Articles by Zahra M:

Zahra welcomes you to the site from her sunny town in the Bay Area, CA. Currently a university student, her life is what may be called an eclectic blend of various spices: Muslim, Pakistani, American, aspiring humanitarian, community activist, Sunday School teacher, youth worker, and of course, a dear family member and friend. Her adventures include various feats such as teaching English and basic math in a welfare school during Summer 2006 for women and children in Karachi, surviving high school with way too many AP classes, actively seeking and striving to apply Islamic knowledge in her life through various programs and classes, and unofficially founding her own non-profit called "Henna for Humanity". Reading, spending time with family and friends, trying to gain a better relationship with the Book of Allah and trying to be less obsessed with chocolate are some of Zahra's favorite past-times.

A Young Woman’s Hair

Each strand glistened in sheer beauty Each lock and curl bounced as she walked down the street This was her mare, embodiment of her lioness femininity A cry to the world that she could and Did, work on something, protect it And see it live, breathe and grow She lived in the 1800s, amidst the Industrial Revolution- Bathed in the Ganges with hopes of ablution- She cried for her son’s blood, wet in The snow of that... Read More →

Spiritual Cheddar

“Mom, what do you mean? Are you serious that Eid is in 5 days?” Shock. Reality check. Yep, we could barely feel it, a feeling you get when the warm, lazy summer days oozing with nostalgia slip out of your hands, a feeling akin to realizing you are no longer a teenager but an adult now… a feeling that you’ve done injustice with the time given to you. We’ve all read those amazing Ramadan articles and heard those... Read More →

Beauty Insecurity

Part I: The Problem (Tip of the Iceberg)  Aww, a glorious summer day: birds chirping and the green grass ornamented with prim picnic mats couldn’t look any fresher. The aunties are talking about the latest addition to the family. Babies never fail to be a bundle of joy, right? The aunties start talking: “Oh, mubarak on the new baby, how is she?” “She’s fine and healthy, lakin us kaa rang thora kum hai…”... Read More →

Seedlings of Modesty

We always hear that Islam is a way of life as opposed to a religion- it is a mode of being rather than a meaningless ritual. In many ways, this makes sense because as Muslims we’re taught to remember Allah constantly, pray five times a day and think of others’ well being by giving annual charity. But what about when it comes to aspects of our religion which have become ritualized? What can we do to transform these... Read More →

Her Story

Zareena* was the motherly figure in the class that summer. Her presence gave off a nurturing, warm feeling in the class of around twenty girls that I taught English to in Karachi that summer in a school near my grandparents’ home. These women’s attitudes towards education (a departure from the boredom displayed by my then high school peers) inspired me – they liked to learn, they were attentive, and... Read More →

So…how are you?

“Salam, girl!” Ayesha gleefully greeted her friend Jannah. “How are you? Did you hear about how the economy sucks these days and layoffs are happening daily? I’m glad though, Alhamdulillah, ‘cuz my company still didn’t do layoffs—yet!” Before Jannah could even respond to the question “how are you”, Ayesha made her own situation crystal-clear: she was doing pretty well, actually. But how was Jannah,... Read More →

Khadija bint Khuwailid (ra)

A lady who experienced wealth and hardship, a mother whose children gained dignity of their own, a wife whose consoling words calmed the Prophet (saws) and an example for the world for generations to come: this was Khadija bint Khawailid, may Allah be pleased with her. Khadija was born in 556 CE to Fatima bint Za’ed and Khawailid bin Asad, a renowned businessnman and leader from the tribe of Quraish. She married Abu... Read More →

The Purest Renaissance

As I flipped through Yahoo! News on December 14th, I couldn’t help but notice the headline of “Miss World” being awarded to another person like every year. Sometimes those Miss World contests take place locally (e.g., the infamous Miss Teen South Carolina!) or globally in the format of “Miss Universe.” From young girls primary school aged, from pre-teens to teens, to young women, mothers... Read More →