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amazing muslim women
se7en
12/27/03 at 05:46:01
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, Insha'Allah, I am going to post some profiles and info about amazing Muslim women of our time in this thread.. definitely role models for future generations of young Muslim men and women!  please share if there is someone that has inspired you :-)
12/27/03 at 06:31:13
se7en

Re: amazing muslim women
se7en
12/27/03 at 05:48:08
Dr. Ingrid Mattson Dr. Ingrid Mattson is Director of Islamic Chaplaincy and Professor at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT.  Dr. Mattson earned her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999.  Her research is focused on Islamic law and society; among her articles are studies on slavery, poverty and Islamic legal theory.  She currently holds the position of Vice-President of the Islamic Society of North America.  She is a regular teacher at the ALIM program and speaker throughout the United States and Canada. Check out this sister's resume: [color=black] PRESENT POSITION Professor of Islamic Studies and Associate Editor of The Muslim World at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT since 1998. EDUCATION University of Chicago, Ph.D., Islamic Studies, 1999 University of Waterloo, B.A. (joint honors), Philosophy & Fine Arts, 1987 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION “A Believing Slave is Better than an Unbeliever: Status and Community in Early Islamic Society and Law.” An exploration of the tension between building community and upholding social status in the first few centuries of Islam. A close examination of legal, literary and historical primary texts, taking into account methodological considerations raised by social scientists and religious historians such as Victor Turner, Claude Meillassoux and Orlando Patterson. Dissertation advisor: Fred Donner. TEACHING EXPERIENCE (Assistant) Professor, Hartford Seminary, 1998-current. Masters level courses taught include: Introduction to Islamic Law, Islamic Ritual and Family Law, The Life of the Prophet Muhammad, Early Islamic History, The Qur’an and its Place in Muslim Society, Introduction to Hadith Literature, Readings in Arabic Texts. Lecturer, Oriental Institute, the University of Chicago, 1997 Developed and taught course on “Early Islamic Culture” to Institute members. Teaching Assistant, “Islamic Civilization,” Dept. of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the University of Chicago, 1995. Teaching Assistant, “Elementary Arabic,” Dept. of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the University of Chicago, 1994-1995. ACADEMIC AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS Chicago Humanities Institute, Sawyer Seminar on Religion, Law and the Construction of Identities, Graduate Fellowship, 1996-1997 Milners America Scholarship, 1995-1996 American Association of University Women, International Fellowship, 1993-1994 University of Chicago Century Scholarship, 1989-1992 University of Waterloo, Dean’s List, 1987 University of Waterloo, Art History Essay Award, 1986 University of Waterloo, French Department, Prix d’excellence, 1985 PUBLICATIONS “Adoption and Fostering,” in Encyclopedia of Women in Islamic Cultures, ed. Suad Joseph (Leiden: Brill, forthcoming). “Dignity and Patient Care: an Islamic Perspective,” in The Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, published on the web-site July 17, 2002. (<http://info.med.yale.edu/intmed/hummed/yjhm/spirit/dignity/imattson.htm>). “Stopping Oppression: an Islamic Obligation,” in September 11: Historical, Theological and Social Perspectives, eds. Ian Markham and Ibrahim Abu-Rabi’ (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2002). “Mosques and Islamic Religious Organizations,” in The Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America, (Leiden: Brill, forthcoming). “How Muslims use Islamic paradigms to define America,” in Becoming American: Immigration and Religious Life in the United States,” eds. John Esposito, Yvonne Haddad and Jane I. Smith (Oxford University Press, forthcoming). “The Significance of Status-Based Definitions of Need in Early Islamic Zakat and Maintenance Laws,” in Concepts of Poverty and Charity in Islamic Societies, eds. Michael Bonner, Mine Ener and Amy Singer (SUNY Press, 2002). Review of al-Mawardi’s al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyya (The Ordinances of Government) for The Journal of Law and Religion (Fall, 2001). “Hunayn;” “Manual Labor;” in The Encyclopedia of the Qur’an, ed. Jane Dammen McAuliffe (Leiden: Brill, 2001). “Forgiveness and Enemies-Qur’an 60:7-9,” in Peace Skills (Leaders Guide), eds. Alice Frazer Evans and Robert Evans with Ronald S. Kraybill (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001). Review of Wilfred Madelung, The Succession to Muhammad:A Study of the Early Caliphate in The Journal of Religion, April,1998. “Islamic Calligraphy: Sacrality and Identity,” lecture at the Chicago Cultural Institute, 1997. Review of Yale Law School Conference, “Law, Culture and Human Rights: Islamic Perspectives in the Contemporary World,” in The American Journal of Islamic Social Science, 11/3 (Fall 1994): 446-450. Review of the Yale University Conference, “Islamic Law and Religion,” in The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 10/4 (Winter 1993): 575-578. SELECTED SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS “Muslim Women and Islamic Law: Possibilities, Limits and Challenges,” William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, April 10, 2002. “The Best of Intentions: the Politics of Foreign Aid for Afghan Women Refugees,” University of Illinois at Chicago, March 8, 2002. “Gender and Authority in Islam,”Depauw University, Indiana, October 11, 2001. “Al-Ma`ruf: Revelation’s Sanction of Customary Standards,” paper presented at the Middle East Studies Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, November, 2000. “Issues for Muslim Women,” lecture at the University of Westminster, London, conference on “Islamism, Pluralism and Civil Society,” April, 1999 (transcript published in Islam 21). “Between al-Shafi`i and Abu Dharr: Islamic Law and Ethics on the Status of Slaves,”lecture at the Harvard Law School, workshop on “Egalitarianism and Islamic Law,” April, 1999. “Slave Mothers: The Process of the Legal Recognition of the Status of the Umm Walad in Early Islamic Society,” paper presented at the Chicago Humanities Institute, 1997. “What ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab Ate (Symbolic Poverty in Early Islamic Society),” paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Middle East Studies Association, 1996. “The Sufriyya in History and Heresiography,” paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Middle East Studies Association, 1994. GENERAL INTEREST PUBLISHED ARTICLES “Finding the Voice of Islam,” in From the Ashes: Spiritual Responses to the Attack on America.Beliefnet/Rodale Press, 2001. “Justice in Islam,” Hartford Courant, October 21, 2001. “Islamic Law is Not the Monolithic Thing that Many Imagine,” Dallas Morning News, November 17, 2001. COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RELATED EXPERIENCE Gives frequent public lectures on Islam at religious and educational institutions; often consulted as expert in the field by print, radio and television media. Vice-President, Islamic Society of North America (2001). Board of Directors, Nawawi Foundation, Chicago, IL (2000-present). Board of Directors, Universal Elementary and High School, Bridgeview, IL 1995-1996. Advisor to the Afghan delegation at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, thirty-ninth session, New York, March 15-April 4, 1995. Director of Projects for Afghan Refugee Women, Akora Khattak refugee camp, Pakistan, 1987-1988. LANGUAGES Arabic: excellent reading knowledge; good speaking ability. French: excellent reading knowledge; fair speaking ability. Persian: fair reading knowledge; some speaking ability. [/color] Read an essay by Dr. Mattson here: http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/essays/mattson.html
12/27/03 at 06:31:42
se7en

amazing muslim women
se7en
12/27/03 at 06:01:44
Dr. Maha El-Genaidi and Sr. Ameena Jandali Sr. Maha and Sr. Ameena are the co-founders of Islamic Networks, Inc. (INI), including the Islamic Networks Group. Islamic Networks Group (ING) is a nonprofit, educational organization founded in 1993, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. ING delivers presentations relating to Islam and the Muslim world.  Its mission is to eliminate stereotyping through education. Surveys indicate that nearly half of all Americans believe that Islam condones terrorism, is anti-American, poses a security threat and oppresses women. Their strategy is to train Muslims in various communities to deliver tailored educational programs on Islam to various public institutions, including: schools, the media, law enforcement agencies, corporations, hospitals, social service agencies, faith-based organizations, community organizations, etc. Through these efforts, ING delivers about 800 seminars and other educational programs each year. Visit the Islamic Networks Group website at: http://www.ing.org/ More about Sr. Maha: Maha ElGenaidi, B.A. Political Science-Economics, American University in Cairo, Egypt Founder & President of the Board of Directors, Islamic Networks Group. Founder & Advisor of the Board of Directors, National Network of Affiliated Speakers Bureaus (NASaB). Maha is a commissioner on Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante's "Commission for One California"; commissioner on Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission (appointed by Supervisor Jim Beall); Board member of Intergroup Clearinghouse; Advisor to California's Commission on Police Officers Standards & Training (POST) for hate crimes and cultural diversity training; and former Co-chair and Vice-chair of the Bay Area Hate Crimes Investigators Association (BAHCIA). Maha is recipient of numerous civil rights awards which include the 1999 Civil Rights Leadership Award from the California Association of Human Relations Organizations, the 2000 Human Relations Award from the Santa Clara County Human Relations office, and the 2002 "Citizen of the Year" Award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Maha has spoken to hundreds of schools, churches, police departments, corporations and other public institutions; has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, and is co-author of seven training handbooks on outreach for American Muslims as well as eight training modules for public institutions on "developing cultural competency with the American Muslim community". Maha is currently ING's CEO. She is married and lives in Santa Clara. More about Sr. Ameena: Ameena Jandali, B.A. History, M.A. Near Eastern Studies, University of California Berkeley, California Co-founder and Secretary of the Board of Directors, Islamic Networks Group. Ameena is also President of the Board of Directors of the National Network of Affiliated Speakers Bureaus (NASaB) and member of Majlis Ash-Shura for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). She has delivered hundreds of presentations in schools, colleges, universities, churches, and other venues on Islam and related subjects. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs on topics such as Women in Islam, Ramadan, and topics related to September 11th. She recently appeared on Channel 5 KPIX on a World's Affairs Council panel to discuss the aftermath of September 11th as well as an interview about the impact of September 11th and Bay Area Muslims which aired on September 8th, and September 11th, 2002. She took part in a discussion of women in Islam at an event sponsored by KQED, The World's Affairs Council, and other organizations. She has publisheA.: Could the Nightmare Happen Here? ) about the threat of the disease, told CNN last night. "My presumption is mad cow disease is spread throughout North America at some level, but because our testing program is so inadequate we have not identified it." He said the US livestock industry, unlike its European counterparts, continued to practice "animal cannibalism". An isolated case of BSE was identified in Canada in May, but Ms Veneman said there was no immediate evidence of a link with the cow identified yesterday.

urnals. She is married, and the mother of two children (one of whom, at the age of eight, writes her own short stories). Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1997 by a handful of converts to Islam. LADO is headquartered in New York City.  Their mission is to promote Islam among the Latino community of the United States, and to educate Latinos and others about the legacy of Islam in Spain and Latin America and provide free information about Islam to all interested parties. Visit the LADO website at: http://latinodawah.org/index.html Read some of Sr. Saraji Umm Zaid's articles at: http://www.modernmuslima.com (One of her essays was also included in the book 'Taking Back Islam', edited by Michael Wolfe) Read some of her poetry at: http://muslimpoet.com/inresidence/UmmZaid.htm Visit the Ni'ma website:  http://www.nima-ny.org
12/27/03 at 06:32:48
se7en

Re: amazing muslim women
ouch
12/27/03 at 08:26:44
[slm] MashaAllah what a great idea! I'd be very interested in hearing about Muslim women who are making a difference in the modern world, they need not  be high profile achievers, even everyday stories about women in the community who make a positive contribution would be very welcome and would make an inspiring read, inshaAllah. :-) I'm sorry I haven't any idea about how to post links to articles on the net, but I'd like to share Dr Farhat Hashmi's profile taken from the Al-Huda website and an article about her work: Dr. Farhat Naseem Hashmi - this name today is synonymous with Al-Huda, a non-sectarian organization that is devoted to the cause of spreading Quranic education and bringing people closer to their Creator, ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Taala. This institute is the brainchild of Dr. Farhat and her husband, Dr. Idrees Zubair who are both enlightened Islamic scholars engaged in selfless dawa work. Born in Sargodha, Punjab, Dr. Farhat is the daughter of (Late) Abdur Rehman Hashmi, a prominent religious scholar. Dr. Farhat had the good fortune of having the seed of the love of Islamic learning embedded in her mind and heart by her father, whose imprints are strong on her personality. She acquired her initial education in her hometown and simultaneously acquired Quranic education from her father. She received her MA in Arabic, and was married shortly afterwards. Both she and her husband proceeded to University of Glasgow, Scotland, for their PhD in Islamic Studies. Though they are both extensively involved in the work of Deen, they are also committed parents to their four children. Since her youth, the desire to share the knowledge of Deen with others had been strong in Dr. Farhat's heart. Being an educated woman herself, she strongly felt that educated women should be provided with the opportunity to gain knowledge of ALLAH SWT's Book and the Prophet's (SAW) Sunnah. She began imparting her knowledge of the Holy Quran at an early age, and the number of her students and her eloquence, both grew steadily over the years. Gifted with a special ability to touch the hearts of all those who hear her "dars" (lectures), Dr. Farhat's popularity increased by the day. When the circle of her listeners grew, this stalwart trudging on the path of Jehaad bil Quraan laid down the foundation in 1994 of Al-Huda International Institute of Islamic Education for Women in Islamabad. Her brainchild originally began as a one-year diploma course for women in which the students were taught Tajweed, Tafseer, Hadith, Seerat-un-Nabi (pbuh), Fiqh and other Islamic subjects. Sincerity and dedication in the way of ALLAH SWT never goes unrewarded and what started out as an experimental course has turned out to be the turning point in the lives of the hundreds of women that earn the diploma from Al-Huda each year. What became especially popular and effective was the Fahm al- Quran program designed exclusively for Ramadhan in which one para (chapter) was taught with translation and brief explanation on a daily basis. The success of this program brought Al-Huda Institute and Dr. Farhat to Karachi where it was introduced in Ramadhan 2000. The coming year was to witness a phenomenal rise in Quranic awareness. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the diploma course is the word to word translation of the Quran which the students learn thus enabling them to understand the entire Quran in the language chosen by ALLAH SWT. This method of learning has been devised personally by Dr. Farhat who has endowed her students with this invaluable treasure. Eliminating the dependence on translations for all students irrespective of their mother tongue is nothing short of a miracle. Students are also able to teach others Quranic Arabic based on the same methodology. What is also especially appealing to the educated mind is the Tafseer (commentary) of the Quran which Dr. Farhat attempts to make relevant to today's world. Relating Quranic Ayahs to everyday lives she inspires her students and listeners to practically implement in their lives all they have learned in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. Pakistan women socialites embrace Islam Sahar Ali BBC correspondent in Karachi A new breed of scholar is inspiring Islamic study among Pakistan's last bastion of sceptics - the educated female elite. Women like Dr Farhat Hashmi are bringing a contemporary perspective to the teaching of the Koran. It appeals to followers like Naila Shahid, who always wanted to study Islam in greater depth but balked when hearing the mullahs talk of heaven and hell and the purdah (veil). "When I heard that, I just recoiled from wanting to go any deeper," says the 40-something mother of college-going children. Dr Hashmi, a product of a Western religious education, has founded a chain of institutes offering Islamic education to women. They have had their [share of] sleeveless blouses and coffee parties and are now ready for religion Razia Latif, housewife "It is a very practical, very precise version of Islam," she says. On a typical Saturday afternoon, elevator loads of women pour into the al-Huda Institute of Islamic Education for Women in Karachi. The silence, save for the exchange of greetings, may be unusual, but al-Huda's congregations are symbolic of a religious revolution in Pakistan - the desire to understand Islam. Seventeen-year-old Maryam Asif believes an in-depth knowledge of her faith has helped her differentiate between truth and rhetoric. "People say so many things and often you just can't accept them as Islam," she says. Rukhsana Yamin, a Karachi-based publisher, says her knowledge of religion had been rather limited because "every time you pick up a volume to educate yourself, it fails to hold your interest". Charisma To teach the aspiring students, the new breed of women scholars uses modern methods. One such teacher, Huma Hassan, addresses weekly informal gatherings at a private residence in Karachi. The expectations of Pakistanis have not been fulfilled in our 50-odd years of independence. There is a feeling of betrayal and despair Dr Farhat Hashmi The women who attend are mostly socialites. Ms Hassan translates and explains Koranic verses with the help of multimedia presentations projected on to a screen. But it isn't just the modern methods that appeal - the teachers do too. Bushra Kausar, a regular at al-Huda, says: "Dr Hashmi relates the Koran to everyday experiences." But Dr Hashmi is diffident about her charisma. "I have never asked women why they come to hear me," she says in a soft, measured voice. Her explanation of their quest for religious enlightenment is that people often turn to religion in despair. "The expectations of Pakistanis have not been fulfilled in our 50-odd years of independence," she says. "There is a feeling of betrayal and despair. Even political Islam has not been able to address people's grievances," says Dr Hashmi, referring to the Islamisation drive of former leader General Zia ul-Haq, who died in 1988. "There is a search for direction, for guidance," she says. Dr Hashmi believes Islam holds the cure. "I wanted to help others experience the peace I felt by reading the Koran," she says. "When people benefit from something, they will be drawn to it." Talebanisation fear But Dr Hashmi's analysis of why the country's female elite is suddenly seeking religious enlightenment is not accepted by everyone. Mother and social worker Razia Latif says women are just plain bored. "They have had their [share of] sleeveless blouses and coffee parties and are now ready for religion," she says. Ms Latif is disappointed that these women do not volunteer to work in hospitals or help other social causes instead. She says the only outcome of this religious revival has been to cloister women behind the veil. The proliferation of women in hijab (headscarves) an` even the Afghan-style burqa on the streets of Karachi has women like Ms Latif worried that this may be a first step towards Talebanisation. Student Bushra Kausar disagrees. She says that although the hijab is the most noticeable change among the female elite, it is in fact "the easiest step" on the path to becoming a practising Muslim, which is the ultimate objective. About 1,200 women signed up for Dr Hashmi's year-long course on Koranic translation in Karachi last year. Such was the scholar's renown that the last session, open to the public, drew almost 10,000 women from all over the city. "It's very difficult to give a reason for this trend," says Farah Moazzam, a journalist who heads al-Huda's mass communication department. She says initially that curiosity and the academic approach draw the educated women, but then the magnetism of Allah's words take over "and then you're hooked!" Now at social gatherings, women wearing the hijab are increasingly seen alongside those in sleeveless dresses. With religion the new "in" thing, it is questionable who is now the modern woman. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/...sia/3211131.stm
12/27/03 at 09:10:40
ouch

Re: amazing muslim women
BroHanif
12/27/03 at 18:24:30
Salaams, Hmm I'm kinda looking for these women as well, for my project on my website. In fact if anyone knows any Muslimahs who are exceptional perhaps in terms of dawah, work or any other project or activity that raises the profile of Muslims in a positive light please let me know. Nice one 7. Salaams, Hanif

Re: amazing muslim women
faisalsb
12/28/03 at 04:10:19
[slm] Well it's really heart strengthening that we have such noble women who are doing dawah work in west. Just wondering if anyone of them is still single?

Re: amazing muslim women
momineqbal
12/28/03 at 13:36:59
[slm], I heard some really good sister speakers during the ISNA westzone conference this weekend. But I do not have enough information about them to post here. Some names that I can remember, Ustadha Maha Hamoui, Rafia Syeed, Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Sabeeha Khan (from CAIR-SC) and some others. Maybe Sr. Seven can research on them and post about them too.

Dato Dr. Jemilah Mahmood
NinthMuharram
12/29/03 at 02:04:36
Source: http://www.mercy.org.my Information on the organization: [i]History In 1999, the war in Kosova caused much suffering to innocent civilians, especially women and children. Grieved by the inhumane act of ethnic cleansing unleashed by the minority Serbs, Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, an obstetrics-gynaecologist offered her medical services voluntarily. However, she faced much difficulty in getting the needed support from already established organisations. Thus, she and a few like-minded individuals established the Malaysian Medical Relief Society, better known as MERCY Malaysia in June 1999. Dr. Jemilah then led the first aid mission to Kosova, which was followed by four consecutive missions. The teams made up of Malaysian medical professionals braved the uncertainty of a war torn country to offer a helping hand, love and care, from thousands of miles away. They knew little about what to expect but their passion to help heal the wounds of the innocent fuelled their determination. Their compassion was a true sign of inner strength and courage. The people they served were their inspiration. Although MERCY Malaysia began as a medical relief society, volunteers from other fields and backgrounds soon became a part of the society. This has enabled MERCY Malaysia to offer humanitarian relief and to date we have started meaningful projects and programmes in the form of vocational training centres, digging of wells, food and other humanitarian aid that have become important aspects of our work. [/i] [u]President's Biodata[/u] Name: DATUK DR. JEMILAH MAHMOOD. Qualification:  MD (UKM), Masters O&G (UKM), MRCOG (London).   Occupation:  Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital Suite 3-4, 1 Jalan Mamanda 9 68000 Selangor Former Lecturer Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Medical faculty UKM External Examiner Professional MD examinations Medical Faculty UKM Appointments Hon Treasurer Obstetric & Gynaecological Society of Malaysia ( 1993 - 1998) Vice President Malaysian Menopause Society (1999-2000) Member of the committee of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Relief Network (ADDRN), formed by UN-OCHA and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center in Kobe, Japan Protem Vice-President of the newly formed National Coalition of NGOs for disaster relief in June 2003. Awards Dato' Paduka Mahkota Perak for HRH Sultan Azlan Shah in 2002 Panglima Jasa Negara by DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong (His Majesty, the King of Malaysia) - June 2003 The Recipient of East Asia Women's Peace Award (Humanitarian Service category) in Manila - August 2003 [hr] Some news from the website worth reading:- http://www.mercy.org.my/cgi-bin/pitstop.pl?req=articles&id=404 http://www.mercy.org.my/cgi-bin/pitstop.pl?req=articles&id=410

Re: amazing muslim women
Matheerah
12/30/03 at 15:59:23
[slm] Its nice to hear and read about sisters on such a high stage and doing dawah work,......guess i'm still on the first few steps, its a hard tought job. I just got asked for a job in teaching islamic studies at a university, make dua i get it. ??? may allah accept all our effort.

Re: amazing muslim women
Lil_Sista
01/01/04 at 04:41:15
[slm] mashAllah mashAllah!!! very very inspiring sisters! hopefully i'll be one of those who do a great deal of da'wa work in the future inshAllah  :-) sis Matheerah,my pray goes to u'n good luck!  ;)

Re: amazing muslim women
Matheerah
01/01/04 at 18:24:08
[slm] Jazkillaj sister, and then same to you too  ;) May Allah Tala'a accept all for the work of deen in any way. Ameen

Re: amazing muslim women
faith
01/04/04 at 08:14:10
[slm] This is the power woman I talked about in the "muslim career women" topic.  Alhamdulillah, I am lucky enough to learn the qur'an from her, and literally, I have changed for the better because of that. :)   here is the link: http://202.186.86.35/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/1/4/features/6990761&sec=features Answering God’s call BY DZIREENA MAHADZIR DR Fatma Elzahraa Muhammad Ramadan’s journey to Malaysia started when she travelled from Egypt to London, where her brother, the late Prof Dr Saeed Ramadan, a world-renowned Islamic scholar, introduced her to her future husband, Wan Ismail Ibrahim.   Dr Fatma started off as a government dental officer. When she arrived in Malaysia with her husband, she did an external Masters in Oral Surgery from the University of Newcastle and in 1974, she moved to Kelantan and was a school dental officer from 1975 to 1977. Eventually she became a full-time dentist and opened her own dental clinic, Fatma Klinik Pergigian, in 1983 – incidentally becoming the first woman to open a clinic in Kelantan. It was then that Dr Saeed arrived in Malaysia and, upon visiting Fatma, said, “I noticed that you are not doing anything for akhirat (afterlife). This was not the reason I sent you here.” Dr Saeed’s mission was to have his family be dakwahs, or religious teachers, and spread Islam around the world. Thus Fatma’s marriage was seen as the perfect opportunity for her to be a religious lecturer in Malaysia. Fatma (now a Malaysian citizen) acknowledges that, “From the time I came (to Malaysia), it was on my mind. My family is a dakwah family, and I was the leader of the student union at school and university. I was always chosen to give speeches on Islam. My brother liked my way of speaking, and universities would invite me to give talks. “In the beginning, I couldn’t speak Malay, I spoke English, so there was a communication problem, then I was busy, I got pregnant, and my husband was the Timbalan Mentri (deputy Mentri Besar) of Kelantan, so what with being a politician’s wife and then opening a private clinic, I didn’t have the time.” Dr Saeed’s was the first “call” to Fatma. However, it would take a second “call” before she would make a decision that would change her life. Sometime later, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia arrived in Kelantan. His wife invited Fatma to go to a few places and interpret her talks. It turned out to be a success and Fatma noticed the response was very good. It was then she found that Muslims here, despite reading the Quran, did not really understand the contents. She had assumed that because her husband understood the contents of the Quran, so could everyone else. She started by having the Quran being read on radio at her clinic while doing her patients’ teeth, and at the same time explaining the contents. Some of her patients even got emotional and there was a significant increase in patients. After being approached by people to teach in their homes, the state’s Mufti asked Fatma to take an exam that would give her the credentials to give talks. From one mosque, her it grew to 10. She spent sleepless nights worrying as she was so involved with her teachings that her dental practice was suffering. She took a partner into the clinic so she could speak at more events and in 1988 she spoke at a conference in Sydney, thanks to her family connections through Dr Saeed.   Fatma was subsequently invited to London and become a regular speaker in Saudi Arabia. Kuala Lumpur began calling, as did Terengganu, and the “Tok Guru” (religious teacher) of Thailand invited her over; in fact, when the Tok Guru there died, Fatma replaced her in Southern Thailand and went every week without fail to teach. She began a radio programme in Kelantan every Friday and has appeared on religious television programmes such as Al-Hidayat and Al-Kuliyah.   In 2000, she kept back a small share in her clinic, but otherwise gave up being a dentist. She says, “I committed myself to God. I could see the change in people towards the Quran.” However, Fatma adds that should a dental emergency occur and her services are needed, she would be happy to oblige. Her children – she has a daughter and two sons, were relatively unaffected by her decision as they were already grown-up. Now that she is free to pursue her calling, Fatma travels around Malaysia, goes to Thailand and Singapore, conducts regular classes and even high-tea sessions at hotels. She also produces her own VCDs, counsels those in need, and uses contributions given to fund education at the famed Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Her primary work is how to tafsir (explain) the contents of the Quran and how to use it to guide one’s daily life. Fatma’s gift, apart from her knowledge, is in the way she speaks. She has the ability to not only attract an audience, but to also hold their attention through her words and gestures. It is rare indeed to hear an Egyptian talk Bahasa Melayu in the Kelantanese dialect!   Does she ever regret turning her back on her profession? Never, she says. “When I was a dentist, performing a successful surgery did not feel as wonderful, or make me as happy, as helping people get closer to God, to help people patch up marriages, to change lives.... You see your pupils finding their way, maybe not completely yet but, InsyaAllah, they have good hearts, and once they have good hearts, you are halfway there.”

Re: amazing muslim women
Muneerah134
01/08/04 at 11:37:52
[slm] This is a great thread. There are many Muslim women that I know who are amazing including one or two that have gained state certification as emergency Islamic foster homes and emergency foster parents, several who are Islamically centered crisis counselors, Marriage counselors, teachers, community activists, etc.   Here are two women local to my neck of the woods: Dr. Jamillah Abdus Sabur Earned her PhD in Religion from Temple University, May 2003 MA in Comparative Religion, BA in Social Work, Temple University Dissertation Title: A Degree Above: A Study of Translations of Qur’an 4:34; Exegesis on It, and Its Influence on the Gender Position of African American Muslim Women. Teaches at Villanova University and Temple University. She has studied widely including Quba Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Muslim Teachers’ College where she received a certificate in Islamic Studies and trained in Arabic. She studied Islamic Sciences abroad at Qarawiyyin University in Fez, Morocco. She is the founder of the Islamic Wellness Foundation teaching and providing counseling services.  She teaches Religious Studies to Muslims and non-Muslims and lectures in academic and community settings.  She is an individual, family and marriage counselor and career development trainer. Co-founder of Women of Peace, a Philadelphia based non-profit community organization that provides social and crisis services for women and their families, she is an advocate for women and children.  She was appointed interim chair for the women’s advisory committee of MANA - Muslim Alliances of North America, an umbrella organization founded to service indigenous Muslims in North America.                         Mrs. Abdus Sabur has over 25 years in social work, career development and worked extensively with women victims of domestic violence.  Her volunteer experience is as an educator and consultant in community based programs and multi-cultural youth leadership programs helping to provide a voice for at-risk youth. She made her Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca and has gained through her travels a broad knowledge of cultural diversity and customs throughout the Muslim world.  She is married with a large family; is a mother and grandmother and considered a valuable resource in her community, which, along with the United Muslim Masjid, honored her with a Humanitarian Award for her work in the community in Philadelphia. :-* Shariea Shoatz Willams Ahmad -Abu Nour Islamic University       -The Arabic Language Institute in Fez -Cheyney University; Special Education/Behavior Modification, MS -Cheyney University; Special Education, BS Teacher, consultant and lecturer, Mrs. Ahmad is married and lives in Philadelphia. After making Hajj, she left the US for study in Morocco and Syria. After her return to the states, she works in special education in the NJ school system and teaches Arabic, the Lives of the Prophet's  [saw] Wives (RA), and other Islamic studies at local Islamic schools and centers. :-) Muneerah
01/08/04 at 11:40:43
Muneerah134

Re: amazing muslim women
Anonymous
01/10/04 at 15:09:55
Assalamulaikum MashaAllah its great to hear about these amazing sisters and their work in dawah. Does anyone know of any simialr sisters based in the UK? WS

Re: amazing muslim women
a_lina
01/13/04 at 23:16:13
[slm]  I received an email about an absolutely amazing muslimah today. It is true that Allah Ta'ala rewards those who are willing to make sacrifices for Him. P.S.  Did anyone here, hear her speak at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you know who is the President of the International Union of Muslim Women in the US? Do you that this organization successfully lobbied for the "Eid Stamp" and had it approved by the United States Postal Service? Do you know that this President is now working on making the Eid Day as a national holiday in the US? Who is this President? It's sister Aminah Assilmi. Hey, wasn't she a Baptist girl, a devout Christian, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist until May 20, 1977? So how come all this happened? Well, it all started with a computer glitch! Read on...... Aminah Assilmi: "I am so very glad that I am a Muslim. Islam is my life. Islam is the beat of my heart. Islam is the blood that courses through my veins. Islam is my strength. Islam is my life so wonderful and beautiful. Without Islam I am nothing, and should Allah ever turn His magnificent face from me, I could not survive." It all started with a computer glitch. She was a Southern Baptist girl, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist. She was a girl with an unusual caliber, who excelled in school, received scholarships, ran her own business, and were competing with professionals and getting awards - all these while she was going to college. Then one day a computer error happened that made her take up a mission as a devout Christian. Eventually, however, it resulted into something opposite and changed her life completely around. It was 1975 when for the first time computer was used to pre-register for a class in her college. She was working on her degree on Recreation. She pre-registered for a class and then went to Oklahoma City to take care of a business. Her return was delayed and she came back to college two weeks into the class. Making up the missed work was no problem for her, but she was surprised to find that the computer mistakenly registered her for a Theatre class, a class where students would be required to perform in front of others. She was a very reticent girl and she was horrified to think about performing in front of others. She could not drop the class for it was too late to do so. Failing the class was also not a choice, for she was receiving a scholarship that was paying for her tuition and receiving an 'F' would have jeopardized it. Advised by her husband, she went to her teacher to work out some other alternative to performing, such as preparing costumes, etc. Assured by the teacher that he would try to help her, she went to the next class and was shocked by what she saw. The class was full of Arabs and "camel jockeys". That was enough for her. She came back home and decided not to go back to the class anymore. It was not possible for her to be in the middle of Arabs. "There was no way I was going to sit in a room full of dirty heathens!" Her husband was calm as usual. He pointed out to her that God has a reason for everything and that she should think about more before quitting. Besides, there was the scholarship that was paying her tuition. She went behind locked doors for 2 days to think about. When she came out, she decided to continue the class. She felt that God gave her a task to convert the Arabs into Christianity. Thus she found herself with a mission to accomplish. Throughout the class, she would be discussing Christianity with her Arab classmates. "I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell for all eternity, if they did not accept Jesus as their Personal savior. They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained hos Jesus loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All they had to do was accept him into their hearts." They still did not convert, and so she decided to do something else: "I decided to read their own book to show to them that Islam was a false religion and Mohammed was a false God". At her request, one student gave her a copy of the Qur'an and another book on Islam. With these two books she started on her research, which she was to continue for the next one and half years. She read the Qur'an fully and another fifteen books on Islam. Then she came back to the Qur'an and re-read it. During her research, she started taking notes that she found objectionable and which she would be able to use to prove that Islam was a false religion. Unconsciously, however, she was changing from within which did not escape the attention of her husband. "I was changing, just in little ways but enough to bother him. We used to go to the bar every Friday and Saturday, or to a party, and I no longer wanted to go. I was quieter and more distant." She stopped drinking and eating pork. Her husband suspected her of having an affair with another man, for "it was only for a man that a woman changes". Ultimately, she was asked to leave, and she soon found herself living in a separate apartment. Throughout these times, she continued studying Islam and although she was changing subtly from within, she remained a devout Christian. Then one day, there was a knock on her door. It was a man in traditional Muslim robe, who appeared to her as a "man in a long white night gown with a red and white checkered table cloth on his head". His name was Abdul-Aziz Al-Sheik and he was accompanied by three other men in similar dress. She was very offended by Muslim men coming to her in nightgowns and pajamas. She was further shocked when Abdul-Aziz told her that he understood that she waited to be a Muslim. She replied that she was a Christian and she did not have any plan to become a Muslim. However, she had some questions to ask if they had the time. At her invitation, they came inside. She now brought up the questions and objections that she noted down while she was researching. "I will never forget his name", she said of Abdul-Aziz who proved to be a very patient and soft-mannered person. "He was very patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel silly or that a question was stupid." Abdul-Aziz listened to every question and objection and explained it within the proper context. "He explained that Allah had told us to seek knowledge and questions were one of the ways to accomplish that. When he explained something, it was like watching a rose open - petal by petal, until it reached its full glory. When I told him that I did not agree with something and why, he always said I was correct up to a point. Then he would show me how to look deeper and from different directions to reach a fuller understanding." It would not be long before she would externally submit to what she had already been submitting to internally during the last one and half years. Later in that same day, this Southern Baptist girl would declare in front of Abdul-Aziz and his companions: "I bear witness that there is no god but God and Mohammed is His Messenger." It was May 21, 1977. "When I first started to study Islam, I did not expect to find anything that I needed or wanted in my personal life. Little did I know that Islam would change my life. No human could have ever convinced me that I would finally be at peace and overflowing with love and joy because of Islam." Conversion to Islam, or to any other religion for that matter, is not always a simple thing to do. Except for a few fortunate ones, a new Muslim usually face consequences. The convert may face isolation from family and friends, if not pressure to go back to the family faith. Sometimes, a convert may even face sever economic hardship, as in the case of those who are asked to leave the house because of converting to Islam. Some converts are fortunate to continue to be well respected by family and friends, but most of them face minor to severe hardship especially during the first few years after the conversion. But the difficulty that Aminah Assilmi had to go through and the sacrifice that she had to make for the sake of her conviction and faith is almost unheard of. There are few who could rely so much on Allah as she did, standing firm and meeting the challenges, making sacrifices, and yet maintaining a positive posture and influencing people around with the beauty of what she found and believed in. She lost most of her friends, for she was "no fun anymore". Her mother did not accept her becoming a Muslim and hoped that it was a temporary zeal and that she would soon grow out of it. Her "mental health expert" sister thought that she lost her mind. She attempted to put her in a mental health institution. Her father was a calm and wise man. People would come to him for advice and he could comfort anyone in distress. But when he heard that his daughter became a Muslim, he loaded his double-barrel shotgun and started on his way to kill her. "It is better that she be dead rather than suffering in the deepest of Hell", he said. She was now without friends and without family. She soon started wearing hijab. The day she put it on, she was denied her job. She was now without family, friends, and job. But her greatest sacrifice was yet to come. She and her husband both loved each other very much. But while she was studying Islam, her husband misunderstood her for her apparent changes. She became quieter and stopped going to the bar. Her changes were visible to him and he suspected her of having affair with another man, for whom she must have been changing. She could not explain to him what was happening. "There was no way to make him understand what was changing me because I did not know." Eventually he asked her to leave and she started living separately. After she openly accepted Islam, it went worse. A divorce was now inevitable. This was a time when Islam was little known, much less understood for what it is. She had two little children whom she loved dearly and whose custody should have rightfully be given to her. But in a grave violation of justice, she was denied their custody just because she became a Muslim. Before giving the formal verdict, the judge offered her a harsh choice: either renounce Islam and get custody of the children, or keep Islam and leave the children. She was given 20 minutes to make a decision. She loved her children very dearly. It is perhaps the worst nightmare that a mother can have: asked to willfully leave her child - not for one day, month, or year, but forever. On the other hand, how could she keep the Truth away from her children and live as a hypocrite? "It was the most painful 20 minutes in my life", she said in an interview. Those of us who are mothers and fathers, especially of young children, little imagination is needed to feel the pain and torment that she must have passed every second in those 20 minutes. What added further to her pain was that according to doctors, she could never bear another child because of certain complications. "I prayed like I had never done before. I knew that there was no safer place for my children to be than in the hands of Allah. If I denied Him, there would be no way in the future to show my children the wonders of being with Allah." She decided to retain Islam. Her two dear children - one little boy and one little girl - were taken away from her and given to her ex-husband. For a mother, is there a sacrifice greater than this - a sacrifice that is done for no material reason but only for faith and conviction? "I left the court knowing that life without my babies would be very difficult. My heart bled, even though I knew, inside, I had done the right thing" . She found comfort in the following verse of the Qur'an: "Allah! there is no god but He - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He Knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He Willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He Feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory)." "Or do ye think that ye shall enter The Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily the help of Allah is (always) near!" Perhaps the air of Colorado was too thin for justice. Or perhaps there was a plan in Allah's greater scheme of affairs. Aminah Assilmi later fought back and took her case to the media. Although she did not get custody of her children again, a change was made in the Colorado law that one cannot be denied child custody on the basis of his or her religion. Indeed Allah's love and mercy engulfed her so much that, as if, she has been granted the touchstone of Islam. Wherever she goes, people are touched by her beautiful words and Islamic manners and become Muslim. By accepting Islam, she became a changed person, and a much better person. So much so that her family, relatives, and people around her started appreciating her mannerism and the faith that brought about such changes in her. Despite her family's initial reaction, she remained in touch with them and addressed them with respect and humility, just as the Qur'an enjoins the Muslims to do. She would send cards to her parents on different occasions, but she would always write down a verse from the Qur'an or the Hadith without mentioning the source of such beautiful words of wisdom. It was not long before she started making a positive influence among her family members. The first to become Muslim was her grand mother. She was over 100 years old. Soon after accepting Islam, she died. "The day she pronounced Shahada, all her misdeeds had been erased, while her good deeds were preserved. She died so soon after accepting Islam that I knew her "book" was bound to be heavy on the good side. It fills me with such a joy!" Next to become Muslim was her father, the one who wanted to kill her after she became Muslim. Thus he brought alive the story of Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Umar was a companion of the Prophet who persecuted the early Muslims before he converted to Islam. When he heard one day that his sister became a Muslim, he went out with an open sword to kill her. But upon hearing some of the verses from the Qur'an that his sister was reciting, he recognized the truth and went straight to the Prophet and accepted Islam. Two years after she (Assilmi) accepted Islam, her mother called and said that she appreciated her faith and hoped that she would keep it. Couple of years later, she called again and asked her about what one would need to do to become a Muslim. Assilmi replied that one had to believe that there is only One God and Muhammad was his Messenger. "Any fool knows that. But what do you have to do?", she asked again. She replied that if that is what she believed, then she was already a Muslim! At this, her mother said, "Well . OK. But let's not tell your father just yet". She was not aware that her husband (Assilmi's step father) had had the same conversation with her a few weeks earlier. Thus the two lived together as Muslims for years in secret without knowing that the other was also a Muslim. Her sister who wanted to put her in mental institution accepted Islam as well. She must have realized that becoming Muslim is indeed the most healthy and sound thing to do. Her son, upon becoming adult, accepted Islam. When he turned 21, he called her and said that he wanted to become a Muslim. Sixteen years after the divorce, her ex-husband also accepted Islam. He said that he had been watching her for sixteen years and wanted his daughter to have the same religion that she had. He came to her and apologized for what he had done. He was a very nice gentlemen and Assilmi had forgiven him long ago. Perhaps the greatest reward for her was yet to come. Assilmi later married another person, and despite the doctors' verdict that she could never conceive another child, Allah blessed her with a beautiful boy. If Allah (swt) makes a gift to someone, who can prevent Him? It was truly a wonderful blessing from Allah (swt), and so she named him "Barakah". "I embraced Islam about 24 years ago to the consternation of most of my family. The reaction of my family was so severe that one member of my family actually tried to kill me. And yet by applying Islam to my life, by living Islam, most of my family is now Muslim. The thing is that everywhere you go, if you actually are living Islam, if you are demonstrating Islam, you will impact people. And you will change mindset." The sacrifice that Assilmi made for the sake of Allah (swt) was tremendous. And so Allah (swt) turned in mercy to her and rewarded her with enormous blessings. Her family discarded her after she accepted Islam, and now by Allah's mercy, most of them are Muslim. She lost her friends because of Islam, and now she is being loved by so many. "Friends who loved came out of nowhere", she said. Allah's blessings came upon her so much that wherever she goes people are touched by the beauty of Islam and accept the Truth. Both Muslims and non-Muslims now come to her for advice and counseling. She lost her job because of wearing hijab, and now she is the President of the International Union of Muslim Women. She delivers lectures nationwide and is on high demand. It was her organization that successfully lobbied for the "Eid Stamp" and had it approved by the United States Postal Service, but it took many years of work. She is now working on making the Eid Day as a national holiday. She has tremendous trust on Allah's love and mercy and she never looses faith on Him. She was once diagnosed with cancer some years ago. Doctors said that it was in an advanced stage and that she would live for another year. But her faith in Allah (swt) remained strong. "We must all die. I was confident that the pain I was experiencing contained blessings." As a brilliant example of how much one can love Allah, she mentions about a friend of her named Kareem Al-Misawi who died of cancer when he was in his 20's: "Shortly before he died, he told me that Allah was truly Merciful. This man was in unbelievable anguish and was radiating with Allah's love. He said: "Allah intends that I should enter heaven with a clean book." His death experience gave me something to think about. He taught me of Allah's love and mercy." All praise is due to Allah, she continues to live in good health. She now thinks that having cancer was the greatest blessing that she ever had. "It did not take me long to start being aware of His blessing . I learned how very important it was for me to share the truth of Islam with everyone. It did not matter if people, Muslim or not, agreed with me or even liked me. The only approval I needed was from Allah. Yet, I discovered more and more people who for no apparent reason loved me. I rejoiced, for I remembered reading that if Allah loves you, He causes others to love you. I am not worthy of all the love. That means it must be another gift from Allah. Allah is the greatest!" Assilmi's is a story of faith and conviction. It is a story of test and tribulation and success. It is a story of triumphant victory of faith. It is a story of inspiration for the rest of us, and it is a story of confidence and reliance on Allah. It is story of Allah's love and mercy, and it is a story of Allah's promise come true. "True, Allah has tested me as was promised, and rewarded me far beyond what I could ever hoped for". May Almighty Allah continue to shower His love, mercy, and blessings on this wonderful Muslima. May Allah grant her long life and enable her to do more and more work for Islam. May Allah benefit more and more people by her story and example, and turn their hearts to the Message of Truth, and to His love and mercy. [slm]
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