If you have been anywhere near Facebook or Twitter lately, which no doubt you all have, then you have heard about the upcoming release of the film Mooz-lum. The film depicts the American Muslim experience through the journey of young man entering college in the wake of 9/11 and follows him as he questions both his identity as an American and Muslim. Even pre-release the film is resonating with young American Muslims across the United States. Mooz-lum‘s Facebook page already boasts close to 60,000 fans from just this summer alone. The hype surrounding the film is the result of years of struggle and hard work, particularly by Mooz-lum‘s writer and director, Qasim “Q” Basir. In a candid interview with Nadia S. Mohammad of Elan Magazine, Basir speaks of overcoming personal adversity and how his faith has guided him to create films that inspire positive change. 

Muslim Woodstock. Deenstock. Streets. Whatever your fancy, IMAN’s Takin’ it to the Streets event in Chicago last weekend was quite simply awe-inspiring. And we are all still recovering, or rather, re-discovering what it means to be Muslim in America today. 

Amir Sulaiman needs no introduction. The native New Yorker, writer, activist, and educator has been a prominent figure on the spoken word scene for several years now. His poems transcend cultural and religious boundaries and speak of the ailments of all humanity. Twice featured on HBO’s Def Jam Poetry, his powerful call for socio-political consciousness and change has left audiences and critics alike in awe whenever he performs. With his latest album, The Meccan Openings, soon to be released, Sulaiman talks about his pilgrimage to Mecca, his faith and the power of words to create change. 

Using his words as dawah, Boonaa Mohammed, is a driven poet with unique name and a clear message. A gifted story-teller, twenty-two year old Mohammed entertains as he teaches and has been dubbed the, “voice of a generation.” His work was most recently published in the anthology, Pieces to Pieces: Stories About Fitting into Canada, and he just released an album of poetry called Stranger to this World. A first generation Canadian, Mohammed talks about the discrimination he faced growing up, his fascination with television and film, and the need to unplug and find inner taqwa. 

Only eighteen years old, Ainee Fatima, is a force to be reckoned with on the Chicago spoken word scene. This young firecracker is a two-time winner of Chicago Public Radio’s Louder Than a Bomb contest. Her poems speak openly and eloquently about topics all young Muslims go through growing up, yet few Imams know how to address - How do you fall in love Islamically? How do you keep your iman when the boy next-door’s lips are just so kissable? Where do your parents’ cultural tradition end and your identity begin? And why can’t parents just understand...?! In her own words, Fatima talks about her personal struggles with faith and tradition, understanding parents, and her hopes for her writing.