Exiting the bathroom stall Sweat drips from forehead absorbed by cotton hijab Red drops drip from skin absorbed by cotton pads I lift my jumper and check my butt in the mirror Leggings stained with spots The marker of my womanhood It is here. I scurry outside to the sea of white and blue Clenching…
Read MoreExodus 3:14 or Decolonizing the Multi-Racial Body
By Diana Rahim My body is the world because – You won’t let me be myself. History won’t let me be myself. Cultures won’t let me be myself. My skin holds down blood that does not know which ocean to return to. Creases on my skin demarcate borders between countries. When I shift my bones, continents…
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Coming Undone.
By Zubaida Ali My head is so wrapped up with silken lies As I walk this flimsy path of truths and untruths Will Allah love me more just because I cover my hair? Will Ibu, Ayah, all look up to me? I get burdened with so much guilt just because of this piece of fabric…
Read MoreThe Difficulties of Praying in A Mosque for a Muslim Woman
Photo: http://30masjids.ca/night-1-masjid-toronto-at-adelaide/ By Filzah Sumartono Because I’m a Muslim Girl I pray behind a wall I pray behind curtains I pray behind men Because I’m a Muslim Girl I don’t go to the mosque on Fridays I don’t go to the mosque on my period My presence is not necessary So I shall go home.
Read MoreThe Normalization of Body Damage
In second grade, I joined a co-ed Islamic school. I was happy to be around girls and boys who looked more like me. I was no longer the only Big Bird with awkward lanky bones. I could hide my untamed hair under a white cotton hijab. My chai colored skin was mid range on the…
Read Moremore than this
I had the pleasure of reading the article “Here’s whats wrong with your hijab tourism and your cutesy modesty experiments” a few days ago, and this passage in particular resonated with me: “These approaches reduce Muslim women to veiled, enigmatic symbols of Oppression; and whether you’re upholding the veil as symbolic of oppression or purporting…
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Beyond The Hijab 