"How old are you?"
“Twelve."
"What do you like to do for fun?"
"I don’t know. Play with my friends."
"What do you want to be?"
[Mother, grandmother and sister whisper excitedly from behind the camera]: “A pharmacist!"
"Why in pharmacy?"
"I don't know, I want to help people.”

Absane, aspiring pharmacist

"Since you’ve become Muslim, what do you enjoy most about Islam?"

“I enjoy being around family and the community. And when you see any Muslim, you can say ‘salam’, which means ‘peace’ and you can strike a conversation with people you don’t even know. I love that."

"What has been the most difficult time in your life as a Muslim?"

“Losing my father was one of the saddest things I’ve experienced. He wasn’t Muslim, but he had a need to know what happens after death and I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to him about it from my perspective. He was looking for someone to talk about it, but I was too afraid and whenever it came up, I kept changing the subject. Death scared me and I still think about that."

~ Nicole

“I have a farm here in Ottawa where I have Arabian horses. You should come visit me and take a picture of me on the horses!”

~ Abu Ahmed - community elder

I want to make a new biomedical device that’s not available anywhere.  I’m trying to work on non-invasive blood pressure modelling, to do something optical instead of those cuffs, something you can wear that will tell you your blood pressure. That’s what I’m researching and maybe I’ll wind up making something like that.  

What do you want for Eid?
Anything. Actually, toys!

~ Siraj, Salahuddin, Zaid, Ibrahim, et al. at MAC Eid Festival

"This is a very precious time for the entire Muslim community but it’s also very special for me and my family. It’s an opportunity to contribute. To contribute just a little more. I always try to give a lot, but it’s always good to give a little more. Alhamdulillah two of my kids are volunteering here today."

~ Haji Ibrahim Noor at MAC Eid Festival

It’s about being happy. Because Muslims are happy too. And we love to meet people from all over the world.

~ Aisha and Aisha at the MAC Eid Festival speaking about  Eid Al-Adha

What gets you excited?
Space exploration, legos and silent films.
Why?
Space exploration, no explanation needed. Legos, because I love to build things and put things together. Silent films really make you appreciate the cinematography.

~ Sakina at the Palestinian Festival

"This is for my family. I do this to help my family, you know, to give my dad a chance to rest. My dad is my inspiration." - Waleed at Aladdin's Bakery

“Say: travel through the land and observe how He began creation.” [29:20]

Sailing down the Nile River on my way to work in Aswan City, I stopped to reflect before the breathtaking scene unfolding before me: the empowering sun overbearing above, an uncompromising terrain spanning rugged mountains and winding sand dunes with quaint homes dotting in between. These banks were once home to the mighty Pharaohs and Kings of antiquity. I spent a moment to take in the majesty of one of the most spectacular cities I’ve ever visited…for the last time.