December 13, 2021

Space and technology


The computer sat atop a desk, the TV stood in the center of the living room upheld by a TV stand, the phone was hooked up against the wall. Each in its place, never to be moved; available to all, no mobility, no privacy. Each device had its own exclusive use; the phone was for […]

November 29, 2021

Modern housewives search for meaning


Years ago, I polled 30 women on their experiences as non-working wives (also referred to as housewives, homemakers, and —when applicable, stay-at-home moms). 23/30 women said they experienced a sense of worthlessness. Some attributed that sense of worthlessness to society, some to their spouse/spouse’s family, some to their family of origin (parents, etc.), and others […]

November 22, 2021

Should we let them have it?


As I geared up to watch a commentary on the latest female rappers’ music video I could not shake the feeling that it was a waste of time. It may sound strange that I would even watch such a thing but I *love* social commentary. I love to hear smart people analyze society including media. […]

November 15, 2021

Religion is for people, not saints


In verse 4:34 God tells men to use physical discipline as a last resort in dealing with marital conflict, “…advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly]. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them”. In verse 4:3 God tells men to only marry […]

November 8, 2021

Men don’t speak for God


Men don’t have a special hotline through which they exclusively get to speak to God and for God. Women too often live in fear that men will wield religious rhetoric to force certain behavior on them —you must do x lest God is displeased with you. But when did we as women begin to believe […]

November 1, 2021

Our bodies define us, but we must resist


Tall teenage boys are asked if they play basketball. Tall slender women are told they should model. People with different body types are assumed to be different types of people. These assumptions imprint on us ideas about who we are and who we should be. Some ideas are harmless, others simply annoying, and still others […]

October 25, 2021

On the Transgender Movement


As a linguistic student of Arabic, I recently learned that women and men are not opposite so much as they are complementary. The idea that one could feel opposite from one’s biological gender is actually nonsensical, linguistically and in reality. Men and women are different, but not so categorically that one can feel as though he or […]

October 18, 2021

Grounding


If you’re like me, which you might be considering you’re reading this blog. You spend a lot of time “up there”. You know, up in the sky where the birds live —have you ever noticed that? When I’m deep in reflection I find my head moving upwards towards the sun. We spend a lot of […]

October 11, 2021

The problem with “Age of Consent”


“The age of consent to sexual relations is not firmly established in classical Islamic law…” What does consent look like in Islam? Many Muslims have wondered since the consent conversation began to gain ground on college campuses and increasingly in social media discourse. Within non-Muslim discourse the conversation on consent is ill-defined and ongoing —is […]

October 4, 2021

Maybe we should make a clear distinction


Woman in long sleeve ankle length body-con dress —Quranic reminders —Family photos of a friend you’ve never met —motivational quote —Islamic event this Saturday! If Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, thought TV was bizarre —“We’ll be back with a quick look a molestation,” a quote he pulled from a Daytime talk show […]

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