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Ramadan 2017

Ramadan Prayers for Our Unborn Baby


Posted by amina on 13 Jun 2017 / 1 Comment
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My partner, Adam, and I are expecting our first child at the end of July. Frankly, I’ve never been so terrified or anxious about an impending event. While I’m not fasting, Ramadan gives me the time to dwell on all of the implications and transform them into desperate pleas and prayers. Here are the prayers […]

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Social Media

Unpacking #MuslimMaleAllies


Posted by amina on 24 Mar 2014 / 1 Comment
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Earlier this month, Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah wreaked havoc on International Women’s Day (IWD) after posting a series of painfully sexist comments on Twitter and Facebook. Reactions were virtually instant and plentiful. Among the more interesting responses, Hind Makki started using #MuslimMaleAllies on Twitter. That the hashtag became widely popular raises questions about the expectations […]

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Culture/Society

Uneasy Solidarity and the Hijab


Posted by amina on 31 Dec 2013 / 2 Comments
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As the debate on Quebec’s Charter of Secularism (formally the unaptly named Charter of Values) rages on, two Montreal professors wore the hijab to demonstrate their solidarity with Muslim women. In short, the Charter of Values in Quebec is a proposed law that bans the visibility of religious symbols – hijabs, kippa, crosses, turbans – […]

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Culture/Society

A Muslimah’s Guide to Rocking the World


Posted by amina on 19 Nov 2013 / 2 Comments
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Growing up as a queer-identified South Asian Muslimah and a survivor of domestic violence, I’ve occasionally felt that merely existing was, in and of itself, an act of rebellion. But I’ve been fortunate. I’ve not only survived, but thrived, now living the life of a resident physician. I can’t take all the credit for where […]

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Culture/Society

From Gaga to Malala: Muslim Women as Stereotypes and Exceptions


Posted by amina on 21 Oct 2013 / 7 Comments
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Editor’s note: Malala Yousafzai has been extensively covered in media lately, and several MMW writers wanted to weigh in on the way she is being portrayed.  Today’s post is by Amina; stay tuned for reflections from Nicole and Eren later this week. Just a couple of months ago, Lady Gaga wore a ridiculous, sheer pink burqa. […]

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The Limits on the Professional Muslimah


Posted by amina on 30 Sep 2013 / 1 Comment
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I grew up with a mother always insisting that I be an educated, professional woman. Her reasons were many, including that being a professional would help me retain a certain amount of flexibility and independence should crap hit the fan of life. I share the experience, not because it’s the exception, but because it’s common […]

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Culture/Society

Islamic Scholarship and the Muslimah: A Reaction to Dr. Amina Wadud’s Cancelled Engagement by the University of Madras


Posted by amina on 28 Aug 2013 / 0 Comments
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At the end of July, American Islamic Scholar Amina Wadud was scheduled to speak at the University of Madras. Her engagement was cancelled by the university at the 11th hour, in the midst of confusion after the city’s police force alleged unnamed threats of violence, suggested her appearance had earlier precipitated riots in Tamil Nadu […]

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In the Halls of the Hospital: My Decision Not to Fast this Ramadan


Posted by amina on 23 Jul 2013 / 20 Comments
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I’m a resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto and, on July 2nd, I started my first shift as a doctor. It was a 26-hour shift that included a night jam-packed with running between sick patients while thumbing through my textbook to make sure I didn’t miss an important investigation or treatment. As […]

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Racism and Responsibility: Seeking Solidarity with Black Muslimahs


Posted by amina on 25 Jun 2013 / 0 Comments
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MuslimasTRI (Tackling Real Issues) is a new channel on YouTube started by two American women, Dena and Erin. In one of their videos, Erin shares an extremely personal incident when a Pakistani man she was romantically interested in said he couldn’t speak to her because she was black. On her blog, Jamerican Muslimah offers an […]

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Culture/Society

The Art of Airing Dirty Laundry: A Deeper Look at the Muslims for White Ribbon Campaign


Posted by amina on 12 Jun 2013 / 9 Comments
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Having survived a father who used religion to justify his violence, I’ve spent a lot of time grappling with faith. The process of grappling has taught me the value of difficult, uncomfortable questions and conversations, through which I’ve learned about myself, my ummah, and Islam. But Muslims in the West rarely have the luxury of […]

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