Samia Rahman is perplexed by our complex network of relationships, Aamer Hussein looks back on his affectionate bonds with the great Urdu writer Qurratulain Hyder (aka 'Annie'), Syed Nomanul Haq follows classical scholars seeking royal patronage, Piro Rexhepi crosses borders in the Balkans, Annalisa Mormile traces the roots of disunity in the EU family, Benedikt Koehler highlights how the Italian scholar of Islam Leone Caetani saw East/West Relations, Julian Bond and Fatimah Ashrif engage in a (loving) interfaith dialogue, Mohammed Moussa explores family ties in Japanese politics, Elma Berisha is horrified by the spread of homogeneity, Michael Vicente Perez suggests that feminism is for everybody, Saulat Pervez sets out to cultivate reading habits, Ayisha Malik goes on a date in full hijab, and Ziauddin Sardar fails to cope with a troublesome Auntie. 

Also in this issue: a short story by Muddasir Ramzan, poetry by Mohja Kahf and Perzada Salman, Safeena Razzaq's illustrated guide to the 'Problems of a Brown Girl', Nadiah Ghani on Muslim fashion, Aysha Garaeva on Soviet 'death journeys', Hassan Mahamdallie on the holy ignorance of Salafis and Islamists, Henry Brefo's Last Word on African Chiefs and our List of the Top Ten relationship break-ups.