The Women's Mosque of America

Mother-Daughter High Tea w/Shaykha Muslema Purmul (05/22/16)

On May 22nd, 2016, The Women's Mosque of America held a Mother-Daughter High Tea with Shaykha Muslema Purmul. In her insightful and thought-provoking talk, she shared relfections and wisdom on how to improve mother-daughter relationships, particularly across cultural barriers. Touching upon the innate nature of mothers and daughters, Sh. Muslema shed light on the way mothers show love by sacrificing themselves for their daughters, and the way daughters show their love by taking on the burdens of their mothers.

Bio:
Muslema Purmul was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in San Diego, California. Her parents are originally from Afghanistan and they came to the US in the early 80s. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a double major in Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. During those years she served at varying capacities in MSA UCSD as well as MSA West. After graduating she left to study in Egypt where she spent the better part of the next 7 years. She completed the bachelor’s program in Sharia from al-Azhar University in Cairo and also completed almost two years of graduate work at the American University in Cairo in Islamic Studies. She also attended the International Union of Muslim Scholars “Future Scholars Program” while she was studying in Cairo.

Afterwards she transitioned into the blessing of motherhood. Recently she served as the Young Muslims Program Director at the Islamic Center of Irvine where she provided support, religious education, and leadership for programming related to youth and young professionals. She has taught classes and spoken nationally and internationally about issues related to Islamic law and ethics in a variety of different settings including conferences, retreats, universities, libraries, and mosques. Currently she serves the Muslim students at UCLA and USC as a chaplain with Institute of Knowledge and is the Co-Founder and Scholar-in-Residence at Safa Center for Research and Education.

"Post 11/9, Where Do We Go From Here?" Khutbah by Farrah N. Khan (11/18/16)

Khateebah Farrah N. Khan delivered the 23rd khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America on November 18th, 2016. In her timely and inspiring khutbah, Farrah shares with the congregation the lessons she learned in her run for Irvine city council, she encourages the congregation to keep hope alive despite the tense post-election political climate, and she ultimately rallies Muslim women everywhere to run for public office.

Bio:
Farrah N. Khan has worked extensively with many community organizations to host events, collaborate on efforts and provide support. She founded a children’s interfaith group, First Drops, in 2011. The organization provides children (ages 5-13) and their families opportunities to go on site visits to churches, synagogues, mosques and temples throughout Orange County to get a better understanding of one another. The group partners with a local Church every 4th Sunday of the month to feed the homeless population in Santa Ana.

Farrah has always enjoyed working with the community. She started by volunteering at her children’s school and several non-profits. She committed to being an active PTA member and has since served on the PTA Board at the Elementary and Middle School level. She served as PTA President for 3 terms at her sons’ elementary school, served on the PTA Board at the Middle School and is currently serving on the School Site Council at the High School. She and her husband are also Legacy Partners with the Irvine Public School Foundation.

One of Farrah’s joys has been serving on the Steering Committee for the Irvine Global Village Festival for the past 6 years. She is also a proud CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteer with the Irvine Police Department, a program she highly recommends for every resident and business of Irvine.

Farrah currently serves as the Executive Director of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council. Farrah finds great pride in working with the faith communities not only for dialogue, but also to discuss social and economic issues affecting Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

Farrah was appointed as a Community Services Commissioner in 2014. During her time as Commissioner, she was the only Commissioner who took the time to get to know the city parks, open spaces, land development, amenities and employees. She was an advocate for sufficient park space. Farrah just ran for Irvine City Council in the 2016 election as a first time candidate and is proud to have placed 4th out of 11 candidates in a hard-fought race.

Zaytuna Community Forum on The Women's Mosque of America (11/5/16)

On November 4th, 2015, The Women's Mosque of America participated in a Zaytuna Community Forum event, featuring founder M. Hasna Maznavi, khateebah Zahra Billoo, Dr. Rania Awaad, and moderated by Kristin George. View the event flyer here: http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e77d3dba20355b0c06099d560&id=7582fc5c51&e=e464b6732d

"The Light in Her Eyes" Screening & Discussion Panel w/Filmmaker Julia Meltzer + Q&A Discussion (3/27/15)

On the evening of Friday, March 27th, 2015. The Women's Mosque of America, USC Office of Religious Life, and USC Muslim Student Union co-hosted a free public screening of award-winning documentary "The Light in Her Eyes" followed by a panel discussion about women's mosques around the world. Following the screening, filmmaker Julia Meltzer joined the panel to explore the impact of women’s mosques and religious spaces around the world, the commonalities that these spaces share, as well as the ways in which each women’s mosque has its own distinct set of practices based on the unique culture, history, and politics within each country. The panel featured both experts and visitors to women's mosques who discussed the women’s mosques, madrassas, and musallahs in Syria, China, and Yemen. To watch a trailer for "The Light in Her Eyes," please visit: http://thelightinhereyesmovie.com

Overcoming Voicelessness Workshop with Ra'idah Noohu (10/28/16)

This was the third time time The Women's Mosque of America published its audio recording of the post-jumma'a Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam, due to the importance of spreading awareness about the topics discussed. The jumma'a on October 28th, 2016 marked the first of The Women's Mosque of America's empowerment workshops, in which Director of Operations Ra'idah Noohu led congregants in an "Overcoming Voicelessness" workshop after jumma'a. This workshop came about as a natural extension of the preceding 3-part #BlackLivesMatter discussion series, since women must be able to practice speaking up in a safe space in order to be able to speak up against injustice in public.

Adthan by Sarah Dar (10/28/16)

Mu'adthinah Sarah Dar calls the 22nd adthan for The Women's Mosque of America on October 28th, 2016.

1st Adthan in Javanese Recitation Style by Jessika Kenney (2/24/17)

1st Adthan -- Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney delivers a breath-takingly beautiful and unique adthan in the Javanese recitation style for The Women's Mosque of America on February 24th, 2017.

2nd Adthan in Javanese Recitation Style by Jessika Kenney (2/24/17)

2nd Adthan -- Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney delivers a breath-takingly beautiful and unique adthan in the Javanese recitation style for The Women's Mosque of America on February 24th, 2017.

"The Greatest Act of Love: Being Who We Are" Khutbah by Monica McNeal Boddie (2/24/17)

In light of the holiday season, khateebah Monica McNeal Boddie delivers a beautiful khutbah on the theme of love, and she instructs the congregation on how to work past barriers we often find in our journey toward loving ourselves, God, and our communities.

Bio:
Monica McNeal Boddie is the founder at Magnify Your Message,. a passionate marketing consulting agency helping coaches who are on a mission to impact more people to transform the world in the way they love to serve. In addition, they provoke out-of-the-box public service conversations and host engaging workshops and intensive retreats geared to spark women - Muslim women especially – to magnify their inclusive leadership. Monica is also co-founder at Her Abundance Sanctuary, San Diego's first sisters' health, wealth, and spiritual wellness community space that is Muslimah-focused, not Muslimah-exclusive. Monica is a writer and a speaker, has contributed to the anthology, "A Far Off Place," and is currently working on her first book. She is a Walkaholic Happy Life Mentor, bringing joy to life, founder of Decide Your Life LLC, and creator of "Your Full and Happy Life Rocks!" Monica is also a US Marine Corps spouse of 17+ years, and a mother of four.

Q&A with Monica McNeal Boddie (2/24/17)

Q&A Discussion Circle w/the Imam -- Khateebah Monica McNeal Boddie shares empowering insights on how to increase confidence and act courageously despite our fears.