Interrogating the Uncomfortable

by Diana Rahim Editor _ Beyond The Hijab began four years ago as a platform for Muslim women to share their stories. I often say this when asked to describe the beginnings and the purpose of the blog, and I am always struck by its simplicity. All we wanted to do was to be a…

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Dari lensa minoriti Syiah di Singapura

Topik perbezaan sekte atau sektarianisme bukanlah sebuah topik yang baru saya ketahui. Saya dilahirkan dalam keluarga yang mengikuti tradisi Melayu dan juga agama Islam bermazhab Syiah di Singapura. Sebelum perkahwinan mereka, ibu bapa saya mengikut ajaran Sunni tetapi apabila mereka lebih dewasa, mereka beralih memeluk Mazhab Jaafari, iaitu mazhab dominan dalam fahaman Syiah. Walaupun kami…

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Unpacking the Last Malay Woman

By Nurul Fadiah Johari It is pretty common to hear the term “perempuan Melayu terakhir” in popular usage and every day parlance. One who is modern yet rooted to Malay traditions, one who is open-minded yet behaves demurely and dresses modestly, and so on. There is a film by that same title, which describes the…

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A Woman’s Guide to Happiness

by Mariam Ahmad Growing up, I was told that there are few things worse than being a spinster. In hindsight, what this statement really means is that my happiness is dependent on a man, and my worth lies in my ability to please him. Throughout the years, this damaging and grossly incorrect belief has permeated…

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From the Lens of a Shi’a Minority in Singapore

by Sukayna A The topic of sectarian differences is no stranger to me. I was born into a Shia Malay-Muslim Singaporean family. My parents were Sunnis prior to their marriage, but along the way transitioned into the Jaafari Mazhab (within the Shii’ sect). Even as Shiites, my parents had sent me to a Sunni madrasah for…

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Same Beginning, Same End

by Wan Siti Zulaikha Paper cranes Your words feel like rain Between tiny showers and heavy downpours Looming thunderstorms Invisible signs Drenched Same element recycled over and over again Be ready Bring your umbrellas out to play Shield yourself from all the criticisms and hate Same paper different planes I see the flipside of disdain…

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