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5 Tips To Rethink Women in Islam
I am described as a dynamic, assertive, energetic woman. As a teenager, I did not necessarily want Islam to be a piece of my rambunctious identity. I was loud, crazy and fun and I saw piety and religiosity as opposite my most prized traits. At fourteen, my family decided we would visit Mecca for a holy pilgrimage. I was apprehensive; I feared that such a visit might make me somehow devout and that was the last adjective I wanted to use when describing myself. But going to Mecca was everything I never knew I needed. Seeing the Ka`bah transformed my life. And in an effort to maintain a connection with the Divine once I had returned back to high school, I began reading the Qur'an in the English translation.
Reading the Qur'an in the English translation changed me. The more I connected with it, the more I realized I had been blessed with my dynamic qualities so that I could channel them for His Sake by giving speeches and being involved with leadership and community activism. I became the student body president of my public high school and received an award of Student of the Year, presented by previous Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was involved in leadership activities with an ever-present hope of helping my greater society understand the beauty of Islam and the empowerment of Muslim women. I had been wearing hijab but now I began wearing it fully and taking pride in it as a symbol of my liberation. I experienced a newfound passion to study Islam because of the empowering message I experienced from the Qur'an, to me as a female, and I wanted all to know that Muslim women are truly liberated.
And so, I began to study. I started taking Islamic classes constantly. The classes I took were mainly from one particular type of methodology and they specified that they were the only authentic source of knowledge. I thus started shunning information from sources other than those I assumed were specifically approved by this outlook. I also started taking private classes with those I considered to be the most virtuous Muslim women. What I did not realize, however, is that I was associating religious understanding with rigidity. Those who were the strictest, I had decided, had to be the most pious. From these sources, I began to learn things I had never heard before, amongst which was that a Muslim woman should not really leave the home1 and that women should not be outspoken, particularly in front of men.
The more I learned, the more I changed. I was no longer the energetic, excitable woman who shared her love of Islam with all those around her. Instead, I became insecure. I thought that God had not blessed me with all of my qualities so that I could help people around me see the beauty of Islam; I worried that God had given me these qualities to test me in life, to see how much of it I could contain, how much of it I could ensure would never be seen in public. I wrongfully realized this was one of my biggest tests; hiding who I really was so that I could become what Islam really wanted from me as a Muslim woman.
I also learned, over and over, that I was a fitna (temptation, test) for men. Muslim women who I thought were very reverent came to me to tell me I should cover my face, lest men have distracting thoughts because of my existence (this was to be in addition to the large jilbab (long body covering) I wore and the scarf which went past my torso and already covered much of my face).2 With this newfound realization that I could possibly be the reason a man commits a sinful thought and that men and women should not speak unless out of absolute necessity, I stopped speaking to men as much as possible (including simply greeting my own male relatives, those who had raised me, who were not blood-related). Whereas I used to politely greet the men I would see on a daily basis at school, in classes or the security guards in the library, in an effort to help them see the beauty of Islam's kind interactions, I now limited my speech to only what was absolutely necessary, and a greeting was not one of them. I was the President of the Muslim Students Association at my University because no other male or female would accept the role, so I tried my best to be as brief and mechanical as possible when having to communicate with men. I tried to cover my face as much as possible, a task that proved difficult because my mom, a strong woman, was shocked at my sudden transformation and feared I was completely changing who I was without understanding its consequences.
Her observations of me, those shared by my father and those who had known me since childhood, were of deep concern for my development and sudden, drastic changes. I had gone from a woman who drove to pray fajr and isha everyday in the masjid, from a woman who regularly performed spoken word and delivered public speeches, from a woman with an active lifestyle who held a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, from a woman who was known for her leadership skills and ability to mobilize people, to a woman who shut herself in her room as much as possible and who constantly lived in psychological fear of becoming a form of temptation to men. I was not afraid of men themselves; I was afraid my covered presence could be the reason one of them had an un-Godly thought.
I, on the other hand, dismissed the apprehensions of those who knew me best and loved me most. As painful as it was, I felt this was the path I had to take up if I wanted to be a righteous, believing Muslim woman. And so I made excuses for those who voiced their concerns; I believed that they simply did not know what Islam really taught- even if many of them had degrees in Islamic law or had studied Islam for years. What they were trying to tell me was the opposite of what I was being told was "The Truth" in the classes I had begun taking and in the books and websites I had started reading.
Aside from the religious teachers who espoused the methodology to which I had ascribed, there was one Imam who recognized the difficult path I had put myself on. He personally continually checked in with me, reminding me of the differences of opinions, of the comprehensive nature of Islam, of the easygoing nature of the Prophet ﷺ. I saw him as my greatest spiritual role model and mentor, but I was entrenched in my personal outlook and had trouble changing my perspective and habits. However, I would cling onto his words as if they were the lifeboat of a person who was drowning. Even if I couldn't get to coast at that point, I still felt like in the future, there could be a way back to shore. While it took time, his counsel planted seeds that stemmed and helped ground me in the stages to come.
It was around this time that I took a class in college titled Islam, Women and Sexuality. The only reason I enrolled in this class was so that I could defend Islam if necessary (you know, since I knew everything). In the class, I was suddenly exposed to information I had never heard before; the Professor introduced certain information on women in marriage, in divorce and in child custody. I had never heard of the issues she brought forth, but they sounded far from liberating. I had no tools through which I could defend my religion. All I knew was that I felt she was wrong, and that whatever scholar she had quoted was mistaken or misunderstood.
It was in that class, for the first time since I had decided I wanted to fully live Islam and dedicate my life to it, that my faith was challenged. I began to have doubts in Islam's empowerment of women and I was afraid to speak them aloud because I feared they would become tangible. I knew Islam was the truth; the science in the Qur'an, the power of its message, the miracles of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his life, it all resonated so strongly in my mind and heart that I knew it was from the Divine. But it was painful to consider Muslim women not truly being liberated in what I considered the most liberating religion. So out of fear, I intentionally ignored my doubts and focused on what I knew brought me spiritual exhilaration, and that was memorizing the Qur'an.
By now, I had been reading the Qur'an in English for about six years. At this point, I could understand the basic message but I knew that if I wanted to understand it in depth, and if I wanted to become a Muslim scholar (as I did, bar the whole studying about women thing), I would need to learn Arabic. Thus, after college, I was blessed with going to Egypt to study Arabic and Qur'an. And there, it was the first time I finally witnessed what it was like for Muslim women to live in a Muslim-majority country, where there was no huge separation of religion in daily interactions and in life in general.
You see, when I learned about a Muslim woman's true liberation being in her home, with her empowerment being her ability not to attract men, I really only saw those things in practice by certain groups in the mosque in my American hometown. I knew how to act in the mosque, but my interactions became a little more confusing when I was in any other public space. Yet in Egypt, I experienced something completely different; Islam present in social interactions throughout society. In Egypt, Muslim businesswomen interacted with male clients without awkward harshness and vice-versa. I saw normalcy in their society; spontaneous human reactions to harsh living, to jokes, to social issues. Muslim women in hijab, in niqab, in khimar, all were a part of the social fabric. My Arabic teacher was a lover of the Qur'an, a strong believing Muslim woman who covered her face and was a mother, and she passionately would remind me of the vital role of Muslim women in transforming society for the best and the need to sacrifice to be a part of the struggle.
In Egypt, I began to find myself again. My Arabic teacher, whose knowledge of Islam I deeply respected, helped me understand that conversation was necessary for me to improve on my language skills. Thus, I spoke to everyone, all the time, including men. I spoke to taxi drivers and asked them about their life stories, I stopped men from a physical fight when they were screaming over whose turn it was in line. I ran, shouting to intervene when I saw a man kicking a guy in the stomach, helped men take care of their families' needs and travelled in microbuses full of men because I needed to get where I needed to go. I was never treated disrespectfully by men. I had to depend on them and constantly interacted with men and women of the Egyptian society to help me figure my way around and my dependency was returned with incredible kindness and professional respect. In fact, twice, when I heard two different men, on two different occasions, calling out to me, expecting that they were trying to hit on me, I screamed in their faces: "Astaghfirillah!!!" only to see their shocked reactions and realize that they hadn't even noticed I existed and were just saying something to someone else in Arabic. Yet I, being naïve, expecting men to hit on me since I was fitna (remember?) and not really knowing Arabic, had expected the worst from them and was trying to put them in their places.3
Additionally, learning Arabic provided me a gateway to Islamic literature that described Muslim women in the society of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); a society in which dynamic Muslim women flourished. The materials to which I previously could access in English were often poor translations from the original Arabic, or information supporting only the viewpoint to which I chose to ascribe and in neither did I find descriptions of righteous women who had my personality and who interacted in society. The literature I used to read supported a certain paradigm, mixing culture with religion and supporting strict gender separation versus appropriate, kind collaboration. With this newly accessible material, I didn't see the woman I had become; I saw the woman who I once was before I had become unrecognizable to my own self.
While learning in Egypt, I was incredibly blessed to continue learning from the Imam who worked with me while I was going through the changes I faced during my search for the meaning of women in Islam. It took time for his mentorship to sink into my heart and actions, but he continued to teach me Islam's balance, reminding me that God describes us as, "a balanced nation,"4 and that the Prophet ﷺ, "was not given a choice between two matters, except that he chose the easier of the two, as long as it was not a sinful act…"5 He helped me understand that there is not necessarily one methodology that is "The Truth," and helped me maneuver the differences of opinions amongst scholars, how they derive their legal verdicts and the influences that may impact their opinions. His mentorship was vital to protecting me from losing myself completely while on this journey and helping me find myself again.
My return back to America was marked with transformation. I finally acknowledged what I had first learned of the role of Muslim women had scarred me psychologically as I had immediately tried to change myself and my lifestyle to fit some sort of image I had been told was that of a pious Muslim woman, but was not necessarily so. I finally understood that the harshness I saw in whom I assumed were pious Muslims may have, in fact, been a misunderstanding of Islam as simply a set of regulations or Islam practiced under a different cultural backdrop than to which I had been accustomed.
And it is very important that I clarify that the way of life I assumed from what I learned was not completely due to what I learned or who I learned it from; I absolve them of my obstinate tendencies. My actions may have been rooted in a personal misinterpretation of what I learned, where I failed to differentiate the universals of Islam with its particular manifestations in a given culture, something that comes after deep study. And it is imperative to note that I am not intending to draw parallels between women who choose to cover their faces and stay at home most of the time with the difficult transition I went through. That is not at all true; all of those women contribute to communities in incredible ways, may God bless them all. Such awesome women deal with so many stereotypes from within and outside of the Muslim community already and it is not at all my intention to add to that stereotype. The issues I encountered were not because of covering the face and staying in the home; rather the issues were due to a mentality, a paradigm, a methodology that I was taught in relation to my role as a Muslim woman. This individual narrative is not meant to condemn that respectable lifestyle; my personal experience should not be used to generalize the experiences of other Muslim women.
In the years after my return from Egypt, I was blessed to interact with quality scholars who understood our Islamic texts and our American culture; whose wisdom and qualified research allowed them to teach Islam as related to Muslim women in ways that reflected the beautiful psychological, emotional and spiritual empowerment of women in the Prophetic society and how to best translate that practice in North America. I was also incredibly blessed to marry my hero and beloved husband, someone who comes from a wonderful family grounded in living the spirit of Islam. They, along with my own cherished family, relatives and understanding friends supported me through my slow changes and provided resources to help me find myself and the core values of Islam as they related to my life again. I mention this to explain the absolute necessity of supportive mentors and loved ones in order to sustain positive change.
Through these experiences and the support of loved ones, I found who I truly was again. I found Maryam; the dynamic, assertive, energetic woman who knows without a doubt that Islam is empowering, who wears hijab for the sake of God, not for the sake of men, and who understands that the qualities God blessed me with were not meant to be locked up and hidden, but rather to be used appropriately for His sake.
I understand that some of you may disagree with my reflections; I understand because I once felt the same way and fully am aware of how it was the only truth to me, and is for many. I still respect you for your perspective. Even if I now differ, you are my brother and my sister.
Yet I am approached, over and over, by youth and young adults who are confused, struggling to figure out who they are, and are doubting Islam in its entirety stemming from the very notions I mentioned above; they do not know who to speak to about the doubts that continue to persist, nor do they know what to think when they feel spiritually bullied. Those who approach me most are young women who are nervous about the way they hear Islam and women presented by religious figures and are struggling with doubts towards Islam's empowerment of women in the face of religious guidelines that seem the opposite.
This article is geared towards that group of individuals. I am detailing my personal story because I did not hear one like it from another woman while I was struggling. What I heard was of women who became strictly devout and then eventually left Islam completely. Or decided they could no longer wear hijab or other related coverings and chose to remove them because they could no longer take it. While I was going through those stages, I used to wonder about those women, worrying that perhaps like them, my "eman (faith) wouldn't be strong enough" and I too would change. Now I understand that such painful experiences may have left many a woman searching, seeking to find comfort and healing, yet feeling stripped of the only thing they could have ever imagined finding that security in- their belief.
And this brings me to important points which I believe are essential for any Muslim, male or female, to consider when learning women's issues in Islam.
5 Tips for Rethinking Studying Women's Issues in Islam:
- Understand the context and that there are differences of opinion.
- Understand the context of Qur'anic verses or Prophetic traditions. It may seem really confusing or in fact, quite opposite what we have learned Islam teaches. Before jumping to conclusions, first learn why it was revealed, why the ruling was given at that time and place, the wisdoms or the understandings that stem from that, and different interpretations from the scholars. But also understand that as a scholarly interpretation and not necessarily, "Islam's one and only viewpoint on this entire subject."
- As such, know there are legitimate differences of opinions. All that I mentioned here: a woman's place being the home, covering the face, certain marriage, divorce and custody laws- all of those things are legitimate opinions based on proofs derived by qualified scholars. Are they the only opinions? No. Are they "The Ultimate Truth"? No. Should they all be respected and appreciated as legal rulings derived from legislative texts? Yes. Do they all need to be applied to your specific life? That is something you have to research and, with the help of qualified teachers and loved ones, decide.6
- Find a mentor.
- A Qur'an teacher or your masjid's Imam is not necessarily a qualified legal scholar. Simply because a person is in some type of religious position, or seems "religious," does not mean they are qualified to give you legal rulings, or that what they teach is applicable to your situation. Take your religious knowledge from those qualified and those who combine that qualification with a keen understanding of the social reality in which you live.
- Learn about the historical legacies of Muslim female scholarship.
- Muslim women have been scholars, muftiyahs (female of "Mufti"- ever heard they exist before?) and qari'ahs (female for "Qari"- or Qur'an reciter) for centuries. Some of the greatest male scholars, whose names are oft celebrated, like Hasan alBasri, Ibn Hajar and Ibn Taymiyyah, all had female scholars as teachers and contemporaries. We rarely hear about the women who taught all those men, but it does not mean they did not exist, nor does it mean they have to remain a secret or never exist again. It is up to you and me to change the way we view women's interaction with scholarship in our communities.
- Here are books and audio I have personally read and recommend or which have been recommended by those I trust:
- تحرير المرأة في عصر الرسالة – (Arabic only) for all those ayat and ahadith you've heard misquoted or in the wrong context, for which have placed doubt in your heart or mind.
- Al Muhadithaat by Shaykh Mohammed Akram Nadwi- for thousands of examples of female hadith scholars throughout our history and so much more.
- A Biographical Dictionary of Muslim Women by Aisha Bewley- to truly understand the vast range of positions Muslim women have occupied in Islamic societies throughout history.
- A Glimpse at Early Women Islamic Scholars by Imam Zaid Shakir.
- Audio: Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah's Women in Islam series
- Audio: Abdallah Adhami's lectures related to women in Islam.
- Have a support group.
- This is essential for feeling supported through what can be a long, confusing and sometimes emotionally painful process. (It took seven years for me to go through this process. It may take time for you, too.)
- Understand that negative rhetoric or policies surrounding women's issues by community and/or religious leadership should never be linked to the Islamic perspective of women in Islam.
- If you hear something weird coming from a person in religious authority (ie: "If a woman gets her period while in Hajj, it's a punishment from Allah for her sins."): Be critical! Even Aishah (may God be pleased with her), more pious than all of us combined, got her period while on Hajj! So ladies, instead of doubting Islam when hearing things like that, remind yourself that many well-intentioned Muslim men (and women) are schooled in cultures where negative views of women dominates even religious circles and of course it seeps into religious knowledge. So study and actively work to help change our community narrative and understand that such rhetoric is exactly what Islam came to change.
If you have felt guilty because you had doubts, if you felt confused because you considered something in Islam (especially as related to women) oppressive, if you have chosen to distance yourself from the Muslim community because you simply could no longer take feeling intellectually, emotionally and spiritually judged, especially as a woman, I want you to remember something: God did not create you, as a woman, to punish you or to crush you or to make you less than men in His eyes. If anyone makes you feel so, then do not be the one who turns away from Islam or the community. We need your voices, especially, to help change the narrative many of our communities have when we especially address women in Islam.
Always remember: Islam does not aim to mute our personalities, rather, to enhance us. If we become unrecognizable to our own selves, we need to think critically on the messages we are accepting into our lives. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not train people to warp into who they are not. Rather, he built people to become better versions of themselves. God brought you to Islam to help you progress towards a better version of your own self and to benefit humanity. Seek Him, study seriously under solid mentors, and be a means of transforming yourself and those around you for the best.
- The way I was introduced to the concept of 'and stay in your homes' (Ahzab) was one in which leaving the house for any reason other than strict necessity was inappropriate. So for example, getting together with other sisters for lunch was not taught as commendable because it was not out of strict necessity. The concept of a Muslim woman's haven being her home is present in our text but sometimes misunderstood in the way it is taught and often practiced. It is not a black and white issue, as it is often taught. My statement is not in reference to the women who choose the hardest job in the world and become stay-at-home moms, nor is it in reference to women who nobly choose to be housewives and focus on maintaining her home. This is not the place for further fiqh discussion on this matter, but I did want to make sure to clarify in case there may be confusion by readers. We pray to discuss this issue in a future article. [↩]
- Note: I absolutely understand and respect women who choose to wear niqab (face covering) as a means of coming closer to God, as following the footsteps of the Mothers of the Believers (May God be pleased with them), or as the fulfillment of an obligation. My personal experience should not be taken as a generalized reason for which women wear niqab or other outer garments. [↩]
- I absolutely recognize the social problems Egypt has, but this article is focusing on my personal transformation through my interactions with Egyptians. Kindly keep your focus on that point. [↩]
- Qur'an 2:143 [↩]
- Bukhari [↩]
- Please note: this article is a personal narrative aimed to provide a perspective not often discussed in our community. The fiqh issues mentioned here are not covered at all in this article, as fiqh is not the focus. God willing, those issues will be covered in other articles. [↩]
79 Comments
As salam alaikum, it is interesting article. I do not wear jilbab but feel in my heart that it is proper cover because it protects women from look of man who has sickness in heart- man who easily could be fooled of women beauty by devil and nafs. About women beeing less then men well prophet said that they r not inteligent because do not appreciate their husbands and we should give a lot of sadaqa money for cursing. There is a lot of more for sure u know it. But at the same time women r able to study, r able to work with other women. Our strenth is from releazing how weak as human we sre and how much we need Allah in every moment of our lives. The more proud we think of ourselves the more dunia will push us down.the
prophet never said women 'aren't intelligent'. This is a completely misunderstood hadith. His first wife was a busisnesswoman – I dont think any muslim on earth, man or woman – would like anyone saying that Khadija was not intelligent ?! He said this to a particular group of women – who visited the mosque while they were on their period (you know what I mean) – wich is of course a big sin – women on their period are not allowed to pray, because they are not 'clean'. He could have said the same thing to men drinking alcohol the night before – according to the Quran, a person who drinks alcohol is also 'not clean' for 40 days – and thus – not allowed to pray. Salaam & Peace and Blessings.
Dear sister Humeyra,
Do we have any credible evidence from any sahih hadith that in the hadith you cite, the Messenger (saws) was addressing women who visited the mosque while on their period? Correct me if I am wrong, but I highly doubt it. And remember, the hadith you mention is set after an Eid prayer, and according to the hadith of Umm 'Atiyah, the Messenger (saws) encouraged menstruating women to come out to witness the events of Eid.
Be careful sister, for a poorly constructed explanation can do far more harm than good.
On certain points you made:
Is it really an obvious "big sin" for a menstruating woman to visit a mosque? Some scholars may say so, and others reject this notion.
Can a natural God-given event like menstruation ever be compared to an open sin like drinking alcohol?
Is a Muslim who drinks alcohol truly barred from praying for 40 days due to impurity – or should that person return to prayer immediately in repentance?
Wrong guidance or lack of guidance can lead to such issues of women, not discovering their trueselves and become what society wants them to become. You are blessed mashaAllah. Jzk for this wonderful article.
Always love ur articles sister, Wallahi this is exactly what i needed to read, there are so many highly educated muslimahs out there but we feel guilty going out or being in male dominated spaces, I cannot wait for future articles on this. My only gripe is many of us have no idea where to talk to a "qualified" teacher, may Allah guide us.
Sister i really loved your post, for i have been going through the same situation. Living in UAE i find it really difficult to find such mentors and qualified scholars with whom i can study with. studying with the harshest ones is taking me in depression and frustration,resulting in arguments with the ones whom i was once comfortable with.
your suggestions would be really appreciated.
JazakAllahu khairan.
wa alaykum as salam warahmatulahi wa barakatuh,
In response to you and the commenter above (nb): I know it's very difficult to sometimes find someone in your locality. I would recommend reaching out to nearby cities or communities until you find someone who can help teach you inshaAllah. One of my teachers was an hour+ away and I would try to drive to study with him almost daily. That was after I exhausted all the resources I could find close to me and started looking in other cities.
May Allah bless you with the best mentors and guide you to them with ease and speed.
Please keep us in your prayers,
Salaam alaikum, Sister Maryam (and all others). If you and the moderators will allow an older man to comment. Surely I am not the only person who professed Islam in middle age and have become what is euphemistically called a "senior citizen." Surely I am not the only one to come to Islam who has had, sadly, abysmally bad experiences with the Muslim community and now, due to our circumstances or whatever, cannot get to some teacher an hour away, if we could even find one.
Even years ago before I became "older" I would go to the mosque (honestly, I no longer do) and would rarely, if ever, hear my language spoken around me, in the land in which Allah (swt) put me. How many older Muslims are willing and/or able to speak my language when they want the mosque to be a little bit of the "old country"? I understand this, but it does not help me.
When sometimes I have trouble getting up the stairs, and my experiences with the Muslim community were so deeply disappointing and I wonder why I should expect them to change, why should should I even try any more to struggle to find anyone? May Allah (swt) forgive me (and us all).
I thought to share two sites I know you can learn from good mentors without having to travel. Islamiconlineuniversity.com and bayyinah.tv
I hope this helps as it has helped me greatly clarify a lot of doubts.
And peace unto you (wa alaikumus salaam). Thank you for responding, although it has been some time that this thread has been open.
Also, thank you for the suggestions of online sites. Even though the original article and many of the comments have related to the situation of women in Islam, the moderators have kindly allowed an older man to comment, as situations can sometimes apply to both sexes.
Yes, there are many informative sites online, and this is a good thing. However, may I be so bold as to suggest that often there is no real substitute for actual, real, person to person contact, and unfortunately, for some of us that real human contact is sorely lacking.
I have read many books. I have viewed much online material. Nevertheless, I find that as an older, single, isolated person, I am just not able to "make it" by myself. My own experiences with the Muslim community in my region have varied from disappointing to almost bad, sad to say.
Comments here on suhaibwebb.com and on other online forums make it clear that I am not alone, male or female. This is one of the tragedies of the ummah in North America (and probably elsewhere), that converts often do become so sad, lonely, isolated, and discouraged that eventually they in fact do fall away from Islam in one way or another.
Books and videos are good things in themselves, but they are not an adequate substitute for real human contact, just someone to have coffee with, figuratively speaking. Somebody to talk to. Somebody to be able to to discuss things with. And without that contact, some people do in fact slip away.
Thank you again for responding.
Mash'Allah for this beautiful narrative. Alhamdulillah for sisters like you. May Allah bless us all and help us in our struggles to stay on the right path…
Assalamu alaikum
An amazing piece! Thank you so much. I was almost scared that the ending would be, 'and then I finally realised that women are happiest when they are meek and mild'.
A very refreshing read; I hope to read more articles like this.
Maryam, mashallah. I am not that person who writes comments, but I really wanted to show appreciation for being so real. I usually can't read long articles, but I couldn't stop reading this one. I feel like a lot of us (men and women alike) can really relate to this. It is great to see that we all go through these thoughts and we are not alone. I really commend you and say jazaki Allahu khair for this article.
The portion about how your perspective changed when you saw interactions in Egypt where Islam is woven in is super on point. I really hope you and Omar are well, take care!
wa alaykum as salam warahmatullahi wa barakatuh Zeyad,
jazak Allahu khayran esp for your comment about men. The reality and complexity of men's struggles are ones our communities almost never tangibly address.
barak Allahu fik,
Lol, that part about women being more sinful reminded me of this Hadith:
"The Messenger of Allah once said to a group of women: O Women, give charity. I see the majority of those in hellfire to be women. They said: why is it so, O Messenger of Allah? He said: You rebuke a lot and you are disobedient towards your husbands. I have not seen any one who has more influence on an intelligent and sensible man, than you, although you are deficient in intellect and religion. A cautious, sensible man can easily be led astray by you. The women asked: O Allah's Messenger, what is deficient in our intellect and religion? He said: Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man? They replied in the affirmative. He said: This is the deficiency in your intelligence'… 'Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menstruation? The women replied in the affirmative. He said: This is the deficiency in your religion."
I always questioned this Hadith because I never fully understood it, and, truth be told, I still don't. But I know well that my Lord created me as He created men; to worship Him. Our purpose is one. That alone shows that we are equal in his sight. And as for the matters of this worldly life, it is quiet evident that the men have been favored over the women. It is with faith and a beautiful submission that I accept this, and I turn to my lord – a humble slave.
inshaAllah I will work on an article translating the explanation of this hadith as mentioned in تحرير المرأة في عصر الرسالة
InshaAllah that will hopefully shed light on a hadith which is often misunderstood.
Please do! I've struggled a lot with this hadith. I have heard about cases of it being used to spiritually and psychologically harass young Muslim women, and it would be very beneficial to me to understand it as it was originally intended.
Thank you Maryam for sharing your story. It is inspiring, mashAllah. May you and your family be forever Blessed.
This article was refreshing and came at a much needed time. At some point I obsessed with avoiding men for some of the reasons above. But hearing about the guy friends of my practicing Muslimah friends didn't help much. I pushed it all into black and white: they're wrong and I'm right. That mindset was so mentally burdening, it felt like in order to practice Islam the 'right' way I had to jump through fire hoops, that eventually I dropped it and decided that each of us have the individual responsibility to decide what's best for us. Right now I'm still confused on my worth, role and duties as a woman and of course, on the 'rules' for mixed gender interaction. But I'm glad that someone else agrees that Islam does not exist to mold every single woman into one cookie cutter shape of what we 'should' be. Its as good as a start as anywhere.
JAK for this article. Being on my early 20s, I feel that I have just been through these exact same troubles. This article makes me feel that I am not alone. Thank you for the books listed, and thank you for writing this!
jazakallah khair sister maryam for this amazing article. you have elucidated such valid points with such a balance and have shared personal feelings with grace and fortitude that will inshallah resonate with many women who struggle with similar doubts and issues. some of your thoughts and concerns seem as though you have read my thoughts! may Allah swt in His infinite mercy and wisdom guide us always and help our ummah to remain balanced as He has exhorted us to be.
Brave. Beautiful. I would like to meet you. Congratulations on your spiritual growth and bravo to your community of support.
It would inshaAllah be an incredible honor to meet you Ustada Tamara!
Dear sister Maryam,
I absolutely loved your article and I am so glad that you found your energetic, assertive soul and self and are lighting the path for those around you with your energy and light May God bless you in your endeavors, Ameen. I will be sure to check out the references you mentioned.
this just confirmed what I always suspected. Islam as interpreted by majority of mediocre scholars is rooted in culture not in Quran and Sunnah. Thakyou habibi Allah bless you
I am worried about your comment. I would respectfully and completely disagree with the statement that, "Islam as interpreted by majority of mediocre scholars is rooted in culture not in Quran and Sunnah."
The misunderstandings I mentioned in my article were not stemming from scholars. They were stemming from people who had studied in one form or another, but who couched their understanding of Islam in a specific viewpoint or cultural understanding. That is a very different statement from the majority of scholars' interpretations being rooted in culture.
May Allah bless you,
this needs further clarification from my side with due respect to scholars who sincerely work towards understanding Islam.As I grew up understanding Islam from people around me and reading material available to me I got the feel that woman is secondry to a man in islam but that did not make sense as Islam is a just, fair and practical deen.Therefore my quest continues to find Islam without cultural pollutants.
Sister Maryam, wallahi that was exactly what I needed to hear right now.
I don't even comment underneath comments but couldn't leave until I had typed a jazakAllah khayrun
I fear I am walking a similar path, I pray I find my way out.
As Salamu Alaikum,
Jazaki Allahu Khayran, Sister Marymam, for an incredibly honest and candid description of your journey and transformation.
You have done a tremendous service for all women struggling with these issues.
Unfortunately, I have grown up all my life with lets call 'the conservative opinion.' Its what I have always been taught as 'Islam'…and what I have observed practiced (mainly in my Indopak surroundings). Any deviation from this super strict script was denounced as 'modernism/progressivism/feminism' and not in line with the Quran and Sunnah.
Thus, everyone around me has reacted to this paradigm: Some strictly 'toed the line' and have closeted themselves. Others have set aside parts of the faith, or left the faith altogether.
I myself grew up with much anger at my Lord, my religion, myself, women, men, etc, because of this. These issues definitely impacted my self esteem and sense of self.
The only way I could move forward in my deen was to set aside studying issues of gender and sexuality in Islam. To me, these issues seemed a huge blot on an otherwise incredible religion. I'd simply ignore any discussions of women's issues, skim hadiths and even Quranic ayats regarding women, while paying deep attention to everything else.
Alhamdhulillah, this approach has actually worked. My faith today is much stronger, alhamdhulillah. I simply shrug and say to myself, Allah and His Prophet know best. I can only do the best I can to submit, and beg Allah forgiveness for my shortcomings.
However, while attitude works for me, I don't have any answers to people who question Islam's stance on women. Recently, these include my own family. They mirror the same confusion and doubts that I had experienced. Discussing with them, I can sense the same doubts and confusion creeping in on me again.
Thus, I have been asking Allah everyday to open my heart and increase my understanding of issues of gender and sexuality in Islam.
I asked again last night, and a few hours later, I found this article. Alhamdhulillah :D!
You are the first person who has gone through this struggle that seems to have come out of it both closer to Allah and being able to be authentic to your true self. Or, at least the first person who has openly shared her experience. If you can do it, there is hope for all of us!
But I must say, even reading through your article, I had thoughts, saying, 'no, thats not the way…its seeking the Dunya at the expense of the Akhirah…thats your desires, your nafs, its shaitan…the real path for women is to be docile and silent and sacrifice everything for others.'
But that just isn't me…I take comfort in knowing that that really wasn't Khadija, Aisha and Umm Salama either.
I guess I need to fully study the issues to move forward. The first step seems to be learning Arabic, which I am now trying to do.
May Allah guide us all to the straight path…and make it easy for us to submit to His will.
wa alaykum as salam warahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I know it's a difficult struggle and may Allah bless you for being steadfast and seeking closeness to Allah.
I'm definitely not the first person to go through this nor the first to write about it, but I'm grateful to know that it inshAllah was of benefit to you.
Please keep us in your prayers,
So wait you "skipped" ayats ?
As Salamu Alaikum, Hyde,
Of course not!! Rather, I would read them, but move on quickly, and not really think about them afterwards. Versus other ayats, which were occasions for deeper reflection.
May Allah forgive me if I did something wrong. But I guess I felt If I reflected too long on these ayats without knowledge and understanding, they only increased me in confusion. And it was the perfect gateway for Shaitan to cause doubts.
Ok your first paragraph I find deeply troubling…"we are not a cafeteria religion, at least not yet anyway".
But your second paragraph assured me
As Salamu Alaikum, Br. Hyde,
Of course I didn't skip ayats! Rather, I read through certain ayats quickly and did not reflect too much on them, as compared to other ayats.
May Allah forgive me if I did something wrong. However, I felt that without proper knowledge and understanding, I would only get confused and it was a perfect opportunity for Shaitan to create doubts.
"a woman's place being the home, covering the face, certain marriage, divorce and custody laws- Do they all need to be applied to your specific life?"
Isnt there a danger of whimsical picking and chosing? Why tear apart the religion just to appease modern feminism? We know EXACTLY what these people want binned. Why be a party to this? If you would prefer american divorce and custody laws (and ALL the destruction they have caused to the family unit) please dont try and do this under a pretext of "moderation" or "the middle way".
I always find it amusing that anyone who disagrees with other opinions related to women's studies in Islam throw around the term "feminism" as a means of disqualifying the other perspective.
This article didn't suggest we whimsically pick and choose. You whimsically chose not to copy and paste the line right after the one you shared your thoughts on.
May Allah bless you,
Salam Alaikum Sr. Maryam,
Jazakillah khaira for your thoughts. I really appreciate reading your story and the lessons you learned from them.
I do agree with your tip 5, to critically question the detrimental narratives on women that we hear in our communities. What worries and troubles me though is that the example you used, the claim that women's menses leads them to be more inclined to sin, reminds me of the hadith of Abu Said al-Khudri recorded in Bukhari – in which the Messenger (saws) said that women were "deficient in their intellect" because the divine command on testimony and "deficient in their religion" because women can neither pray nor fast during their menses. It's easy for me to exclaim that the brother you mention "clearly has no idea what he's talking about," but I worry the same outlook would lead me to question the Messenger's (saws) hadith, a'udhubillah!
Honestly, I don't know how to approach sahih hadith like the one of Abu Said al-Khudri – I try my best to apply your first tip on understanding the hadith's context, learning of the various opinions, and trying to place the hadith in light of the seerah – but it feels as though I'm just trying to insincerely interpret away what's explicitly stated by the Messenger (saws).
Sister Maryam, how have you dealt with issues like the one raised in the hadith above? Thank you so much for your thoughts, and may God guide us all always.
wa alaykum as salam warahmatullahi wa barakatuh Adnan,
Jazak Allahu khayran for bringing up an absolutely legitimate concern. Let me clarify that when I quoted that person regarding menses, that hadith hadn't even come into my mind and the context in which his statement was mentioned didn't make a reference to it either. I am inshaAllah going to have the editors change that to another example just to make sure there isn't further confusion about accepting or rejecting a sahih hadith inshaAllah. jazak Allahu khayran for pointing it out.
Now on that note, I know that this is not the only sahih hadith that may cause some of us to question what is really meant, but then – of course- believe that whatever was meant, it was the right thing because that was the statement of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhe wa sallam and the Prophet sal Allahu alayhe wa sallam knows best!
I believe the answer lies in what you stated you do- try to research it and consult qualified scholars in doing so. And yes, sometimes, we may not understand and at that point, we just hear and we obey.
inshaAllah I'm going to work on translating the section explaining this hadith in
تحرير المرأة في عصر الرسالة and I hope in doing so, inshaAllah the confusion surrounding this hadith will be clarified.
may Allah bless you,
Wonderful article. But the time is overdue that something of this same standard is written about: "Tips to rethink the Men in Islam." Men are just as special and a man's ability to treat women correctly is determined by his moderate and humble and healthy self esteem as being very special.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU! May Allah bless you for calling for this! I try to mention men's struggles when I give lectures but the reality is that I'm a female and I cannot fully narrate a male's experience. I certainly hope a man will take this up as it's something our community really needs to not only hear, but also discuss and seek progress inshaAllah.
I can really understand and grasp this message well. Wish I can be more than a wife and a mother. Unfortunately some people think that, that is what a women should be…….
subhan Allah, being a wife and mother are amongst two of the greatest roles you can be! You're inshaAllah positively impacting lives and future generations too! May Allah bless you!
JazakAllah….Alhamdulillah….I pray that all my children would be used by Allah as instruments to bring Allah's glad tidings to more people than I was able to……
Maryam, this article is amazing! May Allah swt reward you for being so open about your personal story. It really made the topic so much more relevant and made me appreciate your journey as well.
I love you Rhonda <3
Asalaam alaykum Sister Maryam. Great article and discussion. I would say I have taken a similar journey of strict practice and self doubts. And now I am back to a balanced view that in everything moderation is the best. From my own life's experiences of living the modern woman's life as a career woman and traveling the world by myself, I have truly learned to respect the advice that the best place for women is in the home even though I hated this idea when I was in younger. Women spend way too much time in idle talk, unnecessarily shopping and at too many parties and social gatherings that don't bring them closer to Allah (swt). Unfortunately as humans, we fall too quickly to life's pressures of "looking good" of "being accepted" by others. When our focus is other than raising our children and caring for our family, than we are actually doing a disservice to society. I am the first to doubt certain hadiths that berate or lower women as sinful creatures. However, I cannot doubt the Quran that tells us to cover ourselves, control our voices and our walk, and for the most part stay home and not make a wonton display of our beauties. Greeting men are fine, but any idle discussions between men and women only lead to something negative. It's not that only women are temptations for men, but that men are also temptations for women. Hence the hadith says, when a man and woman are alone, the third person is Shaitan. Men and women have the same weaknesses. Both men and women are tested by our desires for this dunya, there is no doubt about that and hence the purpose of life is to pass the test. There is nothing wrong with being energetic and lively, but everything has a time and place. In a woman's halaqa, this energy is something young girls need or when encouraging people to do something good like donate to a cause. However, in a regular audience of men and women, the energy can be controlled so the message can be conveyed properly. Plus we should never think that if we just use more energy, that people will listen to the message and be inspired. Prophets (pbut) spent all their lives counseling people and only those who wanted to hear the message heard it, no matter how energetic and eloquent the prophets were. In my life, it was the more humble and less energetic people that motivated me more than the popular imams and speakers.
I really loved your story and pray that Allah continues to guide you to even more enlightenment. From my own experiences of going from light to darkness to light again, I have learned not to discount wisdom so quickly. I think there is something magical about the age of 40. Somehow, your thoughts slows down a little in order to be able to think clearer and thus naturally you become wiser.
I feel that your truth will eventually fall somewhere between where you were (strict rigidness)and where you are now….but before you get there, you have to prepare yourself for you might hit a spiritual deep and dark bottom when what you think you know is truth comes crashing down. But for sure, if you seek Allah's guidance, you will see that He is and will be your only friend in life. Then you will know what it means to be a friend of Allah. It is when you stop asking people for help and guidance (including scholars) and ask only Allah for help (like the Prophet did in the Mountain of Light). Dhikr and meditation will help you see the truth from falsehood. This doesn't mean you stop studying and asking questions, but you shouldn't depend on anyone else having anymore truth than you do. They don't. Thus you take the good and leave the bad, with Allah's guidance.
Just some more thoughts to this discussion.
I pray Allah helps to make your life's journey easy and successful.
As Salamu Alaikum, Um Zaheen,
Jazaki Allahu Khayran for sharing your story! Parts of your story are eerily similar to mine – I guess I am on still traveling the path…
Just recently I was the 'modern career woman' traveling the world myself. It nearly ruined me in more ways than one (Akhira and Dunya wise).
Earlier this year, I crashed and have had to give up my job and independence and move back with my parents (may Allah bless them tremendously). So, I I know what you are talking about regarding hitting a deep and dark bottom. I felt I lost everything.
But of course, I didn't, even during the worst, I knew I always could turn to Allah. I know what you mean when you say that Allah is the only one can help you. Truly Allah has been Most Merciful to me. I am floored by His tremendous Mercy, which I completely don't deserve. He has been my Guide, My trustworthy Handhold, My Light during a period when people could not help me, even if they wanted to.
I'm also learning the value of the home, as a place of security and contentedness. I think my poor parents are shocked that all I, their jet-setting daughter, seem to want to do these days is to be home and study and worship my Lord. They attribute it to exhaustion and health issues. While this undeniably is a part of it, I think its more. I no longer find 'going out' as fun as I used to, whether its the movies, museums, plays, restaurants, vacations, etc. Especially if it means shortchanging my Deen.
However, while I found that international travel for work purposes nearly destroyed my life, I feel that the international travel I did for the sake of Islamic Knowledge was an incredible blessing for me. Part of what I learned (specifically, how to treat one's parents) is helping me tremendously today. May Allah forgive all my shortcomings in this regard.
I guess ultimately the message I have learned so far is to ensure that whatever we choose to do as women, we ensure that we do it for the sake of Allah.
I have no desire to take up the job that I left, or even jobs similar to it. But I do ask Allah that He gives me an opportunity to make a living that is pleasing to Him so I am not a burden on others and so I can give sadaqah for His sake, something I have done throughout my working life.
I also ask that Allah continues to give me opportunities to increase in knowledge of Him and His Deen, whether at home or elsewhere.
I ask for everyone's duas. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.
jazaki Allahu khayran for taking the time to write your reflections and advice. May Allah bless you. I just want to say that there were a number of things you mentioned that were not the conclusions of my article and I hope they were not misunderstood. I'm not calling for women to leave nurturing their homes, nor am I calling them to chill with men who aren't mahram. I'm also not at all calling for women to not accept ahadith or ayaat that are frequently misunderstood, nor am I calling to in any way reject hijab or other Qur'anic or Prophetic injunctions, may God protect us from any of what displeases Him.
jazaki Allahu khayran for sharing your thoughts and advice again!
From your article it seems like you've been there and can understand how the women who learn from their surroundings that they're just a big fat fitnah feel. Interactions between the opposite gender seems like such a blurry topic. Usually these kind of khutbahs or videos etc. are geared towards men, telling them to lower their gaze and how they'll have 72(??) wives in jennah for that Insha Allah. Personally for me, as a woman, I'm so so so friggin confused. Where is the middle path in this matter?? Where is the middle between chilling with men who aren't mahram and avoiding them like the plague?
I REALLY REALLY look up to you and your opinions, Maryam sis. Please shed light on opposite gender interactions.
Masha Allah, that was a beautiful article.
May Allah give you a better reward for sharing this with us and may HE continue to keep you firm and sincere in services for HIM.
This is a wake up call, need I say more?
I didn't comment on everyone's comments but I read each one of them and I want to thank all of you for sharing your reflections and especially your prayers here. May Allah bless each and every one of you and your loved ones!
jazakum Allau khayran for taking the time to share your words with me and inshAllah looking forward to continuing to learn from you all.
Please keep us in your du`a!
Well the only thing I have a problem with this article is Schwarzenegger part Lol.
Really well written. Of course small nuances I disagree with. This sister is well rounded.
Personally I would still want a wife that is a homemaker. But this article is refreshing.
I live in Egypt and even the super conservative sisters here don't really seem follow this stay home part so strictly as some may teach.
I think the issue is as I understand it that we not loiter on streets, not that we don't leave the home for sanity and benefit.
My own very conservative teacher is super active and out probably a chunk of her time. Her classes. Charity work. Relatives. Socializing. Halaqas. Kids' sports classes.
In Egypt it seems the women seem so active among practicing circles they don't have this need to refer to and deal with men as much and even when they do it seems sensible and organic and natural. They've got their own hadith teachers and tafseer teachers of a very high calibre. Ofcourse you can attend classes taught by men but I'm saying there's options here that seem to affect the dynamics.
My teacher who does not deal with men without necessity will very confidently speak to so and so in charge about a detailed topic to start this program or whatever initiative.
I think because the US is such an open society it can lead us to the completely opposite end. I'm a very social lively person and I wear jilbab and I am a stay at home mom by choice and wife and I've got tons of interests and ofcourse leave the house all the time for sanity and for beneficial and need based things. Do I deal with men? If talking to my son's male teacher and dealing with the grocery guy counts heh. Do I feel like I'm limited or anything? Not at all. I love my life alhamdulillah.
One thing personally I'm uncomfortable with(after some confusion) is women addressing male audiences. Yes the female scholars of the past taught men but they also from what I understood taught from behind a veil (which was not the norm in pre Islamic Arabia).
I hope I'm not misunderstanding you in what I understood. I went through this as well but over time I realized there was a place for me to feel balanced without going to this or that end.
I would be comfortable with all the examples you described of talking to men except maybe asking taxi drivers their stories. I'd just feel shy which is my own personality.
If I think back to when I first learned about "gender segregation" and all of that in my mind too it kind of translated as a very black and white thing.
I realized I didn't need to be stiff in my interactions. I could be dignified instead. I realized it wasn't that I needed to go into a shell because dealing with men is a necessary part of life. But personally I do minimize contact which I don't find necessary or beneficial. I recall speaking to a sheikh/speaker and he just stared me straight in the face the whole time. Personally I found that it made me uncomfortable. Not because oh I'm talking to a guy but because of his demeanor which I found to be inappropriate. He didn't need to be so super friendly and give me 100% eye contact. So while I like concept of kind collaboration I think since we're human we're always prone to lean this or that way too much.
I just reread parts of your article and I feel like giving you a hug. Feeling one is a walking fitna even after submitting to hijab and apptopriate behavior must have been very stiffling. Walking around with the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Ah so sorry to take over the comments section..just remembered 2 very cool examples from my son's school.
1) It's norm here for female principal even in a super conservative school to address everyone. In my son's current school his principal is this niqabi very educated articulate lady who I'm very impressed with. She seems to be an excellent manager managing tons of male and female teachers. Is she high fiving and laughing and joking with her employees? I haven't witnessed it. Are they like this big family working together? Ansolutely and they emphasize that repeatedly and i love it.
I feel like this type of example doesn't exist in the west. It's either this or that and so many young girls feel you have to choose. But it doesn't need to be like that. You be dignified and do what needs to be done.
MashaAllah! Only Allah can guide to a struggler in such an astounding manner! These are the signs of Allah! Awesome are His plans and ways of execution! Looots to say with the emotions of a muslim… Cutting short may Allah forgive us and grant us paradise! Ameen
After having similar exerperiences I felt trapped. Thinking that women dont deserve to have a personality or express it, and being a dynamic person myself it made me retreat into my own shell and made me a bickering little brat. I live ins society where people dont have a good understanding of religion, they may follow it but dont understand the wisdom in it and make religion difficult when it is not. And also their are people who don't even care about religion. But now I realize that I can love God and not be a psycho about it. I realized that I can wear a hijab and have a face, identity and personality of my own too. I can be a better muslim by choosing the moderate path and not rigid one, because I wont be able to keep up otherwise and loose myself.
I totally agree with you and really appreciate your attempt to find the truth. Truth or Hagh is the most difficult thing in the world to find. We all came to this world to find it,Islam is just an address not to lose the way.Islam is not the goal of our life, The difficulties to find the goal of our life and achieving it is the fitna you mentioned in the article.
I sometime times get totally confused, that kind of confusion you mentioned in the article but one thing really helps me in those moments of confusion and that is my belief in Allah's kindness.
Thank you so much for your extraordinary article and tips.
MashAllah you found yourself when you reading Quran with meaning may Allah Guide you and guide more women through yourself.
yes i agree with your second point find a mentor and you discusses about religious scholor very brief and in short,JazzakAllah.
brilliant thinking
I am a bit curious. Perhaps it is because the ummah is going down the "liberalized" path as anybody else.
I agree with this article, not everything, but most. But how comes we don't see opposite views ? How can I not see a sister with excellent educational qualifications, but who chooses to be a wife and mother ? Or point of views against homosexuality or feminism ? Just curious, why it seems more than often only "one" side seems to get represented ?
Perhaps sister can comment ? or the staff ?
There are many educated moms who are choosing to stay home, especially with young children. It's amazing to see the growth of super educated moms who are now homeschooling their children as they have so much to offer to society, but their first priority is to their own families.
This article is more about how women see themselves and their contributions in society, whether they are at home or working outside. Many male muslims (I wouldn't necessarily call them scholars) often refer to the hadith that the best place for women is the dark corner of their homes…not even at home are women respected and valued and must hide in its corners for prayer. This is the view that is being questioned, not trying to reform or liberalize Islam…which needs no reforms. Just trying to feel human and valued.
Okay…:) That I can understand, that mothers and sisters are not appreciated enough.
As Salamu Alaikum, Br. Hyde,
I'm responding to your question above as to whether I skipped ayats of the Quran on the topics of gender and sexuality.
My original answer was posted right after your question: it was initially published and then mysteriously deleted. I normally would have let it go, but this is too important not to address.
Of course I didn't skip ayats! Rather, I read through certain ayats quickly and did not reflect too much on them, as compared to other ayats.
May Allah forgive me if I did something wrong. However, I felt that without proper knowledge and understanding, I would only get confused and it was a perfect opportunity for Shaitan to create doubts.
I ask Allah to increase me in proper understanding and knowledge of all aspects of His Deen, and to have patience and acceptance of what I do not understand.
JazakAllah for writing this, Maryam baji. My journey resembles yours in so many ways that this served as a much needed catharsis.
I love this article…. thank you Sister Maryam, as always you have provided inside.
Sisters, I am a recent revert and am looking for FEMALE Muslims to talk(ok email) with … I want to know more and desperately want to connect with Mulsim sisters.
I live in an area with very few Muslim people.
I love Suhaibwebb.com.
My email is email@example.com
Excellent article! Where can we reach you if we'd like you to come speak at our Masjid?
Thank you for your kind words. You can reach me via facebook [Maryam Amirebrahimi] or email me at: contactmaryama@gmail dot com
Asa Maryam, Beautiful piece of writing mashaAllah. I could relate to your experience almost 100%, gone through same stages alhamdullilah like you, I travelled to Cairo and discovered myself and my energy back in deen. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to actually study with a teacher but Allah knew my love of knowledge and introduce me to some great scholars. I was amazed to see them interacting with women with great respect in every walk of life. It would be lovely to meet up with you and share experiences of amazing Cairo.
Assalamu alaykum This is whatI truly needed Masha Allah.
Salam Maryam! I'm very glad I read this article, in fact, just as I finished I truly hoped there could be TED talk about this topic in the near future. Then I realized, you would definitely be interested since(as you said) you gave speeches one day and since you already have all that valuable experience.
I hope to watch/listen to your talk one day, inshallah. God bless you.
Asalaamalykum w w
Subhanallah Maryams story was an eye opener for me and in shaa Allah ALL THE TABLIGHI WOMEN AND MEN HERE IN MOMBASA KENYA.
We are just like she was, we were FULL HIJAB bui bui( black dress), jilbab, niqab and when we go on khuruj (expeditions) we have to cover even our eyes, gloves and socks, and preferably black flate shoes that wount make a sound when we walk.
I LOVE TABLIGH AND I SUPPORT It BUT its principles (aqeeda) and methodology (manhaj) have to be applied at an individual level.
We are not all the same, we come from different backgrounds, ethnicity, jurisprudence (hanafi, hambali, shafii, and maliki)
in tabligh we respect all this and thats why when groups go out for khuruj- tabligh jammats, our differences are put aside for us as MUSLIMS to work together to build our IMAN and in shaa Allah correct our deeds, advice people to follow Haqq and also Patience….forgive my poor tafsir of Surah Asr
(am a Tablighi Woman married to a Thabit- strong Tablighi who goes 4 months khuruj every year but av noticed some mistakes that i want to clarify)
may Allah Forgive me
…to be continued
"If you have felt guilty because you had doubts, if you felt confused because you considered something in Islam (especially as related to women) oppressive, if you have chosen to distance yourself from the Muslim community ………
"Or decided they could no longer wear hijab or other related coverings and chose to remove them because they could no longer take it……
"If we become unrecognizable to our own selves, we need to think critically on the messages we are accepting into our lives….."
I am exactly in the stage of mentality that your article has mentioned. I turned to my sister in the masjid but got rejected as being regards my faith is too weak, my relationship with Allah is not well built. My family cannot recognize me as a happy care free individual after my conversion and married. My husband did not support my struggle rather than threaten me with a divorce if I take off my hijab. I do not who I can turn to. I just came across with this article this morning, inshallah, I will give Islam and the women's issue a second attempt and I will see if Allah will guide me to His Way. Please pray for me, readers. JZK.
I am a sister and I need to contact the author of this article. How can I do so?
Jazak Allah khaie


text:
main index
"You'll be having a really good time...and then all of a sudden this boss will kick your fucking nuts out through your nose."Wake Up Call Boss is more or less a boss that symbolizes a massive Difficulty Spike, or at least symbolizes the point where the game stops going easy on you. At this point, everything you've learned but haven't really considered yet will be severely tested: Everything before was just getting you used to the controls, this is where the challenge begins. Due to this, they usually appear early on, but can appear from early to early-mid game. They definitely shouldn't appear late. And it's not really That One Boss so much as it's very brutally drilling into you how to play: like a boss in a beat-em-up designed to very easily beat anyone who thinks they can button mash through the game. Sister Trope to Early Bird Boss, a version of a Wake Up Call Boss that relies on the player's lack of key items, spells, or metaknowledge early in the game in order to provide a challenge. Compare with That One Boss, though this trope is specifically for bosses that appear early in the game and are merely a sample of the rest of the game's challenges. Also compare with Disappointing Last Level and Early Game Hell (for when not just the first or second boss is difficult, but also the early levels or chapters as well). Contrast with Warmup Boss, a first boss that frequently is impossible (or at least very difficult) to lose to. See also Hopeless Boss Fight and Final Boss Preview. Compare Skill Gate Characters, which are PvP characters/factions/whatever that serve a similar purpose in separating newbies from the experienced. Compare the non-video game term Threshold Guardians.
— Noah Antwiler of The Spoony Experiment on Persona 4's Shadow Yukiko.
Examples for the series below:
open/close all folders
Final Fantasy
Super Mario
Other Examples:
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Action-Adventure Game
Card Battle Games
Fighting Game
First Person Shooter
Mecha Game
Rhythm Game
Role Playing Game
Shoot 'Em Up
Simulation Game
Sports Game
Third Person Shooter
Turn-Based Strategy
Real Time Strategy
Non-Video Game examples

subset: commoncrawl


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Tyler Gregorchick and Mark Kephardt perform at a house show held in Christian Freeberg's basement.
(Photo courtesy of Christian Freeberg's facebook page.)
I was wracking my brain for ideas to write about for a blog this week, when I happened upon a Facebook invitation for a music performance hosted by my friend Chris Freeberg's (senior, communications media) house. As I realized I was missing the event, it struck me that these so-called "house shows" are sort of a college phenomenon. From frat houses to hipster havens like Freeberg's basement, college students love to watch other college students play their guitars. So I called up Chris and we sat down at Commonplace Coffeehouse, often a venue for free-spirited music itself, to discuss his personal inspiration for musical collaboration.
Freeberg is a music enthusiast and singer/songwriter, who hosts other musical artists at his house from time to time, thus the term "house show." I searched for a more offical definition online and found that "house show" is also a term for untelevised professional wrestling matches. Thanks, Wikipedia.
I have attended a couple of his house shows and have always enjoyed the open, relaxed atmosphere. I always feel that the experience is much more personal at such events, especially considering the close quarters. Some artists are fellow IUP students, while some have even ventured in from the Pittsburgh area.
Freeberg was inspired to start playing with other musicians in his own basement by going to other party house shows, he said. The first he attended like his was called "Dan's Basement" in Pittsburgh where he listened to a one-man band called Dandelion Snow, who has since made an appearance at Freeberg's.
Freeberg's first show was last fall semester, he said, when he and Colin O'Brien along with IUP alum Diego Byrnes teamed up to present a few songs each. They did it just because they didn't have any other place to play and wanted to get together with other music lovers and perform, without the time restriction of open mic night.
His house show debut included just a few close friends and the performers, he said. His shows now have a reputation, and his house on Locust street in Indiana is appropriately nicknamed "The Green House." He hosts shows 1-2 times a semester, with a minimum crowd of about 10-15, but record attendance is 40, he said. Large crowds have an advantage because local bands gain exposure, he said. But the smaller turnouts have their upside as well.
"Small crowds are fun too because it's more intimate," he said. "Usually it's closer friends who are there who have been to shows before."
Freeberg, whose greatest musical influence is Dustin Kensrue of Thrice, is piloting his own new music project titled "Heavy Hearts Will Anchor." It is music based on a story he wrote revolving around the idea that, "no matter how far away from your problems you get, if you don't deal with them, they'll weigh you down," he said. You can check out his project explanation and lyrics in the "Notes" section of his Facebook page.
Budding musicians like Freeberg get plenty of feedback online throug sites like Facebook and Myspace. But in my opinion, house shows are the perfect place to try out new material. The audiences are generally small and accepting, and if mistakes happen, they happen. It's better to mess up in front of your friends than in a bar full of uninviting strangers or a huge crowd. And audience member have a special advantage: Getting a sneak peak at unreleased, new or experiemental material you may not hear elsewhere.


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Welcome to UCLA!! As a graduate student you have a wealth of information and resources at your fingertips as you embark on your graduate career. This guide is an introduction to these treasures. If you cannot find what you need, there are reference librarians and subject specialists here to help you. Do not hesitate to contact us through email or by telephone.
Quick Links
- Map of UCLA Libraries
- Library Hours
- Research GuidesGuides on various topics created by UCLA Library Subject Specialists. Provides easy access to relevant resources available through the UCLA Library.
- Browse databases by subjectLinks to electronic resources subscribed to by the UCLA Library. Search for a specific database or go to Databases by Subject to find suggested databases for a discipline.
- UCLA Library CatalogThe UCLA Library Catalog lists books and journals (not journal articles) owned by the UCLA Library.
- Melvyl CatalogResources in UC campus catalogs, including books, journals, media, government publications, maps, electronic databases, and more. A search in the Melvyl Catalog will include 26 journal article databases with links to articles available in full-text or print from the UC Libraries. To limit your search to books only, on the Advanced Search screen, click the Add/Remove databases>> button and CLEAR ALL; then check the box next to WorldCat and Save Selections.
- SRLF (Southern Regional Library Facility)Library materials, archives and manuscript collections are housed in SRLF, utilizing high-density shelving, the collections are stored in a climate-controlled environment designed to preserve the collections. Material can be retrieved for use in campus libraries or to be checked out.
- Reference HelpLinks to online chat, email, in-person and telephone assistance.
- Off-Campus Access
- myUCLA
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Researching Funding for Graduate Students
These UCLA Graduate Division Web pages provide information for both entering and continuing graduate students:
- Financial Support for Entering Graduate Students
- Graduate Student Support for Continuing Students
- Graduate and Postdoctoral Extramural Support Database
- Grant Directories
- The Grants Register
- Chronicle of Higher EducationA source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators.
- Foundation Grants to Individuals
Beyond Graduate School
Filed your dissertation? Now what! Check out the links below, in addition to information available in your department.
- UCLA Career CenterThe UCLA Career Center provides a range of services that specifically address the career needs of Master's and PhD students. Over the course of your UCLA graduate education you will develop advanced skills in teaching, research, leadership, collaboration, writing, publishing, international experience, and much more.
- UC eScholarshipeScholarship provides a suite of open access, scholarly publishing services and research tools that enable departments, research units, publishing programs, and individual scholars associated with the University of California to have direct control over the creation and dissemination of the full range of their scholarship.
- The Chronicle of Higher EducationFind listings for academic jobs around the world.


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Film goes to Washington
Documentay's audience keeps growing
|Members of the German American Bund stand on their property in Southbury in 1937. The documentary 'Home of the Brave,' which chronicles the Bund's attempt to build a training camp in Southbury in 1937, will be shown today at the U.S. Capitol. Republican-American archive
From rather modest expectations, the documentary that chronicles Southbury's encounter with an American Nazi group in 1937 will be screened today in its most prominent setting yet.
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The colors were so vibrant, I didn't need many more decorations in our dining room. It was a bit long for my table, but the two ends that we cut off were Daisy and Minnie and we hung those as banners, so it pulled double duty!
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Shaping the Story
The elements of a great story have changed, magazines need to stand out from the web with an elevated quality of writing, perspective, and design. This podcast explores the issues consumer, b-to-b and non-profit magazines are changing the way they are writing to stay in touch with the way audiences are consuming media.
Marie Hickey, Article Editor, Parents
Boyce Thompson, Editorial Director Hanley Wood
Melissa Weber, Editorial Director, CURE
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text: Google releases +1 button for social search recommendations 12:32 on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 | Social Media | 1 Comment The social web just moved +1 closer. Google's latest update to their social search system is called +1. It's a recommendation system is similar to Facebook "Likes" except +1's also appear in Google search results. In order to participate with the +1 system you'll need a Google Account and you'll also need to update your settings via the Dashboard (when it's fully released). However as it's not fully live, so in order to get started now you can activate it via Google Labs here as an experiment. What can I +1? Organic search results Paid search results Website pages (if the visited website incorporates the +1 button) It's likely that +1 buttons will be added to other Google properties too. How will +1 help? Recommendations are great, right? So why wouldn't you want them in your search results. +1's appear publicly in search, on ads, your Google profile and across the web. This means that the results recommended by your friends will appear in relevant results. (So let's hope you trust all your "friend's" recommendations). It won't just show your friend's recommendations it will also use other connections such as Gmail contacts and Twitter followers, for example. Your own +1's will appear in a tab in your Google Profile. However, this will depend on whether you have allowed your +1's to be visible to the public. How will +1 influence PPC? Google states that no changes will be needed with your current search ads as this won't affect your Quality Score. Google go on to mention that : "(+1s will be one of many signals we use to calculate organic search ranking)". This continues a growing case for social signals to influence rankings. These signals were also discussed in more detail on searchengineland. More resources about +1: Google +1 Privacy Policy +1 button integration (Not released as yet) +1 button on AdWords Google's answer to the Facebook Likes Button Comments & Discussion (1 Comment) Post a comment, your email will not be published, nor will it be harvested. Type your comment here... Do you 'do social' ? • Years ago [...] Yes, social media is certainly flavour of the month in the buzzwords arena right now….. And, yes, of course we '... [...] Reply


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CMU's very own co-ed a capella group, the Treblemakers, will be performing at Skibo on Wednesday, Feb 27. at 6:30pm.
The Treblemakers consist of many students from a wide range of majors, activities and interests, but they all share a common love of singing their hearts out. Their songs range across decades, genres, and styles - their arrangers compile classic rock hits, modern pop tracks, and alternative beats.
Check out their website here!
Find this event on Facebook here!
If this sounds exciting to you, you're in luck: it's part of Skibo's A Capella series, which will run throughout the semester, with a different CMU a capella group performing on the last Wednesday of every month.
Check out what we've got coming up:
1/30 The Originals -- 2/27 Treblemakers -- 3/27 Joyful Noise -- 4/24 Deewane
See you there!


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Five Food-Related Activities in South Florida This Weekend: Champagne, Brew at the Zoo, Food Festivals, and More
We obviously write about a ton of events over here. For the most part, they tend to be fairly spread out. Well, not this weekend.
Keith Lovett Who doesn't want to drink beer with this guy?
South Florida foodies need to get ready this week: no matter your location or culinary preferences, there are food-related events galore. The five best, after the jump.
See also:
- Free Dozen Doughnuts at Kripsy Kreme for Hero Appreciation Day, April 28
- BC Tacos Food Truck Opens Cafe in Davie
- Brew at the Zoo at Palm Beach Zoo: Party Animals Welcome
5. Veuve Cliquot Promotion
There's something about bubbles that set the mood for a party. To celebrate umm, well, life, PB Catch and Pistache are starting up some weekly Veuve Cliquot promotions. To coincide with its weekend supper club, starting tonight, every Friday the restaurant is offering Veuve for just 8 bucks a glass--and $75 for a bottle--starting after 9:30 pm. PB Catch is offering the $8 a glass deal from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, on Saturdays, and then $75 bottles to go along with its Saturday Nights in the Lounge starting at 9:30pm.
4. Deerfield Beach Wine and Food Festival Grand Tasting
Have you ever gone out to eat with someone who won't share? Well, you won't have to worry about that here. On Saturday night at 6 pm, at Quiet Waters Park, the Deerfield Beach Wine and Food Festival is holding its Grand Tasting. Sample all you like, from chefs around the tri-county area for just 85 bucks. No need to worry about that stingy friend sharing.
Location Info
Pistache French Bistro
101 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL
Category: Restaurant
PB Catch
251 Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach, FL
Category: Restaurant
Pompano Beach (Pompano Pier)
Atlantic and Ocean boulevards, Pompano Beach, FL
Category: General
Flagler Garden
441 NE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: General
Palm Beach Zoo
1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL
Category: General
Pistache French Bistro
101 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL
Category: Restaurant
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