"The Transformative Power of Hajj" by Hajjah Krishna Najieb (2/28/20)

Khateebah Hajjah Krishna Nunnally Najieb delivers the khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America on February 28th, 2020. In this dynamic khutbah, Hajjah Krishna Nunnally Najieb, creator of The Hajjah Project, offers a fresh take on the experience of Hajj and how it should be performed early in one's life to transform it, rather than at the end of one's life to end it. She speaks to us about how when we answer God’s call to perform the 5th pillar of Islam, we are transformed into living our purpose. Krishna shares from her experience of going to Hajj on the 50th anniversary of Malcolm X's Hajj pilgrimage and how she came to understand why he returned as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

Bio:
Hajjah Krishna Nunnally Najieb accepted Islam later in life, never imagining that she would embrace a religion she once perceived as restrictive and limiting to women, in particular. As an aspiring theater artist and child of the 70’s, Krishna’s early aspirations were to be a director, producing art for people’s sake. Little did she know that God had other plans as she embarked on a journey which led her to live and work her way across the country, while experiencing various roles and religions.

Living, learning, and raising her children, Krishna considered herself somewhat “knowledgeable” of Islam, having known a few members of “the Nation” and being a patron of Muslim bakeries, fish shops, and newspapers. She didn’t start learning about true Islam until after age 50 when she began attending masjids and events with her now husband, Jamal Najieb. When she and Jamal married in 2009, Krishna planned on remaining “spiritual.” She’d learned to sleep in on Sunday and felt visiting churches and masjids on occasion would be sufficient. But six days after the wedding, she was moved to make shahada at Masjid Al-Taqwa, Altadena, CA. Krishna thought it was out of curiosity, but her friends told her it was Allah.

From that moment, there was no looking back and in August 2015, Krishna and Jamal made Hajj. Hajj was transformative. Krishna now truly felt like a Muslimah and prayed for a way to return Allah’s blessing. The answer became another gift from Allah – to found with seven other sisters the non-profit organization, The Hajjah Project. The Hajjah Project launched in 2018 with the mission to educate and inspire Muslim women to make achieving the 5th Pillar of Islam a reality. The Hajjah Project gives cash gifts and backpacks to sisters making a first time trip to Hajj. With the tagline “a vision, a mission, a sisterhood,” The Hajjah Project aspires to one day be a foundation, providing funds to transformative projects that use Islamic principles to benefit all women.

Besides being a wife, mother, and grandmother, Krishna is a human resources professional and trainer, experienced in conflict resolution, community mediation and restorative justice. She is working on a spiritual memoir and still considers herself an artist, now for the benefit of Allah.