Just a Peek, Please?

April 22, 2016April 21, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 1 Comment

Written by Janet Kozak

In January 2015, Artist Ameena Khan put a call out to some Muslim women. She asked for art contributions to her newest series of paintings entitled “Just a Peek, Please?” Those who replied to her inquiry were asked to give a personal statement they wanted to share with a stranger.

Khan did not give any guidance other than asking them to be honest. What the women sent back were stories, memories, poems, and confessions.

Khan also asked those who wore hijab to donate a scarf that she could use in the work. It was bold choice that makes the art all the more powerful. Knowing that the included scarves belonged to (and were worn by) real women, helps us connect more to both the art and story. The series of 26 mixed media paintings on 12″x12″ canvases was started and completed in 2015 – though Khan began brainstorming the concept about two years prior.

One of the 26 paintings and poems in the series, Stages of Live, depicts the poignant narrative life story of a woman who is proud to both wear hijab in life and be buried in it as well.

Stages of Life, 2015. Image copyright Ameena Khan

“When I donned the hijab in 1980, covering was like a carefully placed bandage over a deep wound. Since then I have covered at work, at school, while nursing my babies, through chemotherapy and radiation, and past hostile stares. In the end, when I return to Allah (SWT) my sisters in Islam will cover me in finality and with love. I live, and die, under this cover of honor.”

Behind Picket Fences: A Review

April 15, 2016October 10, 2016 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.

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.

Terrorism Knows No Religion: Podcast ep. 1

April 8, 2016May 19, 2017 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).

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.

Making Mocktails

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 by ssiam ♥ 2 Comments

Written by Stephanie Siam

Mocktail (noun): Any alcohol free, non-alcoholic beverages, and specifically the non-alcoholic versions of typically alcoholic beverages like cocktails.

I don’t know about where you live, but it’s starting to get hot here in Oman. And when the weather gets hot, I don’t feel much like eating (amazingly, there IS something that curbs my appetite). However, no matter who you are, resisting the temptation of a chilled fruity drink is futile.

So, today we thought we’d turn it down a notch by sharing a couple of amazing mocktail recipes that will leave you refreshed and fulfilled on those hot summer nights or warm spring afternoons.

First things first: you may be wondering how to create a tasty but uniquely palatable drink that doesn’t just involve mixing some grenadine (pomegranate syrup) with a Coca-Cola. Granted, the following recipes do include grenadine. However, it’s not the main ingredient.

United Muslim Relief Aim to Improve Lives

March 25, 2016July 21, 2017 by Corbin ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

United Muslim Relief Aim To Improve Lives

The UMR known as the United Muslim Relief is an organization that integrates various global partners in providing services related to development. Also, this important group offers relief to the underserved and underprivileged communities across the globe.

The United Muslim Relief accomplishes these missions in the process of linking various factors. Some of these aspects include empowering communities through education, youth mobilization, disaster response, advocacy and aid delivery.

The UMR strive to warrant targeted as well as cost effective relief along with several developmental programs that are focused on improving lives. The programs offered by this organization are meant to provide students with outlets that allow for awareness for the individuals and raising support to those who may have become victims of natural or man-made disasters, poverty, and catastrophes.

Over and above these services the United Muslim Relief organization has hopes involved in nurturing environments that comprise of compassion for these students while at the same time offering outlets for community service, global impacts and the positive attitude related to giving. The UMR promotes as well as encourages partnerships to occur between different student organizations with the goal of achieving a shared vision.

Commonly Misheard “Muslim” Words

March 18, 2016March 18, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 7 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Malaprops happen. Malaprop (noun): the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect.

In fact, I have run into many intelligent people who malaprop all over the place. “Arachnids” have become ARK-a-nides (A ship filled with pheasants?). And “hyperbole” has been known to sound more like HYPER-bowl (a Super Bowl for ADHD sufferers?). These malaprops are happening all over the place. To smart people. It’s pandemic. And it’s hilarious.

Malaprops of “Muslim” words are happening with great frequency here in the West. We Westerners are just not used to the interesting ways in which Arabic demands to be spoken by every part of the mouth, tongue, and throat. And because our Western tongues and ears are unaccustomed to linguistic acrobatics (we are lazier in our lingua), malaprops happen. And they are hilarious.

Here are a few I have come across and what happens when wily words go wrong.

Mushroom=Mahram

A mahram is a male relative tasked with protecting and providing for his female relatives. A woman’s father, brother, uncle, etc. are her mahrams. But, my brother wanted to know why I was calling him my mushroom.

I blame it on the way he dresses:

The Mushroom Man by aelthwyn — he was really asking for it

Trolls, Lies, and Ego

March 11, 2016March 18, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 14 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

It all started when I wrote about my Islamic experience, and a major news network picked up the “story”. I spoke about my journey and what I learned beyond just myths. I spoke about how we can defeat hate if we dispel ignorance.

And that pissed quite a few people off. My truth contradicted the lies haters/Islamophobes/self-described ‘infidels’ tell themselves. And their attack of me began, and hasn’t ended to date. Because how dare I promote peace and understanding? How dare I!

So I spent a lot of time being hurt, traumatized, and heart-broken because I am a human being and have actual feelings. After thousands of tweets, messages, emails, comments from people calling me every name in the book and wishing me every manner of harm, I realized it’s not important. Getting angry or fighting back about who I am just doesn’t matter. It’s not about me. And I still struggle with this. The ego is a hard thing to keep in check.

But when people lie about Islam, it is a problem.

I have seen this really ignorant meme with my face and quote on it floating around twitter for sometime now and I feel it is high time I correct its ignorance because it is not about me. It is about Islam.

I cannot be quiet when Islam is slandered. I cannot stand for that.

Likewise, I will not stand with any Muslim who claims to follow Islam when they mean plain ole misogyny. While the claims in the meme are not true about Islam, they are true actions from some who call themselves Muslim. And that, to me, is even worse than non-Muslims lying about Islam. I cannot ignore that. I will not stand for that either!

Read more about my journey to Australia to speak out against Muslim misogynists here.

Update: After some research, I have found that I was incorrect about the stoning of the married adulterer. This can be found in authenticated hadith and is the punishment for both a man or a woman who commits adultery while married. I have changed the graphic to reflect this. Thanks to Stephanie Siam for keeping me on my toes and always pushing me toward correct knowledge.

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