Articles by Sammer Z:

Sammer is a Pakistani by birth, a New Yorker at heart, a Mississippian at the soul, but a Muslimah first and foremost. Now an unemployed high school English Teacher, she plots her comeback as a novelist and activist beginning South of the Mason-Dixon reaching into the farthest corners of the Earth. She is currently developing projects in Thatta, Pakistan to advance education for the impoverished and establishing a women’s training and work center. She has one cat and a recently deceased fish, eaten by said cat. She mourns his passing.

We’re Nominated for the Brass Crescent Awards 2009!

We are excited and humbled that MuslimahSource.org has been nominated for a Brass Crescent Award – this year we are nominated in two categories: “Best Female Blog” and “Best Post or Series” for Eleven White Roses MashaAllah! JazakumAllah khair to all those of you who nominated us! Please visit the site now to submit your votes. Polls close end of day Friday, November 27, 2009 – 9 pm... Read More →

In my skin…

It’s taken me a long time to finally be comfortable in my skin, in this hijab which is also just as much a part of me. It’s taken a long time to feel confident, to feel content and happy, despite sticking out like a sore thumb. It took a long time to look at “pretty” girls and not feel jealous, wishing I could be thought of as “pretty” again. I remember very clearly, I was walking... Read More →

Mortified

Mortified. Disbelief. Denial. Not exactly the feelings I imagined having while I stood clutching the third pregnancy test of the week. My mother-in- law didn’t believe the first two which came up negative. Defiantly, I thought, the third one would set the record straight. You can’t possibly reject a third negative test! Instead of a marching straight to her, or anyone else, I stood staring at the positive... Read More →

The F-Word

    Say the F-word in a circle of Muslim men or women you’re on your way to being an outcast. Say the F-word while donning a hijab and you will confuse most non-Muslims. The muffled mockery, accompanied by quizzical looks and condescension, goes something like this: “as though you, with your outdated religious beliefs, would have any idea what rights or freedom even are.” But maybe I misheard –... Read More →

Keeping Up with the Neurosurgeons Next Door

What have you done since last summer? It’s been 245 days since I have been officially out of school and out of work. I haven’t taken any tests or read any assigned reading. I haven’t earned a single taxable, spendable cent in these 245 days. Even as I count them up, I can hardly believe it. It is the time that most people would love to have. I thought I could catch up on all my goals of memorizing Qur’an... Read More →

Of Taxis and Husbands

Choosing and obtaining a taxi in Cairo is very similar to choosing and obtaining a husband. Taxis are one of the best ways to get around in Cairo. During my stay, I rode in hundreds of cabs. There’s a lot to learn from those cab rides. At the beginning of your journey, if you’ve started to look for one early on, you can be pickier about your taxi. However, if you’re a bit late and you’re in a hurry to get... Read More →

Finding Mr. Perfect

Between Mark Wahlberg, Shahrukh Khan, Denzel Washington and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the idea of an ideal man is embodied in every aspect of our culture and society. The perfect physique, smile, hair, intellect, wit, humor, manners, romance, book-worminess and athleticism are sought after. As if that in itself isn’t difficult enough add in a whole new set of standards of God-consciousness and the examples of the Prophet(saw)... Read More →