Its automotive industry may not be so hot right now, but there’s always the next best thing for Detroit - Islamic art! Enthusiasts rejoice! The Detroit Institute of Arts has opened a permanent gallery of Islamic art, showcasing approximately 170 works of art from the Middle East, Central Asia, India and the Mediterranean region. 

Despite what we see on the news, not all political couples are doom and gloom. Take mayoral candidate and long-time Paterson resident, Andre Sayegh, and his Muslim-American fiance, Farhanna Balgahoom.

Leila Ghannam is joining the ranks of the rising number of women entering governing positions throughout the world. The 35-year-old former intelligence officer is now the governor of Ramallah, the capital of the West Bank.

During the 2010 U.S.-Islamic World Forum, which took place in Doha, Qatar from February 13th to the 15th, President Obama announced the appointment of Rashad Hussain as special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). And so at the end of the conference, all was well with the world. The Muslim community was happy, as the appointment reaffirmed the President’s commitment to continuing dialogue and reaching out to the Muslim world. Everyone else was put at ease since Hussain’s record of speaking out against violent extremism demonstrated that moderate Muslims do exist. And the fact that he’s a hafiz sent a message of “Look at that, religion doesn’t make people crazy after all!”

Since the discovery of “the Muslim” on 9/11, many have taken verbal shots at Muslim practices, culture, beliefs, people - you name it. These comments are sometimes made under the guise of dialogue and sometimes they’re simply meant to provoke. Regardless, elan is here to let them know, “We heard you and we think you’re a jerk.” But who’s been the most offensive of all? Well as a magazine that believes in democracy, we’re giving you the opportunity to decide. 

There are two types of Muslim women that appear often in the news: the oppressed Muslim woman and the Muslim woman who is defying the stereotype. That is not to say that there aren’t other types of women that appear in the media in association with stories about Islam (we can’t forget the sexy/exotic Muslim woman and the I-hate-Islam-and-am-no-longer-Muslim-but-please-use-me-as-a-legitimate-source-on-the-religion woman), but the news seems to harp on the oppressed and wow-look-at-her notes. 

Type the word “Muslim” into an app finder and you’ll probably be overwhelmed by the number of applications you get as a result. It’s hard to decide which ones to purchase and which ones you can live without. But have no fear, elan is here to help you distinguish between the good, the bad and the ones that make you think, “Why?”

Ever wish you could take a look back through history? The advent of photography has offered us a limited glimpse into the past, but just like historical narratives, photographs present a unique point of view that influences the observer. But what happens when various artistic points of view are brought together in the same space? 

Edina Lekovic’s passion for activism is one to be reckoned with. From her TV appearances to the leadership programs she helped create for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, it’s clear that Edina enjoys helping others and making a difference. And believe it or not - she has Peter Jennings to thank for all that. As the Communications Director of MPAC, Edina strives to create a more accurate image of Muslims in the media. But where did this passion originate and what can we expect from Edina in the future? elan is here to find out. 

Four animated, Arab grandmothers are taking over the world, one TV screen at a time. The hit UAE show “Freej” is soon to become the first globally distributed Arab series, centering around the lives of four traditional women living in a secluded neighborhood on the outskirts of Dubai.