It has been said over and over again that Allah (SWT) is the best of all planners and that we, humans, are unable to connect all the dots until we look back at our past.

@Heart traces back the dots of a young Iranian-American who became stranded on the shores of America, his determined journey to search out the path of inner peace, and his gift of humor and his ability to comment on key Islamic concerns facing many Muslims.

Using humor, Ali Ardekani and his Baba Ali persona have captured the attention of thousands of Muslims and Non-Muslims worldwide of all walks of life, traditions and thoughts; allowing himself and his production firm Ummah Films (www.ummahfilms.com) to discuss, educate and comment on current Islamic topics that many religious leaders (Imams) tend to shy away from, avoid completely or are not unaware of at all.

In these quick segments, Baba Ali, typically offers satire on a various trivial and complex everyday issue that face Muslims, such as “Speedy” Ramadan prayers, the enormous cost of Muslim weddings, or the slippery slope of backbiting. Ali makes it clear to all his viewers that he is not a scholar rather a fellow Muslim who has the ability to combine light comedy with a serious message.

- 1/4 cup of Passion
- 2/3 tblspn of Determination
- 1 Chef Who Loves To See People Smile
- And 100% Halal and Healthy

This is the perfect set of ingredients of a wonderfully successful food blog from Chicago, IL. known as My Halal Kitchen (www.myhalalkitchen.com) that is owned and run by Yvonne Maffei.

It’s her goal to provide a way to utiize family / friend time over meals, as a way to see what we have in common rather than what we have different. @Heart sits with this famous Halal Blogging Chef and Editor, Yvonne Maffei, by phone to slowly unravel her various courses on finding her way towards Islam, her determination to understand other cultures and her amazing gift of cooking Halal and Healthy meals for everyone she loves.

“Bismillah and Bon Appetit!” – Yvonne Maffe

It is a simple thing just a ball and a goal – Soccer. The most popular game played and viewed around the world. Soccer reaches far beyond the limits of its lush green pitch (field); it rallies neighbors, provides hope to citizens, gives countries respect and a sense of honor.
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For Abdul Rahman Sesay, a Sierra Leone teenager, it actually helped save his life amist his country’s horrible ciivil war. Between 1991 and 2001, about 50,000 people were killed in Sierra Leone’s civil war. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes, and many became refugees in Guinea and Liberia.
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@Heart is honored to sit with Abdul and have him recollect his amazing story how his skills in soccer provided a way to escape the refugee camps, attend the Guinea Soccer Club team, and provide an undergraduate scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

@Heart sits down with Mr. Khalil Momand who came to Los Angeles on a educational scholarship from Afghanistan in the early 1950's.

During his Masters studies at University Southern California (USC) Mr. Momand befriends like minded American Muslims who have a dream of developing an Islamic community for themselves and their families in the Los Angeles area.

The well known actor, of the time, Danny Thomas steps in to assist Mr. Momand and his conjuration in purchasing the land and property for their Masjid.

‘Quality and Getting The Story Out’ has been the passion and motto of Hassan Fattah a journalist and editor of English Arab Newspaper published in the UAE (www.thenational.ae).

Hassan was initially a focused his career path towards Mining and Mineral Engineering, a graduate from the UC Berkley California.

His amazing solo experience trip, prior to his college graduation, from Austrlia, Asia and finally the MIddle East helped forged the need to tell stories from the region. With some assistance Hassan transfers himself from the sunny skies of California to the sky scrapers skies of New York.

It is within the New York area that Hassan develops and sharpens his skills as a journalism and finds his calling as the eyes and voice of the fall of Bagdad. @Heart asks Hassan to recall the various adventures that finally led him to the career as the Editor-in-Chief of The National and his motivation.

In a late night self reflective soul searching moment a mission statement was written down that helped fuel a passion to provide Americans an insight and the benefits of its own American Muslim citizen population.

This idea became the spark that developed two sites on the web altmuslim.com: an introspective voice that helps promote a critical (and self-critical) analysis of issues regarding the Muslim world and zabihah.com: a global network of over 7,000 Halal restaurants and markets with nearly 30,000 user reviews.

@Heart sits with altmuslim’s founder and editor-in-chief Shahed Amanaullah to refelct on his mission and drive on making his public service to Muslims and non-Muslims alike a reality.

Autism is a form of pervasive developmental disorder with an unknown origin inflicting families of all racial, ethnic, socio-economic and religious backgrounds.
Prior to the 1980s, the term “Autism” was primarily thought to be rare, affecting approximately one in every 2,000 children. As of 2006, the numbers rose to an outstanding one in 110 children and one in 70 boys.

Muslim families are not immune from its impact and often feel lonely and challeneged. @Heart is honored by sitting with and having a warm and open discussion with Dr. Dina Eletreby on her personal journey as a determined mother to ensure that her loving son Kareem gets the best services available.

Valuable Links:

1. Autism Society of America, http://www.autism-society.org
2. Autism Speaks, http://www.autismspeaks.org
3. Autism Research Institute, http://www.autism.com
4. Interfaith Disability, http://www.interfaithdisability.org

Muslims Sharing Their Experiences:

1. http://communityoptions.blogspot.com/2007/11/islam-and-autism.html
2. http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout&cid=1225698008474

One can only guarantee a positive image and portrayal to the world by having ones own publication. This has been the mantra of AZIZAH magazine (www.azizahmagazine.com) since its establishment in 1999.



Its founders Tayyibah Taylor and Marlina Soerakoesoemah takes its readers through its pages of substantive articles ranging from Deen/Religion, Lifestyle, Poetry and Well Being. All of its articles are written from the perspective of the thinking Muslim woman, avoiding any didactic voice, and addressing persons or issues pertinent to its readers.



@Heart sits in a personal conversation with Tayyibah Taylor and recalls her path of finding Isalm and her dedication and motivation on developing a professionally constructed American Muslim Women magazine known as AZIZAH magazine.

The Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge (www.iclcf.org) was formed by a new generation of American Muslims who’s vision see beyond the weekly Sunday School Programs and Lectures of their Masjid and view a need of a neighborhood presence. These young American Muslims families have realized the lack of American Muslims participation in the numerous social and religious activities that impact within their own neighborhoods.

@Heart sits with Levent Akbarut (Steering Committee Member of ICLCF) to reflect back at his Islamic realization and how that helped led him and other ICLCF members not only become an integral group for their neighborhood, but also as a reliable Muslim resource for the various religious denominations that reside within the city of La Canada Flintridge.