Lifestyle

Qandeel Baloch was a Pakistani celebrity who rose to fame through publicizing brazenly insolent and concerningly political comments. She was highly notorious for her countless erotic and flagrant photos she had uploaded on her social media sites. Almost a week ago, she was strangled by her brother, Waseem Baloch, in a so-called “honor killing.” After…

I sometimes worry that my entire generation of young Western Muslims suffer from PTSD — and I honestly do not take that affliction lightly. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder develops in a person after they’ve experienced a traumatic situation. It’s most commonly associated with soldiers returning home from long and dangerous tours abroad, but can also occur…

Muslim women are rarely associated with sports of any kind, because many presume that our religion dictates that we must be docile and obedient. Times are changing, though, and the leaders of Maslaha, a London based organization, are challenging those stereotypes with a new initiative called Muslim Girls Fence. The initiative is part of the…

The work day just ended, and it’s rush hour. There are two seats open to my right, and the lady next to me has a pencil pointed upward. Also, the train is packed. Some creep is trying to slyly take a picture of me. I put my head down for two reasons: I was worried…

During the holy month of Ramadan, everyone is busy trying to re-adjust their hectic schedules, meal prepping, and dividing the hours in each day carefully and meaningfully.  It gets so hectic, and we want to do so much that it’s often easy to forget to take care of ourselves. During Ramadan–and any other time–it’s important…

Every Ramadan, I go to the first taraweeh prayer in the masjid with full force excitement. It’s the time of year where you feel that sense of community in the Ummah again. Smiling faces surround you as you reunite with friends you haven’t seen in a while, reminding you of what a special place the…

We’ve all been there, ladies. Don’t deny it. Who hasn’t taken a surreptitious look around before scoffing a bite of [insert chosen food here] while on your period in Ramadan? Lately, I’ve been wondering why on earth we do this…why are we hiding? Clearly it’s because of the many social and medical benefits of pretending…

The All Dulles area Muslim Society Center held an event on June 20, 2016 to mark World Refugee Day. John Kerry and Angelina Jolie were guests on this occasion. Jolie spoke to an enthusiastic audience of ADAMS community members. Yes, she spoke to a mixed audience of men and women. And no, there were no…

This past week, Muslim Girl attended the White House Summit on Women.  It was monumental for me, for more reasons than one. I can’t explain what it was like to be standing face to face with my childhood hero. It seems watered down and over used to say speechless, or that I had chills, or…

The terrible tragedy that occurred in Orlando, FL this past week has emotions running high for all Muslims across the globe. This event may or may not have been related to the gunman’s religious beliefs, but either way, all Muslims will be facing the consequences to one man’s actions. Our children and young people are being…

Pakistan American journalist, attorney, and DAWN staff columnist Rafia Zakaria often has the answers for me when I’m unsettled by the questions floating around in my head. At 24, I’m watching the women in my peer group make incredible decisions in their lives and careers – choices of graduate school, artistic fellowships abroad, philanthropy projects,…