raising

Raising Black boys and Muslim kids in America

As a mother to three sons, I know how rambunctious boys can be. I know the games they play often involve battles, forts, and play fighting with sticks, straws, spoons and yes, even toy guns. To see boys whooping and tearing through backyards while re-enacting fight scenes from the latest…

Read More

“Color”-blind

My five-year-old daughter started school this week and she said, or rather did not say, something which left me amazed. I asked Sammy who she played with on her first day of school and she happily replied, “Jordan!” When I asked her to tell me all about her new friend,…

Read More

Lessons from my son

<< From the Altmuslimah Archives >> God tests us in a myriad of ways, and one of his biggest tests is parenthood. Children are inherently innocent, and their minds are sponges, absorbing everything around them.

Read More

Mommy, do you pray?

When Khaled and I were dating, the subject of children inevitably came up.  We discussed how many, what names we would like, and what religion we would raise them.  From the very beginning, I was set on them being raised with his religion–Islam.  Did I have a clear idea of…

Read More

#ChapelHill: What do we say to our children?

Last week’s Chapel Hill murders have shaken Muslim families across the nation. Craig Stephen Hicks, a 46-year-old white anti-theist, took away the lives of three young, charitable, and intelligent American-Muslims: Razan Abu-Salha (19), Yusor Abu-Salha (21), and Deah Barakat (23). The Problem: Kids and Islamophobia With Islamophobic rhetoric and hate…

Read More

Ask Aisha: Twins

Dear Aisha, I’m a mother of identical twin boys. They’re eligible young bachelors – tall, athletic, and finishing up medical school. I have heard of a great girl from a woman in my community. She is young, educated, religious, though she does not wear hijab. Her aunt says she is…

Read More