You're sitting down over a cup – or rather, a very large pot – of tea with Ayesha Chaudhry, a professor of gender and Islamic studies at the University of British Columbia in Canada, while she tells you her life story. At least, that's the feeling one gets when reading the pages of her memoir, The Colour of God, which was released mid-April.
From delving into her parents' upbringing in rural Pakistan, to her experience as a teenager in Toronto and finally her adult life, which is shaken by a personal tragedy, Chaudhry relates her memories while exploring how they have shaped her faith and identity. It's an immensely personal story – Chaudhry tells The National that she wrote the entire first draft in a notebook, in pen, in 2015, and kept making tweaks and edits until the book went to print in early 2021.
It is essential for young Muslims to have access to a breadth of Muslim feminist literature
The Colour of God touches on many of the "hot topics" revolving around Muslims in the West, such as the niqab, which has been banned in many European nations – the latest being Switzerland.
Despite being pressured by her family to start wearing the niqab in high school, Chaudhry is not averse to veiling – as long as it is practised by choice.
“My niqab was a mirror of sorts; people couldn’t see my face, but it revealed truths about themselves, like the limits of their tolerance, their willingness to be open, accepting, respectful of values different from their own,” she writes, adding that veiling was also about “individualism”, “agency” and “control over my body”.
“One of the neat things about the form of this book is that it has allowed me to explore and share stories of a complex human being, who, among other things, engages in various levels of veiling throughout her life,” Chaudhry says, adding that she made sure to tread very carefully when writing about the niqab and hijab.
“The politicisation of the veil is one of the wreckages of colonialism, and this is a wreckage that Muslim women, especially, have to sift through. One of the things that happens when a practice becomes politicised is that it dehumanises the people practising it; it is abstracted into an idea away from the human. In this book, I was trying to return humanity to the practice, where the reader could witness the embodied costs that result from the politicisation of the veil.”
Far too often, non-fiction literature dealing with Islam falls on either end of a spectrum – the ultra-conservative cultural arguments fixated on female modesty, or the uber-liberal view that strives to "save" Muslim women by banning hijabs and niqabs to force them to assimilate better into western society.
We are our parents' stories, and they are ours. So, I think there was no way for me to speak of 'my' story, without speaking of my parents' and grandparents' stories … all these stories are intertwined
Chaudhry describes these as “scripts” one falls into, and throughout her writing, considers the lenses she uses to tell her own story.
After experiencing racism as immigrants of colour when they arrived in Canada, Chaudhry’s parents turned to fundamentalism, preferring to be discriminated against for their chosen path of piety as opposed to the skin colour that they had no control over. They pledged themselves to a fundamentalist cult, and Chaudhary is all too aware that this part of her story fits easily into a narrow-minded, Orientalist “script”.
"I resent telling this story because it is too perfect. It gets too much attention," she writes. "My white friends love this story … I've used the story to sing for my supper, offered it as a course to be consumed … And though this experience is an essential part of my personal story, it is marginal, an exceptional among Muslims. It doesn't represent mainstream Islam or Muslims."
As she recounts and reflects on her path to self-discovery, Chaudhry weaves Urdu expressions and Quranic verses into her prose. She chronicles the cultural obstacles she faced as a daughter of strict Muslim parents in Canada, but also seems to make peace with her upbringing, partly by examining the socio-historical context of her own mother’s childhood.
“The stories we are raised with – religious, national, and familial – form our self-understanding,” she explains. “We are our parents’ stories, and they are ours. So, I think there was no way for me to speak of ‘my’ story, without speaking of my parents’ and grandparents’ stories… all these stories are intertwined.”
True to her background in academia, Chaudhry prefers to call her work "embodied theory" rather than a memoir, and The Colour of God is certainly more than a mere "coming of age" story – it's an enlightening lesson about recognising the limits and boundaries of family ties, forming your identity, finding your own path, processing grief and defining the terms of your faith.
It serves as inspiration for Muslims worldwide, whose religious convictions may not match their parents’ teachings.
“I’m grateful that I’ve been able to find my way – with love and support, through community – to a place where I can love Islam and feel that Islam loves me back,” Chaudhry says.
“It is essential for young Muslims to have access to a breadth of Muslim feminist literature because this literature allows us to be witnessed, to be seen, and in turn to imagine new futures.”
Chaudhry’s story will be relatable to any who have experienced an East-versus-West or religion-versus-culture identity crisis, and also to readers outside of these paradigms.
“I ask you, dear reader, to please avoid simplistic, exotic, dehumanised conclusions from this story,” she writes almost 100 pages into her book. “Try to find yourself in it. Look harder. You are here.”
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Education reform in Abu Dhabi
The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem -- science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.
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What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'
Tottenham 6
Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
