What was the initiative?
in.tasaluh (ﺗﺻﺎﻟﺢ, reconciliation) is a peer-led initiative creating gentle, faith-grounded spaces where Muslim youth can talk openly about sexual health, relationships, emotional intimacy, identity, and self-learning. Rooted in Islamic values of mercy, patience, and compassion, in.tasaluh starts from a simple premise: your body is a
trust from Allah (SWT), meant to be honored, understood, and cared for. Shame thrives in silence — and silence doesn’t protect us; it leaves us unprepared and disconnected from ourselves. in.tasaluh bridges that gap by offering a space to learn without shame, distinguish culture from religion, and build healthier foundations for
relationships and faith.
What was the community connection?
Mai built in.tasaluh from within her own community, for Muslim youth aged 18–25 in Montreal. Programming grew through genuine relationship-building with local Muslim student organizations, most notably the Black Muslims Initiative (BMI) at McGill.
How was it innovative?
in.tasaluh occupies an intersection most programming avoids: Islam, sexual health, and peer education. Rather than importing secular sexual health content into Muslim spaces, in.tasaluh centers Islamic frameworks as the foundation: the concept of amanah (trusteeship of the body), the distinction between ﺣﯾﺎء (haya — modesty) and ﻋﺎر (‘aar-shame), and the ethic of mercy toward others and oneself. Sessions were intentionally small and multi-format (workshops on body literacy, Tea & Chat gatherings, journaling, and body mapping), designed to ease participants into conversations that might otherwise feel too vulnerable to enter. Community members were also invited to co-create future programming, making the initiative participatory from the start.
What is Mai doing now?
Mai is joining the Pathy Foundation Fellowship team as Outreach and Operations Coordinator, bringing her fellowship experience full circle as she supports future generations of fellows and plays a supportive role in youth empowerment and education. Alongside this, in.tasaluh continues to grow intentionally as Mai builds a team to ensure the initiative stays truly community-owned.