By Muslim Girl is 7 years old this week and this alone is cause to celebrate! This would not be possible without our amazing readers. Thank you to all your supporters, old and new! Insha’Allah many more years to come — and for now, take a look at our 7 most popular MG articles of all time:
7. “#OurThreeBrothers: Do You See Us Black Muslims Now?”
Written by Eman on Feb. 29, 2016
This piece exposed some of the hypocrisy, double standards, and selective mourning within our own Ummah, and it was about time. It’s a shame when some Muslim men and women are loud about Islamophobia towards nonblack Muslims, yet become silent when the victims are Black.
“We as Muslims are quick to highlight double standards in media and society’s overall portrayal of Muslims, but why are we so reluctant to acknowledge our own selective mourning? We love to complain about injustices against muslims, but in our own mosques choose to echo so many oppressive views. We want justice, but only for some of us. We talk about islamophobia but never anti-blackness.”
“I would rather fight for my own liberation alongside those who share my heart, rather than those who pretend to pray to the same God while living their lives in a way that insults the teachings of Islam.”
6. “10 Ways to Wear a Scarf”
Written by Sania on Feb. 21, 2013
Every Hijabi woman’s weakness: Whether it’s a classic knot, a cozy addition on a cold day, or a chic on-the- bag accessory, you really can’t go wrong with scarves. Bookmark this listicle for future reference when you’re craving a stylish addition to your outfit.
“Scarves, scarves and more scarves! We all have a ton of them in every print, color, texture and even size! It’s hard not to buy them especially when they are available everywhere. Scarves are a great way to add character, color and coziness to your look. Here are 10 styles that I have come across and made into my own.”
5. “Why Are We Hiding Our Periods During Ramadan?”
Written by Hanan Issa on June 27, 2016
*GASP* Did she say “period?” — Yes, yes she did. Stop gasping, please.
“Why do we ladies – suffering with stomach cramps, aching lower backs, low energy, volatile emotions, an intense need for chocolate-based snacks and all the other wonderful side effects of our monthly visitor down below – put ourselves through the extra hardship of hiding our Allah-given right to eat when others fast?
You had me at chocolate.
“Society’s message is clear: if it’s sexy, and fulfilling the concept of male sexual desire, it’s all good. If it is somehow tarnishing this idea, it is unpleasant, uncomfortable, and should be kept hidden. Periods are not sexy. In fact, periods are mostly gross, and like breastfeeding, remind us of the uncomfortable truth that women’s bodies are not just objects of sexual desire.”
4. “Do Women Need 4 Witnesses to Prove Rape?”
Written by Hareem on July 17, 2013
Trigger Warning: Rape.
As you can tell, we at Muslim Girl like to ask questions, and do our best to find answers and suggest solutions. In this piece, Hareem delves into a common misconception about “proving” rape in Islam.
“Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not require the rape survivor to provide any witnesses, nor did he require her to provide any evidence beyond her accusation. He did not blame her, nor did he question her regarding the circumstances surrounding the rape. He simply took her word, and was ready to pass sentence. We can assume that the sentence would have been the same as that given to the true rapist, once the rapist confessed.”
It’s so important to take the first step when and educate yourself and others. Do not allow yourself or any Muslim to harbor false or harmful misconceptions.
3. “Stop Using #MuslimLivesMatter”
Written by Sabah on Feb. 12, 2015
How using the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter is counterproductive and appropriating the movement and history represented in #BlackLivesMatter.
“When we start using the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter to express our support, outrage, and hurt, we’re intentionally taking a tool created and used by the Black community, and appropriating it for what is really our own unique cause. #BlackLivesMatter represents an entire movement and its history. It’s not ‘just’ a hashtag, it’s a powerful outcry born from a racial injustice felt by a people.”
“It cannot, and should not, be molded to fit another people’s struggle. And solidarity, while important (and in fact, essential), never involves co-opting another movement. It’s a reductive move that simplifies both struggles, and it only contributes to erasing the very real, very dangerous implications that Islamophobia specifically holds for Muslims.”
2. “Taking on your Period During Ramadan!”
Written by Aisha on Sept. 3, 2010
We can’t fast, we can’t pray — sometimes it’s hard not to think of our periods as a break from worship. This piece is a wonderful reminder for women on their periods during Ramadan, and how this doesn’t hinder us from practicing our faith.
“The worst thing that can happen during Ramadan. Your period. No more fasting, no more praying, until it has ended. What are you to do?”
“Now is not the time to fall back into bad habits, you can still participate and earn the blessings of this holy month. Whether you are remembering Allah through dhikr, feeding people, or volunteering at your local mosque, your menses shouldn’t stop you from continuing to earn the blessings of Ramadan!”
1. “Non Muslim Porn Star Mia Khalifa and Sexual Fetish of Hijab”
Written by Mira on Jan. 6, 2015
After reading the title of the article, you may be thinking to yourself, “WTF?”
Read on to find out how this piece analyzed the underlying themes of using exotic women and hijab to fulfill the sexual fetishes of some men, and the dangerous message this sends.
“The abundant eroticism from which Mia profits comes from the idea of ‘conquering’ the mysterious, strange, different, exotic brown woman. Accessing these brown women is the dominant white man’s fantasy and ultimate exertion of power. This kind of exoticization has been happening since early colonizing missions in ‘the Orient.’
“Images of harems come to mind. Tents full of veiled brown women, waiting to be ravished. Oppressed and in need of saving. Cue the white man. The hero of every story. The conqueror.”
“Never does a fellow brown man, or seemingly Muslim man, engage with the woman in hijab. This erotic fantasy can only exist when it is the white man conquering the brown woman. Mia, with her bare Arabic tattoos and hijab acts, is an extension of living, breathing orientalism — its oppressive message existing even in the realm of power and dominance in the porn industry.”
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Written by Nouha Zaabab