When I was asked to sit down and write my thoughts on Muslim Masculinity, I hit a wall. The reason for this is mostly a function of my present situation. I’ve been in a successful marriage for the last five years of my life while raising two children as a…
Read More
The foundation for a righteous masculinity cannot be built upon the domination of women. Reflecting upon my experiences as a Muslim woman for the last twenty something years, who for much of that time has muddled through the enormity of trying to guide three daughters into Black Muslim womanhood in…
Read More
I came to Islam in 1993, influenced by social consciousness in Hip Hop. Artists like Rakim, Sista Souljah, and Public Enemy, all of whom who were popularizing Islam, nudged me closer to the faith through their lyrics. I watched Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992) one year before my conversion, and soon after…
Read More
I listened to a woman recite Quran recently. I did a show at an all-girls college over the weekend, and like at many Islamic events, someone got up to recite Quran to start the event on a blessed note. But this time it was a girl (gasp! dun dun dunnnnnnnn!)…
Read More
My father-in-law told me something wise one day: He said the problems the Muslims have today is because Muslim males do not know how to be men. Properly developed men are those who are best to their families. Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Among the Muslims…
Read More
I was born the year the Soviets invaded Afghanistan—an invasion that started the international call for “jihad” to liberate the Muslim country from the Oppressors. As an Afghan American, I could see the men in my family struggle with this Islamic duty to defend their home and country. Did they…
Read More
Muslim Masculinity in the West in the 21st century is largely understudied. And to date, no research has looked at the ways in which uprisings in the United States have affected Muslim masculinities. Muslim Americans are comprised of various cultures and traditions, each describing masculinity and gender roles differently. Despite…
Read More
Many Muslim women have been actively raising the issue of #AllMalePanels at Muslim events, as witnessed by the recent Twitter conversation #NextTimeRememberHer. Responding to this dilemma of all-male, or otherwise male-dominated, panels, Muslim women have created a pledge that they urge Muslim men to sign. The pledge asks the signatory…
Read More
With so many voices and opinions on the Internet, launching a blog is a great way to share real stories, join the global conversation and add to the online narrative of Muslim Americans. When it comes to “Muslim” blogs, you will find ones that focus on anything and everything, from storytelling…
Read More
I spent Thursday night glued to my phone, refreshing Google News every five minutes. News of an active shooter on the Umpqua Community College campus in Oregon had hit Thursday afternoon, and by early evening, the shooter’s identity was still unclear. At the end of the workday, I shifted from…
Read More