Muslimah Source is an effort by a group of Muslim women bringing contemporary issues affecting their lives and the lives of Muslimahs everywhere to the forefront. We encourage Muslimahs to actively participate in their communities on all levels and are constantly adding to our team of writers, volunteers and organizers.

Sammer Z
Sammer is a Pakistani by birth, a New Yorker at heart, a Mississippian at the soul, but a Muslimah first and foremost. She lives in Chicago, IL and is pursuing a Masters in Global Studies in Education. Between balancing life as a student, teacher and new mom she is currently developing projects in Thatta, Pakistan to advance education for the impoverished and establishing a women’s training and work center.

Basmah Salam
Basmah is a Texan hijaabi from Houston. (But no, she doesn’t ride a horse to the masjid.) With immigrant Pakistani parents you will often find her in shalwaar-kameez and she’ll speak to you in Urdu if you understand it. She absolutely loves Hajj and encourages everyone to make du’aa to go themselves. She aspires to fulfill her purpose of worshiping Allah through writing. If she could give one reminder to other Muslims it would be this: Allah loves you; if you remember Him, how will He ever forget you?

Zahra M
Zahra welcomes you from her sunny town in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Currently an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, her life is what may be called an eclectic blend of various spices: Muslim, Pakistani, American, youth worker, aspiring psychologist & humanitarian and of course, a dear family member and friend. Reading, hiking, volunteering, trying to gain a better relationship with the Book of Allah, and overcoming her chocolate obsession are some of Zahra’s favorite past-times.

Umm Salihah
Umm Salihah is the first of a line of five Muslimahs born and raised in Upstate New York. Under the leadership of her parents, she and her sisters have all been striving together in the path of guidance, bi idhnillah. She developed a freelance copywriting and editing service for businesses and authors about 7 years ago, and also loves gardening (flowers, mostly), baking, and decorating. She asks all her sisters to please make du’a for her and her family.

Umm Zakiyyah
Umm Zakiyyah is the internationally acclaimed author of the novels If I Should Speak, A Voice, Footsteps and Realities of Submission.

Tricia P
Tricia Pethic is from Upstate NY and is enrolled in Hartford Seminary’s Islamic chaplaincy program. She served as a board member of the Islamic Center of Tuscon 2006-2007. In 2008 Tricia received a Master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies and attended Deen Intensive’s Rihla program. She is happily married and enjoys cooking, reading and maintaining a blog. Among her interests are improving women’s access to Islamic scholarship and its figures and articulating an authentic, indigenous Muslim lifestyle, along with general societal concerns, such as the industrialization of the food supply and the environment.

Mehreen Khan
Mehreen was born in Bangladesh, raised in Memphis, TN, and currently lives in Dallas, TX. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a BS in Elementary Education and now works as a teacher. Although she is enjoying being done with school, she does hope to go back to school for her Master’s soon. Mehreen works closely with Muslim youth groups  and is currently working with IANT Youth in Richardson, TX. She also loves baking, cooking, painting, designing and sleeping.

Rahma Jama I have a love for the Book of Allah and ask Allah always to make me of those who are His people, the people of Quran. I’ve been an AlHuda student for a couple years now and enjoy it tremendously. I also enjoy memorizing the book of Allah and I’m always reminded about the hadeeth of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wasalam when he mentioned that Allah will never put a person in the Hell-fire who has any part of the Quran in his heart. When I’m not doing the aforementioned things, I’m teaching at an elementary school and working at my local library (children and books are two of my favourite things in the world!)  I also love teaching Islamic studies and Quran on weekends! And last but not least, teen halaqah groups and other gatherings of remembrance bring joy to my heart! I love getting a piece of the meadows of paradise, and these gatherings really bring that to my life!

Guest Authors

Alia S, Roberta D, Saima M, Naiyerah Kolkailah, Megan Wyatt, Heba Alshareef, Hibah McNeal, Reem Salahi,  Khadijah K, Cindy AbdelAziz, Aatifa Shareef, Sarah Aslam, Nafeesa Syed, Amatullah and more!

The information age: Knowing, the ultimate reality and us average people
The age we live in, humans claim they have reached unsurpassable heights. From iPods to satellites to top notch information gathering systems, the progress we seem to be living amidst is characterized by much understanding of the world. With understanding, it is assumed, one can better the world. Others may think it is a chance to control the world and its resources. Others want to understand and absorb this information just for the sake of information itself. We constantly read our twitters, facebook updates and the news all throughout the day, sometimes overwhelmed with information. Does it give us a sense of peace? But doesn’t it make us feel good about ourselves that we know more now? Does it anchor us and give us a grasp on reality when reality is changing oh-so-much these days? Well…what is the true reality? So many questions come to mind.
Unfortunately knowing is such a relative term and concept. Some people will know more about a subject and others will just read the headline and think they know. Those who are in PhD professorship positions are envied and looked up to as role models. They are seen as emblems of knowledge. That in itself is great- pursuit of knowledge- and that which comes along with it such a wealth, position, power, esteem, are natural, but is that truly knowing? What about the great scholars, shuyookh and ‘ulamaa? Those who have memorized and learnt the Qur’an, hadith, fiqh, tafsir? If they are sincere and dedicated and follow the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wassalam) to seek knowledge, they must be knowing the reality. But is this status of knowing limited to them only? What is it that the average human really needs to know to be knowing of that which is beneficial?
If we truly want to understand the condition of human beings and what knowing actually means, who better to turn to than our Creator, exalted is He? He has praised those of knowledge in the Qur’an. If Allah praises something, we can rest assured that this thing or person or idea is magnificent. It is unlike other average things because truly it is He, the One who is All-Knowing, All-Wise and Knower of the seen and unseen who has given it this status.
Allah (swt) says about the Ulul Albaab in the Qur’an: