Intimacy in Ramadan – How can we Eat, Pray, Sleep, AND be Intimate in Ramadan?

June 7, 2018 By HEART

originally published on patheos.com. by Nadiah Mohajir Just recently, in casual conversation as well as in several private conversations, I have heard too many women (and in one case, a man) express frustration with trying to manage their intimate lives in addition to their spiritual and domestic responsibilities when the fasts are 17 hours or more. When one is abstaining from food, drink and sex during the daylight hours, other responsibilities don’t suddenly cease to exist. Mothers and fathers are... Read more

Post-Sexual Trauma Intimacy: Supporting Survivors and Partners

April 18, 2018 By HEART

* Trigger warning for sexual assault and explicit descriptions We welcome a guest writer who shares an important reflection of navigating her sexual trauma in her marriage, and what it means to have partners who #respondwithrahma. by Anonymous It is a question I repeatedly asked myself from the time that the first of a line of sexual predators spanning my young life groomed me at 11—how do I keep past sexual abuse from wrecking my sensual present? Similar to many... Read more

Responding with RAHMA in Practice

April 11, 2018 By HEART

by Nadiah Mohajir As more individuals feel more empowered to disclose and speak up about their sexual assault, it is increasingly important that everyone have the tools to respond compassionately and in a victim-centric way. Our last post introduced the RAHMA principles, a simple framework inspired by the Arabic word for compassion, that we created to help guide “first responders” when they find themselves being disclosed to. Often, individuals choose to disclose to their friends or family: a parent, a... Read more

Responding with RAHMA can Save Lives

April 4, 2018 By HEART

by Nadiah Mohajir With increased media attention on sexual violence, it seems that each week reveals a new accusation in the celebrity world. Although this issue is now getting the spotlight and it seems to many that there is a sudden increase in sexual violence, the reality is that for too long, these violations went unchecked. Even now, there are still many communities of victims that feel they have to remain silent and unnamed, due to the lifelong physical, social,... Read more

The Questions we aren’t asking

January 19, 2018 By HEART

originally published on altmuslimah.com. By Nadiah Mohajir As the #MeToo movement gains traction, and each week brings bombshell accusations against celebrities, it is important to think about how each of us can work to bring about the long term societal change needed to attack the root of sexual violence. Last month, it was Louis CK. This month it’s Aziz Ansari. In an article published by babe.net, survivor “Grace” details a harrowing evening spent in the company of Aziz Ansari, as he persistently ignored her verbal... Read more

Breaking Down a Common Hormonal Disorders Among Women: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

January 16, 2018 By HEART

by Wajihah Bhatti Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of reproductive age, affecting 1 in 10 women worldwide. It’s the leading cause of female infertility and a risk factor for chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and endometriosis. Though there is no uniform definition of PCOS, it is largely characterized by a hormonal imbalance due to an excess of androgens, or male hormones. PCOS can impair a... Read more

When Breaking News becomes a Hot Take

December 19, 2017 By HEART

by Nadiah Mohajir 2017 was a year full of breaking news, for both mainstream America and for Muslim communities across the country. From the tragic death of a young Black Muslim woman in Ramadan to allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct against a few prominent Muslim leaders, to many of our politicians and celebrities being accused, many important conversations on sexual assault, rape culture, Islamophobia, immigration, and reproductive rights have emerged and have continued to propel these movements that... Read more

believe Her

September 27, 2017 By HEART

by Alia Azmat #NAK news has me reflecting on spiritual worthiness. My thoughts and prayers are with the brave women who have come forward and disclosed interactions to individuals they trust. My thoughts are also with those who are surprised and in disbelief about this incident. I am angry, hurt, and feeling betrayed alongside you. Some of you maybe feeling confused and uncertain about your relationship with your faith and faith community. Some of you may not know what to... Read more

A Message to our Community on Gender-Based Violence

September 25, 2017 By HEART

by Nadiah Mohajir The recent allegations of sexual misconduct against Nauman Ali Khan (NAK) have caused a social media uproar. We’d like to start out by saying that our hearts and prayers are with the brave women who have come forward and disclosed these interactions to individuals they trust. We hear you, we see you, and we believe you. Moving toward healing and justice will continue to be hard, but know you are not alone, and there are people ready... Read more

Reflections on Gender Based Violence in the Muslim Community

September 23, 2017 By HEART

By Sameera Qureshi Whenever there are allegations of gender-based violence against a prominent figure in the community, social media erupts. Just a few reflections this morning. The Need for Training. The Muslim community has developed, overnight, a large number of experts in gender-based violence (GBV). This is fascinating. While we need more people doing this work, I would think that training, experience, and understanding the multilayered complex nature of this topic are prerequisites. But I could be wrong – perhaps... Read more