It has been a very icy winter in Montreal-probably in Toronto as well.It has given me the chance to recount the story of my grandfather.He came from Russia in the early 20th century(1906 I believe) and was in the habit of screwing cheese-graters into the bottom of his boots in the winter to get more traction.They didn’t sell boot crampons then like they have now.He was in his eighties by then ,but his Canadian neighbours convinced him that we didn’t do that in Canada and it looked foolish.He listened to them,fell on the ice the first winter he didn’t wear his cheese-graters,broke his hip and died within a few days.He was my favourite person in the family,the only other Truth-seeker I knew, so I was very sad.

But the lesson was screaming out to me! “Don’t worry about what others think!” That is an important lesson for many,many Muslims nowadays amongst others and of course,for the reader as well.Shakespeare was right on when he said”To thine own self be true”.I hope you can do that in whatever way seems right to you.The only ‘other’ that counts is Allah,himself. Salaams,Ibrahim