On belonging, belief, and becoming.
By Maha LaiqHalloween is right around the corner and you know what that means — neighbors decorating their houses with spooky decorations, people splurging money on delicious sugary treats, and kids chatting enthusiastically in preparation for the big day. However, as a child, unlike most of my friends and neighbors, I wasn’t allowed to participate in the…
By Momina TashfeenOn my campus, I met two preachers. I was with a group of friends, but two of my friends had the good judgment to walk away. The preachers we had encountered previously had a tendency and reputation for talking without end. The two preachers then proceeded to corner the remaining friend and I—but individually. I…
By Marwa DiafMy mornings used to consist of jumping out of bed, brushing my teeth, and getting ready for the day without a single thought as to how to accomplish such simple tasks. That all changed about five years ago. Growing up, I always wondered why I had such large calves. I was always told they were…
By aminaradwanAlrighty! Given this insane summer heat, it only seems fitting that we put a little humor back into our daily rituals, so I’m going to give it to you, and give it to you good! As some of you may know, I am half-Arab and half-Circassian. Circassians are from Russia, for the people who do…
By Humeira KazmiIn the year 2019, the fictitious dystopian world of The Handmaid’s Tale has began to unfurl in real-time America, as the states of Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, and Mississippi banned abortion—making no exception for rape and incest—with prison terms for miscarriages. Welcome to the Republic of Gilead! Yes, this is an atrocity and yes,…
By sanaharharaWe’ve all got them, and their true faces come out during the most pivotal times in our lives. Some of us don’t even know we are being abused, or remain in denial of the abuse. Coming to a point of realization isn’t incredibly easy. It takes taking a serious step back and analyzing your surroundings…
By Guest BloggerAh, Valentine’s Day. Perhaps the only thing more divisive amongst our ummah than the celebration of this day of love is whether tomorrow is Eid or not. Having said that, haram police, you guys can relax because we aren’t here to discuss the halal/haram quotient of celebrating Valentine’s Day (y’all can do that amongst yourselves…
By imaanasimAs a member of the community, I can firmly certify that within the South Asian community, an anti-black sentiment has been silently festering for some years through colorism, about affirmative action, dating back to a time when Black people were enslaved in India. Within the first few weeks of 2019, Khadija Ben Hamou became the first…
By AmaniIf you’re tapped into Muslim social media, you may have noticed a new trend spreading across some accounts: removing the headscarf. A recent wave of highly visible hijabi influencers have been taking off the scarf, provoking shock amongst their followers and Muslim social media users alike. Just as prevalent has been the sweeping condemnation that…
By Jessica DaqamssehCongresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar (D-MN), alongside House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Rules Committee Ranking Democrat Jim McGovern (Mass.) have co-authored a proposal which would lift a 181-year ban on wearing hats on the House floor. This obscure ban came about as a rejection of a custom present in British Parliament. It’s time to amend…
By manalmoazzamSo, here’s the thing. About a week ago, Zayn Malik, former member of the band One Direction, and (almost) every brown chick’s fantasy, spoke out about no longer identifying as a Muslim. *GASP* In an interview with Vogue, he iterated his pleasure at having built his life around the “tenets of Islam,” stating that his…
By MG StaffThis article is a tribute to every young woman of color that is fed up with being described as “exotic.” As women of color, we are used to people telling us, “Wow, you look so exotic, what are you?” It is such a weird word; it makes me feel like a specimen for someone to…
By Hadeel Abdel-NabiIt’s 2011, a few weeks after I had started wearing a hijab, and I’m rummaging through the chip section of a 7-11. In the early stages of my hijab, there were days that I forgot I even had it on, and there were days that I was hyper-aware of every look I received or conversation…
By Manal MoazzamAs with so many discussions on the state of Islam, the question of whether Islam is a feminist religion really boils down to the age-old clash between culture and religion. Anecdotal evidence from the past suggests Islam is a feminist religion, with women taking on roles based on what they felt was required to fulfil…
By Hadeel Abdel-NabiIt’s always been tough to be a Kanye fan. I have fought for him more times than I can count, and have been quoted saying “If Kanye asked me to jump off of a cliff right now, I would.” But recently, fighting for Ye has been a lot tougher — in a different, more internalized way. A…
