About me

I’m a writer, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialoguer and Online Media Specialist. I’ve been operating in the field of Online Journalism for over 12 years, and pursuing online inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue for over 6 years.

Though, as you reckon after surfing through my writings, I tend to focus mainly on Culture and Religion, I’m also interested in Self-Development, Spirituality, as well as Travel Writing…

I’ve been working in the Field of Online Media starting its inception in the Middle East and have had the privilege of living through all of its phases of development and transformation, reaching the stage of supreme influence social media now enjoys. And this is how and why I came to believe in the power of Words.

Among my career stops; MSN Arabia, alJazeera, Tanweer, Free Voice, Dar al Ifta al Misryah (Egyptian House of Edict), and most recently founding my own media project The Muslim Tribune (www.muslimtribune.org).

Sajida!

”’Sheikha Sajida”’ is a pen-name I adopted late in 2004 under which I wrote my daily column on alJazeera.com.

In this column I attempted to clear much misconception about Muslims and Arabs, while trying to sow better West-Muslim ties and that through dialogue and answering many controversial questions all related to the perceived animosity between the two warring cultures of the world.

I continued using the same pen-name even after deciding to separate form the British political magazine, in an attempt to take my cause to a new phase, enjoying more freedom to tackle various issues that are not solely linked to politics but also include culture, religion, and clash  of civilizations. Until I stopped using it completely in recent years.

Sajida’s column was quoted in John Esposito’s popular book Who Speaks for Islam, in a column wherein I discussed Sharia Law and the fact that it doesn’t contract Human Rights Laws.

The reason I adopted a pen-name in her Islamic-related articles and those dealing with Middle East issues, is an old desire to consider writing in various fields away from Religion and politics. But later on I decided it was time for my readers to deal with my true self and original identity.

I resigned from Al Jazeera publication in 2007 as the magazine editor in chief, and contributed ever since to the content to several online and print publications of fields and specialities.

- ”’Concepts and Beliefs”
Under the penname of Sajida I wrote hundreds of articles and answers to readers questions, all with the aim of clearing the negative impact of mainstream media that planted deeply rooted animosity between the Muslim world and the West, with loads of misconception about the two sides.

Sajida’s writings included analytical editorials that didn’t only focus only on politics, but they also dealt with religion, history, culture and modern issues.

The tremendous unjustified extent suffering inflicted upon many nations in various countries across the globe had always been occupying a great portion of Sheikha Sajida’s thinking. Poverty, injustice, greed, double standard, have come to stand as the foremost elements shaping today’s world.

According Sajida, as super powers strive for dominance over the world nations, a completely unethical war is being fought, against countries, governments, ethnicities, values, and above all religions, and it’s the role of the intellectuals on every spot on earth to root out such injustice and try every possible way to instill peace in our troubled planet.

- ”’Installing Peace”’
When she tackles political disputes and religious issues she’s not not just concerned about the lack or actually the absence of knowledge about the Arabs and Muslims in the West, Sajida has long assigned herself the task of battling on two fronts: fighting the stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs in the West on one hand, and rooting out the anti-West animosity.

At the end of the day, Muslims are not aiming at the annihilation of European and American states, likewise, Westerners are not pure enemies of the Arabs.

Using the power of words is what I have been doing for over 12 years and God willing what I shall be doing for the rest of my life. And for me media, as it reads, is a tool, used to grant words efficient outreach to the right audience.

Contact me via E-mail at: youssuf.maha@gmail.com

Also you can follow me on Twitter: MahaYoussuf

And join my network on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maha.youssuf