Zainab Salam
Capitalism has no place in Islamic practices
November 11, 2025In this social media age, we are invited inside people’s homes to witness their daily lives. We catch glimpses of the way they practice their faith, celebrate events, and live out their daily rituals. Some of that content details the festive rituals that Muslims partake in when observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Unfortunately, a subset of those activities is misaligned with core Islamic teachings. Over the last few Ramadans, I have noticed, along with anyone who has spent time online in that corner of the internet, the growing visibility of capitalist consumerism among Muslim influencers. From lavish iftar…
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Finding beauty in ordinary nature
November 11, 2025Driving up Burnaby Mountain the other day, I was engulfed by a sense of awe at the scenery that surrounded me. The sight of the yellowing leaves dotted with raindrops that sparkled like tiny jewels. And the alluring sheen cast…
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Learning Spanish made my world more expansive
November 11, 2025When I was around eight years old, I had a friend who used to take me to her church’s community hall on weekends. Being me, I was always open to learning new things. So I’d attend her afternoon reading circles…
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My journey infiltrating the country of Islam
November 11, 2025Mission report: Desert Day 1 Subject: Bringing Civilization™ to the so-called Orient. “Girl, we going to Islam?” That is what I asked my adjutant upon dismounting the camel. He nodded gravely. Neither of us knew exactly where the country of…
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We need to persist beyond symbolism
November 10, 2025Every September 30, since 2021, we see public statements made by institutions and corporations that are still operating on unceded land — statements to remind us to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is also known…
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Convenience isn’t always indulgence
November 10, 2025Working in the food service industry, we often receive single-item delivery orders for something easy to make. When that happens, at least one person makes a snide remark regarding the “silly” notion of making such an order. The assumption is…
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A Squishmallow-cuddling partner is a no-go
November 9, 2025Squishmallow stans may be ready to march with their plush armies after reading this article, but the truth is, owning a Squishmallow just might be a sign of the times. From what I’ve been witnessing, some people are buying in…
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We must choose to rest and re-charge
November 9, 2025Today’s jam-packed schedules have become the norm. Most people have to juggle a seemingly endless list of tasks and responsibilities just to keep up with the demands of modern life. Plenty of the people I have worked with — in…
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Reading for joy is enough
November 8, 2025You’ve probably witnessed it before — someone suggesting, with smugness only a self-proclaimed intellectual can summon, that reading authors like Dostoevsky is the only proper way to engage with true literature. I say this as someone who has spent many…
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The sweet relief of no final exams
November 8, 2025Don’t you just love it when a course doesn’t have a final exam? I know I do. A certain joy overtakes me when I realize that one of my courses won’t end with me scribbling furiously under the watchful eye…
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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
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For promotional inquiries: [email protected]
Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]