About

About

What is islamwich?

islamwich serves up a slice of Islamic life practiced in and around American culture. islamwich is an effort to shed some reality on the Western myths that surround the Muslim world in the hopes of creating better understanding so we can all live in a happier, healthier, and more informed world.

Who is islamwich for?

If you are a non-Muslim who would like to know more about Islam and the people who choose to live an Islamic life, this blog is for you. If you are a Muslim who loves cooking halal, diy-ing hijabi stuff, and/or you want to read stuff about American Muslims, this blog is for you. If you are a human being who likes people who are passionate about justice for all, this blog is for you.

islamwich pinky promises (maybe) to …

1. stay away from politics. it really isn’t going to get us anywhere but angry because too often too many people think of politics in terms of emotions instead of facts.

2. never tell people what to do or what is haram and halal. we are not the haram police. (no one needs haram police, saudi. oops already violated rule #1.)

3. never tell anyone their religion is wrong. to each person is their beliefs.

feel free to email us at islamwich@yahoo.com

About the Bloggers:

Theresa Corbin- founder and islamwich queen beeIMG_0489

Corbin the Elder, is a writer, public speaker, an up-cycler, a Creole American, and … drum roll please … a Muslim convert living in the dirty south, y’all! Read about her journey to Islam here and here.

She contributes to Al Jumuah Magazine, Aquila-Style, About Islam, MightyMuslimah.com, and Gulf Coast Newspaper. And her work has been known to grace the pages of CNN and The Washington Post.

Corbin does not always speak in the third person, but does hold a degree from the University of South Alabama in literary humor (English) with a minor in lies about the olden days (History).

A convert to Islam since 2001, she has spent a great deal of time studying Islamic thought, women’s rights, converts’ issues, and sectarianism. Corbin feels it is time to stop listening to those from any ideology who call for extreme measures, and time to start focusing on similarities and cooperation.

Stephanie Siam- Current contributor and correspondent in Asia

Siam I am is not always this pixelated but she is a native of Mobile, Alabama, converted to Islam approximately a decade ago. Currently, she resides in Muscat, stephanieOman, with her husband and daughter, where she teaches English in the Foundation Programme of the country’s top university.

When in the US, she can usually be found navigating between Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, as these are the four corners of her heartland. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her family doing various activities. Her intention is to share her perspective on being a non-Arab Muslim living in an Arab Muslim world.

Kaighla Um Dayo- Current contributor

Kaighla, the mother of Dayo, is a writer and story-teller extraordinaire. Having survived 4 years as an unwilling co-wife headshotin rural Egypt and lived to tell the tale, she muses on ways to let go of her rage and bitterness at her website Lemonade for Bitter Souls. And you can, too! Her ruminations can also be found on Coming of Faith.

Before embracing Islam in 2009, she was an evangelical Christian who attended Bible college. Then, she traveled the world as a missionary before totally falling off the bandwagon of Christianity. Her newest favorite thing is meditation and trying to be more mindful. Her other favorite things include procrastinating, eating chocolate, fixing things, making things, & taking risks.

If you would like to add to the conversation, please email islamwich@yahoo.com to submit your idea for a blog post.

Nicole Elmasry- Past Contributor

Elmasry the Artisan is an artist at heart, with too many years of experience in her field. When she is not working for L’Oreal she hangs 1016273_705488906157486_2045225773_nout with her fellow bloggers here at islamwich making things pretty (a.k.a. islamwich’s in-house graphic designer).

She is a Miami native, yes there are people who are from Florida. She currently lives in New York with her family, dearly missing the warm weather. She also looks forward to opportunities abroad.

One day 10 years ago, Nicole thought it might be a great idea to finally convert to Islam, a religion she had been studying for some time. Now she enjoys creating (often sarcastic and sometimes serious) art for islamwich.

Gracie Lawrence- Past Contributor

Lawrence the Younger is a doll (see pic) and prefers to write about herself in the first person: Hi, my name is Gracie Lawrence, also a New Orleans native and as such-constantly craving snowballs and king cake.

Amongst other laboratory work, I also dabble in the white arts of cooking up a storm for my ferociously hungry family. I also will tell you what I am NOT- I am not an Islamic scholar, but I am a wide-eyed student of culture both East and West, fascinated by Science, interested in Psychology, and other belief systems such as Atheism and Unitarian Universalism, and look forward to contributing to this blog!

 

Follow us (upper right of the page). Email us (islamwich@yahoo.com). Like our face with your face on Facebook (facebook.com/islamwich). Tumble with us on Tumblr (islamwich.tumblr.com). Pin with us (pinterest.com/islamwich). Follow us on twitter (@islamwich).

Like the post, share it, pin it, comment on it, and/or do whatever social media magic it is that you prefer. Find out more about us in the understandably named “About” page and browse other posts in “Table of Contents”.

243 thoughts on “About”

      1. I respect you and your country USA. Please hold perseverance because Allah stay always perseverance people. you follow the prophet Mohammad (S) who has tolerance all criticize.

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      3. (I’m sorry, but could you email me regarding that brother that was supposed to help me…sometimes it’s no fun having no friends around 😦

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      4. I totally understand. I sent you his email address. I spoke with the brother again. He says it would be best for you to contact him. 🙂

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  6. Salam Corbin,

    Read ur article in CNN iReport, it was one of the best thing which i did today.
    ur experience and follow up and understanding the concept of being human in Islam is perfect and always wanting 2 do even better makes it Allah happier (Jazak Allah), ur article will make many of my Hindu, christan & Muslim friends understand Islam better, simply to say Iam a Muslim by chance ur a Muslim by choice n u stand very tall.
    my Salam n best wishes 2 all ur team members

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    1. Walaikum Asalam Brother,
      Thank you for your well wishes and words of encouragement. They mean a lot. I hope that the article makes people think beyond what slander Islam is recieving from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. All the best to you and your family.
      -Corbin

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  7. Corbin,
    Questions for you:
    In your article you stated about the hijad – “…But when I asked a Muslim woman ‘Why do you wear that?’, her answer was obvious and appealing: ‘To please God. To be recognized as a woman who is to be respected and not harassed. So that I can protect myself from the male gaze.’ ”

    What if God is really pleased by women who are not afraid to hide behind a hijad? Wouldn’t it make more sense for God to create women to not hide their faces/head their entire life? Because if he didn’t, why would he create beautiful women?

    Strong women who are willing to walk this Earth the way God intended them should not be afraid and hide their face in order to earn respect. Personally I have more respect for a woman who is living their life without fear and have self respect, more than someone who hides from head-to-toe pretending it’s what God wants.

    Granted women are faced with more difficulties than men are, but women also have more rights and freedoms today then they ever have and it is not because of a hijad. I think women express more freedom by not wear a hijad. What do you think?

    I’ve always had the same question you asked her, but the answer is she gave does not justify a lifetime behind a hijad.

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    1. Thank you for your question. If we follow your logic one would come to the conclusion that God wants us to walk around naked, since He didn’t create us with clothing. But we were also created with a sense of modesty, men and women. And God asks men and women to wear hijab in different ways including not staring at one another like pieces of meat. However women have a degree of beauty above men that men are suseptible to, and beauce of this women are asked to cover more than men are. In a fairy tale world where everyone acts right and doesn’t ogle the opposite sex we wouldn’t need modesty. But Islam functions in reality where people do ogle each other and women are seen more often than not as sexual objects. The hijab is not a barrior with which to hide (and the face veil is something else entirely). It is a way to be present in the world without the focus being on the physical, because that is such a small part of who we are.

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      2. “If we follow your logic one would come to the conclusion that God wants us to walk around naked.”

        That’s completely different, Some places cloths are worn to keep warm. If they didn’t keep warm they could suffer and worse case, die. Others wear clothes for comfort or protection. It’s a lot different wearing head garment and head to toe outfits because you want to hide your beauty to discourage the opposite sex from admiring you. That is the exact reason for the hijab, to hide their beautify.

        “In a fairy tale world where everyone acts right and doesn’t ogle the opposite sex we wouldn’t need modesty.”

        If a women is faithful to her man, she does not need to degrade her beauty with a hijad. If she is walking the streets and a man makes some kind of offer, she simply declines. That’s the power of a true faithful woman. If he is persistent, then he’s harassing her and she should call her husband or the authorities. Besides, lots of women go day-in and day-out without wearing a hijad and do not get approached by anyone. That goes for anywhere.

        But at the end of the day, it really comes down to whatever the woman wants to wear. I just personally feel that when a women wears something to degrade their beauty and say “It’s what God wants me to do.”, that’s borderline ridiculous. It’s not what God wants you to do, it’s what you want to do, God is just the excuse.

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    2. Teriander,

      I’ve read your questions, and I can see that you’re quite perplexed by the concept of hijab. Apparently, Corbin’s answers aren’t satisfying you, so I thought I might take a stab at answering them.

      First, I have a couple of questions to ask you. Do you have a problem with any person that covers from head-to-toe, such as someone who is very sensitive to the sun, or chooses to cover for modesty and religious purposes, like a nun? Or is it only the idea of Muslim women covering that bothers you?

      You may say: Yes, nuns cover. Or Jewish women cover their hair…when they’re worshipping. But Muslim women do it all the time. Why?

      Well, many, many religious women cover their hair or bodies when they worship or pray. They do this to be close to God or to follow a commandment they’ve been given. Muslim women are supposed to be in a continuous endeavor to be close to God. We pray multiple times a day. And wearing the hijab is also a helpful reminder that our purpose is to serve our God, and not fit in to this worldy life.

      To answer your main question, I want to first explain the historical connotation behind wearing hijab.

      In order to do this, I have to make an assumption about you, but I don’t like making assumptions. By reading your questions, I get the feeling you’re female and probably come from a Western/European background. If you are religious, you probably ascribe to traditional Western/European beliefs of Christianity, quite possibly secular.

      Having said all of this, you may very well indeed be a middle-aged man from Kuala Lumpur who practices Zoroastrianism only on Thursdays. However, some of the comments you made, especially in regard to a woman’s “beauty”, come across as slightly feminist in tone. So, even though I don’t like making assumptions across the Interwebz, I have done so. If I have erred in choosing your gender, please forgive me. The rest does not particularly matter to my response.

      Back to the history of hijab. Now, obviously, I don’t know you from Adam, and I have no idea about your background or travel history. Let’s say, for sake of argument, you’ve never been to the Middle East (or, as I affectionately refer to this part of the world…Western Asia).

      You’ve probably seen pictures. There’s a heck of a lot of sand EVERYWHERE in this jungle. Well, not much jungle. But, I digress. When my family and I lived in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years, I actually found myself wearing niqab (the face covering) because it does two things: 1) keeps the sand out of your face and lungs (there is a real condition called “sandlung” that they get) and 2) keeps the rude stares away. The rude stares of whom? Well, everybody. But men, mostly. Because even covered up in my abaya (cloak), hijab and niqab, they still felt like they had the right to ogle. EVEN with my husband standing next to me. It’s not something that gives you a pleasant feeling.

      So, you may be thinking: why should women have to cover up to make men behave? And I have to say, “You’re right! Why should I have to cover up everything to make a man behave when he won’t do it anyway?”

      Or you may be thinking: Okay. So, why not dress differently in a different, more open, society?

      It is true that Western/European men, in general, don’t ogle women as much as…other….men. Why is this? It’s kind of like the candy phenomena (and this is NOT my defense of hijab…this is my explanation for ogling). In the West, women dress as they please and men are accustomed to this. It’s like a kid eating candy every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After a few days, they’re going to either be sick of eating it or not care about it anymore. The excitement will have worn off. The same is true with men coming from more modest, less-modern societies where traditional, cultural dress is still observed. It’s their first trip to the candy store. They’re all agog. (Think “Breaking Amish”….)

      Historically, people in this part of the world have dressed in abayas and thobes (the dress men wear). They have worn modest, loose clothing that doesn’t hug or reveal. That is “they”, as in both genders. Surely, even if you’re not religious, you’ve seen statues or pictures of Jesus, Mary and/or other historic religious persons wearing head coverings and long, loose-fitting dresses.

      The thing is, while the world around them may have modernized – for good and bad – these people have clung to tradition. The abaya, hijab and niqab are/were culturally-based clothing items. Depending on location, the styles change. The thobe (male dress) is also cultural, and you’ll find most nationals in the Middle East dressing in traditional clothing. Jeans and T-shirts are seen a modern and not fitting for most occasions. The loose-fitting clothes are breathable. The headcover, worn by both men and women, is not only for modesty. It also serves as a protection from the elements. If you’ve never been in a sandstorm, you can’t imagine what I mean. Many men wrap their head cover around their necks and faces when the winds start to pick up in the desert. They also do it to block the sun.

      This is all well and good, and now you’re asking: Fine. Okay. Let the Middle Eastern people dress the way they want. But when they come West (or more West), they need to fit in.

      I have two responses to this. First, there is no dress code listed on the door to the Statue of Liberty. There is a legal code that says people must not be naked in public. The degree to which a person is considered “naked” or not continues to evolve, you must admit. However, being raised in a Western American home and culture, I can say that there are plenty of people who dress a certain way: Mormons, Amish, Pentecostals, to name a few. In fact, Amish women, too, cover their hair.

      The problem you may be having is seeing so many women dressing in traditional Arabic clothing, even though they are not Arabs. This, too, is something that confuses me. It’s a process that all converts go through: discerning religion from culture. See, our religion tells us to dress modestly, to cover certain body parts. But there is no real definition of “what” the clothing should look like. For me, I dress in loose-fitting, modest American-style clothes with a scarf. I don’t wear an abaya. I don’t have a need to look or be Arab. I’m not Arab.

      Some women want to be more conservative. However, a great many women who wear the abaya, longer head covering and/or niqab ARE actually coming from countries where this is the traditional style of dress for a woman who observes hijab. That’s right. I said “observes”, as it is a commandment – but, like all commandments from God, you are free to decide whether you follow or not (i.e., sin). Anyway, since they are coming from other countries, they feel most comfortable dressing in their traditional clothing. And why shouldn’t they be able to? We, as foreigners, don’t change our style of dress when we go to another country to visit, work or live. (Let’s not address Saudi Arabia, because it’s in its own special class of weird.)

      Penultimately, and this is still under the assumption you are female, you mention the “beauty” of women and displaying it. If you are a woman, you are saying this because you feel you have the right to show off what you want to whomever you want. And you’re right. You do. The choice is yours. But, if you think about it, does any religion condone immodesty in dress? And, if you’re not religious, can you tell me the benefits of showing as much skin as possible to whoever is around?

      Do you need to wear a miniskirt to complete your job function? Do you have to wear a halter top to buy your groceries? Should a full-grown woman be wearing shorts that barely cover her nether-regions?

      Perhaps you’re saying: I don’t dress like that. I dress modestly. I wear long shorts and skirts. I don’t display too much skin. And I have to agree with you. Before I was Muslim, I also dressed modestly. I do think it’s possible to be modest without covering one’s hair. But it isn’t my responsibility to question God’s purpose in commanding something. So, I observe what He’s told me to do.

      On the other hand, if you’re a man, I have to ask you what right you feel you have to look at any part of my body without my consent. If I am wearing tight, revealing clothing, I wouldn’t blame you for staring (good or bad, no difference). But, I cover my skin and hair because I DON’T want you looking at me. Now, you still have the choice to look at me or not. But I have done my best to reduce what you can see. The rest of the burden is upon you to respect me as a person. Just because God did or did not make me beautiful does not mean you have the right to ogle. I wear hijab because I only want to show my beauty to my husband or family, not strangers on the street.

      Finally, you may agree or disagree with any or all of this. But you may say, fine. Let them cover when they’re praying or actively worshipping. You may think, Please, let her stop talking now. In the end, whether you believe God telling us to wear hijab is a valid reason or not doesn’t matter. We wear it because WE believe it is a valid reason. Our job is not to convince others of the need or correctness of doing this. Our job is only to convince ourselves, and then do it.

      Thank you for reading, and please let us know if you have any other questions.

      All the best and salam (peace to you).

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      1. Greetings! Interesting discussion. Can you clarify something further for me, as one comment you made has troubled me:

        “If I am wearing tight, revealing clothing, I wouldn’t blame you for staring”

        Should we not be educating men not to objectify women, rather than casting the blame onto women. Although I am not in support of the proto-feminist movement, I do agree that views like the above lead onto a very slippery slope where rape is justified because the woman, in her dress, is “asking for it”.

        I, as a man, should respect you as a sister – I don’t need you to cover your face to earn that respect. The onus should be on the man, to behave in a right way, not on the woman.

        Or at least that is my thoughts 🙂 I was raised in evangelical Christianity, and the teaching I was raised with were very similar to the viewpoint you expose. However, it was not biblical, like much of the teaching I was given, and praise God I have managed to think for myself and free myself from the those shackles.

        Grace and Peace,
        D

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      2. I understand where you’re coming from. And I agree with the conclusion you’ve drawn. It is not the intention I meant. I tried to get the point across that women should have the right to wear what they want without being harassed by men. I think I did pretty well until that suspect statement. 🙂

        I was not trying to say women who wear tight clothing deserve to be harassed. I was talking about myself, personally, but it didn’t come across clearly. I choose to cover because I don’t want to be ogled by people. If I myself dressed differently (for instance, with my boobs hanging out), I personally wouldn’t be angry if someone looked at them.

        However, not all women would agree with that idea. They would say just because their clothing is revealing doesn’t mean someone has the right to stare at them. This goes back to the idea of subjective modesty. Just because you (the general “you”, not YOU) don’t think you’re immodestly dressed doesn’t mean someone else isn’t going to be attracted to what you’re showing.

        I know my original statement may seem like flawed logic, but it comes from the right impetus not being naive about what humans are physically attracted to.

        As for rape culture, I don’t care if the victim (male or female) was buck-naked, walking around with a box of condoms, unless they consent, it’s rape. I don’t play games with victin-blaming. That’s a bunch of horse puckey, pardon my graphic references.

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      3. I like your reply soo much! Haha. And that “Breaking Amish” reference is hilarious… xP I watch that show on TV sometimes. Its funny to know as a Muslim that there are very conversations people out there especially in Western countries that doesn’t practice Islam! Judging from what I know so far, the Amish has really similar values in terms of modesty. They have to wear clothing that covers every part of the body and also cover their hair.. Although the hair covering might not be that much compared to like a nun to say, but they still cover their head on a daily basis, in prayer or not. It just goes to show that people needs to be educated more about the types of different conservative people out there that STILL exists till now.. Its just that they don’t stand out much in society as Muslims

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  8. Simply put, I try to learn a little something every day. I got home from work a little before midnight. It’s now nearly 1 AM Central Time so my lesson for today was your “CNN iReport” article. Thank you for your insight.

    I’ve always tried to keep an open mind about most, if not all, things (doesn’t always work but I try!) yet when constantly bombarded (by mainstream media, of course) about how absolutely repressionistic Islam is toward women, I wondered why a woman would convert to Islam, much less could exist as a Follower. You’ve given me a most valued perspective regarding TRUE Islam, not what “my-neighbor’s-drinking-buddy’s-third-ex-wife’s-cousin’s-plumber’s-barber’s-mechanic” says that “he knows to be the facts” about Islam. If you were aiming to make people think, you’ve hit the mark with me. Please understand: I live in the globally cultural epicenter known as Southwestern Indiana. …

    As an ardent admirer of The Three Stooges I enjoyed your “Mr. Sheep” post. Yup, it sounded like the 3-D cartoon that it turned out to be, according to your writing. My compliments to your husband for his efforts in your act of faith. Too many times my efforts here at home turn comedic, as well, and NO, I don’t want to discuss it / them…

    In closing, thank you for enlightening me a touch. Your posts sound like you’re both practical & have a sense of humor. As we sometimes say in Indiana with a mouthful of food upon receiving positive news regarding someone’s accomplishments, “Gooferyoo!”

    Thanks & take care, may Allah be with you in your journey. Peace!

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    1. Dave, Thank you for your open-minded consideration. It is a rarity these days when everyone is so sure they know everything about Islam, like your-neighbor’s-drinking-buddy’s-third-ex-wife’s-cousin’s-plumber’s-barber’s-mechanic does, but have never learned about it outside the news. Keep learning! And as we say down here in the South “Y’all come back now, hear?”

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  9. Salam,
    Its not a good news but a something feeling..Any how you have to study of Yusuf Estates , Abdul Raheem Green and Zakir Naik…It will help you to answer common questions posed by opponents.

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    1. Walakum Asalam Syed, What is not good news? Thank you for the suggestions. I have listen to many lectures by Yusuf Esteses, Abdul Rahmeen Green and many other wonderful speakers and scholars and plan to continue. Jazakum Allah Khair

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    2. Yeah Green, Naik and Estaes are good for apologetic if you re in 1981 and are asked questions by a by a high school drop out.

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  10. Asalamuallaikum, My name is Annuur Gewang, from Jakarta, Indonesia. I just found this blog from CNN and fell completely in love with it. I love how Islam is seen from different point of view. I like the fact that Islam is explained in modern understanding but doesn’t change the meaning. I actuallly graduated from University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. And i wish islamwhich established during my college years. Well, I haven’t browsed this blog but it would be great to know information on where to find hallal food restaurants and mosques in the States.

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    1. Walaikum Asalam, I am glad you have come upon islamwich and I wish I had started it many years ago. Isn’t it the beauty of Islam that it can be understood and interpreted by any people in any time and place and not lose anything? Alhamdulillah I like to think so. I sincerely hope you browse and enjoy the blog commenting and sharing alon the way. BTW how is Jakarta? I hear good things and that Indonesia is where the majority of Muslims live. MashaAllah.

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      1. Asalamu Alaykum
        You see you hear Anuur from Jakarta.What me from Addis Ababa. Maybe you never heard of it. It is east Africa not far east. I did not read your article in CNN. But some other web that is called wardheernews.com. Then I tried to find the link. Any way thank you for your work of Islam. May Allah rewards you and your colleagues in the west trying to propagate Islam. Please keep it up and we will follow you in this web islamwich.
        Thanks

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  11. I too studied many religions. What I found is that whatever good exists in Islam was written before it in Judaism 2000 years and Christianity 600 years before. Simply Islam was a religion put together by forging the established religions of the time Judaism and Christianity.
    There were additions in Islam that did not exist in the first two. Unfortunately they were the negative and bad versus in my opinion. There also was a few problems with Islam. Many sections were completely wrong. For example, It stated that fresh water does not mix with salt water (sea water). Well that is false. Billions of gallons mix daily as streams flow into the oceans. Many other parts were disturbing beyond belief. One such verse mentions how Muhammad watches with his 12 year old wife the beheading of 800 people which that he ordered. Another most disturbing part is that Muhammad had captured and enslaved a caravan. He forcefully married the Jewish girl and took her as his wife. On that same day he beheaded her parents.
    Today if you listen to Pew surveys Islam is the least tolerant of the religions by a long shot. A majority of Muslims support honor killings. Nearly 70% believe one leaving Islam should be killed. This to me is not a religion of love but one that brainwashes and enslaves its followers in a culture of deception.
    It does this by aggressively going after those that voice their displeasure. Read the many Pakistani Christians judged to death for blasphemy. In a recent case two that tried to help the woman were murdered.

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    1. I see that you have learned about Islam from the Orientalists. Which is not uncomon for any given college to hire and Orientalist to teach a class on Islam. The problem with this is that Orientalist intentionally misrepresent Islam. I would know I also took one of these Orientalist classes in college. Please do not talk about random nonsense when you have no clue what actually took place nor do you understand the historical or textual context. Islam is not the mixing of different religions, God sent prophets all with the same message and every time mankind would change the message, he would send another messanger. Judaism, Chrisitanity were once that origianl message until councils met to change the texts and the doctrine. Islam came to put mankind back on that path and it was the last time God sent mankind a messengar. The Quran you misunderstood, does not say that all salt water and fresh water do not mix. It says, “And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas, one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition.” This is called the Halocline Phenomenon, look it up, it exists. So this misrepresentation of this verse pretty much sums up how you portray Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): take bits that you can distort and represent them as wrong, evil, incorrect. If you want to come to me, telling me about my religion, you better have your facts straight.

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    2. Do us all a favor Aron; get off jihad watch, twitter, Wikipedia and go study some real books. Talk to real Muslims.

      Your cosy Orientalist view of history will never get you listened in the Muslim world.

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  12. Hi Corbin,

    I read your CNN interview and most of the comments here. I am from Iran and the title of “a feminist converting to Islam” took my attention very much. I read your interview carefully because I have been an official cleric in the past and I do dig deep in people’s motives regarding Islam. I wanted to ask a question if you do not mind. Why choose to have the brand of “Islam and Muslim” on you when you simply can be whatever you see right as you are right now? Or is that impossible?

    Regarding your marriage. Was very interesting 🙂

    About the list that you said:”I still wasn’t convinced and replied, “Yeah, but women are like second class citizens in your faith?”

    The very patient Muslim lady explained that, during a time when the Western world treated women like property, Islam taught that men and women were equal in the eyes of God. Islam made the woman’s consent to marriage mandatory and gave women the opportunity to inherit, own property, run businesses and participate in government.”

    Yes Islam does not recognize women as second class. But I am sure you know that Islamic jurisprudence is a bit different than what she is saying, right?

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting. Why the label Muslim and why Islam? I choose to submit my will to that of my creator, hence Muslim, as I am sure you understand the meaning of the word. Islam becasue I beleive that it is the final and complete revelation from God to mankind. And yes, In the past 17 years since I had this conversation with this Muslim woman, I have done significant amount of research of my own. And yes, I understand fiqh and how it is and has been applied in some majority Muslim countries. Thank you for your thoughtful concern.

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  13. Thank you for this blog – It has come at time when I have met and am entering into a relationship with a Muslim man, and am looking for guidance and other points of view.

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      1. I have spoken to the brother in question and that doesn’t seem likely. But it is true many shady brothers will do that. It is pretty whorey and inexcusable.

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      2. Salaam Corbin,

        I was a little taken aback when you said you spoke to the brother in question, but I am glad you had my back. 🙂 (maybe you really did? Lol.)

        In any event, I am thankful for you.

        My biggest concern is that I am a Minnesotan progressive liberal woman – can I fit in in a Muslim world?

        I hope you are well, Take care, Tamara

        Like

      3. Sorry if I freaked you out. I got an email from a brother with the other side of your story. If it was your boyfriend, he seemed to care a lot for you. 🙂

        Like

  14. Hi Corbin,

    It;s great to write to you. I was so amazed by the CNN article.You have showed the good face of Islam, and a wonderful experience that may help in changing people perspective on Islam.
    Frankly, I am still in search for a musilm convert to marry as most of converts are very inspirational, and I’d be delighted to start a life with a musilm convert woman.
    Pray that I would find her one day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It is great to hear from you. Yes, I do hope so that the article will help to change perceptions of Islam and the Muslims. InshaAllah Allah will grant you a righteous wife.

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      Reply

      1. Thanks Corbin, I’d like to ask how to stay connected with you, I mean can I add you on facebook. I really admire you

        Like

  17. Hi Guys, I was wondering if I can nominate you for the sisterhood of the world bloggers award? I’ve been in reading your posts for a while now and really look forward to reading the brilliant literature you submit . Would that be okay?

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  20. Assalamu-Alaikum sister,
    Thanks for your great efforts. I found your blog from google. Your efforts is really beautiful. Actually everybody should follow the guideline of Islam. We have a lot of mighty muslimah in our society like you. Have a look at the platform, you may got here your greatest mighty Muslimah: http://mightymuslimah.com/

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    1. MashaAllah, I love your Might Muslimah platform. It is so inspiring. I agree there are so many mighty muslimahs out there. May Allah bless you in your efforts to make people aware of all the great things modern Muslim women are accomplishing.

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  22. Hey Corbin, hope all is well and while I didn’t hear from you since a while I do hope all is well there? I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Liebster blog-award so whenever convenient please take a look at my post 🙂

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    Reply

    1. Salam Saadia, this have been wild this week. I got your email but haven’t had any time to properly respond. Thanks for the nomination! !! That is so flattering and exciting. InshaAllah I will get caught up early next week.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Great I was bit worried, hope you swim successfully through this wildness and looking to connect soon. You and the Islamwich blog deserve this nomination!!!! InshAllah looking forward!

        Like

    1. Saying men should mind their own business and stop commenting on women’s relationship with their creator really has nothing to do with equality. At all.

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      Reply

      1. Nothing to do with equality all, yup…only demented feminists can use language appropriate for whores and yet still get away with it LOL. Only in this religion can a 25 year old moron can give her alternative theories on “anal penetration”, Sodom and Gomorrah 2.0, marriage, etc…I’m ashamed of being a Muslim cause of Muslim women.

        Ever and bond between homosexuals and feminists.

        Like

      2. You have not made any point. Did you want to say something on the topic you brought to attention? You have gone off track to the extreme Westernized Feminist views and wrongfully assumed that all people who call themselves feminists agree. I wonder if you even know what is means to be a feminist at all. Well let me tell you: Feminism basically means the affirmation of the full humanity of women. Do you disagree? Would you like to make a point about your original comment on this topic?

        Like

      3. I saw you like that post…thought you agree with her or at least give her credence…if you were alive in 1855, what would you call yourself assuming you had a similar mindset as you have one today ?

        Like

      4. I did like the post and still do, becasue I do not think a woman’s relationship with her creator is any business of the random yusuf shmo out there. How can it be? It is between her and Allah. And so is the man’s relationship with his creator- not and the average Aisha shmo’s business. I would call myself a human being in 1855 and hope that I would have hadd access to enough info to have converted and also call myself a Muslim.

        Let me put it to you this way, since you seem to conflate extreme Western hyper-sexualized feminist propoganda with all feminists, would you not call yourself a Muslim becasue some Muslims act like fools and call that Islam? Not all feminists think you must be divorced from morality and faith to be a feminist, this is a minorioty, and not at all the definition of a feminism. So I ask you again, do you afirm the full humanity of women (as the Quran tells us we should)? If you do, then you are also a feminist.

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      5. Use a different word…I would not be a feminist if my life depended on it…or if someone else’s life depended.

        Like

  24. Read your interview on CNN,those same questions you asked your self before converting kept me in Islam even after my parents converted back to our former religion.My non Muslim friends say Islam is too restrictive,but surely it brings about tolerance and perseverance,for sure,there is no religion that will set you free and you feel it deep in your heart like Islam

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    1. MashaAllah, glad to hear that you have perservered. I find that Islam is only restrictive in preventing you from harming yourself or others. So yeah, restrictive, lol. Indeed there is nothing like feeling like you are doing what you are created to do, Alhamdulillah!

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  26. Assalamualaikum.
    Glad to find this blog. I’m concerned about how muslims survive as minority in liberal countries. I never experience that (living in Indonesia so far). Your blog describes interesting viewpoint about Islam and American culture.

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    Reply

  27. Assalamu’alaikum,, I just found this blog and regret that i should have find it sooner since many great posts you have here. Alhamdulillah, I am trulu happy to see many great person explaining Islam in its peacefully way, just like our beloved Prophet Muhammad. May Allah always guide us in His path.

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    Reply

    1. Walaikum Asalamu Darkjasm, It is truly great to have you here with us on islamwich. Better late than never. May Allah make us better that what people think, grant us beneficial knowledge, and allow us to meet in this life and in Jennah!
      Jazakum Allahu Khair!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
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