Category: Stuff by Theresa Corbin

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The Truth About Child Marriages: Part 2

by Corbin ♥ 8 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin in collaboration with Saadia Haq of The Human Lens

As we read in Part 1 (here), penned by our feminist friend, proud Pakistani, and human rights worker, Saadia Haq, we have a serious crisis in the Muslim world. Just one?! No, not by a long shot. But this particular crisis girls are facing is quite serious. Marriage. No child should even have to think about, much less fear the “M” word.

We are seeing a number of underaged Muslim girls being forced by their parents into marriages, all while being told that the injustices done to them are perfectly acceptable in Islam.

There is nothing new about claiming power illegitimately in the name of the Divine. It is the basis of my series, Take Back Islam. It happens in all faiths and at all levels, from familial to governmental.  

Slapping the label of religion on something doesn’t necessarily make is so. This is the case with child and forced marriages.

child marriage graphic p2

Underaged

Some use the following Qur’anic verse as a justification for underaged marriages:

“And if you are in doubt about those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, (you should know that) their waiting period is three months, and the same applies to those who have not menstruated as yet. As for pregnant women, their period ends when they have delivered their burden.” (Qur’an 65:4)

A better translation of this verse would be:

“Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if you have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same): for those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens: and for those who fear God, He will make their path easy.” (Qur’an 65:4)

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The Truth About Child Marriages: Myth v. Reality- Excavating Shariah, Part I

by Corbin ♥ 3 Comments

Part I, Written by Saadia Haq of The Human Lens in collaboration with Theresa Corbin

The topic of prevailing child marriages among Muslim communities makes the bravest of the brave writers think twice, as this thorny subject is sure to bring negative backlash to the persons ‘considered  traitors for airing the dirty linen’ in public.

But let’s not be fools as to bury our heads under the sand as certain groups use all sorts of excuses for global pedophilia. The prevalence of child marriages is evident in Africa Sub Saharan, Middle East and Asia. And when girls aged 7, 9 or 14 are married off, that’s just plain sick. Still in much of the Muslim world and or where Muslims live, the practice of child marriages continues because its part of the native ‘tradition and culture’.

child marriage part 1

 

… Continue reading about  victims of this inhuman and unIslamic practice in part 1 here on Saadia’s website.

Part 2 here

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5 Pivotal Moments That Took Place in Ramadan

by Corbin ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Written by Theresa Corbin

Stroll with us down memory lane as we take a look at some of the significant moments of Ramadans gone by.

Ramadan is a month full of blessings. And throughout the ages it has been a month full of events that have turned the tide of history. Many Muslims are well versed in the momentous events that took place during the months of Ramadan in life of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

However, records of Ramadan events throughout history trail off after the time of the Prophet (pbuh) and his immediate companions, causing Ramadan phenomena to be lost to obscurity.

It is hard to believe that it has been 1,436 years since the first Ramadan was celebrated by the Prophet and the early Muslims. In all that time, God continues to bless us in the holy month throughout history.

All holy books were revealed in Ramadan

bible-quran

The Suhuf or Scrolls were revealed to Abraham (PBUH), The Torah was revealed to Moses (PBUH), The Psalms were revealed to David (PBUH), The Gospel was revealed to Jesus (PBUH), and The Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad (PBUH) all in the month of Ramadan.¹

The father of Trigonometry was born

Abu al-Wafa al-Būzjānī

On the second of Ramadan in 328 AH –June 10, 940 CE– Abu al-Wafa al-Būzjānī was born. An astronomers and mathematicians, Abu al-Wafa made significant contributions in observational astronomy and trigonometry.²

Slavery was abolished in the US

13th amendment

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery. This important Amendment was passed by the House of Representatives on the 5th day of Ramadan 1281 AH— January 31, 1865.³

World’s first antibiotic was introduced

Alexander_Fleming

On the 5th of Ramadan 1347 AH—February 14, 1929—Sir Alexander Fleming introduced his mold by-product called penicillin that would later save millions of lives. 4

Two world wars ended

peace
World War I ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles (29 Ramadan 1337 AH / June 28, 1919) and World War II ended with the surrender of the Empire of Japan on (24 Ramadan 1364 AH / September 2, 1945).

Click here to see more pivotal historical moments that happened during Ramadan. 

¹Tafsir Ibn Kathir 2:185

²http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/abu-al-wafa-al-buzjan%C3%AE

³http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/house-passes-the-13th-amendment

4 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/penicillin-discovered

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Ramadan Ramp-Up

by Corbin ♥ 5 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Ramadan is coming! And we are excited!!

What is Ramadan, you ask?

Ramadan is a month of fasting from sun up to sun down and so much more. Read more here if you are a non-Muslim and have like a million more questions.

Why would we be excited about THAT, you ask?

Well, if you let it, fasting in Ramadan can transform you into a healthier and more spiritual, grateful, charitable, patient, and disciplined person. Ramadan is a month where you empty your stomach to feed your soul.

This year, I decided to be prepared for Ramadan instead of letting it sneak up on me like I usually does. And I thought why not share my prep with the good people who come to islamwich. So here are a few great ways to prepare for the holy month. Please feel free to share yours in the comments.

Ramadan Ramp-up

Three ways to Ramp-Up to Ramadan

Pre-Ramadan Reminders

Fasting prior to the month of Ramadan is pretty much the only way to get your stomach ready for the Ramadan-athon. And bonus!, fasting any time of the year is good for the soul.

This year I made a printout that both lets me keep track of how many days are left until Ramadan and lets me know the times I have to begin and end my fast.

I bought a document frame (8.5″x 11″) at the Dollar Tree (holla! it’s a dolla!). Printed this doc that you can download here and used one of my liquid chalk pens (you can use dry erase marker or any marker that can be wiped away daily) to update on top of the glass of the picture frame. Read more ›

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Patience in an Abusive Marriage?: Podcast ep. 2

by UmDayo ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Podcasted by Kaighla Um Dayo and Theresa Corbin

 

Too many Muslims are suffering (and forcing their kids to suffer) in an abusive marriage, often under the belief and delusion that somehow Allah loves those who patiently endure abuse at the hands of their spouse. Or, they believe that what they are suffering isn’t *exactly* abuse. Or, worse, they have been told by religious leaders and family members to “stay for the sake of the kids and have patience”.

Here, we refute all these myths.

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Behind Picket Fences: A Review

by Corbin ♥ 9 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

A new book is out today, and I had the pleasure of getting an advanced copy.

Behind Picket Fences, by Hend Hegazi, is a fiction novel that follows the lives of 4 couples in one neighborhood. Honestly, I was not super jazzed about reading the book at first because most everything I pick up to read lately has been disappointing. :/

But after the first chapter of Behind Picket Fences flew by, I knew this book would was going to break the literary dry spell. Once I had finished the second chapter, I was living the story. Behind Picket Fences has so much raw, emotional truth in it that it brought me to tears, both happy and sad, a number of times. 

behind fences

 

Every chapter leaves you wanting more. And every new chapter picks up the thread of another couple’s story. Each tale beautifully interwoven with the others as the neighbors lives profoundly affect one another.

All couples see each other’s lives as some how better than their own, even though each couple has their own struggles to wade through. 

But the best part about this novel is that it normalizes Muslim life in America in a time where we desperately need to see that.

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Terrorism Knows No Religion: Podcast ep. 1

by Corbin ♥ 2 Comments

Podcasted by Kaighla Um Dayo & Theresa Corbin

Here at islamwich, we discuss all things Muslim, all things ‘merican, and everything in between. Some things, though, need a little more than a few hundred words (ok, a lot more).

SIGN ME UP!

Twice a month (give or take), Theresa Corbin and Kaighla Um Dayo exchange witty banter and (somewhat) intelligent conversation right here, on the islamwich Podcast, all while helping bridge the gap between Islam and ‘merica. 

(If you train your eye up there on the pages tabs, you’ll see our new islamwich podcast page. You can find any and all of our future podcasts listed there.)

Enjoy the first in the islamwich podcast series “The ‘Us & Them’ Illusion & Double Standards”. In this episode, we discuss why there is a double standard when tragedy strikes in the West vs. when the same tragedy happens in the East, why #blacklivesmatter is necessary, and the importance of remembering even the most evil people (yes, even Trump and Cruz) are human beings, too.

 

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