In late December of last year, six female students belonging to the Government Pre-University college in a small town in the state of Karnataka, India, were not allowed to attend …
Nature: Calling Us to Our Creator
Take a moment. Walk outside. Feel the welcoming embrace of a bed of grass. Allow the gentle breeze to whisper the secrets of the universe into your ear. Let the …
Muslim Women’s Day: Gender Equity, Equality, and Roles in Islam
So often, we, the female community, are told that we aren’t capable. And we witness the cultural narration of male superiority that stains people’s minds, still evident in our contemporary …
The Ongoing Human Rights Violations in India
This month has been a roller coaster for anyone watching the human rights situation in India. While the rightwing Hindutva party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been in power in …
World Hijab Day: Inner and Outer Hijab
February 1 is World Hijab Day. According to the website worldhijabday.com, “February 1st, 2013, marked the first annual World Hijab Day (WHD) in recognition of millions of Muslim women who …
‘Hijab Is Our Crown, Not a Crime’
How often does a simple hashtag launch a movement? Sometimes, with the mention of just one article of clothing. In the fall of 2013, the hashtag #IStandForHijab did just that, …
World Hijab Day: Honoring Our Hijabi Sisters
Hijab… some see it as a symbol of oppression. I see it as a powerful part of my identity. When I put one of my favorite chiffon hijabs on every …
World Hijab Day and the Rights of Women in Islam
So often, women’s rights in Islam are misconstrued. From the ignorant shouts of “Islam oppresses women!” to the never-ending spiral of questions like, “Are you forced to wear that?” — …
Apartheid: Let Us Not ‘Turn a Blind Eye to Injustice’
The Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If there are lessons to be found in remembering and studying history, …
Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Hamza, the Joy of Our Family
I stared at her in utter shock trying to make sense of what I’d just heard her say. The words reverberated in my head like some distant thumping, bringing a …