By Naazish YarKhan

May/Jun 25

How often in our careers do we get a chance to live intentionally, stay true to our values, and trust God’s plan? Islamic Horizons spoke to three professional women whose journeys are a powerful reminder that the path to success can include these critical factors.

Prayers + Action = Success

CEO Aneesa Muthana is a powerhouse in the manufacturing world. She began her career within her family business, M&M Quality Grinding, 30 years ago and progressed to establishing Pioneer Service Inc. In a space where women are rare in the C-Suite, Muthana leads through business acumen and hard work as well as faith, resilience, and purpose. 

A recipient of the 2021 Muslim Achievers Award given by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Muthana confesses to being a workaholic. She said it all starts with tawakkul (trust in God) while taking bold, intentional action. “I remind myself that I’m only responsible for my efforts, and the outcomes are in His hands,” she said. “When I faced the decision to expand Pioneer Service into new markets, like aerospace, I felt unsure of the risks and challenges. But instead of letting fear paralyze me, I turned to dua [supplication] and sought guidance, trusting that Allah (subhanahu wa ta‘ala) would guide me if my intentions were pure. By breaking the goal into small steps and moving forward with faith, I saw doors open that I couldn’t have imagined on my own.” 

As a result, opportunities blossomed, and her leadership reshaped what was possible in precision machining.

Muthana’s other secret to success is prioritizing her “highest-payoff activities” – the tasks that are most impactful – and delegating the rest. She recognizes her limits. “When managing both Pioneer Service and my family responsibilities, I prioritize tasks that only I can handle and delegate the rest to capable team members,” Muthana said. “It allows me to maximize my time so that I’m fulfilling my roles effectively.” 

She added that when life feels overwhelming, the tahajjud prayer is “a game changer.” 

As with any business, failure is inevitable. “When faced with failure, I remind myself of the Quranic verse: ‘Indeed, with hardship comes ease’, and view failure as part of the process that Allah has written for me to learn and grow,” Muthana said. 

When an economic downturn threatened her business, she stopped focusing on growth. Instead, she prioritized her company’s survival and her employees’ livelihoods. Proactively, she sold real estate to cover expenses, leaning on Islamic financial principles like avoiding debt. This strategy proved to be a lifeline. “Imagine the weight of additional loans in such a crisis,” she said. This perspective helped her persevere while also strengthening her business. 

In her article “Work-Life Balance isn’t Working for Women. Why?”, Claire Savage wrote, “Working women who are parents or guardians are more likely than (fathers) to say they have declined or delayed a promotion at work because of personal or family obligations, and mothers are more likely than fathers to ‘strongly agree’ that they are the default responders for unexpected child care issues” (AP News, Dec. 5, 2024). 

Muthana, too, stepped back from certain professional opportunities to be present for her children. “When my children were young, my focus was on raising them while keeping my business running. During that time, I delegated more at work and stepped away from some opportunities so I could be present for my family.” 

Muthana’s Yemeni heritage plays a vital role in her story. A speaker at conferences, workshops, and industry events, she frequently shares her cultural values and experiences as a woman who defied expectations and carved out a space for herself in manufacturing. Her words inspire others to push past doubt, embrace challenges, and pursue their dreams.

Shape Mindsets, Galvanize Change

Toronto resident Farah Ghafoor, 24, is an award-winning Canadian poet with roots in Pakistan. In 2023, she was awarded the E.J. Pratt Medal and Prize in Poetry by the University of Toronto. In 2022, she was longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize. Raised in New Brunswick and southern Ontario, Ghafoor is a financial analyst by day. 

“In middle school, I found both poetry and tech startups fascinating,” she said. “When I had to select a career, I chose accounting because I wanted to learn about business without the risks, while pursuing poetry.”

One of her secrets to success are  clear work-life boundaries. They’ve enabled her to write consistently. “I find myself to be most productive when I am not thinking about work after 5 p.m.,” she said. “Whereas, while I take courses to obtain my CPA designation, I don’t write at all.” 

She also pointed out that it’s helpful to surround yourself with a strong support network of people who want to see you succeed and achieve your goals. “When people around you support your goals and dreams, it’s much easier to prioritize yourself without feeling guilty,” she said. 

Ghafoor writes to understand herself and the world. Her writing also encourages readers to unpack her words and reflect on their weight. Her latest collection of poems, Shadow Price (House of Anansi Press Inc., 2025), available this Spring, questions “personal complicity, generational implications, and the shock of our collective disregard for a world that sustains every living thing.”

“The climate crisis is an emergency that no one is completely safe from, so even if we’re only inching along toward a sustainable world, progress is still progress,” Ghafoor said. “I recently stumbled upon an article by CBC that explores the ‘lost’ creeks of Canada, which are natural waterways that have been buried and built over. I wanted to share and consider how we value our natural landscapes, so I wrote about the concept of daylighting, which is the process of extricating and restoring rivers in this context.”

Still, her writing offers hope. “I’ve spoken to so many young people who feel this sense of utter hopelessness about the world,” she said. “However, for ourselves and future generations, we need to reject the status quo – the comforts that we’ve been accustomed to – similar to what happened during lockdown. This is what I aim to convey.” 

Review Facts, Channel Advice, Leverage Instinct

Arizona-based vice president of finance at American Vision Partners, Farzana Moinuddin, who confesses to “living and dying” by her calendar, is a stickler for timeliness. She has never  missed a deadline even while balancing a full-time job and graduate school. “We, as Muslims, have that important responsibility of salah [prayer]. And if we have salah as our foundation, we have the blueprint of how to manage our time,” she said.  

She said both her professional and personal life involve “constantly looking at data and basing decisions on factual events.” Whether it’s a home or car purchase, or going on vacation, Moinuddin and her husband invariably compile a list of  pros and cons, create an Excel spreadsheet, and use other research to guide decisions. She also draws on instinct and istikharah (a prayer asking God for guidance when making decisions). “Sometimes we can just instinctively feel what’s a right decision and what’s not. Listen to your instinct. . . That’s what carries me through,” she said.  

She warns that not all outcomes based on the istikharah will be successful. “The outcome is one that is in your best interest,” she said. “It may not be what we want, but it’s one that Allah has ordained. So if you succeed, that’s great. If you fail, there is khair [benefit] in it, too.”

Despite the istikharah, despite reviewing all the data, and despite considering pros and cons, one can still fail. At such times, Moinuddin said, you need to reassess. “Go back and look at the facts. Sometimes, your decision may have been based on wrong data points, or you’ve misunderstood the data or you didn’t understand a certain aspect,” she said. “I will spend just enough time analyzing the situation but will immediately take action by bringing the issue to light to a wider audience.”

Like Ghafoor, central to Moinuddin’s success is her support system. It includes family and friends just as much as experts in a field. “In our faith, a major tenet is consultation (mashwara). You seek mashwara from those with different takes on things, people with more experience on that particular subject, whether a peer, a colleague or friend, Muslim or otherwise,” she said. “I can be looking at something through one lens and someone else will have another perspective. This has been extremely helpful to me in making the right decisions.” It has also meant being intentional about fostering these relationships and nurturing a circle of trust to lean into.   

Life is about seasons, priorities, and knowing what truly matters. At one stage, it might mean focusing on family; at another, it might mean growing a business or mentoring others. Wisdom lies in embracing each phase, knowing that it too shall pass. 

Naazish YarKhan, a writing and college essay coach, is owner of WritersStudio.us. Her writing has been translated into several languages and is featured in more than 50 media platforms including NPR, the Chicago Tribune, and in various anthologies.

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By Sheima Salam Sumer

May/Jun 25

Her husband put a knife to her throat and pressed another against her back in front of their child. He stabbed her friend. She tried going to her mother’s home, but her mother refused to open the door. She drove around at night with her daughter not knowing where to go.

This is a true story of one woman who sought refuge at the Asiyah Women’s Center in New York City (NYC). 

Asiyah Women’s Center is the first and only Muslim women’s emergency shelter in NYC. It was founded in 2018 by the nonprofit Muslims Giving Back to meet the need for services for Muslim survivors of domestic abuse. While the center focuses on Muslims, women from all religions are welcome.

Catering to the Needs of Muslim Women

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 41% of American women and 26% of men experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Asiyah Center’s website cites that 1 out of 3 American Muslim women face intimate partner violence.

“Without Asiyah Women’s Center, I don’t know where my daughter and I would be today,” said this woman, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I know so many Muslim women who do not like to be in the predicament they’re in. If you leave your home, you’re homeless. To know that there’s a place in the city that is tailored to your needs… and is here to help you… it’s very vital.”

NYC Muslim women who went to shelters before the existence of Asiyah’s faced hardships such as hijab bans, pork-only meals, and uncomfortable interactions with male staff. Because of a lack of culturally sensitive services, many Muslim women chose to remain in abusive homes rather than seek help. 

Asiyah Women’s Center is the only shelter in NYC that provides halal food, modest clothing, prayer spaces, and an all-female staff.

Services for Muslim Victims of Domestic Violence

Zahra Omairat, Asiyah’s communications manager, said Asiyah goes beyond just providing shelter. “We prepare our clients for a life of stability and independence after everything they’ve endured,” she said. “Our support includes helping them secure employment and develop a steady income, enrolling them in school if needed, or connecting them to ESL classes. We ensure they have access to insurance to cover basic human necessities and assist with any legal cases they may face.”

One shelter resident said she experienced the best days of her life at Asiyah. “I finally felt like I had a family to support me, and be there if I needed them,” she said.

Omairat said Asiyah Women’s Center stands apart from others thanks to their holistic approach. “We help our clients build their resumes, prepare for job interviews, and even provide child care while they attend doctor’s appointments,” she said. “We make sure their fridge is stocked with food, and they are eating well to maintain their health and wellbeing.”

Asiyah also helps refugees and undocumented immigrants with legal and immigration services. The Asiyah Women’s Center’s Instagram page shows the center helping a family from Gaza move into their new home. 

“The Immigrant/Refugee Relief Program at Asiyah Women’s Center supports families relocating from Gaza with rent and food assistance,” the center’s website states. “We offer volunteer opportunities, a monthly donation drive, and a mentorship program for migrant and college students. Additionally, we provide mutual aid to Gazan refugees in Egypt.”

An Asiyah Success Story

Spousal abuse is not the only hardship faced by the women at Asiyah’s. Omairat said some clients face injustice from their families.

“[One client’s] parents had threatened her with severe violence — even death — if she refused to enter into an arranged marriage they had planned for her,” she said. “They even went so far as to threaten to cut off her hands if she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. Despite these unimaginable challenges, her determination to create a better future remained steadfast.”

Omairat shared that the day before the client was scheduled to be sent away to meet her intended husband, the Asiyah team intervened and brought her to safety. 

“From that moment, Asiyah Women’s Center supported her every step of the way, helping her apply to college and begin her journey toward achieving her aspirations,” Omairat said. “Today, she is thriving in medical school, working toward her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. Her story reflects… the critical importance of providing a safe and supportive environment for survivors.” 

The Islamic Story Behind the Center’s Name

Omairat explained why the name Asiyah was chosen for the shelter. 

“The Asiyah Women’s Center derives its name and inspiration from a figure of immense courage and resilience in Islamic history: Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh,” she said. “Asiyah is celebrated for her bravery and steadfastness in the face of unimaginable oppression. Despite being married to one of history’s most tyrannical rulers, she stood firm in her faith, refusing to worship Pharaoh and instead believing in the message of Musa (‘alayhi as salam) about Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).”

Omairat said the team at Asiyah see her story reflected in the women who walk through their doors. “Like Asiyah, these women demonstrate remarkable resilience in their journey to reclaim their independence and dignity,” she said. “Her legacy. . . [is] a source of inspiration for the women we serve. Asiyah’s story reminds us that courage and faith can prevail even in the darkest of circumstances, and it is our mission to help women rediscover their strength and rebuild their lives.”

How the Center Uses the Teachings of Islam

Omairat said principles of Islam inspire and inform the center’s work. “Islam emphasizes compassion, justice, and the sanctity of human dignity, values that are central to our mission,” she said. “We use these teachings to create a safe, supportive environment where survivors feel respected and understood.” 

She said faith is a source of strength and resilience for many of the center’s clients, so the team incorporates a cultural and spiritual approach into their care. Such an approach includes offering access to halal food, providing spaces for prayer, or connecting clients with Islamic resources to support their healing and personal growth.

“Islam’s teachings on justice guide us in advocating for the rights of survivors and empowering them to reclaim their independence,” Omairat said. “We also draw inspiration from the examples of strong, resilient women in Islamic history to remind our clients of their own inner strength and the potential to overcome adversity.”

What Challenges Does the Center Face?

The main challenge of running the center is having consistent funding to maintain its services. 

“Providing comprehensive support such as shelter, legal assistance, career development, childcare, and access to basic necessities requires substantial resources, and we rely heavily on the community to sustain our efforts,” Omairat said.

Another challenge is overcoming the stigma of domestic violence that prevents victims from seeking help. “Raising awareness about domestic violence and the unique barriers faced by survivors is an ongoing challenge,” Omairat said. “Part of our mission is to break down these barriers through education and advocacy.”

Asiyah Women’s Center will continue to operate with Islamic values at its core, putting to practice the hadith, “God enjoins you to be good to women, for they are your mothers, your sisters, and your aunts” (Sahih al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr, 648). 

Asiyah welcomes donations to help provide services to Muslim women.

Sheima Salam Sumer is the author of How to be a Happy Muslim, Insha’Allah and The Basic Values of Islam. She is also a tutor and life coach.

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By Cynthia Griffith

Mar/Apr 25

It’s early June in the historic little city of Chester, Penn., and 8-year-old Safiya Lockett’s long, flowered skirt swirls around her ankles as she beams with pride. Safiya loves her hijab. She proudly dons it on the playground, although she might be the only child wearing religious attire. She doesn’t even mind the other school-aged children asking questions like, “What is that scarf on your head?” and “Are you hot?” 

As a young Muslim girl in America, Safiya holds a wealth of answers to preemptive questions she knows are on the horizon. She’s responsible and studious, unapologetic and capable. Poised with a quick wit and a level of rationality that exceeds her years, Safiya is usually the most serious face you would spy in a crowd.

But today, things are different. Today, Safiya Lockett is light on her feet, her smile a curl in an endless sea of bedazzled khimars and festively decorated shaylas (a type of hijab). And under the lights of a makeshift runway, she shines in a modest gown crafted by her own hands. The crowd explodes with applause as she spins around the stage. Other students line up behind her to take their turn, each adorned in handmade, sustainable designs from the fashion categories they created. 

The children’s designs in this sustainable fashion show are variously girly, cozy, classic, and sporty. Each style of streetwear is different, but all of them are green. The theme for the show is, of course, conservation, conserving our modesty means conserving our planet as well.

Fast fashion continues to take an unfathomable toll on the environment. And as Muslims are tasked with being caretakers of the earth. As such, first through 12th grade students at The Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) in Chester are making a difference by creating sustainable modest clothing and reshaping the runway with a futuristic flare. 

Modest, Eco-Friendly Fashion Designs

IIS, the only K-12-learning facility in Chester, features a faith-based curriculum for local Muslim students. It is also the only school of its kind across Delaware County, Penn. This place is notable because of its proximity to Philadelphia, which is an iconic city for Muslim Americans and is sometimes called the “Mecca of the West”. 

IIS is not a new development, though. Like the clothing launched on its runway, this unique school represents an old idea that has been revived with a modern twist. In this sense, it is old but also new having only been operational for a few years. Most of the teachers working there are very familiar with the philosophy embraced by IIS having been students at the old Institute, an Islamic educational facility that was shuttered in 2010 due to a lack of funding. 

The original school, which opened in the late 1990s, was a community effort founded by the local Imam in collaboration with area Muslim parents. In 2020, some former students came together by pooling community resources and managed to reopen the latest school’s incarnation by taking on the role of teachers themselves. They hold out hope that the educational opportunity offered to the area’s Muslim students will stick around this time. Together, they pour their hearts, souls, and sometimes their wallets into projects they believe will bolster the community.

One of these young teachers is sewing instructor Zahrah Waites who makes her living crafting handbags out of repurposed materials. She pointed out the Islamic responsibility to uphold unpretentious mannerisms and to take on tasks with modesty and in moderation. This is the mindset she wishes to pass on to her students.

“Our Lord and Creator is Al-Musawwir, the shaper and fashioner of beauty,” Waites said. “God loves beauty and has demonstrated it in his creation of mankind and our environment. He has also placed the responsibility on Muslims to be the caretakers and maintainers of this beautiful earth. With the rise of fast fashion and landfills destroying our planet, upcycling or [repurposing] fashion is very important.”

That rise, as Waites mentioned, is a destructive trend. According to Florida State University, stocking racks with the latest apparel consumes about 79 billion cubic meters of water every year, making fast fashion the second most destructive industry in the world in terms of water consumption and water pollution.

The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on conserving water are clear in the Quran and hadiths, where we are told that one should not waste water even if one is on the banks of a flowing river, and it is also taught that polluting water is a grave sin. As industrial waste leaves a stain on the earth with each new pair of jeans that is created, the Muslim duty for preservation becomes clear.

Starting from Scraps: How the Modest Sustainable Styles Came Together 

The mission to design eco-friendly overgarments and khimars began at the start of the school year. Sewing students were instructed to go home and ask their parents and family members for gently-used, unwanted items. 

“We reached out and asked everyone to donate things like old clothes, old fabric, and unused materials,” Waites said. “Then we used those materials to bring the whole ensemble together. We covered a lot of the sewing basics and then we added the sustainability factor.”

On Tuesdays, the hum of the sewing machine takes over classrooms. Vision boards were etched into laptop screens. Blueprints were drawn in pencil. The students grew more confident and creative as their ideas transformed from thoughts in their minds to illustrations in their notebooks to real-life items they could hold, touch, and proudly wear. As the school year wore on, scraps became cozy earmuffs, and forgotten curtains were transformed into chic emerald gowns. And something inside the students was positively changing too.

“I think learning to sew things they could wear and walk around in helped boost their confidence,” Waites said. “Once you unlock that potential and the students realize what they’re capable of, nothing can stop them. I know every child has the ability to create something amazing that will greatly impact the entire world. The only difference is that now, they know it too.”

As a testament to that statement, Nuriah Blackwell, 13, who oozes with subtle confidence, entered the room. The 8th grader took sewing for the first time in the 2023-24 school year at IIS. She smiled excitedly, her posture as straight as a needle, an accomplished look sprinkling her eyes as she went on to describe the experience. 

“I had fun sewing my clothes. It was different, something I never did before,” said Nuriah. “It made me learn new things about life. For example, if I was not able to buy anything, now I know I could make my own stuff.”

Beside Nuriah, sat her 6th grade classmate Sumaiyah Smith, 11. Sumaiyah, known around school for her kind spirit, easy going nature, and impressive collection of Hello Kitty items, is lovingly referred to by friends as simply “Mai Mai.”

“I could make a dress out of newspaper now if I wanted to,” said Sumaiyah, proving she feels anything is possible. 

Both Nuriah and Sumaiyah seemed to agree that their favorite part of the whole project was “everything.”

In the end, the students wore their handmade overgarments on stage at a schoolwide, ladies-only fashion show, and their families got to witness their inspiring creations come sashaying down the runway. “When we invited the parents back at the end of the year to see the fashion that the girls put together, everyone was blown away,” said Waites. “It looked amazing. We’re already getting requests to do it again, and it’s so popular that we might need a bigger venue.”

Through their sewing, cooking, carpentry, electrical, and financial literacy courses, the IIS aims to nurture the youth by instilling in them a strong background in Quran and Sunnah while inspiring the highest level of moral character. Through these principles coupled with an active, hands-on curriculum, the IIS hopes to elevate young Muslims across Delaware County and beyond. 

Cynthia C. Griffith is a social justice journalist with a passion for environmental and civil rights issues. Her writing on the earth, space, faith, science, politics, and literature have appeared on several popular websites.

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By Hamza Khan

Mar/Apr 25

Zaynab Mohamed, 27, and Yasmin Trudeau, 40, have never met, but their lives tell the same powerful American story. Mohamed was nine years old when her family immigrated to Minnesota after fleeing war in Northern Somalia. Trudeau, a Bengali American, faced her own share of adversity having spent her childhood navigating the foster-care system in Washington State. Both women pushed through seemingly insurmountable odds to ascend to the state legislature, Mohamed as a Senator in Minnesota representing District 63, and Trudeau in Washington State Senate District 27.

The Democratic duo is part of a small yet growing trend. In 2023, a record 235 Muslims were elected to public office, according to a joint analysis by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Jetpac Resource Center. While data for 2024 has yet to be released, the number has risen steadily since 2020, with new names emerging each year.

From the Classroom to the Legislature

The journey often takes shape in the classroom. Despite living in 11 homes between 7th and 12th grade, Trudeau would go on to win her high school’s Gates Achievement Award, setting her on a path toward college and ultimately, law school. “Regardless of how many places I lived or how things were like, that was the thing in the back of my mind – just finish your education,” said Trudeau, who in 2021 became the first Muslim member of Washington State’s legislature.

A 2017 study by the Institute for Policy and Understanding found that Muslims are 8% more likely to graduate college than the average American. Mohamed was no different. She found purpose through the Minneapolis “Step Up Program,” through which she worked at a bank during high school and college. At the same time, she taught her mother how to read English. 

Mohamed credited her work supervisor with setting her on a path of success. “Now that I look back as a young person, that was one of the most meaningful things that has ever happened to me,” said Mohamed, who was one of eight children. “Because none of my siblings have gone to school here, and all my family members have had no one, and nothing.”

Neither Trudeau nor Mohamed actually planned to pursue politics. Like many in immigrant families, they initially prioritized stability over risk. It is perhaps for this reason that while Muslims are underrepresented in local government, they make up around four times their share of the population in medicine.

“Muslim Misfits” Make History 

But growing up in a changing America often means adopting changing roles. Trudeau was in law school when she found herself in a heated debate with a classmate over the “intent behind law.” Passionate about immigration advocacy, she found herself wanting to do more than just learn – she wanted to shape policy.

Mohamed, who is 13 years younger than Trudeau, was swept up in the activist fervor of 2020 when George Floyd was murdered a few blocks from her parents’ house. Neither were alone in their passion. Two years before George Floyd’s murder at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department, fellow Muslims Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were making history as the first Muslims elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Both women got their start in the state legislature.

Still, the road ahead wasn’t steady for these groundbreaking women. Trudeau’s background as the daughter of a young single mother often left her feeling ostracized in a conservative Muslim community. But her mother’s words still echo in her ears: “No matter what, you’re a Muslim.”

“I was like, ‘Mom, the Muslim community barely accepts you,’” Trudeau said. “And she was like, ‘They don’t need to.’ And that really stood out to me.” Trudeau spent her years after law school working for Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal (D), who now serves in the U.S. Congress. Later, Trudeau joined the state Attorney General’s office, which at the time was challenging then-President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban.

In 2021, the seven-member Pierce County Council unanimously appointed Trudeau to the Washington State Senate. She has since won an election in 2022 and reelection in 2024. And despite the hardships that accompany Trudeau’s unique background, she often found herself at an advantage. “We have a lot of different things that impact our folks, and so I think that actually the ‘Muslim misfits’ are probably the most primed to have these nuanced conversations on behalf of our communities,” Trudeau said. “Because we’ve experienced that we’re not a monolith, and we understand that that’s not the goal.”

The same year Trudeau was appointed, Mohamed took her passion for social justice to CAIR-Minnesota, where she worked as the director of advocacy. She then began managing campaigns for Minneapolis city council candidates, eventually becoming a policy aide for a sitting councilmember. “I guess when you’re really angry at the world, it’s easy to learn things that you want to be good at to better the world,” Mohamed said with a chuckle. “So that’s sort of what got me into organizing.”

Not a year into her job as an aide, the sitting state senator of 16 years, Patricia Torres Ray, retired. Before Mohamed even thought of running, the hashtag “RunZaynabRun” spread across social media. In a decision that still surprises her to this day, Mohamed threw her hat in the ring. The result was a landslide primary and general election win in 2022. In January 2023, Mohamed made history as the youngest woman to ever serve in Minnesota’s State Senate.

“There will always be somebody who tells you to wait your turn,” said Mohamed, who recalled being told she was too young to mount a successful campaign. “If you know what you’re doing, and you believe in the value you can bring to an institution, just run.”

Trudeau, too, was surprised by the positive response from her community. New Jersey, Michigan, and California take the helm as states with the most elected Muslim officials. As a Muslim politician in Washington State, Trudeau was a trailblazer.

She recalled interviewing a prospective staff member, a Palestinian Christian, who tearfully expressed concern about being a political liability. “I was like, oh, no, this office – don’t worry about that for a second,” Trudeau said.

Groundbreaking Muslim Women Paying it Forward 

Both Trudeau and Mohamed have since worked on a slew of legislation, including investments in affordable housing, wage reform, and homelessness prevention programs. They have also received warm reviews from their constituents. In her 2024 race, Trudeau won by a nearly 44% margin.

And if more Muslims are looking to get their names on the ballot, Trudeau hopes they know they are not alone. “It’s gonna feel uncomfortable and awkward, and you’re never gonna feel like you fully fit anywhere,” Trudeau said. “But that’s how a lot of people feel in this country all the time. So if anything, I think we translate an experience that really goes beyond just the Muslim community.”

Neither could forget the mentors and educators who helped them find their footing in the world. For Mohamed, this was her old boss, who taught her how to apply to college. “I still talk to him,” Mohamed said. “Every few months he still checks up on me.”

Trudeau remembered fondly the late Professor José Goméz at Evergreen State College. When she had told him she was always interested in law, he simply responded with: “Well then — we’re gonna help you become a lawyer.”

Hamza Khan, a New York-based freelance journalist, previously worked for WICZ FOX 40.

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By Tayyaba Syed

Nov/Dec 2024

January 2025 marks a special milestone: 40 years since Shaykha Tamara Gray accepted Islam. Dr. Gray, EdD is the founder, executive director, and chief spiritual officer at Rabata. Spending time reflecting as the big day approaches, she feels that it’ll be a full-circle moment for her. As a new Muslim in the mid-1980s, she searched and yearned for ways to learn about Islam. 

“To be a Muslim woman at that time was a frustrating experience,” recalls Gray, who grew up in Minnesota and returned there in 2012, after her studies and work in Damascus, Syria. “In the ’80s, we didn’t have access to learning. The books written about Islam or Muslim women used English that was riddled with rough language and mistranslations, or the tone was derogatory. Going to the mosque was frustrating too. You didn’t feel like part of the community. Converts really struggle with culture, and I experienced that in those early years.” 

She remembers the day very clearly, standing at the corner of Grand and Snelling Avenues in St. Paul and pleading with God to send her the people and community she needed to both sustain and grow her faith. She didn’t know how much longer she could do this on her own. 

Moving to Syria

Her supplication was answered shortly thereafter – she met a woman who had studied in Syria and was willing to teach her. In one week, she had scripted 100+ pages of notes on Islamic subjects like fiqh, sirah, and tazkiya (purification of the soul). This inspired her to pursue further studies in Syria under the tutelage of more women like her first teacher.

“I met women there who had memorized the Quran, mastered the ten qiraat (methods of recitation), received certification in the books of hadith and were serious yet joyful about their faith,” she shares. 

“They had deep daily worship, were continuous learners who taught what they learned to their communities, held professional titles/careers, and simultaneously had a healthy family life. People we would call [them] ‘superwomen,’ but they are embodying the example of the Companions … 

“This is the true culture of Islam, and I am grateful to have met them and witnessed what we can be for Allah in this life. Yes, we can stretch ourselves with the abilities and blessings Allah has given us. My initial intent was to save my faith and not lose it; it quickly changed to wanting to share it with whomever I could.”

Over the next few decades, Gray did just that by advancing in her Islamic and secular studies and excelling professionally. She holds a doctorate in leadership (University of St. Thomas, ’19), a master’s degree in curriculum theory and instruction (Temple University, ’91), and has spent 20 years studying traditional and classical Islamic sciences, Quran, and Arabic in Damascus. She also worked in education for 25 years before moving into the nonprofit world.

In 2012, Gray took a temporary leave from her job and returned to the U.S. with the intention of only being away for five months (from the civil war). While she was here, some of her students arranged a tour for her to meet with North American Muslim women. In one month, she gave almost 70 talks and met hundreds of them. However, she noticed something concerning: Many of them were facing great struggles, especially with faith.

“It was like nothing had changed in the 20 years I was away,” Gray notes. “These women wanted to go to jannah but were dealing with bitterness and ignorance on how to practice their faith.”

Rabata is Born

That fall, she offered a pilot course on the Companions. Over 150 women registered for this life-changing online class. This quickly led to the inception of Rabata’s educational program Ribaat, which now offers 125 courses with 2,000+ students per semester worldwide. Rabata’s mission is to create positive cultural change through creative educational experiences for women, teenaged girls, and children. 

“It is women who carry forth culture, and a lot of what we do and offer at Rabata is what I needed when I started on this path to Allah,” says Gray. “When I came back to the U.S., I met so many women (nonverts and converts) with that same need. Rabata may just be the result of someone’s answered du‘a like Damascus was for me. I wanted to bring what I gained there and share it with women here through Rabata: give it forth and give it out. 

“As I have been doing final assessments with our most recent graduates [41 to date], they keep sharing how grateful they are. When we say we are trying to ‘create positive cultural change,’ that penetrates women’s personal lives through confidence in their faith. They tell me thanks to Rabata, they are working differently in their communities now and raising their families better.”

Gray believes that when you are a Muslim woman, you’re not talking about Islam, but living a Muslim life. According to her, we should be magnets for people to come to Allah and bring goodness wherever we are, which requires us to be intentional in everything we do and have an akhira perspective.

In June 2023, Rabata received the two-year Healthy Connections and Social Impact grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. This opportunity provides Rabata the support to curate intergenerational programming for the state’s Muslim women to be connected to one another to reduce social isolation and, in turn, lead healthier lives. 

“We had to think outside the box,” she shares, “and get even more creative in bringing about this positive cultural change.” Rabata has organized sports and physical activities like boxing, skiing, golf, Pilates, and yoga in a safe and healthy communal environment. The yoga classes even drew an intergenerational group of women and girls to Rabata’s headquarters and cultural center (RCC) in Arden Hills, Minn., every week.

They also initiated a financial literacy program, as many local Muslim women expressed interest in learning how to manage finances compatible with their unique lifestyles and cultural choices. Rabata helped address their feelings of being alone and uninformed regarding money matters.

Not only are women bettering themselves through such educational experiences, but they are also finding community in-person and online. Rabata provided a virtual learning and spiritual platform many years before Covid-19 hit. However, during the pandemic they opened Masjid Rabata for women to gather online to worship and be together in a safe, digital space. In 2023 alone, this online masjid held 200+ gatherings; 21,000+ attendees globally throughout the year. 

“Living in Syria meant I was not online,” says Gray. “Therefore, I am not a digital native but a digital immigrant. Online teaching was so new to me, but I believed in the idea that being together virtually is still within ‘Allah’s space,’ where we can exchange knowledge, emotions, and our state of being. It is not the same as watching a video, but [is] actually ‘sitting together’ even if we are physically apart. Digital time is real time, through which we can still bring real benefit and value to our lives.”

Considering this, Gray is the resident scholar for the Ribaat Academic Institute, teaching multiple classes online and in-person. Aside from Rabata, she is also a faculty member at The Islamic Seminary of America, serves on the board of the Fiqh Council of North America, writes academic articles as a senior fellow at the Yaqeen Institute, and has authored her award-winning book “Joy Jots” (Daybreak Press, 2014) — a collection of 52 weekly essays that take the reader through a year of seasons. She has also helped translate the late Syrian scholar Dr. Samira al-Zayid’s “A Compendium of the Sources on the Prophetic Narrative” (Daybreak Press, 2018). 

Balancing it All

Among the pushbacks she has received since moving back to the U.S. is that she is “doing too much.” Aside from diligently doing the work of deen, she is married: three adult children, two grandchildren, and nearby parents and siblings. When asked how she balances everything, she mentions that it’s more about continuously recentering ourselves around God rather than trying to balance it all.

“Every week I ask myself what the big goals are that I want to reach this week,” she shares. “What am I working towards? It’s not just thinking about work but my whole life. How am I making time for my family? I like to be at my granddaughter’s soccer games and will move my schedule around if need be. It is all about improving relationships, continuing to grow and developing ourselves for Allah.”

In an era where Muslim women struggle to be recognized for their scholarship, qualifications, and seniority in Muslim spaces, it’s refreshing to find Shaykha Tamara Gray is remaining steadfast in her vision of creating a rising tide of female Muslim scholars, teachers, and community stewards in every digital and local neighborhood in the world. 

Tayyaba Syed is a multiple award-winning author, journalist, and Islamic studies teacher. She conducts literary and faith-based presentations for all ages, serves on Rabata’s board of directors, and is an elected member of her local school district’s board of education in Illinois, where she lives with her husband and three children.

The post Shaykha Tamara Gray Talks 40 Years of Being Muslim appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By Umm Ibrahim

Nov/Dec 2023

Are you hot …?

Summer in California’s Inland Empire is hot, with daily highs averaging more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the summer months. Sometimes dry heat, sometimes muggy if it’s the desert monsoon season with its sudden bursts of thunder, lightning, and heavy downpours that last just a few minutes.

One morning I came in sweating after taking my 15-minute walking break outside in the gated parking lot. On the way back to the front door, a female departmental colleague asked, “Aren’t you hot in that?” She meant, isn’t my hijab and ankle-length, flowing dress too warm? I gave my typical response, “Yes, I am warm, but it’s hot for everyone. As a Muslima, I wear loose, modest clothes. The fabrics I wear are lightweight, airy, and cover my skin. I am comfortable and don’t have to use too much sunscreen. Here, touch my dress and you’ll see.”

I held out a portion of my ample skirt so she could rub the velvety soft cotton. She agreed that the fabric was amazing and wasn’t a bad choice in the heat compared to her skintight leggings and fitted dress made from a jersey fabric that was wet with sweat by this point.

Going back to my cubicle, I met a male manager from the superintendent’s communications department. He asked if my attire was due to my having cancer. Taken aback for a moment — I don’t have cancer — I gathered my thoughts and responded, “No, I’m a Muslima and we dress modestly. However, the hat and sunglasses I wear are due to my extreme sun sensitivity and are not required by my faith. Covering the hair and body loosely with fabric is all that is required for females in Islam, and there are many different styles.”

He nodded in polite understanding and kept going. Every so often we would meet again in the hallway and nod greetings, but no more questions were raised.

Excuse me, Miss…

Contemplating the wide assortment of breakfast choices for my kids in the cereal aisle one day, I heard a sound. Coming out of my sugar-fueled reverie, I spotted a woman next to me with a smile and her mouth moving. I quickly focused on what she was saying. (You might think this is odd, but no one ever talks to me at Target, so it took a moment to understand that she wanted to have a conversation.)

She was trying to tell me how lovely my scarf was, and how she and the people from her church supported Muslims and knew we were just regular people, despite the recent news reports (This was a few days after a Muslim had bombed something, somewhere). She then told me about her study group’s initiative to bring people together from different backgrounds, their successes, goals and so on. We exchanged numbers and continued shopping in our respective aisles.

I did call her once, but the number was incorrect. I never bumped into her again.

Prayer anyone?

My friend Jennifer is a building inspector in an affluent, seaside city. She had worked her way up, starting as a contractor, to an employee, before being promoted. Having started as an outside contractor, she didn’t feel confident enough to ask for a place to pray. When she asked, she was initially told that she could pray in the closet or in the office of any manager not on-site that day. Neither option was practical. Most days she prayed in her car during her lunch break.

About a year ago, a lactation room was installed in her building. A private room with carpet, a chair, a/c and, most importantly, a lock on the door. Perfect for prayer! With no employees needing a lactation room at that time, Jennifer thought this would be a great place to pray. However, when she asked her supervisor for permission, she was directed to speak with HR. The HR rep directed her to submit a written request. After sending the email, she suddenly found the lactation room locked and “not ready for use.”

A few weeks later, a memo was circulated to all employees stating that the lactation room was now available. To gain access, an employee would need to send in a written request to HR with their requested timings for use. Upon approval, HR would open the door, or the direct supervisor would be given the key to open the door at the stated times.

Strike out for using the room as a default prayer room. Fortunately, Jennifer was promoted and moved into her own office a couple months later. She can now shut her own door and pray as she wants.

What are you wearing?

For several years I worked at a local Islamic educational institution. Women were mandated to wear hijab and loose attire: long-sleeved shirts, ankle-length skirts or dresses, knee-length tunics and/or wide pants, with minimal make-up and jewelry. The men could wear “traditional” or “Western” attire, which included short-sleeved shirts and pants. These rules applied even when staff accompanied students on field trips or attended school events outside of work hours. The female staff would be orally reprimanded or sent an email if attire was too tight, too short, or form-fitting.

Non-Muslim staff as well as janitorial and security staff were exempt from these restrictions. Free-flowing hair, short-sleeves, leggings, jewelry, and shorts were permitted. Noone was reprimanded when young male janitors came to work in the summertime with muscle shirts and knee-length shorts. Non-Muslima staff could also work with short-sleeves, shiny embellished fake nails, and cut-off pants. When regular staff commented about how the janitorial attire could give the wrong message to students. Their comments were swept aside.

At this same institution, Nora, a long-time female community member approached me to look for a job. She had volunteered frequently at the school, had a bubbly personality, and was a college student with a flexible schedule. She had completed coursework in early childhood education and had a great rapport with younger students as well as with adults. I suggested that she submit her resume immediately and apply for job openings at that time: part-time position paraprofessional or clerical work.

While she updated her resume, I put in a good word for her with the administration. After summarizing her background, they asked her name and then said she wouldn’t be a good fit. When I asked why, they replied that she wears the niqab. When I said, “So…,” I was informed that seeing a niqabi either at the front desk or in the classroom would scare potential and current parents away. And for this reason, they would never hire her, despite her qualifications.

While I never related this conversation to Nora, she seemed to know. Later, she commented that with her niqab, even though it was in non-black fabrics, Muslims didn’t want to hire her. It turned out that she had applied at several Muslim-run businesses and had always been turned down. A very sad reality.

Some wins too

While my friend Jennifer faces a wide range of challenges daily in her pioneering role as a hijabi building inspector in a conservative town, she does experience wins. In a recent ad campaign, her department used her as their star actor in a short video explaining the different processes for obtaining a building permit in their city. Photos of her have also been highlighted in city news as part of their diversity efforts and in recognition of her dedication and hard work. The Community Relations department has also included the silhouette of a hijabi in their generic montage of individuals that is now used in all city communications.

Umm Ibrahim, a long-time hijabi, lives and works in California.

All names have been changed to preserve confidentiality.

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The post Tales from Working Hijabis appeared first on Islamic Horizons.