them was Lady Sakina. Later, the women of Quraysh emulated the practice.

Lady Sakina’s salons were distinguished with refined literature, profound knowledge, and fine poetry. Many were the poets stood at her door seeking her permission to recite their poetry to her. These included al-Farazdak, Jarir, Jamil, and Katheer who, during the pilgrimage season, agreed together to attend Lady Sakina’s salon so she would judge who the best poet from among them was. Each recited his poem to her from behind a screen.

She died in 117 AH.