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

Dr. Omaima Abou Bakr On “Fatima Bint Kamal Al - Din Mahmoud”   #HistoricMuslimah R

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

Nurjahan Boulden On Bibi Titi Mohammed   #HistoricMuslimah Ramadan Series

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.

Adthan by Jessika Kenney (4/30/21)

"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. "

"Healing A Hurt Heart" Khutbah by Maryam Sharrieff (4/30/21)

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.

Q&A with Maryam Sharrieff (4/30/21)

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.

Adthan by Mona Abdulla (5/28/21)

"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."

"The Gift of Tasbih Fatima" Khutbah by Hala Mohammad (5/28/21)

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).

Q&A with Hala Mohammad (5/28/21)

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

Adthan by Medina Tenour Whiteman (6/25/21)

"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."

Islam & Juneteenth: Liberating Slaves as a Mandate - Khutbah by Hajjah Abrafi Sanyika (6/25/21)

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.

Q&A with Hajjah Abrafi S. Sanyika (6/25/21)

**Do you need help regarding sexual assault? Please visit this national list of resources to find an organization in your area: http://www.nsvrc.org/organizations Or, email info@womensmosque.com if you need assistance finding help. You are not alone.**

Khateebah Sumaya Abubaker delivers the 4th khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America on April 24th, 2015. In her sermon, Sumaya speaks to the centrality of compassion in Islam, its link to the concept of justice, and the insight and guidance it provides in meeting the challenges of addressing sexual assault and sexual abuse.

Bio:
Sumaya Abubaker serves as project manager for the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. For over eight years, she has managed many of the Center’s civic engagement leadership institutes for minority faith communities including the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute.

Prior to joining CRCC, she worked for Wells Fargo Bank, the Council for Islamic Education and The Minaret magazine. She spent many years on the board of ELEV8, a nonprofit designed to empower youth with the tools to engage in activism through the arts. Sumaya is a fellow of NewGround, a program that engages diverse groups of Muslim and Jewish Angelenos in an innovative community-building process of intra- and inter-faith education and reflection, leadership training and civic engagement.

Sumaya is also co-founder of the Rahma Network, an organization established to assist American Muslim communities in addressing sexual violence and abuse. She is a survivor herself and through her involvement in the Rahma Network, she works with survivors, builds resources and conducts speaking engagements on how to prevent and address sexual violence and abuse.

She received her BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied international development with a specialization in the Middle East/North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

"Sexual Violence and the Necessity of Compassion and Justice" Khutbah by Sumaya Abubaker (4/24/15)

Mu'adthinah Mahasin Shamsiddeen calls the adthan for The Women's Mosque of America's 2 Year Anniversary jumma'a on January 27th, 2017.

Adthan by Mahasin Shamsiddeen (1/27/17)

Khateebah Amani Al-Khatahtbeh delivers the 13th khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America's 1 Year Anniversary jumma'a on January 29th, 2016. As the mosque's youngest khateebah, Amani shares her insights as a millenial Muslim to empower Muslim youth of all ages.

Bio:
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh is the founder and editor-in-chief of MuslimGirl.net, the leading online magazine for American Muslim women. Reclaiming the Muslim women’s narrative in Western media with its own unprecedented columns in outlets like Teen Vogue, Fortune, and Huffington Post, MuslimGirl is currently forging a new path by becoming the forefront of Muslim women’s issues in mainstream coverage. Amani made the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2016, making her the first Muslim woman to be honored in the media category and MuslimGirl the first Muslim company to ever receive the recognition.

Amani is a rising voice in social, religious, and political issues, regularly appearing in such media outlets as CNN, BBC, and more. She currently writes a column for Forbes, in which she chronicles the startup journey of MuslimGirl from the perspective of a millennial woman of color entrepreneur. Amani was the first Palestinian-American to be elected as the opinions editor of The Daily Targum, which resulted in a nationwide controversy over her censorship. She is a human and civil rights activist and was one of the student organizers to force out former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from her commencement invitation at Rutgers University in 2014. Amani has been profiled in The New York Times, CNN Money, VICE’s Broadly, and beyond.

"A Message for Muslim Youth" Khutbah by Amani Al-Khatahtbeh - 1 Year Anniversary (1/29/16)

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.

2nd 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.

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

2nd Adthan -- Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney returns to deliver another amazing adthan in the Javanese recitation style for The Women's Mosque of America on April 21st, 2017.

Adthan #2 by Jessika Kenney - Javanese Recitation Style (4/21/17)

"In this powerful khutbah, khateebah Heba Khan poses a unique question to the congregation when she asks us to consider the spiritual impact our bodies have on our souls, rather than the usual framework of looking at the soul's impact on the body. She reminds us that the relationship between body and soul is described as a ""marriage"" in the Qur'an. Finally, she meticulously unpacks the hadiths surrounding the Prophet Muhammad's (p) profound transformative experience when the purifying of his soul was described through the imagery of angels washing his heart. Be sure to listen to the Q&A to find out a special revelation about the man she speaks of in her khutbah! April 21st, 2017 at The Women's Mosque of America.

Bio: 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."

1st Adthan -- Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney returns to deliver another amazing adthan in the Javanese recitation style for The Women's Mosque of America on April 21st, 2017.

2nd Adthan -- Mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney returns to deliver another amazing adthan in the Javanese recitation style for The Women's Mosque of America on April 21st, 2017.

Q&A Discussion Circle with the Imam -- Khateebah Heba Khan surprises our congregation with a revelation about the man she spoke of in her khutbah! She also answers important questions about how we as Muslims can make sense of difficult tests like pain and sickness. April 21st, 2017 at The Women's Mosque of America.

"Some Cuts Run Deep: A Bodily Approach to the Spiritual" Khutbah by Heba Khan (4/21/17)

Returning mu'adhinah Sarah Dar calls the adthan for the 36th jumma'a at The Women's Mosque of America on December 22nd, 2017.

Adthan by Sarah Dar (12/22/17)

Returning mu'adthinah Sarah Dar calls the adthan for the 39th jumma'a at The Women's Mosque of America on March 30th, 2018.

Adthan by Sarah Dar (3/30/18)

Returning mu'adhinah Jessika Kenney calls the adthan for the 44th jumma'a at The Women's Mosque of America on August 24, 2018.

Adthan by Jessika Kenney (8/24/18)

"Returning khateebah Maria Khani delivers the 46th khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America on October 26, 2018. In this motivational khutbah, Sr. Maria discusses the multiple meanings of the word ""salat"" in the Qur'an and how it means more than just the five daily prayers. She also gives a reflection on the words of the adthan (the call to prayer) and on wudu (ritual wash before prayer), and she shares her personal journey of viewing prayer as an act of fear and duty to viewing it as an act of joy, rest, and contentment.

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 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 serves 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 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.
"

"The Five Daily Prayers: Moving from Obligation into Joy" Khutbah by Maria Khani (10/26/18)

Returning mu'adthinah Jessika Kenney calls the adthan in her beautiful Javanese recitation style for the 47th jumma'a at The Women's Mosque of America on November 30, 2018.

Adthan by Jessika Kenney (11/30/18)

Mu'adhinah Sophia Alone delivers a beautifully melodic calling of the adhan for the 53rd jumma'a at The Women's Mosque of America on May 31st, 2019.

Popular tracks by The Women's Mosque of America