Is Your Love for the Sake of Allah? by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA's Theresa Corbin for OnIslam.net

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

Why do we want to read stories from other religions? by MWA's Elizabeth Lymer

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

Jihad on Terrorism - The Truth About Jihad in Islam, guest featuring Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA's Aishah Schwartz

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

What Quran says about Free-Will by MWA's Shumaysa Faruqi

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

Humor in Muslim Heritage? by MWA's Theresa Corbin

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

MWA Sponsor of The NON-Islamophobic Muslim News (Est. 29 Aug. 10)

With the ever increasing over-abundance of Islamophobic, hate-filled rhetoric targeting members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith among politicians, Islamophobes and throughout much of today's mainstream media outlets, Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) offers an alternative.

The NON-Islamophobic Muslim News (NIMNEWS).

NIMNEWS is hosted on Facebook as a Page created on August 29, 2010, with the primary objective of providing an alternative collected news resource focusing exclusively on NON-Islamophobic Muslim News.

At NIMNEWS you will find stories and event links from ordinary to extraordinary Muslims across the global Muslim community, in addition to news about Muslim and Non-Muslim's harmoniously collaborating in interfaith community events; all reflecting on the positive impact integrated Muslims make as global citizens.

Haven't we all heard enough Islamphobic Muslim news?

MWA invites and welcomes you to "Like" NIMNEWS, and join MWA in the battle against Islamophoboa.

Visit NIMNews with just one click.

After all, sharing is caring - and caring is a basic principle of Islam.

NIMNews Short-Cut Link: http://tinyurl.com/nimnews

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Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.
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P for Preaching; P for Practice? Are Today’s Muslims Only Talking Toms? by MWA's Asma Anjum Khan

Post by Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA.

NEW RELEASE! The Muslimah Speaks: Her Voice, Her Spirit

NEW RELEASE! Muslimah Writers Alliance - MWA's Janette Grant, owner of Mindworks Publishing, announces its newly released publication, The Muslimah Speaks: Her Voice, Her Spirit, collected poetry written by Muslim women, now available for purchase at CreateSpace.

Edited by MWA members, Janette Grant and Elizabeth Lymer.

Paperback on Amazon $24.29
Kindle Version - $5.99
Facebook 
Mindworks Books 

MOVIE TRAILER: Islam in Women featuring MWA member Isahah Janette Grant

MWA-NET (July 20, 2013) Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) is pleased to announce that Bridges Foundation has released the official movie trailer for its upcoming movie, Part III in The Fog is Lifting series, Islam in Women, featuring MWA founding member, Isahah Janette Grant. 

The documentary features the interviews of twelve revert Muslim women from Belgium, Britain, Greece, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Germany, USA, Netherlands and Sweden, discussing how their lives were enhanced by embracing Islam. 

Also included in the production, the interview of a non-Muslim woman, a professor from Al-Azhar University, and a professor in the Divinity School at Harvard University. The documentary reveals the secrets behind why Islam attracts more women than men, and aims to refute misconceptions about women in Islam. 


The July 19 trailer release marked a double celebration for Ms. Grant and her sister MWA members. After a prolonged absence of health insurance preempted her ability to seek medical attention, Ms. Grant announced receiving confirmation that her previously treated Hodgkins Lymphoma remains in remission. It was welcome news and an unforgettable blessing in this, the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. 

Isahah Janette Grant is a journalist for the Houston Islam Examiner and published author. Her publications include a children's book titled, Sameerah's Hijab and the First Day of School; Vol. 1, Lets Learn Our Religion, the first in a children's workbook series, now available online; and Redemption Song - Collected Poems. Ms. Grant's poetry has also been published in three anthology collections, various articles and in the Providence Journal Bulletin newspaper. She currently owns and runs Mindworks Publishing, a community based desktop publishing business, and is working on completing her first work of fiction. 

Ms. Grant is also a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance, an internationally based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions of members of the Muslim community, established in 2006.

She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts majoring in Print Journalism and resides in Missouri City, Texas with her husband and son.

MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz was also honored to interview three additional Muslimah reverts for the production back in October 2012 when she attended, as a speaker herself, the 4th Annual (Native European Muslim Assembly (NEMA) Camp in Tunisia. Ms. Schwartz interviewed (from Trailer 5) Anna Stamous (Greece), Pauline Muddle (Egypt) and Priscilla Niels (Indonesia).

Islam in Women marks the third movie/video production featuring MWA members. The first video was a mini-documentary produced for Al-Jazeera, featuring Schwartz and founding MWA member/children's book author, Rania Marwan.

The second production was another Bridges Foundation movie titled, "Jihad on Terrorism".  

Bridges Foundation strives, through projects such as The Fog is Lifting movie series, to open communication channels that narrow the gap of understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims by educating both sides about their cultural differences and similarities.  

A fully final version of the Official Trailer will be online after Ramadan.

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Isahah Janette Grant on Facebook
Houston Islam Examiner
Mindworks Publishing 
RELATED
MOVIE: Islam in Women Official Trailer
Muslimah Spotlight: MWA Director Aishah Schwartz address reverts at NEMA Camp
VIDEO: My Journey to Islam: American, Aishah Schwartz 

Muslimah Writers Alliance Documentary on Al-Jazeera Wednesday, Dec. 15 
MOVIE - Jihad on Terrorism (English w/Arabic subtitles) (Norwegian)
MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz, Appearing in Documentary 'Jihad on Terrorism'
VIDEO: Trailer, "Jihad on Terrorism" (short version)
VIDEO: Trailer, "The Fog is Lifting"
About "The Fog is Lifting" 

عَائِشَة شوارتز-رئيسة تَحالُف الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات: الصُورَة السَّلْبِيَّة للإسْلَام مَسْؤولِيَّة المُسْلِمِين (Aishah Schwartz)

This is an article written in May 2013 featuring Aishah Schwartz and her work as Director of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA). It was compiled by a group of students in the Faculty of Mass Communications/Journalism at Cairo University. The article was included in a magazine titled Le-Ta'arafou – To Know Each Other, as part of the students' graduation project. In a competition between 14 groups of students, the Le-Ta'arafou project was awarded a prize for third place in the event.

عَائِشَة شوارتز-رئيسة تَحالُف الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات:
الصُورَة السَّلْبِيَّة للإسْلَام مَسْؤولِيَّة المُسْلِمِين
"لست في حاجة لِأنْ تكون مِثَالِيَّاً لِتُصْبِحً مَصْدَر إلْهَام لِلآخَرِين.. دَعْ الآخرين يسْتلهمون مِنْك طريقة تَعَامُلك مَعَ حقيقة أنَّك غير مِثَالِى." هذا الإقتباس هو ما جعل عَائشَة شُوارتِزْ -رئيسة تَحَالُفْ الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات- قادرة على التَّحدًّثْ لِلْحُضُور فى إحدى مُحَاضَرَاتِهَا التى أصابَهَا فِيهَا القلق والتَّوتُّر؛ تقول عائشَة: "...كُنْتْ خَجُولَة جِدَاً وشَعُرت أنَّنِي لاَ أسْتَحِق حتَّى دعوتِى لِلتَحَدُّث...كُنْتُ أُفَكِّر فِي أنَّنِي لَسْتُ هَذَا الشَّخْص ولاَ ذَاك ولا أيّ شئٍ آخر، ولَكِنْ بعد ذلك قرأت هذه المَقُولَة، أدْرَكْتُ أنَّ كُلّ مَا عَلَيّا فِعْله هُوَ ذلك الشَّئ الذي أخْبَرَنِي بِهِ زَوْجِي: {فقط كُونِي عائشة}. والآن بعد تَجَارُبِى، أُؤمِنْ أنَّ أي شخص -عادي مِثْلي- يمكنه أن يَتَواصَل مَعَ الآخرين؛ البعضُ يقول بِأنَّنِي حقَّقَتُ أشْياءاً عظيمة -حيثُ أنَّنِي شُجَاعة-، لَكِنَّنِي لا أرى ذلك على الإطلاق..{أنا فقط عائشة}."

هذه هي عائشة شوارتز - رئيسَة تَحالُفْ الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات Muslimah Writers Alliance" التي تحولت إلى الإسلام في عُمر الحادى والأربعين- هِىَ ناشطة حُقُوقِيَّة تُرَكِّزْ عَلَىَ حُقُوق الْمَرأة المُسْلِمَة، ودَاعِمَة لثوَرَات الرَّبيع العَربِى والنِّضَال السُّورِى.  وعملت على "قضيَّة الشَّعب الفَلسْطِينِى" لِسَنَوات قَامت خِلَالهَا بتوفير فُرص تَعْلِيمِيَّة لِلْطُلَّاب فِي غَزَّة. كَمَا تهتم شوَارتز بالكتابة والأعمال التطوعية، وهَذَا مَا دَفَعَهَا إلَىَ إنْشَاء اتِّحَاد الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات فِي أمِرِيكَا، وقَامَت بإنتاج فيلم بعنوان "الجهاد ضد الإرهاب". وتمَّ تَصْنِيف مُدَوَّنَتها – التي أُنْشِأت فِي سِبْتَمْبِر 2009- كواحدة من أكثر المدونات الإسلامية زِيَارَة.

حَجَر الأسَاس

تَتَحَدَّث شُوَارتِز عَن بِدَايَة إنْشَاء "تَحَالُفْ الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات" قائِلَة: "أسَّست التَّحَالُف فِي عام 2006 في موطني – آنذاك – واشُنْطُن، حيثُ أرَدّت أنْ أصْنَع شَيْئَاً يَجْمَعْ الكَاتِبات المُسْلِمَات  بطريقة تُتْبِت قُدْرَة النِّسَاء عَلَىَ العَمَل مَعَاً فِي تَنَاغُمْ مِنْ أَجْل قَضِيَّة الإسْلاَم وفِي سَبِيل الله -سُبْحَانَه وتَعَالَىَ-. والآن أشْعُر أنَّ الهدف قَدْ تَحَقَّق." وعَن أنْشِطَة التَّحَالُفْ، تُخبِرنَا شوارتِز بِأنًّه بالإضَافَة إلَىَ "الكِتَابَة"، فالتَّحَالُفْ يَقُوم بِمُنَاقَشَة القَضَايَا العَامَّة؛ وقَد انْضَمَّ التَّحَالُف إلَىَ "مُبَادَرَة الوَعي العَالَمِي" -التَّابِعْة لِلأُمَم المُتَّحَدَة- لإنْهَاء العُنْف ضِد النِّسَاء والفَتَيَات مِنْ خِلاَل حَمَلات "أورانج داي Orange Day" الشَّهْرِيَّة أوْ "اليوم البُرتُقَالِى"، والتي بدأتها "الشَّبَكَة العَالَمِيَّة لِلْشَّبَاب Global Youth Network". وعَنْ مُشَارَكَة عُضْوَات التَّحَالُفْ فِي المُبَادَرَة، تصف شوارتز الفَعَالِيَّات بأنَّهَا تَتِم مِنْ خِلَال "ارْتِدَاء الحِجَاب البُرْتُقَالِي يَوْمَ الخَامِسْ والعِشْرِين مِنْ كُل شَهْر". وتُضيف شوارتز أنَّه قد تمَّ إنْشَاء صفحة على موقعى التَّوَاصُل الإجْتِمَاعِى "فيس بوك Facebook" و"تويتر Twitter" لِلْتَروِيج لِلْحَمْلَة. ومِنَ الأنْشِطَة الأُخْرَى التِى قُام بِهَا التَّحَالُفْ العام الماضِى 2012، ذكرت شوارتز أنَّه تمَّ تنظيم الحملة السَّنَوِيَّة لِشهر رمضَان Annual Ramadan Buddy Campaign" لِدَعم المُسْلِمِين مِمَّن لَيسَ لَدَيْهِم نِظَام دعم مجتمعِى أو أُسِرِى. وتشْرَح شوارتز قائلة: "في حملتنا لِعَام 2012م أضَفْنَا عُنْصُر الإقْلاَع عَنْ التَّدْخِين لِلْحَمْلَة، وتمَّ الإعْلان عَنْهَا فِي إذَاعَة "صَوْت أمِرِيكَا Voice of America" و"إنْدُونِيسِيَا ريبابليكا أون لاين Indonisia Republika Online"، كَمَا أنْشَأْنَا مُدَوَّنَة باسم "إحْتِفَلَات تَحَالُفْ الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات بِرَمَضَان MWA"، بالإضَافَة إلَىَ إنتاج فيلم وثائقي موجز عن أعمال عُضْوَات التَّحَالُفْ، مِنْ تأليف رَانْيَا مَرْوَان – عُضْوة بِالإتِّحاد-، وأُذِيعَ على قَنَاة "الجَزِيِرَة" بِاللُّغَة العَرَبِيَّة وأيضاً على موقع "يوتيوب YouTube".

سَائِق التَّاكسِى

ونَعُود مَعَ شوارتز إلى عام 2002 حيثُ تسْرِد لَنَا قِصَّة إعْتِنَاقِهَا الإسْلام، فتقُول: "تبدأ التَّجْرُبَة عِنْدَمَا انْتَقَلت إلَىَ وَاشُنْطُن بَعْدَمَا عِشْت ثَمَانِيَة عَشْرَ عَامَاً في مدينة صغيرة فِي الجنوب، وهُناك عَمِلت بِالْمُحَامَاة.  وفِى إحْدَى مَرَّات عَودَتِى مِنَ العمل استقليت سيارة أجرة للعودة إلى المنزل، وسرعان ما بدأت فى حديث مُطَوَّل مَعَ السَّائق، ونظراً لِظُرُوف عملى التى كانت تضطرَّنِى للبَقَاء فى العمل لوقتِ مُتَأخِراً، فقد كان يقلنِى يوميّاً. ونشأت بينى وبينَه عَلَاقَة صَداقة، وتبينَ لِى بعدها أنَّه مُسْلم. وكان لدي فُضُول لمعرفة المزيد عن دين صديقي الجديد؛ لذا مكثت في العمل لساعات أطول أجوب شبكة الانترنت بحثاً عن معلومات عن الإسْلام. ولم أكتفِ بذلك بلْ تواصلت من خلال البريد الإلكتروني مع بعض الأشْخاص الذين أعرف أنَّهُم اعتنقُوا الإسْلام مُؤخَّراً.  وتوصَّلتُ من خلال هذا البحث إلى حقائق أثَّرت فيىّ، ودفعتني لمعرفة المزيد عن هذا الدين. وقد كان مَا قرأته عن الإحترام والعدل في الإسْلام خاصةً في مُعَامَلَة الرِّجَال للنِسَاء هُوَ الدَّافِع الأقوى لإعْتِنَاقِي الإسْلام."

وعَنْ تَأثِير ذَلِك عَلَى رُؤيَتِهَا لِلْحَيَاةِ، تَقُول شوارتِز: "مَنْ هُمْ على دِرَايَة بِالثَّقَافَة الغَرْبِيَّة يَعْلَمُونَ أنَّه دَائِمَاً مَا يُقَال أنَّ "الْوَقْت هُوَ المَال". وعِنْدَمَا أصْبَحت مُسْلِمَة زَادَ تَقْدِيِرِي لِلْجَانِبْ الرَّوْحَانِي، حيثُ تَعَمَّقت فِي فَهْم الإسْلام فَأيْقَنت أنَّ الوقت ليسَ مُجَرَّد مَال، إنَّمَا "الوَقْتُ هَدِيَّة". ومِنْ هَذَا المُنْطَلَق حَاوَلت إيِجَاد تَوَازُن بَينَ أُمُور الدُّنْيَا ومَا هُوَ مُهِمْ لِلْنَجَاح فِي الآخِرَة. فَمُنْذُ بِدَايَة حَيَاتِي الجديدة كمُسْلِمَة دَعَوت الله -سُبْحَانَه وَتَعَالَى- فِي صَلَواتِي ألَّا يَقْتَصِر اهْتِمَامِي على العَمَل الدُّنْيَوِي ولَكِنْ يُسَخِّرْنِي لِخِدْمَة مُعْتَقَدَاتِي الدِّينِيَّة. وفِي يُونْيُو 2003 – بعد اعتناقي الإسلام بِعَامٍ وَاحِدْ- استقلت من عملي بالمحاماة، وفتح لِي الله باباً آخر؛ حيثُ اسْتَخْرَجت جَوَاز سَفَرِي الأول وذَهَبت فِي رِحْلَة لَمْ أَكُن أَتَخَيَّلَهَا بَدَأَت بِقَضَاء عام فِي المَمْلَكَة العَرَبِيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة، ثُمَّ إلَىَ مِصْر – حيث أقيم بها منذ عام 2007-  وبَاكِسْتَان والمَغْرِب والُأرْدُن وغَزَّة وتُونُسْ.

مَرَّة أُخْرَى... نـُحـنُ وَهُــمْ

وَكَانت فُرصَة جَيِّدَة أنْ تَنقِل لَنَا شوارتز صُورَة الإسْلَام بِالغَرب، حيثُ قالت أنَّهَا حتَّى عام 2002 لَمْ يَكُنْ لَديهَا إنْطِباع عِن الإسْلام لِأنَّهَا لَمْ تَسْمَع عَنه قبل ذَلِك؛ "وأرَىَ أنَّ المُسْلِمِين الآن فِي حَاجَة مَاسَّة إلَىَ أنْ يَكُونُوا نَمَاذِجْ مُشَرِّفَة لِلإسْلام." وتُضيف شوَارتِز: "أعْتَقِد أنَّ غَير المُسْلِمِين شَدِيِدِي الحِيِرَة تِجَاهَنَا فَليسَ لَدَيهِم فِكْرة صحيحَة وتصورهم الوحيد عن المُسْلِمِين مُسْتَلهم مِنْ وَسَائِل الإعْلَام، وهِيَ فِي الغَالِبْ تعرِضْ أخْبَاراً سَلْبِيَّة." وأشَارت شوارتز إلى أحدث الأمثلة على ذلك وَهُوَ "ربط المُسْلِمِين بِتَفْجِيرَات مَارَاثُون بُوسطن بالوِلايات المُتَّحِدَة الأمْرِيكِيَّة" التى وقعت فِى الخامس عشر من أبريل من العام الحَالِى."

وعَنْ الصُورَة السَّلبِية للإسْلام، تَرَى شوارتِز أنَّه بالأسَاس "الجهل بِشـىء" يجعل تأثير مَا يأتينَا عنه عبر وسائل الإعْلام يبدو حقيقياً، ولِذَلك فعَلَى المُسلِمين أنْ يكونوا قُدوة. وتُضيف شورتز إلى ذلك أنَّه فى أحيانٍ أخرى يكون السَّبَب هُوَ "عدم الرَّغبَة" فِى فهم الثَّقَافَات المُختَلِفَة، وتُشير شوارتز إلى أهمْيَّة "السَّفَر" كعاملٍ فعَّال فى معرفة الأمَم منْ حولنا، ورؤية صورة واقعيَّة، ولذلك تنصح الجميع بالتَّخلِّى عَن أى معتقد سلبى تجاه الآخرين والإنفتاح على البشريَّة، وتُؤكد أنَّ "من رأى ليس كمن قرأ عنْ التَّجْرُبَة". وتُشِير شوارتز إلى أهميَّة تفعيل دور الأزهر الشَّريف فِى بِناء جُسُورٍ تَوَاصُل بين العالم الإسْلامِى والغرب وتقديم الصُّورة الصحيحة للإسلام بينَ الأمَم، حيثُ تقول: "أعلم أنَّ نُفُوذ الأزْهَر بينَ الأُمَم المُسْلِمَة هَائِل، لَكنْ ليس لدينَا مَعْلُومَات عَنْ دَوْرِهِ فِى الغَربِ تُسَاعِدْنِي على تَقْييم هَذَا الدَّوْر (كـ أعْداد الأمْرِيكِيين الَّذِينَ تَخَرَّجُوا مِنَ الأزْهَر وحَصَلُوا عَلَىَ وَظَائِفْ بالمُؤسَّسَات الأمْرِيِكِيَّة) بِإسْتِثْنَاء "الإمَام صُهَيب وِيبْ" -إمَام المُجْتَمَع الإسْلَامِى بِمَركَز بُوسطُن الثَّقَافِى، أكبر مسجِد بِمنطِقَة "نِيو إنْجِلَاند"-، الذى تمَّت الإسْتِعَانَة بِهِ فِى إحدى الوَزَارَات." وتستطرد شوارتز قائلَة: "لَكِن حَتَّىَ الدَّافِعْ وَرَاءَ اسْتِقْدَامِه لِلعَمَل كَانَ لِمِلْىء فَرَاغ وَظِيفِى يتَطَلَّب شَخْصَاً قَادِراً عَلَىَ جَذب الشَّبَاب." أمَّا بِالنِسْبَة لِلإعْلَام الإسْلَامِى بِالغرب - تحديداً القَنَوَات التِّلِفِزيُونِيَّة- تقول شوارتز: "لنكُن مُنْصِفِين، فَهِى مُتَخَلِّفَة {عَنْ العصر} فِي طَريقَة العرض التي تسْتخدمها، وكذلك مُستوى التكنولوجيا المُطبَّقَة، وأشْعُر بِالمَلَل مِنْ مُتَابَعَتِهَا، إلَّا أنَّ السَّبَب فِي ذَلِك هُوَ ضَعْفِ المِيَزانِيَّة."

وعَنْ جُهُود "تَحَالُفْ الكَاتِبَات المُسْلِمَات" فِى هذَا السِّياق، تَقُول شُوارتِز أنَّه تَمَّ الإسْتِفَادَة مِن وسائل التَّواصُل الإجْتِمَاعِيَّة، وتمَّ إنْشَاء صَفْحَة على موقع "فيس بوك Facebook" تنقِل أخبار المسلمين بعيداً عن "فوبيا الإسْلام" The Non-Islamophobic Muslim News-- بحيثُ تَخْتَص الصَّفْحَة بِتَبادل أخْبَار المُسْلِمِين وإنْجَازَاتِهِم فِي مُجْتَمَعَاتِهم المَحَلِيَّة فِي جَمِيعْ أنْحَاء العَالَم، حتَّى تَكُون مَوْرِدَاً بَدِيِلاً لِلأخْبَار السَّلْبِيَّة التِي تُنْشَر عَنْ المُسْلِمِين. ولَدَيْنَا الآن مَا يَزِيِد عَنْ ثَمَانى مائة وخمس صفحات مثلها. بالإضَافَة إلَىَ ذَلِك تُشِير شوارتز لمجلَّة "المُسْلِم Muslim"؛ قَائِلَة: "طُوَال السَّنَوات السَّبعة الماضية كانت مجلة "المُسْلِم" عِبَارَة عَنْ مَنْشُورَات تصدر بِجِهُود الزُّمِيِلَات مِنْ عُضْوَات التَّحَالُفْ، وتَطْوِير مثل هذا المشروع مثَّلَ لَنَا تحدِيَّاً حَقَّقَنَا نَجَاحَاً بِالتَفَانِى والعَمَل الجَمَاعِى."  وتَطَرَّق الحِوَار إلى الإسْتِفسَار عَن "وَضع المرأة فى الغرب"، فتقول شوارتز: "الحمد لله، أنَّ المرأة فِى الغرب موجودة فِي مُجْتَمع إِذَا هُضِمَ فِيِه حَقَّهَا فَلَدَيها خَيَارَات عِدَّة تُمَكِّنهَا مِنَ الحُصُول عَلَيه، بِعَكس نظيراتِهَا فِى مُجْتَمَعَات أُخْرَىَ لَيسَ لِأصَواتِهنَّ أهَمِّيَّة، أو مجتمعَات أخْرَى حيثُ تكون المرأة - نفسَها- غَير مُهتمَّة بِمَعْرِفَة حُقُوقِهِا." وتُلَخِّص شوارتز وجهة نظرهَا تِجَاه القضِيَّة قائلَة: "تمكين المرأة يبدأ بإدراكِهَا لِحُقُوقِهَا."

يُذكَر أنَّ شوارتز شاركت في "الثَّوْرَة المِصْرِيَّة"، وحين سألنَاهَا "كيفَ تَرَى الثَّورَة بعد ُمُرُور ثَلاثَة أعوام" قَالت: "الفَرحة لمْ تدُم طَويلاً عَلَى الوُجُوه.. الأحوال تتدهور؛ البَطَالة والأسْعار والطَّاقة والكَهْرُبَاء، وضع المرأة، إخْتِفَاء الأمن مِنَ الشَّارِعْ المِصْرِى، وحتَّى الصَّحَفِيين يُواجِهُون المُلَاحَقَات القَضَائِيَّة." وتَعْتَبِر شوارتِز أنَّ الخُرُوج مِنَ الأزْمَة تتوقَّف عَلَى تحديد مَطَالِب المُواطِنِين مِن خِلال إجراء حِوار وَدُود. ومَازَال غير واضِح فى الأفُق، هُوَ قُدرة الشَعب بعد الثَّوَرَة على التَّواصُل والتَّغلُّبْ عَلَى إلإخْتِلَافَات فِيمَا بينِهِم، وخِلال الشُّهُور القَادِمَة أودّ أنْ أشهَد ذلك."

وفِى خِتَام الحِوَار وجَّهَت شوارتز رِسَالَة لِمَجَلَّة "لِتَعَارَفُوا" وقُرَّائِهَا قالت فِيِهَا:

"مُحَاوَلَة مَجَلَّة {لِتَعَارَفُوا} الوصُول إلَىَ قُرَّائِهَا لِتَشْجِيع احْتِرَام التَّنَوُّعْ هُوَ أمْرٌ جَدِير بِالْثَنَاء ونَحْنُ فِي أَمَسّ الحَاجَة إِلَيه- خَاصَّة وَأَنَّ مِصْر لاَ تَزَال تُكَافِحْ لإنْقَاذِ ثَوْرَتِهَا، والحِوَار هُوَ السَّبيل- وأنَا يُشَرِّفْنِي -لَيسَ فَقَطْ دَعْوَة "لِتَعَارَفُوا" لِي لِلْمُشَارَكَة فِي العَدَدِ الأوَّل مِنْهَا- ولَكِنْ أيضاً احْتِضَانِي مِنْ قبل المصريين وكأنِّي  واحِدَة مِنْهُم؛ فَمِصْر هِيَ حَقَاً بَيِتِي الثَّانِي. جَزَاكُمُ الله خَيرَاً. تَحِيَاتِى إلَىَ كُل واحِدَة مِنَ الأخَوَاتِ المُشَارِكَات فِي هَذَا المَسْعَى..أنْتُنَّ تَضَعْنَ النَّمُوذَج الذِي يُؤكِّد أنَّه عِنْدَمَا نَكُون مُتَّحِدين يُصْبِح بإمْكَانِنَا تَحْقِيق أهْدَافِنَا."

 غادة جمال- هناء العجمي

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MWA's Eman Shurbaji interviews for Illume Magazine

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Eman Shurbaji studied journalism at California State University, Bakersfield. She is a journalist and writer/editor. Ms. Shurbaji is passionate about her work as there are always stories to be told, and information to be dissipated. She was an intern/trainee at Aljazeera English in Doha, Qatar, further fueling her desire to speak to the masses.

Shurbaji feels as though she a citizen of the world, having traveled extensively. In addition to writing, editing websites/materials, she writes for several nonprofits. She has been a member of Muslimah Writers Alliance since July 2012.

INTERVIEW: MWA member Isahah Janette Grant on her book, publishing and conversion to Islam

MWA member Isahah Janette Grant

Isahah Janette Grant has been a Muslim revert for over 13 years alhamdulillah. She is author of the children’s book, Sameerah’s Hijab and the First Day of School, a journalist for Examiner.com, and a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), an internationally based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions of members of the Muslim community, where she serves as the organization's member coordinator.

Ms. Grant also owns and manages Mindworks Publishing Inc., a community based desktop publishing business. She is also working on completing her first work of fiction. Ms. Grant studied at Boston University in Massachusetts majoring in Print Journalism and currently resides in Missouri City, Texas. (Read Parts 1 & 2 at Muslimah Voices) (Part 3)

MWA's Saba N. Taylor interviews children's book author Asma Zaman

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It is a pleasure to introduce a new author to you all, Asma Zaman, author of Grandpa and Grandma Come to Stay.

Book Description:
Grandpa and Grandma are coming to stay and Muhammed and Musa are so excited! Mommy and Daddy say the twins must help their grandparents.

Why would grown-ups need any help? Can Muhammed and Musa really help Grandma and Grandpa?

INTERVIEW:

Welcome Asma, please tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Asma Zaman I’m a London based Law Graduate and currently pursuing theoretical and practical qualifications as a Psychological Counsellor/Psychotherapist. My aspiration of becoming a writer began at a very young age but only became a reality as a consequence of a long term condition I was diagnosed with about 10 years ago. From not being able to read and write, due to it effecting my neurological system, to now having my work published is a great feeling Alhumdolilah!  Now I actively raise awareness and provide support to fellow sufferers of M.E (Myalgic-Encephalomilitis (an auto-neuro immune condition)) and Fibromyalgia and their careers. (Read More)

MWA's Eren Cervantes-Altamirano shares a Ramadan memory via Muslimah Media Watch

Edmonton’s Al-Rashid Mosque. Image via Flickr.

The First Ramadan

By Eren Cervantes-Altamirano

Six years ago, I moved from Mexico City to Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada. Although I moved here to study, my trip to the north resulted to be a whole religious experience. Having grown up in a nuclear family that had left Catholicism and had sought dogmatic atheism, I was largely unfamiliar with religious diversity. Thus, coming to Canada quickly sparked my curiosity, and here I am six years later with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies.

My first contact with Islam was when I was still learning English at the University of Alberta. Since Alberta is the centre of petroleum exploration and petroleum engineering education in Canada, I studied in classes where half my classmates were from Saudi Arabia and the other half from China. My first encounters with Saudi classmates, especially males, were quite frustrating. Many of them felt the need to show some kind of pious superiority, while others felt attacked in an environment where their religion was often being connected to 9/11. (Click here to read the rest at Muslim Media Watch)

ABOUT EREN CERVANTES-ALTAMIRANOV
Eren Arruna Cervantes is a University student in Canada. She specializes in gender politics and feminist religious movements, particularly Islamic Feminism. She is a convert to Islam since 2009 and hopes to become an Islamic scholar in the future. In addition to being a member of Muslimah Writers Alliance, Eren also writes for Muslmah Media Watch and hosts a travel blog.

Reaching Out to Others by MWA member Jennifer Kabir

By Jennifer Kabir

When you have the opportunity to listen to someone speak on a topic several times you begin to notice a common thread running through what they say. I listened intently to daee Aminah Assilmi each time I had the pleasure of listening to her thoughts on this life, Islam and being.

After awhile I began to notice some questions she posed would seem to repeat themselves. Inquiries as to how many of us ever ventured outside of our Muslim communities to interact with others over any good cause was one such question that seemed to be posed at the end of every speaking event she headed.

The responses that seemed to allude to, "Oh yes…that’s me-I’m out there being a part of the grand scheme of things…" were illusive to say the least. (Read More)

ABOUT JENNIFER KABIR
Jennifer Kabir is a journalist, wife, and mother of two. She came to Islam a little over ten years ago. Raised in a traditional American family, Jennifer lived in Southern California for the majority of her life and later moved with her husband to Michigan. The story of how Jennifer came to Islam can be read here.

Prophet Muhammad’s Respect and Love for Women by MWA member Dr. Sayria Contractor

MWA member Dr. Sariya Contractor

I have recently finished writing a book on Muslim women in Britain.

This book discusses many important issues around the role, rights, responsibilities and resilience of Muslim women.

Although this book is written in a Western British context, it discusses core issues that resonate in Muslim communities all over the world – of our collective successes with regard to gender equity and of our failures.

Why do I mention my book here in an article about Prophet Muhammad? (Read More)


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Sariya Contractor is a convert to Islam and a Sociologist at the University of Derby, specialising in the Sociology of Religion. She is also a University of Derby project researcher for the Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality Project in the Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences. Ms. Contractor is also a member of Muslimah Writers Alliance. Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.

Pre-Order 'Muslim Women in Britain: Demystifying the Muslimah' at Amazon.com
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (September 20, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415669960
ISBN-13: 978-0415669962

Pre-Order Muslim Women in Britain: Demystifying the Muslimah, by MWA member Dr. Sariya Contractor

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This book discusses many important issues around the role, rights, responsibilities and resilience of Muslim women that resonate in Muslim communities globally – of our collective successes with regard to gender equity and of our failures.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) Jul 19, 2012 - Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) is pleased to announce the upcoming September 20, 2012 release of a member publication titled, 'Muslim Women in Britain: Demystifying the Muslimah'.

Perceptions of Muslim women in Western society have been shaped by historical and sociological conditions such as colonialism, patriarchy and Orientalism. In Muslim Women in Britain, Sariya Contractor seeks to reinstate the Muslimah as a storyteller who tells her own story.

An exploration of the lives of British Muslim women, this book examines issues of femininity, Britishness, inter-communal relations and social cohesion. Presenting the reader with incisive narratives of Muslim women on familiar topics such as the hijab, Muslim women in the media and feminist debate, particularly in a Western context, Sariya Contractor makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature on Islamic studies, social anthropology, feminist philosophy and social cohesion. (Read More)

NEW! MWA member Farah Kinani's children's book on Ramadan

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An article about the book: Moroccan writer explains Islam to US children

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Meet MWA Member Coordinator, Isahah Janette Grant

Isahah Janette Grant, Founding Member

Isahah Janette Grant is a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), where she serves as the organization's membership coordinator. She also runs her own small business, Mindworks Publishing Inc., in addition to writing for the Houston Islam Examiner on Examiner.com. Ms. Grant is also the author of the children's book, Sameerah's Hijab and the First Day of School and is in the process of completing her first work of fiction. She also enjoys writing poetry. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts, majoring in print journalism and currently resides in Missouri City, Texas, just outside of Houston, with her son and husband.

Ms. Grant can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/isahahjanette