The Aadil’s Not Anti-Semitic Crowdfunding Campaign is now LIVE. Please visit http://LaunchGood.com/thenewislamophobia OR thenewislamophobia.ca to join the Movement!- Nadir Shirazi March 7, 2024

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright Multifacet Diversity Solutions Ltd. 2024

Ticket number A57 please come to counter 1!

Aadil looked down at his ticket number. It was A57. God bless these Halal meat counters. They tried to be so professional…

…but somehow the systems were never followed.

Some aggressive aunties who clearly had not gotten the memo brushed past him demanding attention in Urdu.

“Maam, apko ticket chaya (you need a ticket maam).”

But aunty 1 pointed to the sign that said, NO CUTS, NOT CLEANS, NO TICKETS.

She then proceeded to order chicken with no cuts, no cleans, and of course then mixed in a beef order that required those very things.

The Afghan butcher with guts on his apron and a permanent scowl looked at Aadil to see if he had any complaints to losing his turn, the aunties turned around.

Some battles were not worth fighting.

“It’s okay.”

The aunties didn’t even thank him. Why would they? Halal meat selection before Ramadan was their right after all.

Aadil looked at his ticket. With so many of them clamouring for attention it was about as worthless now as one of Justin Trudeau’s reprimands of Israel.

I guess Joe Biden was Trudeau’s aunties in this case, because bhangra Justin just danced to the Genocide Joe’s tune.

Aadil’s backing down was about halal meat, but his Prime Minister’s cowardice was about the real butchering of people in Gaza.

He tossed his ticket and felt empty.

 How was he supposed to try to focus on Ramadan in a few days?!

Israel was literally planning a major offensive in Ramadan. No amount of condemnation seemed to deter them or care.

What’s worse every few days some politician would stand up to denounce some Anti-Semitic act.

It made him think of Solomon’s text. Surely his old friend didn’t think he was Anti-Semitic?

Aadil shook his head because kids in Gaza didn’t have the luxury of negotiating misrepresentations of protest. Many of them wouldn’t even be alive by the time Ramadan started.

Aadil was lost in thought and he found himself in the date section.

There were so many options, and he immediately grabbed some Medjool dates.

“Did you check where they are from?”

Aadil looked up to see a woman wearing a dupatta in Pakistani style. It was another aunty but this time a friendly one.

“Aunty Zainab, Assalamalaikum.”

“Walaikumassalam Aadil beta, how is your mum.”

“She is great.”

Besides being thoroughly disappointed in her unemployed son.

“That is great I will call her, but I wanted to tell you as well we will be doing an Iftar (fast breaking) next weekend. You come and bring your parents.” Zainab aunty grabbed the package of dates and flipped over the code.

“Fatima bring your phone here to see if these are from Israel.”

Aadil turned around, and immediately turned back.

Zainab aunty was looking at him with a peculiar look.

“Aadil this is my niece Fatima.”

“Salam.” he murmured trying hard to look not look. Muslim men were supposed to lower their gaze but where should he look?

Aadil looked at the piles of dates while trying to not look rude

Arguably the prettiest woman he had ever seen was standing in front of him. Her hijab and sunglasses on the top of her head were cool. She had an expensive designer bag, and was dressed modest yet fashionable.

Stupid you are gonna be fasting in like two days. Focus.

Fatima scanned the packaging and a green check mark appeared.

“This package is free from Zionism Phupo.” Fatima went to pass it to her aunt but Zainab aunty nodded towards Aadil, “It’s for Aadil. Aadil this is my niece Fatima. She will also be at the Iftar next week that you and your parents will. Her father is in IT like you.”

What is happening here?

Fatima handed Aadil the date package.

"You really think they would have Israel dates in a halal grocery store?” he asked

Fatima nodded and her face took on a serious look. “These manhoos (bad omens) cleverly hide behind subsidiary companies to get their products into Muslim hands during Ramadan.”

Aadil was furiously trying to think of something clever to say.

“Thanks for the date-a” Aadil waved the date package in his hands to emphasize the corny joke.

It was a dumb try, but somehow Fatima laughed. “You aren’t a dad are you because that’s literally something my dad would say. Maybe it’s an IT thing. Speaking of Phupo (aunt) I have to go, I will see you next week.”

She hugged her aunt and pushed her grocery cart leaving Aadil and her standing alone.

“My niece is pretty right and smart.” Somehow tiny Zainab aunty was standing 10 foot tall over him.

“Ummm gee aunty.”

“Then show her to your ammi (mom) next weekend.” Aunty was growing taller. “She has lots of boys interested in her, but you are a seedah saadah ladkha (good man) with a steady job. She’s pretty, she’s a human rights lawyer, namazi (she prays), and of course our family is good like yours. I was going to talk to your mom about it but Allah had it so we met today. I have already told her parents about you.”

“Close your mouth beta acha nahi lagathahi (it doesn’t look good).” She continued when he didn’t respond.

“Okay aunty, I will tell my parents. I just need to go get another ticket and get some meat my first time wasn’t successful.” He was bracing himself for a repeat of earlier failure.

Aunty laughed. “Who uses a ticket.”

She walked forward and spoke in fast urdu, to the aunties and the butcher pointing at Aadil. He thought he heard her say that he was Saadia’s (his mom’s name).

“Zainab" was all he heard as the other woman started talking to each other and like the red sea opened a path for him at the counter.

The power of aunties was undefeated. If they were in charge of the world the Palestinians would already be free.

The Aadil’s Not Anti-Semitic Crowdfunding Campaign is now LIVE. Please visit http://LaunchGood.com/thenewislamophobia OR thenewislamophobia.ca to join the Movement!- Nadir Shirazi March 7, 2024

Aadil's Not Anti-Semetic is created by Nadir Shirazi M.Ed. a former Multi-Faith Facilitator at the University of Toronto, and former Religious Diversity Consultant. Aadil's voice is the voice of the voiceless calling for a ceasefire to save the Palestinian people. For those who truly believe that Anti-Zionism is NOT Anti-Semitism.