Guest Blogger

From time to time, a non-Muslim will ask me if I have been wearing the hijab for most of my life. When I answer that I started wearing it at the age of 20 without telling my parents, and that my mother does not wear the hijab, I see their eyes widen in surprise. My…

Written by Neghena Hamidi. — Some nights my father would drive home and talk about the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan — a war that displaced 6.3 million Afghans to neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Iran. He would talk about his service in the fire department in Kabul, and how some nights he would find…

Written by Sumaira Mian. — Note: This issue extends outside of the Muslim community — but is focused specifically on Muslims in this article to bring forward an inter-community issue to light. Can Muslims be an ally to the LGBTQ community? When posing this question, I’m usually met with three types of responses from Muslims: The first are…

Written by Layla Elabed Disclaimer: While this may not be true for all individuals and families, this was my experience and the experience of many young women I have talked to. What happens when we call our daughters “aroosas”? “Aroosa” translates to bride in Arabic, but is often used has a term of endearment towards little…

It has taken me more than one year to compose this post. Graduating from a good university with a B.A. in Biology and on the Pre-Health track is a moment that I have not wholly internalized. Graduating from the institution that provided me a home, a family, stirs and swells my stomach with desperate frustration. I have…

“God must be punishing me for a past sin, by giving me a child like you.” “Shut up! I’m your father, you loser.” “Talk to me like that again, and I’ll beat you to a pulp.” “Jannah (Paradise) lies under the feet of your mother. Until I forgive you, you’re going to Hell.” These are…

Written by Hinna Sheikh   Nearing the end of an undergraduate degree for a South Asian Muslim female can only mean one thing — and no, it is not that exciting-yet-daunting projection into the career world. Marriage. As I enter into my final year at university, the interest in me has peaked among family members, not…

Written by Mashal Anjum   Bismillah. (In the name of God) Strange how we buy things to wear months from now, and we have no idea if we will be around to wear them. When you have severe health problems and chronic pain, you can’t help but think about imminent death. Death is obviously a…

The doorbell rings. It’s late in the afternoon and my mother is washing the dishes while the rhythmic sound of our doorbell echoes. She tenses a bit. I ask her, “Mami, why don’t you see who it is?” I’m confused. Why won’t she get the door? “Don’t open it. It’s a Black man. He looks scary.” She…

Written by Areej Khan   In the sixth grade, when asked to share what our favorite book was in order to give the rest of the class reading suggestions, I proudly announced to the whole class the title: “Does My Head Look Big In This?” by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Our school librarian just stood there and…

Written by Yasmine Rachidi   I feel like a lot of people think that just because Muslim girls cover up, we don’t have to face some real life problems like body image issues; and that — trust me — is absolutely not true. — I love body positivity and its concept — but it’s hard to practice…

So you wake up nice and early, and surprisingly refreshed considering the busy family-involved weekend you just had. You feel ready for the start of the week — well, as ready as you are going to be. After all, it is a Monday. You grab a breakfast bar and your water bottle, thinking “I really…