The Women's Mosque of America

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Khateebah Hajjah Abrafi S. Sanyika, who also serves as a Griot/Djelli (preserver of African oral history), takes questions from the congregation and shares many books and resources showing us where we can go to learn more about Black and African history.

In this educational and uplifting khutbah, we get to hear from Khateebah Hajjah Abrafi S. Sanyika, who also serves as a Griot/Djelli (preserver of African oral history). Hajjah Abrafi enlightens us about the parallels between the celebration of Muslims fleeing oppression through their Hijrah (migration) to Abyssinia and of the enslaved Africans (1/3 of whom were Muslim) celebrating their newfound freedom in America through the holiday Juneteenth -- freedom always being a victory for Allah. She reminds us of the Islamic wisdom through which the pre-Islamic practice of slavery was phased out -- a way that did not backfire and lead to persistent racial hatred as it did with the abrupt abolition of slavery in the United States of America. Hajjah Abrafi highlights the many verses of the Qur'an that mandate not only the freeing of enslaved peoples but also of good treatment and reparations to those who were formerly enslaved. B I O Hajjah Abrafi S. Sanyika is a proud native of Chicago, which was founded on the shore of Lake Michigan by an African fur trader, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and listened as a young child to the life-affirming teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Even then she knew that there is only One God, because that is what her parents taught at home. She remembers being “thrown out” of Sunday school at age eleven, because she announced that Jesus (pbuh) was not the “son of God”, but a great prophet like all the other great prophets. She was exposed to many religious/spiritual traditions growing up and continues to honor the beauty in all of them. // Abrafi euphemistically describes her professional career as “eclectic”. She reflects that she is from that generation of women who chose either nursing, teaching, or secretarial work, because other professions were generally foreclosed to women. Originally an anthropology major, she redirected when she got a divorce and had to consider raising two small boys as a single parent. Instead, she obtained a B.A. and M.A. in education. Her M.A. thesis was a study of the cocoa industry of Ghana, West Africa. She first taught at the University of Chicago Lab School, then directed Ujima Family Center, an alternative school in Chicago. Moving to California, she attended UCLA Law School, worked for several attorneys, became a realtor, and eventually returned to professional education. // She is now retired and has published several position papers, including “An Open Letter to the Immigrant Muslim Community.” She co-wrote The Eternal Genetic Presence, an anthology of visual artist Nathaniel Bustion's incredible talent; and is the author of Makeda, Queen of Sheba, a children's book written in honor of her daughter, Makeda. She is the founder and director of The Egyptian Repertoire Company, a nonprofit educational foundation that researches, writes, and presents seminars and rituals based on African history and culture, and is currently writing two other books for publication.

Mu'adthinah and singer/writer Medina Tenour Whiteman graces us with a beautifully melodic adthan for The Women's Mosque of America's online jumma'a on Friday, June 25th, 2021. To experience more of Medina's art work, visit: cavemum.com

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Khateebah Hala Mohammad answers questions from the congregation about how best to practice dhikr (remembrance) and how to communicate the concept of faith to children. In closing, she leads a live demonstration of how to practice Tasbih Fatima through a guided meditation on the phrases Alhamdulillah (all thanks and praises are to God), SubhanAllah (glory be to God), and Allahu Akbar (God is greater/the greatest).

In this unique khutbah, Khateebah Hala Mohammad does a deep dive into Tasbih Fatima, the Islamic remembrance practice (dhikr) that was given as a gift from the Prophet Muhammad (p) to his daughter Fatima (r) and that Muslims all over the world continue to practice today -- often on prayer beads called tasbih. Hala enlightens us about the many neurological and somatic healing benefits of doing dhikr, and she explains how we can nourish our souls through the practice of Tasbih Fatima, which consists of repeating the phrases Alhamdulillah (all thanks and praises are to God), SubhanAllah (glory be to God), Allahu Akbar (God is greater and the greatest). B I O Hala Mohammad is a Pakistani-American who was born in Saudi Arabia and who has lived, worked, and studied in the U.S., Pakistan, France, Ireland, and the UAE. Growing up as a third culture kid, she is deeply empathetic to causes/spaces where multiple personal identities/perspectives intersect to challenge and evolve into a more vibrant and engaged community that colors the diverse social fabric of our society. As a child, Hala observed her mother & father's creative streaks in reciting poetry, singing praise songs in the form of ‘qaseda,' as well as going deep into Sufi meditation retreat after personal losses, and she was always inspired by their community engagement, love for poetry, and volunteering. When she was a newly minted “American Teenager,” she grappled with fortifying her Muslim identity in the aftermath of 9/11. This period led her to go deeper spiritually and see her religious identity beyond the daily ritual/monolith and put her on a path of interfaith and intra-community conflict resolution research and mediation training. Hala Mohammad is a Social/Cognitive Psychologist in training, and the founder of Taskeen Community Initiative — an organization that empowers individuals/families through facilitation, mindfulness training, personality strength awareness, & mentoring to tackle challenges during different seasons of life transitions. Hala did her bachelors in Sociology and Peace & Conflict Studies, and her M.Sc in Human Behavior from USC, with a social psychology research background and work experience in facilitating community wellness/holistic wellbeing programs, family-community mediations/peer counseling, university/k-12 teaching, and academic advising. Her award winning research looked at Muslim Women's representation in the American media post 9/11 and how it follows a similar theme of exclusion and “othering” as other minoritized women in American history from African American/Native/Latina/Asian women experiences. Her current research focuses on self empowerment vis-a-vis intersectional solidarity of communities and individuals. Hala is passionate about social emotional learning and how it impacts mental health, personal healing, growth, and education. Before becoming a mother to two high-energy kids, Hala worked for Asian Pacific American Dispute resolution center as a community mediator, and managed district programs and taught at the Culver City Unified School District. She devotes her free time to volunteering with Asian American Advancing Justice, LAFLA, teaching at Islamic Sunday School, leading yoga classes, and sisters' meditation circles. Her work has revolved around doing legal advocacy, community empowerment through soft skill training. She is also a certified Yoga/meditation facilitator and gives mindfulness/meditation workshops for burned-out moms/couples/families. She is a traditional Irish Music fan, and loves singing in a choir as an alto–and sometimes soprano while she can escape the spotlight.

First mu'adthinah Mona Abdulla calls in from the East Coast to deliver the adthan at The Women's Mosque of America's online jumma'a on Friday, May 28th, 2021.

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Ustadha Chaplain Maryam Sharrieff leads a heartfelt discussion on how we can navigate moments of heartache in our lives and come out stronger and more connected to Allah as a result.

In this special Ramadan khutbah, Ustadha Chaplain Maryam Sharrieff joins us from the East Coast to deliver her inspiring khutbah on "Healing A Hurt Heart," in honor of her late mentor and teacher Chaplain Imam Sohaib Sultan, who recently passed away. Her message is filled with helpful advice for how we can rely on the power of the Qur'an to restore our spirits during difficult times and beyond. Bio: Ustadha Maryam Sharrieff is an educator, filmmaker, lecturer, linguist, researcher and student of the development of Islam in America. Her recent research projects have examined the African-American Shi'i Muslim Community, Latino Converts to Islam in America, the Legacy of Female Scholarship in Islam and Gender & Its Linguistic Implications in the Qur'an and Torah. Maryam's research interests also include the Muslim Contribution to Sicilian Society, the Representation of Faith In (& On) film, Homosexuality in Canonical Texts, American Muslim Women's Leadership, Fundamentalism Across Faiths and America's Founding Father's Interactions with the Muslim World. Maryam has studied and conducted research in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Most recently she presented on Muslim women's leadership at the World Parliament of Religion's conference in Sydney, Australia, Salt Lake City and at the annual international Shaykafest. From 2012-2014 she was a Muslim fellow for Hebrew College's and Andover Newton Theological School's CIRCLE (Center for Inter-Religious and Communal Leadership Education) program. Recently, she presented on Muslim Women's Comic Book Heroes at the United Kingdom's University of Derby's Muslim Women's Activism conference. Ustadha Maryam teaches for rabata.org and serves as an adjunct professor. She is dedicated to building and contributing to institutions conducive to the pursuit of human excellence. Sharrieff received her Bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies/Italian/TV & Film from Rutgers University and obtained her Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She currently resides in the Boston area and serves as a University Muslim Chaplain.

Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney takes a departure from her usual Javanese recitation style to recite the adthan in a *new* melodic style inspired by Asian popular music at The Women's Mosque of America online jumma'a on Friday, April 30th, 2020.

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #30: "Bibi Titi Mohammed" by Nurjahan Boulden | Today, Khateebah Nurjahan Boulden introduces us to Bibi Titi Mohammed, the trailblazing Muslim woman whose name was deliberately erased from history but whose hard work paved the way for 2021's first woman president of Tanzania! D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M N U R J A H A N B O U L D E N Watch "Returning to Faith After Trauma" Khutbah by Nurjahan Boulden here: https://youtu.be/70XHSa4O8u4 B I O Nurjahan Boulden was 21 years old when she was shot with an assault rifle in an attack that killed the man next to her. That one night changed the trajectory of her life. Even as she moved on to become a teacher and mother of three, she continued to suffer in silence with depression, anxiety, and physical complications from the bullet wound. It wasn't until ten years later that she shared her story publicly for the first time. It was there that she found the community and support she needed in order to finally recover. Having worked in education and in the non-profit sector for most of her career, she is now the world's leading coach and healer for shooting survivors who are ready to feel safe again. In addition to individual and group coaching, she is a public speaker, hosts support groups and community resilience workshops, and has been featured in a number of publications, including Cosmopolitan and Women's Health Magazines. Her most recent project is a collaboration of mental health professionals bringing gun violence prevention and recovery programs to schools and organizations across the country. Nurjahan was born and raised in rural Massachusetts before moving to the West Coast in 2003 to attend Pitzer College in Claremont. With a Tanzanian mother and a White American father, her family was one of only two Muslim families where she grew up. She now enjoys living in a diverse area of Rancho Cucamonga, CA with her husband and three young children. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #29: "Arwa Um-e-Musa" by Fatima Dadabhoy | Today, Khateebah Fatiima Dadabhoy shares her lawyerly love for Arwa Um-e-Musa, the Muslim woman who called on the highest court in Egypt to back the terms of her Islamic marriage contract, and whose example serves as inspiration for Muslim women everywhere to enforce our God-given rights within marriage. D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M F A T I M A D A D A B H O Y Watch "Reclaiming Our History and Creating Our Spaces" Khutbah by Fatima Dadabhoy here: https://youtu.be/pPW76pNNrPQ B I O Fatima Dadabhoy‘s three favorite topics are women's rights, religion – specifically the Constitutional right to freedom of religion and the Islamic principle that there is no compulsion in religion – and cats. Her childhood experience of being bullied for her religion and the post-9/11 backlash against AMEMSA individuals set her on a path to work on behalf of disadvantaged communities. She previously worked as a civil rights attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations and currently works as the managing attorney for intake at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Fatima's self-care regimen includes crafting, being out in nature, and watching copious amounts of CW television shows. She one day hopes to open a cat sanctuary. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #28: "Tayyibah Taylor" by Ustadha Chaplain Maryam Sharrieff | Today, our Khateebah Ustadha Chaplain Maryam Sharrieff tells us about a recent historical Muslimah figure: Tayyibah Taylor, the graceful Afro-Caribbean creator of Azizah Magazine -- a high quality magazine for Muslim women, by Muslim women -- whose work was unprecedented during her time. M O R E F R O M U S T A D H A C H A P L A I N M A R Y A M S H A R R I E F F Watch the entire jumma'a on "Healing A Hurt Heart" Khutbah by Chaplain Ustadha Maryam Sharrieff here: https://youtu.be/H6N04K6VOiw D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate here today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Ustadha Chaplain Maryam Sharrieff is an educator, filmmaker, lecturer, linguist, researcher, and student of the development of Islam in America. Her recent research projects have examined the African-American Shi'i Muslim Community, Latino Converts to Islam in America, the Legacy of Female Scholarship in Islam, and Gender & its Linguistic Implications in the Qur'an and Torah. Ustadha Maryam's research interests also include the Muslim Contribution to Sicilian Society, the Representation of Faith In (& On) Film, Homosexuality in Canonical Texts, American Muslim Women's Leadership, Fundamentalism Across Faiths, and America's Founding Fathers' Interactions with the Muslim World. Maryam has studied and has conducted research in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Most recently, she presented on Muslim women's leadership at the World Parliament of Religion's conference in Sydney, Australia, Salt Lake City, and at the annual international Shaykafest. From 2012-2014, she was a Muslim fellow for Hebrew College's and Andover Newton Theological School's CIRCLE (Center for Inter-Religious and Communal Leadership Education) program. Recently, she presented on Muslim Women's Comic Book Heroes at the United Kingdom's University of Derby's Muslim Women's Activism conference. Ustadha Maryam teaches for Rabata.org and serves as an adjunct professor. She is dedicated to building and contributing to institutions conducive to the pursuit of human excellence. Sharrieff received her Bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies/Italian/TV & Film from Rutgers University and obtained her Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She currently resides in the Boston area and serves as a University Muslim Chaplain. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #25: "Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi" by Mona Abdulla | Today, we hear from Mu'adthinah Mona Abdulla about the Queen of Yemen, Arwa al-Sulayhi, whose example she wants to revive for the women of Yemen today. M O R E F R O M M O N A A B D U L L A Listen to the adthan by Mu'adthinah Mona Abdulla: Womensmosque – A... D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Mona Abdulla was the very first mu'adthinah for The Women's Mosque of America in January 2015. As a young girl, she had always practiced calling the adthan in her home, but her friends and family would make fun of her, saying that she was wasting her time because she would never be able to call the adthan in a mosque. As an adult, Mona taught her two boys to call the adthan because she thought she never would have the chance. When she heard about the Women's Mosque opening in January 2015, she flew out from New Jersey to California to call our very first adthan! Mona Abdulla is the mother of two boys and the daughter of Yemeni-American immigrant parents. She was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and is currently involved in multiple community and entrepreneurial projects. Previously she spent many years working as a Career Counselor. Mona received her Bachelor degree in Psychology and her Master degree in College Student Affairs from Buffalo State. Mona also serves as a Board Trustee for Lackawanna City Schools and loves working for the public. Some of her accomplishments include: being one of the first Yemeni females in the WNY area to attend college and the first Yemeni American female in the United States to hold public office. Also, while in school, she received the Hurculine Guthrie Commitment to Diversity Award. Later Mona received an Appreciation Award from the Yemeni American Merchants Association in NYC. When Mona was a child, she remembers how fun it was to grow up with two cultures. Because of this, she feels she can easily connect with people from various backgrounds. Being able to view the world from different perspectives has given her the passion to be the voice for Muslim Americans, Yemenis, women and minorities. Mona hopes to use this insight to speak out against injustices and to demand change. She would also like to empower women through her work. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #24: "Lady Zainab" by Shourouq Routher | Today, Mu'adthinah Shourouq Routher teaches us about the Prophet Muhammad's (p) granddaughter, Lady Zainab, and the important role her healthy, nurturing childhood home played in forming her into the strong, courageous, intelligent woman we remember her as today. Because of the empowering way she was raised as a young girl, Lady Zainab had the ability as an adult in the Battle of Karbala to turn her vulnerable position as a prisoner of war into a platform to speak up and inspire others. M O R E F R O M S H O U R O U Q R O U T H E R Listen to the Adthan by Mu'adthinah Shourouq Routher here: https://soundcloud.com/womensmosque/a... D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Shourouq Routher has served the Muslim community in Southern California for many years as the Programs Coordinator at IECOC as well as in interfaith initiatives in Orange County. She is an educator who is currently serving the Bay Area community as an Associate Program Director at the YMCA of San Francisco. Shourouq is also a Yoga teacher and wellness coach. She has been working with disadvantaged youth and believes in the importance of training youth workers and educating families about social emotional learning and trauma informed practices in order to provide healthier environments for youth and children. She believes in the spiritual impact of mentorship and advocacy as tools for a thriving community. Shourouq is committed to always collaborating with other sisters to reinforce the movement of inclusion, diversity, and equity that spaces such as The Women's Mosque of America bring to the Muslim Community. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #23: “Halimah” by Heba Khan | Today, Khateebah Heba Khan shares the life of Halimah, the Prophet Muhammad's foster mother, and she highlights the important yet undervalued role that caretakers take on -- especially now during the pandemic -- as the backbone of our societies. M O R E F R O M H E B A K H A N Watch "Some Cuts Run Deep: A Bodily Approach to the Spiritual" Khutbah by Heba Khan here: https://youtu.be/Bj_lBXdWHME D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Heba Khan is Staff Editor at the Journal of Feminist Economics, Rice University. She holds an MA in Religious Studies from Rice University. Her research interests focus on the Islamic tradition and include comparative religion, mysticism, poetry, and gender. She has presented widely among communities and organizations in the greater Houston area on the topics of Islam, gender, and religious tolerance. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #22: "Sayyida al Hurra" by Kifah Shah | Today, Khateebah Kifah Shah inspires us with the life and legacy of Sayyida al Hurra (aka 'The Pirate Queen'), who started out as an Andalusian refugee in Morocco but who soon rose to become the governing Queen; she helped her city fight off invading Portuguese armies and rebuild in the aftermath of war. Kifah shows us how we can learn from Sayyida's and the Prophet Muhammad's (p) example a beautiful way to frame refugees as people who spread light wherever they go. M O R E F R O M K I F A H S H A H Watch "Moving Away from the Multitude to the One" Khutbah by Kifah Shah here: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque... Listen to the Q&A Discussion Circle with Kifah Shah here: https://soundcloud.com/womensmosque/q... D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Kifah Shah is the Digital Campaign Manager for MPower Change, the largest Muslim-led social and racial justice organization in the United States. She is also a cofounder of SuKi Se, an ethical fashion brand produced by artisans in Pakistan that strives to offer access to technologies that ensure high production standards and inclusive supply chains. Kifah grew up in Southern California and has been organizing since she was 15. She has worked for the Asian Law Caucus, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Unite HERE! Local 11, and UC Berkeley's Multicultural Community Center. Kifah also worked abroad in Europe at the Migration Policy Group on issues related in migration, as well as in Pakistan at the Aman Foundation/USAID on issues of health, education, and economic empowerment. She is currently a TED Resident and on the Board of Trustees for MSA West. Kifah holds a Masters in Public Administration (Economic Policy) from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies from U.C. Berkeley. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque YouTube: click on the red SUBSCRIBE button above!

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #21: "The Iron Lady of Islam: Hajarah (Hagar)" by Dr. Debbie Almontaser | Today, find out about the woman whose journey became a central part of the 5 pillars of Islam, and whose footsteps millions of Muslims retrace during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages every year. Dr. Debbie Almontaser shares why she draws her personal inspiration from Hagar (Hajarah), The Iron Lady of Islam -- not only because of what this incredible figure went through, but because of *how* Hajarah relied on God with full trust to get through the most trying of tribulations. D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Make a contribution of any amount today to help us continue our work to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls. Donate now: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M D R . D E B B I E A L M O N T A S E R Watch Dr. Debbie's pre-khutbah bayan (speech) "The Legacy of Believing Women in Islam" here: https://youtu.be/ufcsUgFqbiw Watch the full jumma'a service "Jumma'a w/Dr. Debbie Almontaser & Gail Kennard: Legacies of Believing Women & Black Muslims" here: https://youtu.be/v4q5WdYcdkU B I O Dr. Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognized, award-winning educator, entrepreneur, speaker, authority on cross cultural understanding and author of Leading While Muslim. She is an influential community leader and the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group Inc., a for-profit business that provides professional development and coaching for companies, universities, firms, and K–12 education personnel. Dr. Almontaser was the founding and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, NY. A twenty-five-year veteran of the NYC Public School System, she taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Currently, she is the Board President of the Muslim Community Network and sits on the boards of Therapy and Learning Center Preschool, 21in21, EMGAGE National, and ADC National. She frequently lectures, serves on panels, facilitates teacher and public workshops on cultural diversity, conflict resolution, Arab Culture, Islam, Muslims in America, interfaith coalition building and youth leadership at schools, universities, libraries, museums, faith-based organizations, churches, synagogues, as well as national and international conferences. Dr. Almontaser is also known for her leadership role in organizing the historic Yemeni Bodega Strike Rally and I Am a Muslim Too Rally. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #18: "Rufaida Al-Aslamia" | Did you know that nursing used to be considered a primarily male profession? Today, learn from Mu'adthinah Aliya Yousufi about the first female nurse in the Middle East, Rufaida Al-Aslamia, who is considered to be the mother of modern nursing because of the methods she introduced into the field and taught in her nursing school. D O N A T E Help The Women's Mosque of America expand our team this upcoming year so we can lay the groundwork for the next phase of our movement to uplift the Muslim community by empowering women & girls! Make a tax-deductible donation now: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M A L I Y A Y O U S U F I Watch Adthan by Aliya's Daughters -- Mini Mu'adthinahs Ameena & Ruqayya here: https://youtu.be/l4gl5O3XQ4U Listen to Mu'adthinah Aliya's past adthans here: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=aliya... B I O Aliya H. Yousufi is a graduate of UCLA and USC Law School. She is an attorney and housing advocate. She is a muadthinah for The Women's Mosque of America and a mother of two daughters, whom she has also trained to call the adthan. She currently resides in Yorba Linda, CA. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque YouTube: click on the red SUBSCRIBE button above!

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #17: "Aisha" | Today, in honor of Aisha (r), who passed away on the 17th of Ramadan, we are learning from Khateebah Dr. Showkot Rahman about Aisha (r), the 7th century fierce and fearless Islamic scholar who was described by her contemporary scholars as being the source of half of all Islamic knowledge. She earned this distinction from her decades of teaching men and women of her society after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (p) and from sharing her vast quantity of intimate knowledge about him, his character, and the Qur'an's application to our daily lives. D O N A T E Help The Women's Mosque of America expand our team this upcoming year so we can lay the groundwork for the next phase of our movement to uplift the Muslim community by empowering women & girls! Make a tax-deductible donation of any amount today: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M D R . S H O W K O T R A H M A N "Patience While in the 'Cave'" Khutbah by Dr. Showkot Rahman: https://youtu.be/XyvhUGXGVxA "Begum Rokeya" by Dr. Showkot Rahman | #HistoricMuslimah Ramadan Series: https://youtu.be/j1ou-BzWnmY B I O Dr. Showkot Ara Rahman, mother of four, daughter, sister, friend, and pediatrician, was born and raised in the city of Magura in Bangladesh with her six siblings. She grew up in a household devoted to family, the community, and Islam. Spending early mornings reading and reciting Surahs of the Qur'an, she completed her first full reading of the Qur'an by the age of six. Islam has been a mainstay in her life, a curiosity she has spent her life cultivating through constant and conscious application. After graduating from Rajshahi Medical College in Bangladesh, she gave birth to two boys, immigrated to the United States, parting ways from her childhood friends and family, had two daughters, and attained the U.S. Medical License and Board Certification in Pediatrics, accomplishing her dreams through patience and perseverance. Dr. Rahman has been a dedicated medical and public servant to underserved communities since her beginnings at The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, followed by Kaiser Permanente with simultaneous volunteer work at Umma Community Clinic and raising four children. Her relentless values of faith, hard work, and optimism were not only unhindered, but spread through any means possible. She is a devoted pediatrician, a role she does not take lightly and recognizes as her way of expounding her genuine care and dedication to the wellbeing of children and their future in the most underserved area of Los Angeles. When she is not doting on her children or filling out patient charts, Dr. Rahman enjoys spending time with her children, cooking, knitting, visiting museums, attending musicals, watching Jeopardy, traveling, catching the sunrise and sunset, and dancing on grassy hills. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque YouTube: click on the red SUBSCRIBE button above!

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #16: "Rabiah al Basra" | Today, Khateebah & Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney enlightens us about the true nature of Rabiah al Basra, the famous Muslimah that is most known for re-introducing the concept of Love back into early Sufi Islamic teachings. Jessika shows us how the gendered way that Rabiah is usually mistranslated is very harsh; however, when one goes back to the original text, we see a much warmer depiction of Rabiah, one that is rooted in love and ecstatic joy. Jessika treats us with a beautiful recitation of the original Persian poetry of Farid Din Attar as he describes Rabiah in 'The Conference of the Birds.' D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Today we are at $3,310 of our $24,000 Ramadan goal to secure our women-led jumma'a services for the coming year. Make a contribution tonight: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M J E S S I K A K E N N E Y "Singing A Shining Steed: The Mystical Origins of the Buraq" by Jessika Kenney https://youtu.be/6j8fo4CPsB0 "Exploring Wudu, Water, and the Concept of 'Purity' in Islam" Khutbah by Jessika Kenney https://youtu.be/flrQ9md8nsU Adthans by Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=women... B I O Jessika Kenney is a vocalist, composer/improviser, and teacher. Jessika's singing can be heard on Ideologic Organ, Black Truffle, Weyrd Son, SIGE, Present Sounds, and other labels. She performs regularly with writers/scholars Red Pine (Bill Porter), Fatemeh Keshavarz, and Anne Carson. At international festivals, Jessika has performed her own compositions as well as music of Annea Lockwood, Hossein Omoumi, Morton Feldman, Giacinto Scelsi, and others. In 2015, her LP ""ATRIA"" (based on writings attributed to Sunan Kalijaga, who brought Islam to Java in the 15th century CE) was released alongside a sound, calligraphic score, sculpture, and video installation filling five rooms at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle. Jessika taught from 2007-2015 at her alma mater, Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She has studied sindhenan with many great musicians of Javanese gamelan in and outside Indonesia, particularly the late, great pesindhen Nyi Supadmi (d. 2015). She has studied Persian radifs with Ostad Hossein Omoumi (UC Irvine) since 2004. Kenney received the 2014 James Ray Distinguished Artist Award, and for collaborations with her husband Eyvind Kang, the 2015 Stranger Genius Award. She is VoiceArts faculty at California Institute of the Arts and lives in Pasadena, CA. In 1997, Jessika had her first masjid experience in the Kauman neighborhood of Surakarta, Central Java, and she has been involved in Islamic and Sufi culture ever since. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #15: “Maryam Bint Imran (Mother of Prophet Jesus (p)” | Today, find out about the inspiring example for all women, Maryam (mother of Prophet Jesus (p), who was told to not grieve or cower in the face of difficulty but to instead exert effort as a way to make it through her toughest, most vulnerable times. Khateebah Sarah Nadeem explains how some orthodox Islamic scholars have categorized Maryam and other women in the Qur'an as prophets. D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America needs your help! Today we are at $3,310 of our $24,000 Ramadan goal to secure our women-led jumma'a services for the coming year. Make a contribution tonight: womensmosque.com/donate M O R E F R O M S A R A H N A D E E M "The Importance of Adoption in Islam" - Khutbah by Sarah Nadeem https://youtu.be/YSrrJTgJX_8 “Part 1/3: Grief, Loss, and Divorce" Khutbah by Sarah Nadeem https://youtu.be/FlhleYXQuHU “Part 3/3: Grief, Loss and Divorce + Interracial Marriage" - Khutbah by Sarah Nadeem https://youtu.be/qM9L3XdseqA B I O Born and raised in London where she practiced law, Sarah Nadeem moved to California with her daughter in 2012. Soon after, Sarah's maternal aunt passed away, which instigated a deep shift in her attitude towards Islam and ultimately brought her deeper in her faith. She now occasionally composes and sings songs in praise of Allah, as well as recites and studies the Qur'an. She also supports and attends the New Muslims Group in Southern California. From 2012 to 2014, she worked with United Central Bank. In 2015, she worked at Helping Hand, a subsidiary of ICNA, where she raised funds for orphans and cleaning water. She is an attorney at law in California, specializing in Wills & Trust, Immigration, Employment, and Real Estate law. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah #14: "Fatima bint Kamal al-Din Mahmoud" | Today, hear from The Women's Mosque of America's past advisor and first international khateebah, Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr, as she enlightens us about a 15th century Egyptian shero who was both a respected hadith scholar -- teaching men and women in her society -- as well as an acclaimed poet! Hear about how Fatima bint Kamal al-Din Mahmoud dealt with the plague that affected her land and what we can learn from her about living a balanced life today. Want to hear more from Dr. Omaima? Watch her past videos at The Women's Mosque of America below!: "The Ethics of Gender Justice" Khutbah by Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr https://youtu.be/IMNmJACWV1k “Why 2 Women Witnesses?” -- Post-Jumma'a Q&A Discussion with Imam Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr https://youtu.be/CD6UGbdTK-k D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-led, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Dr. Omaima Abou-Bakr is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Cairo University; a founding member of “The Women and Memory Forum” in Egypt; a researcher/member of the “Musawah” Knowledge Building Team. She specialized in medieval Sufi poetry and comparative topics in medieval English and Arabic literature. Her scholarly interests also include women's mysticism and female spirituality in Christianity and Islam, feminist theology, Muslim women's history, and gender issues in Islamic discourses. She has published numerous articles in both English and Arabic on poetry and medieval literary texts, on historical representations of women in pre-modern Muslim societies, women and gender in religious discourses, and Islamic feminist issues. One book publication is an edited Reader that contains translations into Arabic of foundational articles in Christian feminist theology and Islamic feminist research: Al-Niswiyyah Wa-Al-Dirasat Al-Diniyah: Feminism and Religious Studies (2012). Other book publications are two edited volumes of collected articles; in English: Feminist and Islamic Perspectives: New Horizons of Knowledge and Reform, in Arabic: Al-Niswiyyah Wa-Al-Manzur Al-Islami (2013). S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home... A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque Twitter: @womensmosque

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imams -- Khateebahs Dr. Debbie Almontaser and Gail Kennard engage in a lively discussion with conregants on Black Muslim History and the challenges that prevent women from feeling more empowered and taking on more leadership roles -- and what we can do about it!

In honor of Black History Month, returning Khateebah Gail Kennard presents an overview of the long legacy of Black Muslim contributions to American society and to the Muslim Ummah at large. She shares from her personal journey through the Nation of Islam and what motivated her to transition to the religion of Al-Islam as taught in the Qur'an. She ends with a powerful call for personal and communal courage to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (p) and to stand up to inequality anywhere we may find it -- even within ourselves. Bio: Gail Kennard was raised in Los Angeles and learned about Islam as a high school student when she read the autobiography of Malcolm X. She accepted Islam while in graduate school at UC Berkeley, and she has been active in the Muslim communities of San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. For the past 20 years, Gail has been president of the architectural business founded by her late father, Robert Kennard, in Los Angeles. The firm designs public buildings, transit and utility infrastructure projects. The company, Kennard Design Group, is the oldest African-American-owned architectural practice in the western United States. Gail earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Stanford University, a master's degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley — and for the past 60+ years, she has been struggling to earn her post-graduate degree in this life under the guidance of Allah, subhanna wa ta'allah.

In this inspiring pre-khutbah bayan (speech), Dr. Debbie Almontaser -- the first Muslim woman to offer a prayer during the American presidential inauguration -- walks us through Islam's strong history of Muslim women leaders and sheroes, and she enlightens us with lessons we can learn from each of them. She ends with a powerful message for all Muslim women everywhere to take a stand and keep the legacy of Prophet Muhammad's feminist example alive in our memories, homes, and communities. Bio: Dr. Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognized, award-winning educator, entrepreneur, speaker, authority on cross cultural understanding and author of Leading While Muslim. She is an influential community leader and the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group Inc., a for-profit business that provides professional development and coaching for companies, universities, firms, and K–12 education personnel. Dr. Almontaser was the founding and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, NY. A twenty-five-year veteran of the NYC Public School System, she taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Currently, she is the Board President of the Muslim Community Network and sits on the boards of Therapy and Learning Center Preschool, 21in21, EMGAGE National, and ADC National. She frequently lectures, serves on panels, facilitates teacher and public workshops on cultural diversity, conflict resolution, Arab Culture, Islam, Muslims in America, interfaith coalition building and youth leadership at schools, universities, libraries, museums, faith-based organizations, churches, synagogues, as well as national and international conferences. Dr. Almontaser is also known for her leadership role in organizing the historic Yemeni Bodega Strike Rally and I Am a Muslim Too Rally.

Returning Mu'adthinah Shourouq Routher calls in from the Bay Area to deliver another beautiful adthan for The Women's Mosque of America's online jumma'a on February 26th, 2021.

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Khateebah Sahar Pirzada and several congregants open up with courage, honesty, and vulnerability to share their first-hand experiences and struggles related to pregnancy loss and abortion. Sahar addresses questions from the congregation about how to create more safe spaces and extend resources and help to those people who are struggling in contexts with a lack of support around these issues.

In this much-needed khutbah, Sahar Pirzada of HEART Women & Girls honors us as she shares from her first-hand experience on "Leaning on Islam to Navigate Pregnancy Loss and Abortion." She highlights the struggles of navigating the topic of abortion in America, where it is highly politicized, polarized, and controversial. She shares the ways that Islam, Muslim scholars, and verses of the Qur'an opened up a much more nuanced way to navigate this difficult decision with compassion and kindness for both herself and her baby. Sahar talks about her process of weighing the different elements that orthodox Islamic scholarship has highlighted as important to consider: A) the point the soul enters the fetus, B) the threat of harm/endangerment to the mother, C) the presence of fetal anomalies, and D) the motivation/reason to terminate. Sahar advises us to not assume that we don't already know Muslim women who have experienced abortion, and she offers us helpful advice for how we can be more supportive as a community for women and couples experiencing this difficult topic -- by relying on an Islamic lens of faith, mercy, patience, and compassion. Bio: Sahar Pirzada is a Pakistani-American Muslim woman from the Bay Area. She is the Advocacy and West Coast Programs Manager for HEART where she explores the intersections of islamophobia and gender-based violence and supports survivors of sexual violence in the Muslim community. She has a masters of social work from USC and is also the Co-Director of Vigilant Love where she actively challenges islamophobia through arts, healing and organizing. Sahar's work has been featured in Teen Vogue, NPR, KPCC, Fusion's Sex Right Now and #GoodMuslimBadMuslim.

Mu'adthinah Shourouq Routher calls in from the Bay Area to deliver another beautiful adthan for The Women's Mosque of America on March 26th, 2021.

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #8: "Malalai Maiwand" | Did you know that Malala was named after a famous Pashtun Muslim woman who recited poetry as she fought in battle against the British colonizers? Today, our Khateebah Sabina Khan-Ibarra, a Pashtun-Pakistani-American poet and writer herself, introduces us to this amazing Muslim woman from Islamic history. For more uplifting spiritual wisdom from Khateebah Sabina Khan-Ibarra, watch her past khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America below! "Grief, Loss, & Divorce + Interracial Marriage" - Bayan by Sabina Khan-Ibarra https://youtu.be/ahPj6OZdqeg​   D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Sabina Khan-Ibarra is the founder of Muslimah Montage, a platform for Muslim women to tell their own stories. Sabina and her website, Muslimah Montage, have been featured on Buzzfeed, The National, The Chicago Monitor, and NBC News. Sabina is also an assistant editor at AltMuslimah and GiveLight Foundation. She is the Member Development Chair at MuslimARC, an organization that addresses and combats intra-Muslim racism. In 2011, to commemorate the loss of her young son, Sabina created Ibrahim's Tree, an internet website devoted to stories on dealing with grief. She also writes and speaks about grief in Muslim communities. Her work has been published on BlogHer, Huffington Post, ISNA Horizons, InCulture Magazine, AltMuslimah, Love InshAllah, Patheos (AltMuslim), Brown Girl Magazines, and many other outlets.   S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​   A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.   F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque​ Twitter: @womensmosque

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #9: "Two Sisters Who Hired Prophet Moses (p)" |  Today, find out from Khateebah Dr. Maria Khani about the two sisters who hired Prophet Moses (a) and established the criteria by which we should use whenever hiring someone. For more uplifting spiritual wisdom from Khateebah Dr. Maria Khani, watch her past khutbahs at The Women's Mosque of America below! "The Five Daily Prayers: Moving from Obligation into Joy" Khutbah by Maria Khani https://youtu.be/KPdTwMoKlFw​ "Aim High" Khutbah by Maria Khani https://youtu.be/IkAFCICPuzE​ D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Sr. Maria Khani is a Syrian American who was born in England and lived in France, India, Syria and Holland. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in French Literature from the Damascus University in Syria.  Khani has been a board member at Access California Services since 1998, a nonprofit family resources center in Anaheim, serving Muslims, Arabs, and various other ethnic groups.  Maria taught at the Islamic Institute of Orange County for 20 years and served as the chair of the women committee. Interfaith work has always been a key component in Khani's life. She is a board member of the Orange County Interfaith Network, OCIN–the umbrella of thirteen interfaith councils in Orange County. Maria is also an active member in three interfaith cities' councils.  In 2008, she joined the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department as a chaplain, and in 2015, Maria served as the Senior Muslim Chaplain. In 2014, Khani became the Muslim chaplain for the Orange County Sheriff's jail. In 2012, Khani and her daughter Dania Ayah Alkhouli together founded “A Country Called Syria,” an exhibit dedicated to educating the American public on Syria's rich history and culture, as well as its valuable contributions to the world. The exhibition has toured across Southern California and in 2016 A Country Called Syria became a (501) (c3) non-profit organization. S T A Y   C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​ A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W   U S Instagram:  @womensmosque Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque​ Twitter: @womensmosque 

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #10: "Amal Alkhani" | Today, we are delighted to hear from Sister Dania Ayah Alkhouli, poet and daughter of Khateebah Dr. Maria Khani, as she speaks about her grandmother Amal Alkhani's profound contribution to Syrian society in recent history. D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Dania Ayah Alkhouli is a Syrian writer, blogger, poet, editor, and author, born and raised in Southern California. Alkhouli earned her B.A. in Sociology and her M.A. in Public Policy & Administration from Cal State Long Beach. She published her debut book at 19, titled 91 at 19. In 2017, Dania released her second poetry book, Oceans & Flames, a collection of poetry shedding light on her experience with, and survival of, domestic violence. Alkhouli's work centers on feminism, mental health, sexuality, identity, culture, religion, her war-torn homeland, Syria, and on grief, loss, and death. She has been featured on Buzzfeed and Jubilee Media, and has performed across national venues such as Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles, House Slam in Boston, and Busboys & Poets in D.C. In 2012, Alkhouli and her mother (past khateebah Dr. Maria Khani) co-founded the nonprofit organization, A Country Called Syria, a traveling exhibition and set of events showcasing the history and culture of their country. Early 2020, Alkhouli released her third poetry book, Contortionist Tongue, under Moon Tide Press, a collection weaving the experience of being a Muslim Syrian woman in today's socio-political climate. You can follow her on social media at @lady_narrator and @acountrycalledsyria. S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​ A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality. F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque​ Twitter: @womensmosque YouTube: click on the red SUBSCRIBE button above!

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #11: "Sister Clara Muhammad" | Did you know that homeschooling in the United States was pioneered by a Black Muslim woman? Today, our Khateebah Priscilla Al-Uqda teaches us about Sister Clara Muhammad, whose fight to educate her own children in Detroit, Michigan paved the way for the legalization of homeschooling across the United States. For more uplifting spiritual wisdom from Khateebah Priscilla Al-Uqdah, watch her past khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America below! "Wanting For My Sister What I Want for Myself" Khutbah by Priscilla Al-Uqdah: https://youtu.be/3KP-p_OI5tE​   D O N A T E The Women's Mosque of America is a volunteer-run, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a tax-deductible donation today: womensmosque.com/donate B I O Priscilla Al-Uqdah is a retiree who is most proud of her years of service in the United States Armed Forces, being a graduate of the famed Navy Photography School and her participation in NATO Operations. Priscilla is a member of the University of Islam and Clara Muhammad School National Alumni Association, a public 501(c)3 organization, that she founded over 26 years ago. She is a college graduate, trained photographer, and a certified paralegal. Priscilla comes from a pioneering family. Her father Jesse Al-Uqdah, also known as "Superman" and “The Marathon Man”, was a local food entrepreneur and employer who invented “Chili Fritos” and the "California-style fish taco". Her mother Hafeezah Al-Uqdah is a retired health care professional, a graduate of the famed Charles R. Drew Medical School and a founding member of the Charles R. Drew Physician Assistant Alumni Association. Priscilla's parents are strong supporters of the communities they live and worked in; this is a trait that they passed along to their children. Priscilla had the pleasure of being the Vice President and Secretary for American Federation Group, Union Local 2297 and the only officer to hold a 100% union position. With her love for law, Priscilla worked in labor and management contract negotiation, arbitration, and as an employee representative. During her tenure as Vice President of the Local, she worked full-time for the Union. Years later, she is still the only officer to have held a union position full-time. Since the early 1990s, Priscilla has been the Community Liason and Western Regional Captain of Women Security at the Bilal Islamic Center, as well as personal Security Detail for religious leader Imam Warith Deen Mohammed (RIP) and his family in the United States. Priscilla chaired the Recognized Community Organization (RCO) under the leadership of past mayor Richard Riordan. During her leadership, she is most proud of the Central Avenue Entry represented by the art work of a saxophone and guitar on Central Avenue and Vernon Avenue. Priscilla is a founding member of the Central Avenue Jazz Festival. She is the host of “On the Avenue”, a cultural event honoring the Los Angeles Renaissance, music history, and local legions at the historical Dunbar Hotel on Central Avenue. She is also a founding member of the South Central Neighborhood Council, and a founding member and board member of the Historic Central Avenue Business Improvement District.   S T A Y C O N N E C T E D Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​   A B O U T The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.   F O L L O W U S Instagram: @womensmosque Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMosque​ Twitter: @womensmosque YouTube: click on the red SUBSCRIBE button above!  

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #7: "Shamima Sheikh" | Did you know that orthodox Islamic scholar Imam Shafi'i's janaza (funeral) prayer was led by a woman? Today, Khateebah Amira Al-Sarraf teaches us about the amazing Muslim woman who drew upon orthodox Islamic tradition and scholarship to lead a movement in South Africa for all women.   DONATE to The Women's Mosque of America today: womensmosque.com/donate Do you want to hear more uplifting spiritual wisdom from Khateebah Amira Al-Sarraf? Watch her past khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America below! "Caring for the Environment Like Prophet Muhammad (p)" Khutbah by Amira Al-Sarraf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SKM8...​   Bio: Amira Al-Sarraf is the Head of School at New Horizon School, an Islamic school in Pasadena awarded the National Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Department of Education. She has a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley and an M.S. Ed. in Educational Leadership from Walden University. With over 25 years of experience in the field of education, she is passionate about serving the academic, social, emotional, spiritual, and creative needs of students as well as building a culture of collaboration and coherent pedagogy among faculty. Believing in the critical need for interfaith work, she has been actively involved in interfaith projects with the Skirball Cultural Center, Weizmann Jewish Day School, the Interfaith Peace Academy, and the Alice and Nahum Lainer School. Currently, she is a member of the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Interfaith Clergy Roundtable Project in Arcadia, and she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Western Justice Center as well as the Council on Spiritual and Ethical Education. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Alverno Heights Academy, an all-girls' Catholic school. In the area of curriculum development, she is a co-author of Transitions, a health and human development program that teaches young Muslims about the important physiological and emotional changes they face during adolescence within the context of Islamic values. She has also been actively involved in the development of the Islamic Studies program at New Horizon and recently designed a new Islamic Studies curriculum for the Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education that takes a dynamic approach to teaching Islam, incorporates comparative religion, integrates California social studies and science standards, and emphasizes the application of universal moral values and critical thinking skills. With a love for nature and the outdoors, she sought to give students at New Horizon a sense of the importance of environmental stewardship through a recent project at the school: the building of the New Horizon Peace Garden. She initiated this project in 2011 and worked with the NHS Garden Committee to fulfill the vision for the garden as a place of community-building and garden-based learning. She has attended conferences and workshops including American Horticultural Society and Living Schoolyards and seeks ways for this extraordinary outdoor classroom to touch all the learning at the school. Born and raised Los Angeles, she grew up in an interfaith household with a Palestinian-American father and a European-American mother. Amira is the mother of four adult children who are working or studying in the fields of law or elementary education.   Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​ The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #4: "Nana Asma'u" | Today, Khateebah Sameerah Siddiqui enlightens us about the amazing Fula princess, teacher, and founder of the Yantaru Movement in West Africa -- which still exists today!   DONATE to The Women's Mosque of America today: womensmosque.com/donate Do you want to see more from Khateebah Sameerah Siddiqui? Watch her moving past khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America below! "Infertility & The Spiritual Winter" Khutbah by Sameerah Siddiqui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZNj6...​   Bio: Sameerah Siddiqui is a Senior Advocacy Advisor at Oxfam America, a global humanitarian and advocacy organization. She has held a variety of roles in her time at Oxfam, from campaigning on the political drivers of poverty, such as a lack of corporate accountability in our global food system to building external relationships with American faith communities. She currently leads the organization's campaign response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Sameerah grew up in the Inland Empire and after finishing her degree at UC Davis, she moved to Los Angeles to learn faith-rooted and community organizing with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. Sameerah is currently based in Washington, D.C. but her husband is convinced that they'll make SoCal home again.   Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​   The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #3: "Queen of Sheba" | The story of the Queen of Sheba is often framed about her submission to Solomon; however, this framework defies the honorific way she is talked about in the Qur'an. Today, hear from Khateebah Gail Kennard about the Queen of Sheba's leadership strategies and how her submission to God -- not Solomon -- was the true center of her success. DONATE to The Women's Mosque of America today: womensmosque.com/donate Khateebah Gail Kennard has contributed her spiritual wisdom through several khutbahs over the years at The Women's Mosque of America. Watch all her past inspirational messages below! "The 12 Female Disciples of the Prophet Muhammad" - Khutbah by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47BtZ...​ "Ramadan Survival Strategies" - Khutbah by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBFmE...​ "The Power of Perspective" Khutbah by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEmJj...​ "Aisha's Lesson in Standing for Truth" Khutbah by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhVx6...​ "What Just Happened?" Khutbah on the aftermath of the 2020 American presidential election by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9NBs...​ "Black Muslim History in America" Khutbah by Gail Kennard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMr4H...​ Bio: Gail Kennard was raised in Los Angeles and learned about Islam as a high school student when she read the autobiography of Malcolm X. She accepted Islam while in graduate school at UC Berkeley, and she has been active in the Muslim communities of San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. For the past 20 years, Gail has been president of the architectural business founded by her late father, Robert Kennard, in Los Angeles. The firm designs public buildings, transit and utility infrastructure projects. The company, Kennard Design Group, is the oldest African-American-owned architectural practice in the western United States. Gail earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Stanford University, a master's degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley — and for the past 60+ years, she has been struggling to earn her post-graduate degree in this life under the guidance of Allah, subhanna wa ta'allah. Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​ The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.

Ramadan #HistoricMuslimah​ #2: "Begum Rokeya" | In honor of Bangala New Years Day (April 14th), Khateebah Dr. Showkot Rahman is teaching us about her favorite historical Muslim woman from the 19th century, Begum Rokeya, who learned how to read and write in secret as a child and who grew up to become a well-known author, speaking 5 languages and using her creative writing skills to fight for women's rights. Begum Rokeya coined the slogan, "Wake up, Sisters!" and paved the way for Bangladeshi Muslim women to live to their full potential through her creation of the Islamic Women's Association in 1916.   DONATE to The Women's Mosque of America today: womensmosque.com/donate Do you want to see more from Khateebah Dr. Showkot Rahman? :) Watch her past khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America below! "Patience While in the 'Cave'" Khutbah about coping with the start of the global pandemic by Dr. Showkot Rahman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvhU...​   Bio: Dr. Showkot Ara Rahman, mother of four, daughter, sister, friend, and pediatrician, was born and raised in the city of Magura in Bangladesh with her six siblings. She grew up in a household devoted to family, the community, and Islam. Spending early mornings reading and reciting Surahs of the Qur'an, she completed her first full reading of the Qur'an by the age of six. Islam has been a mainstay in her life, a curiosity she has spent her life cultivating through constant and conscious application. After graduating from Rajshahi Medical College in Bangladesh, she gave birth to two boys, immigrated to the United States, parting ways from her childhood friends and family, had two daughters, and attained the U.S. Medical License and Board Certification in Pediatrics, accomplishing her dreams through patience and perseverance. Dr. Rahman has been a dedicated medical and public servant to underserved communities since her beginnings at The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, followed by Kaiser Permanente with simultaneous volunteer work at Umma Community Clinic and raising four children. Her relentless values of faith, hard work, and optimism were not only unhindered, but spread through any means possible. She is a devoted pediatrician, a role she does not take lightly and recognizes as her way of expounding her genuine care and dedication to the wellbeing of children and their future in the most underserved area of Los Angeles. When she is not doting on her children or filling out patient charts, Dr. Rahman enjoys spending time with her children, cooking, knitting, visiting museums, attending musicals, watching Jeopardy, traveling, catching the sunrise and sunset, and dancing on grassy hills.   Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​   The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.  

Ramadan Mubarak! Today, The Women's Mosque of America launches the first in our "Lessons from Historical Muslim Women" daily Ramadan series with Khateebah Shabnam Dewji, who is teaching us and sharing what she finds so inspiring about our #HistoricMuslimah​ #1: "Lady Fatima (r)" who was the most beloved daughter of our Prophet Muhammad (p). DONATE to The Women's Mosque of America today: womensmosque.com/donate Do you love Khateebah Shabnam Dewji as much as we do? :) MashAllah! Watch all of her past khutbahs and lectures at The Womens' Mosque of America below! "The Prophet's (p) Daughter Fatimah: A Model for All Times" Khutbah by Shabnam Dewji: https://youtu.be/wBMbnf95bIQ​ "The Prophet's Granddaughter & Muslim Women Leaders of Karbala" Khutbah by Shabnam Dewji: https://youtu.be/ykfxNWqKHWU​ "Understanding Shia & Sunni Perspectives on Ashura" w/Shabnam Dewji & Anne Myers: https://youtu.be/1VhGlmZ3Xxw​ (AUDIO) “Spiritual Elevation Towards God During Ramadan” by Shabnam Dewji - 2nd Annual Co-Ed Iftar: https://youtu.be/FkNDvqfOClU​ Bio: Sister Shabnam Dewji is a Senior Operations Consultant providing strategic and tactical assessments to large and medium size businesses. Until recently, she was the Vice President of Operations for the West Region at Time Warner Cable Media, overseeing the technical and master control operations for ad insertion; IT and software development for all media tools and applications; traffic and inventory management supporting sales; and regional engineering support for product implementation. Sr. Shabnam has a business management background with a degree from the London School of Accounting and in 2010 completed an Exectuve Leadership Development Program at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. She was the recipient of the 2011 LEA (Leadership, Education and Advocacy) Awards where she was honored as Woman of the Year by Women in Cable Telecommunication (WICT). Shabnam was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania and grew up in Dubai. She lives in Orange County, CA with her husband and three children and has been an active member of her Muslim community for the past 28 years, having served as Treasurer and Vice President of SIIJLA, a local Islamic Center in Pico Rivera. Sr. Shabnam Dewji is currently in her 12th year as the principal of the Huseini Sunday School and has been a teacher for 25 years. In June 2015, she received her certification in Neuropsychology of Learning to ensure that the teaching methods at the schools shift to student centered learning. She is also active in the Social Interfaith group to promote interfaith and intrafaith understanding in the Orange County area and works closely with Chapman University's Fish Interfaith Center under the leadership of the Dean, Dr. Gail Stearns. Do you want to find out about The Women's Mosque of America's upcoming women-led & co-ed events? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/home...​ The Women's Mosque of America is the nation's first women-led Muslim house of worship and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. The Women's Mosque of America strives to uplift the entire Muslim community by empowering Muslim women and girls through more direct access to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The Women's Mosque of America provides a safe space for women to feel welcome, respected, and actively engaged within the Muslim Ummah. It complements existing mosques, offering opportunities for women to grow, learn, and gain inspiration to spread throughout their respective communities. The Women's Mosque of America provides women-led Friday jumma'a services for women and children (including boys 12 and under) once a month in Southern California. In addition, The Women's Mosque of America provides programming, events, and classes open to both men and women that aim to increase community access to female Muslim scholars and female perspectives on Islamic knowledge and spirituality.

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Mayor Farrah N. Khan is joined by poet Dania Ayah Alkhouli, daughter of past khateebah Maria Khani, who recites some of her inspiring poems in celebration of our 6 Year Anniversary. An amazing discussion ensues about exactly what it takes to make it in political office, and why we need more Muslims to run for public office in the United States. Dania closes with three beautiful poems that celebrate resilience, patience, and perseverance.

For The Women's Mosque of America's 6 Year Anniversary jumma'a, we were honored to hear from the first Muslim woman mayor of a major U.S. city -- returning Khateebah Farrah N. Khan. Farrah delivered her first khutbah at The Women's Mosque of America 4 years ago after losing her first city council race. She didn't give up at the time; instead, she ran for city council again, won the second time, and in 2020, got elected as the Mayor of Irvine. Her powerful message of resilience will inspire you to never give up -- even when it seems like all odds are against you. January 29th, 2021.

Mu'adthinah Shourouq Routher calls in from the Bay Area to deliver a stirring, melodic adthan for The Women's Mosque of America's 6th Anniversary jumma'a on January 29th, 2021.

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr answers an important question that had been weighing on a congregant's mind for years regarding Qur'an verse 2:282. A lively discussion ensues between congregants and past khateebahs on the many different ways we can interpret the call for two women witnesses. Dr. Omaima also shares insights on what gender justice work is happening now in Egypt, as well as the upcoming khutbah anthology she originally wrote her khutbah for -- but never realized she would have an opportunity to deliver in a mosque -- until now.

For The Women's Mosque of America's first international jumma'a, Khateebah Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr called in all the way from Egypt to illuminate "The Ethics of Gender Justice" in relation to an often overlooked verse of the Qur'an.   Bio: Omaima Abou-Bakr is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Cairo University; a founding member of “The Women and Memory Forum” in Egypt; a researcher/member of the “Musawah” Knowledge Building Team. She specialized in medieval Sufi poetry and comparative topics in medieval English and Arabic literature. Her scholarly interests also include women's mysticism and female spirituality in Christianity and Islam, feminist theology, Muslim women's history, and gender issues in Islamic discourses. She has published numerous articles in both English and Arabic on poetry and medieval literary texts, on historical representations of women in pre-modern Muslim societies, women and gender in religious discourses, and Islamic feminist issues. One book publication is an edited Reader that contains translations into Arabic of foundational articles in Christian feminist theology and Islamic feminist research: Al-Niswiyyah Wa-Al-Dirasat Al-Diniyah: Feminism and Religious Studies (2012). Other book publications are two edited volumes of collected articles; in English: Feminist and Islamic Perspectives: New Horizons of Knowledge and Reform, in Arabic: Al-Niswiyyah Wa-Al-Manzur Al-Islami (2013).

Our youngest Mu'adthinahs, Ameenah (age 7) & Ruqayya (age 2), recite a heart-warming adthan with their mother, returning Mu'adthinah Aliya Hussaini Yousufi, for The Women's Mosque of America's 3rd ONLINE jumma'a on December 18th, 2020.

Even a recent move out of state didn't stop returning Mu'adhinah Mahasin Shamsiddeen from participating in The Women's Mosque of America's second online jumma'a on November 27th, 2020. 

Returning Khateebah Gail Kennard explores the prophetic example of how to successfully heal a divided and polarized society, with special focus on navigating through the aftermath of the 2020 American presidential election. Bio: Gail Kennard was raised in Los Angeles and learned about Islam as a high school student when she read the autobiography of Malcolm X. She accepted Islam while in graduate school at UC Berkeley, and she has been active in the Muslim communities of San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. For the past 20 years, Gail has been president of the architectural business founded by her late father, Robert Kennard, in Los Angeles. The firm designs public buildings, transit and utility infrastructure projects. The company, Kennard Design Group, is the oldest African-American-owned architectural practice in the western United States. Gail earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Stanford University, a master's degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley — and for the past 60+ years, she has been struggling to earn her post-graduate degree in this life under the guidance of Allah, subhanna wa ta'allah.

Q&A Discussion ONLINE with the Imam -- Khateebah Gail Kennard has an intimate discussion with congregants from all across America and even in Pakistan! Gail shares from her own family experiences about how difficult it can be to convince close family and friends on the other side of the political divide to hear you. She addresses questions such as, "How do you deal with people who react to you in a hostile way?" and "Whose responsibility is it to educate people about issues like racism?" Congregants also share their own experiences, strategies, and resources for dealing with the challenges of our divided society.

In response to the most oft-requested topic since the pandemic began, on September 25th, 2020, The Women's Mosque of America hosted a wonderful discussion on "Coping with Isolation and the Pandemic" with Muslim mental health experts Dr. Hadia Zarzour, Chaplain Sondos Kholaki, and Zariah Horton on how we can deal with the current global challenges and come out stronger than before inshAllah (God-willing). Together, the panel addressed common misconceptions and taboos surrounding mental health vs. spiritual health, the importance of finding purpose, special tools for children and for Black women during this time, and many helpful, practical tips and resources to make this time a reset rather than a setback.

For The Women's Mosque of America's first ONLINE jumma'a on October 30th, 2020, Khateebah Dr. Showkot Rahman delivers an emotionally moving khutbah on having "Patience While in the 'Cave,'" drawing upon her experiences as a physician whose family was directly impacted by the pandemic in the most trying of ways. Bio: Dr. Showkot Ara Rahman, mother of four, daughter, sister, friend, and pediatrician, was born and raised in the city of Magura in Bangladesh with her six siblings. She grew up in a household devoted to family, the community, and Islam. Spending early mornings reading and reciting Surahs of the Qur'an, she completed her first full reading of the Qur'an by the age of six. Islam has been a mainstay in her life, a curiosity she has spent her life cultivating through constant and conscious application. After graduating from Rajshahi Medical College in Bangladesh, she gave birth to two boys, immigrated to the United States, parting ways from her childhood friends and family, had two daughters, and attained the U.S. Medical License and Board Certification in Pediatrics, accomplishing her dreams through patience and perseverance. Dr. Rahman has been a dedicated medical and public servant to underserved communities since her beginnings at The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, followed by Kaiser Permanente with simultaneous volunteer work at Umma Community Clinic and raising four children. Her relentless values of faith, hard work, and optimism were not only unhindered, but spread through any means possible. She is a devoted pediatrician, a role she does not take lightly and recognizes as her way of expounding her genuine care and dedication to the wellbeing of children and their future in the most underserved area of Los Angeles. When she is not doting on her children or filling out patient charts, Dr. Rahman enjoys spending time with her children, cooking, knitting, visiting museums, attending musicals, watching Jeopardy, traveling, catching the sunrise and sunset, and dancing on grassy hills.  

Q&A Discussion ONLINE with the Imam -- Dr. Showkot Rahman takes questions from virtual congregants on Zoom during The Women's Mosque of America's first ONLINE jumma'a experience on October 30th, 2020. They talk about how living with disabilities can often feel like living in a cave and how so many of the prophets entered a period of isolation or "cave" as a time to draw closer to Allah and more focused on the *real* reality outside of this temporary life. They also discuss dealing with emotions like anger and how important it is for women to speak up and be assertive.

Returning Mu'adthinah Aliya Hussaini Yousufi delivers a stirring, beautiful adthan for The Women's Mosque of America's first ONLINE jumma'a on October 30th, 2020.