MWA Mourns Passing of Member, Maria Zain

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayi rajioon. Muslimah Writers Alliance member Maria Zain, 34, passed away unexpectedly while giving birth to her sixth child, Muhammad Eesa, on 28 December 2014.

Maria and her husband have five other children, one girl and four other boys, all ages 9 and under. Maria's husband is a PhD candidate at a university in the UK where the family had recently moved from their home in Malaysia.

The world mourns her loss and the membership of MWA remembers her fondly and in our duas. May Allah grant her all mercy and bless her family with ease through their grief.

UPDATE OF 31 DEC 2014
Maria's mother and her husband Muhammad's sister and brother-in-law arrived in Nottingham yesterday morning, Al-hamdulillah, and the baby is doing well; they've named him Muhammad Eesa. Maria's burial arrangements have not been made yet pending the autopsy, but it may be on Friday or Saturday. The burial has been delayed, unfortunately, due to a legal requirement for an autopsy.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP 
To make financial contributions in support of the Maria's husband and their six children (ages 9 and under, including their newborn son, Muhammad Eesa), please use this CONTACT FORM to receive details.

Also: Sisters in Nottingham are collecting

for funeral costs.

Mum and Tots Wollaton

Co-op Bank
(Nottingham, UK)

Sort Code: 089299

Account No.: 65702424

Ref: Maria Zain

Via Maria's Sister:

"Any donations would be very appreciated right now. If you could be so kind as to let them know they can transfer funds to my brother's PayPal account, his email is adam DOT zain AT gmail DOT com"

Details of an additional fundraising campaign can be found here.

NEW! GoFundMe campaign in association with Maria's sister-writers at SISTERS Magazine.

ABOUT MWA MEMBER MARIA ZAIN 

Maria's FB Bitstrips Character

Originally from Malaysia, Maria Zain was a freelance writer based in Nottingham, United Kindgom, where she resided with her husband, Muhammad Nizam Zainuddin.

Maria was also a certified Childbirth Educator (AMANI Birth Institute), and a home-educating Muslim mother of five children, ages 9 and under - her sixth child, a son, birthed as she returned to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, on 28 December 2014.

Maria often found herself writing about natural birth and parenting, and had a passion for homeschooling and autonomous learning. "Unfortunately, there aren't any images of strong and powerful women bringing their babies earth side in a calm and peaceful manner, surrounded by people who love and support her unconditionally."

She also loved trees and flowers, and once expressed that she felt that, "We live in a world that often forgets about the humble soil that we originated from," and it was through her beading hobby that she strove to reignite our passion for the earth. She believed in the power that lay within nature itself.

Five years worth of Maria's articles (2010-14) can be found at OnIslam.net. She has also been published in Saudi Life (KSA), DinarStandard (USA), SISTERS Magazine (UK), Discovery Magazine (UK), and in several publications throughout her home country.

AT ONISLAM.NET: OnIslam Mourns Muslim Writer Maria Zain 

ONISLAM.NET SPECIAL FOLDER: In Memory of Maria Zain

#2 for 2013: Maria Zain

IN MARIA'S WORDS: 

"In dealing with a difficult pregnancy, a challenging birth environment, lack of parenting support, an environment full of judgment – recall the du’a of Maryam when she was giving birth all on her own, without the knowledge of her family and people for fear of exile." –Maria Zain

"If you are concerned for your children, think of Hajar’s heart-wrenched soul, while running to and fro in the middle of the barren desert in search of water for her crying infant son." –Maria Zain

"The Quran provides us solace with our own stories, only magnified through the histories of the most pious who came before us, to also act as a guide and remedy for our own problems. This makes the Quran alone a great resource for the grieving, the oppressed, the abandoned, the bereft, the struggling and those who cry in their humanness." –Maria Zain

"[My byline] is a reminder to myself of how much hard work it takes to be a writer and homeschooling mother and wife all at once, and how I am always in complete awe with other mothers who make it look so easy." –Maria Zain

"I love childbirth education, but it’s awful to see mothers feeling like train wrecks and failures after a bad experience, and it’s time for society to step up, and provide the love and support they need, without the judgment, without the prejudice, without the superstition, and without the ignorance." –Maria Zain

'O Allaah, forgive and have mercy upon our sister, excuse her and pardon her, and make honorable her reception. Expand her entry, and cleanse her with water, snow, and ice, and purify her of sins as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange her home for a better home, and her family for a better family. Admit her into the Garden, protect her from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.' (Muslim)