The Women's Mosque of America

Sarah Nadeem on “Maryam Bint Imran (Mother of Prophet Jesus (p)” | #HistoricMuslimah Ramadan Series

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

Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr on “Fatima bint Kamal al-Din Mahmoud” | #HistoricMuslimah Ramadan Series

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 with Dr. Debbie Almontaser and Gail Kennard (2/26/21)

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!

"Black Muslim History in America" Khutbah by Gail Kennard (2/26/21)

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.

"The Legacy of Believing Women in Islam" Bayan by Dr. Debbie Almontaser (2/26/21)

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.

Adthan by Shourouq Routher (2/26/21)

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 with Sahar Pirzada (3/26/21)

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.

"Leaning on Islam to Navigate Pregnancy Loss and Abortion" Khutbah by Sahar Pirzada (3/26/21)

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.

Adthan by Shourouq Routher (3/26/21)

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.

Sabina Khan-Ibarra on "Malalai Maiwand" | #HistoricMuslimah​ Ramadan Series

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