Faith
Photo Courtesy of Angela Demaree

Native American Heritage Month: My Native Journey to Islam

Growing up as a Bodewadmi, also known as Potawatomi, we didn’t live on the reservation, and being a Native was nothing more than our parents enrolling us in the tribe and getting our Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card. We attended yearly regional council meetings and occasionally a family-reunion festival, better known as…

Lifestyle

This Is How I Handle Christmas as a Revert

Handling Christmas can be quite difficult as a revert. You see, I was born Muslim and raised Muslim until later in my life. When my mother decided she was going to become Roman Catholic, I was no longer allowed to practice Islam. After a while, I decided to revert back and practice again. My journey…

Faith

5 Ways to Beat the Post-Shahada Blues

For nearly eight years, I’ve navigated the murky waters of my chosen spiritual path. Both the outer and inner manifestations of faith can prove challenging for convert brothers and sisters. Over the years, my imaan has risen and fallen, but like the tide, I always return to my Rabb. During my trials, I’ve found solace…

Faith

Thanking Islam’s First Revert

The past five months have been filled with some of the most life-changing events of my entire life. I’ve reverted to Islam, made the choice to wear hijab and practice modest clothing, learned how to pray properly — all of which intimidated me and I couldn’t properly envision a year ago. Coming from a mindset…

Lifestyle

5 Questions I Get Asked Frequently as a Latina Revert

Latinas, like any other culture, have a slew of stereotypes associated with us. We’re expected to be these fiery, loud women with long hair and sensual curves that love to cook and dance and bare children. We’re either sashaying our hips to salsa in the kitchen, praying with our rosaries or over our candles to Santa…

Uncategorized

The Story of My Journey to Hijab

What do you think of when I say the word ‘hijab?’ Most people will think of the scarf that a lot of Muslim women wear to cover their hair. But that is not all that there is to it. When I converted, one of the first things I thought about was wether or not to…

Uncategorized

A Convert’s Starter Kit

How do I do this? So, you converted to Islam? Masha’Allah! But what now? I remember when I converted last year, I was a little overwhelmed with all the things I had to learn and I felt like I had to learn everything at once in order to become a good Muslim. I think that…

Uncategorized

Beneficial Things to Do While Fasting

Ramadan Kareem! Alhamdulillah! It’s Ramadan! For a lot of us Ramadan falls during the summer holidays which, strangely, makes the fast harder than if we were working or at school. When you are at home, you get bored easily and boredom usually leads me to craving for snacks. So how do you keep yourself busy…

Issues

“My Mother’s Daughter”

Recently, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour interviewed Yvonne Ridley about her conversion to Islam, after her capture by the Taliban.  This fascinating short film about a Muslim daughter and her Christian mother is a must-see. Ridley talks about how Islam’s feminist principles were what first drew her to the religion. The video exhibits the great difficulties she…