Cii Radio Interview - The Intellectual Challenge: Post 9/11 and Reversion to Islam | Aishah Schwartz (2005)

Assalamu Alaikum.

For the first time in 12-years, a radio interview I did with another revert sister in 2005 is now available online, Al-hamdulillah.

Listen to Aishah Schwartz (via Egypt) and Sumayah Fayed's (via USA) 2005 interview on the Cii Broadcasting–South Africa radio program, The Intellectual Challenge: Post 9/11 and Reversion to Islam on #SoundCloud
 

[Part 1] - (Begins at minute 1:11) https://soundcloud.com/aishah-schwartz/cii-radio-interview-2005-part1-aishah-schwartz

[Part 2] https://soundcloud.com/aishah-schwartz/cii-radio-south-africa-interview-part-2-aishah-schwartz

It was nostalgic listening again to the interview, but Subhan'Allah, here we are – 12-years later – and Islamophobia is worse than ever. لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ
La Hawla wa la Quwatta illa Billah (There is no Might or Power except with Allah)

Please feel free to listen and share, insha'Allah.

Ma'Salaama.
Aishah

Copyright ©Aishah Schwartz 2017 Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. Contact author for all other rights, which are reserved.

A Life Example of Surah At-Talaq 65:3

So why am I posting this? I'll tell you why.

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا {3 

And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.

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All day I was planning to go outside as the weather had taken a change for the better (as in being about 10 degrees cooler than it has been in weeks), but one thing after another delayed me and it turned out by nightfall I was still at home. So, with the last 100Le I had, I sent the doorman to retrieve a few things for me from the market. Well, that took care of that 100Le. lol

Then what happened?

I was looking for something in a bag I had hanging in the bedroom, and, subhan'Allah...I found 150Le - that I didn't know/remember I had.

Allah Akbar.

VIDEO: Muslim Women Expressing Views and Clearing Some Misconceptions About #Niqab

I like this video because it helps people who are willing to hear with an open mind, the reasons why some Muslim women wear niqab.

Although I personally disagree that it is required vs. being optional, I also saw and felt with my own eyes, heart and mind, the very same things that the sisters speak of in this video about wearing it.

I wore niqab for one year in 2005, during the period when I lived in Saudi Arabia. And I will never forget the feeling of liberation I experienced in its protection from eyes boring through me by men so foolish as to break their necks for the sake of seeing any sign of the color of my skin, or even the green of my eyes (I wore the  triple layer version with the eye screen; loved it!).

Wearing niqab in Saudi Arabia was empowering in that it gave me the option to say to those wishing to stare, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah! You can't see me!" It was glorious. And I don't regret one minute of the time I spent wearing it. In fact, upon reentering the U.S. in 2006, it took me three months to be able to go outside again without it. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala knows Best.

Islam teaches us that a smile is charity, so why should the reward for such a thing be restricted to men? And why would they be instructed to lower their gaze if everyone was walking around completely covered from head to toe, including faces? So, I have opted to share my smile.

RELATED
Even a Smile is Charity: A Life Example
By Aishah Schwartz for OnIslam.net

Muslim women expressing their views and clearing some misconceptions about #Niqab. Video by Campaign Islam.
Posted by Islam port on Sunday, April 26, 2015

A Muslimah Revert's Reflection on Christmas by Aishah Schwartz for OnIslam

Click on Image to Read

Polygyny: Is it Fair? (Introduction) by Aishah Schwartz for OnIslam

Click on Image to Read

How Not to Marry a Foreigner by Aishah Schwartz for OnIslam.net

Click on Image to Read

Al-hamdulillah for everything...another visit to the masjid

Hurghada Masjid, Red Sea, Egypt.

Countless wretched experiences at masjids have pretty much resulted in my virtual disappearance from them altogether, yet time and again I put myself out there, for what reason only Allâh subhanahu wa ta'ala knows.

Today I was patiently enduring the booming voice of the Imam beating down over my head from the loudspeaker system by reading Surah Al-Kahf via mobile.

The Imam brought his lecture to a close with at least ten minutes of dua in a voice double the loudness of his lecture. Through the bass enhanced speaker system it was more than I could bear (especially w/out understanding Arabic), and I made my way out of the prayer hall.

Outside I stepped around the corner to find a quiet spot to continue my intention to pray today at the masjid. (see photo)

I was standing waiting for the prayer to begin, having found a scrap of cardboard for a place to rest my forehead, when suddenly a woman with a crying child came up the step beside me moving to barge right between my feet and the cardboard.

Sadly, I just lost it. I was already feeling stressed before even arriving to the masjid, but pushed myself to go thinking it would somehow make me feel better. Instead, I found myself blurting out a string of angry Astifurgallah Al-Azeems while motioning for the woman to go around the pillar directly in front of me. She did.

The Imam finally began the prayer. Throughout the entire prayer the woman's child stood in front of her crying crockadile tears & repeating, "momma, momma, momma".

And I stood there crying a river of tears out of remorse for having had a short temper with the woman.

When the prayer finished, as we rose together to our feet, she spoke before I could, but we were saying, "sorry" at nearly the same time. Subhan'Allah.

Hurghada Marina, Red Sea, Egypt.

We rose to our feet simultaneously and without hesitation, embraced--for what was at least a full two minutes; both of us crying. Subhan'Allah.

I left the masjid and went to the Marina for a glass of fresh orange juice.

I can't say when the next time will be that I try to go to a masjid, but when I do, in the very least I will do my best, insha'Allah, to not lose patience.

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FYI, the doors seen in the photo are on the far side of the building (still under construction) and not used. Thus it was with realistic expectations that one could presume to be able to pray there unnoticed and undisturbed; but as evidenced by this story, you never know.

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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The video below is a product of this event.

MWA Celebrates Ramadan 2012 Blog Project Resounding Success

Click to view larger size.

"MWA extends Eid greetings to one-and-all, and appreciation to the viewers who supported this year's campaign. May the peace and blessings of Ramadan remain within us until we meet again in 2013, insha'Allah" – MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 23, 2012 - Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) is thrilled to announce that its 2012 MWA Celebrates Ramadan blogging campaign was a resounding success!

During Ramadan 2012, the MWA Celebrates Ramadan blog project, featuring member experiences, poetry, recipes and photos, more than doubled the amount of page views in a single month alone over the number it had accumulated throughout the previous year.

MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz, would like to express appreciation to the following MWA Celebrates Ramadan blog project contributors: Asma Zaman, Eren Cervantes-Altamirano, Farah Kinani, Isahah Janette Grant, Jennifer Infante, Jennifer Kabir, Khulood Arendse, Nancy Biddle, Rasha El Khateeb, Saba N. Taylor, Sariya Contractor and Zainab John.

Top posts included: Asma Zaman's reflections and remembrance on Ramadan, Farah Kinani's Ramadan resolution, Janette Grant's inspirational post on how to connect in Ramadan, and Jennifer Infante's favorite Iftar recipe: Mediterranean rosemary herb lemon chicken.

Special thanks is also extended to MWA Member Coordinator Isahah Janette Grant for cross-publishing several of the MWA's Ramadan blog posts at Examiner.com.

Additionally, MWA Director, Aishah Schwartz, was invited to give a brief radio interview on MWA's Ramadan Buddy 2012 Quit Smoking campaign (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKQrcT1CjqA). The Indonesian language article is available online at http://www.voaindonesia.com/content/kelompok-perempuan-mualaf-as-kampanyekan-anti-rokok-selama-ramadan/1489100.html and has been viewed nearly 2,000 times to-date.

Indonesia's leading mainstream publication, Republika, also published the VOA article at http://www.republika.co.id/berita/dunia-islam/islam-mancanegara/12/08/16/m8tljw-saat-ramadhan-perempuan-mualaf-as-kampanye-antirokok.

To round-off the second annual MWA Celebrates Ramadan campaign a YouTube video (http://youtu.be/-SnD2XI7xOw) has been added to the blog providing a visualization of the Eid prayer via Egypt together with the traditional Eid Takbir as the soundtrack. A commercial photo album of the event was also published at the London-based photojournalist site, Demotix (http://www.demotix.com/news/1396581/end-ramadan-eid-ul-fitr-prayer-hurghada-marina-mosque-egypt).

"On behalf of the membership, I would like to extend Eid greetings to one-and-all, and appreciation the viewers who supported the 2012 MWA Celebrates Ramadan campaign. May the peace and blessings of Ramadan remain within us all until we meet again in 2013, insha'Allah," stated Schwartz.

Learn more about the activities of MWA members at http://mwa-online.blogspot.com or visit the MWA Press Room at http://pressroom.prlog.org/mwa-net.

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Happy Eid!

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.

VIDEO: Aishah's first week of Ramadan 2012; check it out!

Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) Celebrates Ramadan 2012

We're only three days into Ramadan 2012, but check-out what we've already been up to! 
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Ramadan 2012 - Announcements

• Ramadan Kareem from Muslimah Writers Alliance!
• Muslimah Writers Alliance Announces its 3rd Annual Adopt a Ramadan Buddy Campaign with a Twist!
• NEW! MWA member Farah Kinani's children's book on Ramadan 
• Gearing up for Ramadan 2012 - What better way than to quit smoking!

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER SIZE
Ramadan 2012 - Photos

• Aishah's Ramadan has finally commenced: the pizza has arrived :-)
• MWA's Aishah Schwartz shares an after iftar Ramadan day two photo essay
• MWA member Rasha El Khateeb and daughter Mimi create a Ramadan lantern
• Oatmeal; it does a body good - Aishah's suhoor Ramadan day two
• Ramadan the first day; Aishah's not so typical iftar
• MWA's Aishah Schwartz welcomes Ramadan with a suhoor snack; starting out light this year :-)
• Welcome Ramadan! (First sighting of traditional fanoos)
• Gearing up for Ramadan! Supplies delivered! Woot! Woot!

Ramadan 2012 - Poetry

• MWA's Nancy Biddle shares a poem 'Oh Ramadan! Day Two'
• MWA's Aishah Schwartz shares a few thoughts and a poem on the essence of Ramadan 

Ramadan 2012 - Journals

• MWA's Janette Grant hopes you'll be inspired and connect this Ramadan; learn how!
• MWA member Khulood Arendse enters her third Ramadan
• MWA's Farah Kinani shares a Ramadan resolution
• Green your Ramadan in your home and masjid

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.

Ramadan Kareem!

Follow MWA through Ramadan

at http://mwa-ramadan.blogspot.com

Follow MWA Member Activities

at http://mwa-online.blogspot.com

or "Like" Aishah Schwartz on Facebook

at http://www.facebook.com/aishahschwartz.activist

Welcome Ramadan!

My first lantern sighting of the Ramadan 2012 season! Woot! Woot!

Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) Celebrates Ramadan!

Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) members share their Ramadan experiences, journals, recipes, pictures, poetry and more! May the peace and blessings of Ramadan be upon you and your family, insha'Allah.

Join the MWA Ramadan celebration!

Visit us at http://mwa-ramadan.blogspot.com

Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. Contact author for all other rights, which are reserved.

American Activist, Aishah Schwartz on Tunisia's Revolution

We must stand in solidarity with the Tunisian people, who, in choosing to rise above 23-years of repression, share a glorious victory in delivering their oppressor to Saudi Arabia; the cradle of the religion of the people he sought to stifle.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - http://prlog.org/11224676

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2011) – When 26-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi lost hope in the future and set himself on fire on December 17, no one expected it would be the undoing of the 23-year-long rule of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, 74, but the world's attention is now riveted on a revolution renewing hope for the 10.4 million beleaguered citizens of Tunisia.

‎"I believe as Muslims we must stand in solidarity with the Tunisian people, who, in choosing to rise above 23-years of repression, share a glorious victory in delivering their oppressor to Saudi Arabia; the cradle of the religion of the people he sought to stifle," stated American Activist, Aishah Schwartz.

Schwartz added, "May Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali find in the Creator of the land into which he has sought refuge, the mercy he withheld from the citizens of Tunisia, and may Allah (swt) facilitate the country's recovery with ease, insha'Allah."

Regarding Saudi history of offering sanctuary to indisposed leaders, Schwartz continued: "As Muslims we believe Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to be Most Gracious, Most Merciful and Oft-Forgiving, insha'Allah, and, that we should wish for others what we wish for ourselves. Therefore, if, insha'Allah, even one of those indisposed leaders were to repent and turn to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, perhaps it will also make a difference on the Day of Judgment for the harm Saudi leadership has also oft-times brought to the religion of Islam through its own errant leadership; or, at times, lack thereof. That said, I do, however, recognize that Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been diligent in striving to bring positive change and reform throughout his reign, and we must pray that his efforts continue to be facilitated, insha'Allah.

"Muslims, Saudi or otherwise, have a moral obligation and duty to stand in correction of themselves if they fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and the Day of Judgment," concluded Schwartz.

Sunday's Washington Post reported that, as the ousted Ben Ali flew into exile in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the Saudi government issued a statement seemingly designed to forestall unwelcome comparisons between the new guest and the ruling Saudi monarchy.

"The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces that it stands fully behind the Tunisian people," it said.

A sentiment news reports indicate seems to be resonating across the Arab world and beyond, was offered by Rami Khouri of the American University of Beirut, "Tunis today may well go down in history as the Arab equivalent of the Solidarity movement in the Gdansk shipyard in Poland in 1980 that sparked wider protests that, a decade later, ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire."

After toppling his predecessor, Habib Bourguiba, in November 1987, Ben Ali scrapped the former's title of "president for life", limiting the number of presidential terms to three, but later consolidated his rule by muzzling the opposition, keeping strong control of the media and armed forces and gradually re-extending the number of terms allowed to the presidency under the constitution.

Selim Ben Hassen, the Paris-based president of the Byrsa citizens movement credits Facebook for spreading word of the unrest and bolstering timid citizens to break their traditional code of silence, "The psychological barrier of fear has fallen," Ben Hassen said. "People now know it's possible to go into the streets, cry 'Freedom!' and say 'We don't want a president for life."'

RELATED:
Aishah Schwartz on the Women's Rights Movement in Saudi Arabia
Aishah Schwartz on Gaza
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Looking Toward the Eve of Eid ul-Adha...

By Aishah Schwartz
Originally published January 9, 2006

It's hard to believe this time last year (2005) I was at Arafat making Hajj. Al-hamdulillah!

What a difference there is between how I felt during that time and how I feel today.

While it is true that I have surrounded myself with reminders of being in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah through prior blog posts and communication with friends via email, and tried to do a good deed here and there, the truth is there hasn't been much in my environment lending itself to the suggestion that Eid ul-Adha is supposed to be a time of festivity.

After rising from a short nap this afternoon I prayed Asr and dressed to go outside for a walk. Al-hamdulillah the weather is still quite pleasant here in Alexandria, although the skies were somewhat overcast, indicative of my non-festive mood.

On reaching the end of the street adjacent to the apartment building where I live, deciding to turn left, I immediately ran into an impromptu barnyard; a first sign of the upcoming Eid holiday. Subhan'Allah.

I started to walk right past the goat curled up on the sidewalk against the wall in front of a parked car, the cow tethered next to it, and the lamb watching me from across the street (pictured above), when I came to an abrupt stop to turn around, realizing I was leaving behind a perfect photo opportunity, which in turn, provided the inspiration for this story.

My mind is flooded, much like our campground was the day after we returned from Arafat to Mina during last year's Hajj. I remember thinking how symbolic it was that Mecca was hit with a rare, thunderous rainstorm that drenched the entire area, including our Mina campground, the day after Eid as many pilgrims began to depart for Masjid al Haram to make their final tawaf, marking the end of Hajj.

Pilgrim Mohamed Jamal Khan, from the Pakistani city of Peshawar summarized my thoughts most succinctly: "Rain is always a blessing and for it to fall so hard at the end of our hajj rituals means our sins are washed away and God has accepted our prayers."

Despite the subsequent flood that threatened to dampen the spirits of the record 2.56 million pilgrims, if a poll had been taken of the sisters in the camp at Mina that had been my home-away-from-home for the most amazing five days of my life, you would have been hard-pressed to find a single one anxious for the week to end.

On the contrary, we were most reluctant to leave behind the new friendships we had forged with one another, bonds made with sisters who had come from near and far. We had grown into this huge, somehow instantly and forever connected, happy family.

Returning from making the third and final jamarat the day after the flood, I knew the time had come to prepare for departure. However, I failed to realize on agreeing to be ready for boarding the bus back to Taif within five minutes, how impossible it would be to say goodbye in such a short period of time.

I solemnly walked down the indoor-outdoor green carpet path to the entrance of my tent, and stepping inside went straight to where my packed belongings were waiting for me.

As I reached to pick up my tote bag and turned around to face the tent's entrance again, there stood the group of sweet young sisters who had been my closest bunkmates. Tears immediately welled in my eyes as one by one they stepped forward to hug me. I somehow knew the next five minutes of my life would seem like an eternity as the farewells commenced.

Stepping outside the folds of the tent's opening, the biggest surprise of all was right before my eyes. Perched neatly in a row along the top of a short block wall sat each one of the nine servant girls who had adopted me (and I them), waiting for me to come out so they could say goodbye.

Passing by each one, feeling their arms embrace me, and meeting their tearful faces eye-to-eye, it felt as though my heart was being ripped right out of my chest.

The tiniest one, a young girl from Mecca, reminded me that she would gladly squeeze herself into my suit case and go home with me in order to continue her ritual of combing out my freshly shampooed hair; a memory that makes me smile every time I picture her innocent face.

But coming to the end of the line was the hardest thing ever, as there sat 'little u nour'. (That is how she always signs her text messages.) Nour (and her mother, Umm Mustafa) had become the most dear to me of everyone I had met that week. As her tear-filled eyes met mine, it felt as though I couldn't bear to say good-bye to her, and prying myself from her arms was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

As our bus began the winding, slow journey out of Mina I pulled a niqab from my handbag and fastened it behind my head, grateful for the comfort it provided in covering the tears that continued to stream uncontrollably down my cheeks.

I sat reflectively and recalled my first Ramadan and the iftars shared with sisters who had gathered at the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C. One evening after breaking our fasts, praying Maghrib, and eating our mini-feast, we sat visiting, enjoying sweets and hot tea. After a short time our conversation ventured into the topic of Hajj. A few of the sisters had already made hajj and began to share their experiences. I remember, being that I was still pretty new to Islam, listening with the utmost attention, drinking in every word.

In that evening's conversation I heard the bad and the good, the harsh realities, the blessings and joys. I remember being so grateful for the opportunity to hear their stories. But what I remembered the most from that conversation as we drove out of Mina, having just completed my own hajj, was the unanimously spoken sentiment, "When it's time to leave, you won't want to go."

Watching Mina's seemingly endless sea of white tent domes pass from view, I realized no truer words had ever been spoken.

I found something recently in randomly reading through other blogs, that seemed so profound that I saved it, and tonight I think it pretty well wraps up my thoughts this Eid ul-Adha eve:

"Truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah. And in it there is an emptiness that cannot be filled except with love for Allah and by turning to and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness." (Ibn al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya)


Copyright © 2006 Aishah Schwartz
Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. Contact author for all other rights, which are reserved.

Pondering the Best Deeds of the First 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah

By Aishah Schwartz
November 18, 2009 (updated)
January 8, 2006 (original publication date)
TINY URL: http://tinyurl.com/yankuf9

NOVEMBER 7, 2010 - It's here! The first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah! And, subhan'Allah, as I sat updating this in November 2009, I was still reliving moments shared earlier in the day with two very dear people, married 36-years, preparing to board the passenger vessel, Dhab, at Safaga, Egypt – destination, the experience of a lifetime (and their first) – HAJJ! My heart swelled as I remembered those very first steps for my own hajj  experience – and the memories came flooding back as if it were yesterday, not, wow…four, now five years ago? Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

Many of you may have already read your share of articles about the virtues of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, but try to trust me when I say; this one is a little different.

The first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are noted to be among the special seasons of worship preferred by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala over all other days of the year, and a Muslim has to seize every opportunity that could bring him or her closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, no doubt about that.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." [emphasis] The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." (Bukhari)

Another hadith affirming that fasting is one of the best deeds, urges us to fast on the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) as the reward for fasting on this day is multiplied greatly:

It is said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Fasting the Day of Arafat atones for two years of [minor] sins, the year prior and one forthcoming." (Reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud and others.) (Fiqh-us-Sunnah Vol. 3 Page 124c.)

It is my most sincere dua that each Muslim who has this knowledge and is able to, takes advantage of the great benefit to be derived from fasting on this special day.

However, perhaps in not specifically stating that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted each of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, is it not within the realm of possibility that there are other ways to perform good deeds in addition to fasting on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah? Of course!

In further reflecting on the best of deeds, we might first, as a wise friend of mine has often said, go back to the basics...the five pillars.

As Muslims we have already achieved the first pillar, the testimony of faith (saying with conviction, "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah." This saying means "There is no true god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God."

Zakaat (alms), being the third pillar, is what a believer returns out of his or her wealth to the neediest of Muslims for the sake of the Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala; it is an obligation upon every Muslim who possesses the minimum Nisaab (requirement). The word itself means to increase, purify and bless. "… what you give in Zakaat, seeking Allah's Pleasure, then it is those who shall gain reward manifold..." (30:39)

The fourth pillar, fasting the month of Ramadan, we did our best to complete, insha'Allah (for those of us who were able), as it has already passed.

And the fifth pillar Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), which is made during the month of Dhul-Hijjah (a one-time requirement for those with means), is something I hope we all pray that each and every Muslim gets the opportunity to perform, insha'Allah.

I bet you thought I forgot the second pillar, often referred to as the "central" pillar of Islam, salat (or prayer), but I saved that one for last on purpose.

In consideration of what is within our means to do when looking for the "best deeds" - one of the simplest things that came to mind (which doesn't cost us a thing monetarily), is to perfect our salat.

• Are we making our best effort to pray on time?
• Are we making our best effort to concentrate?
• Are we striving to make our salat in a state of humility and consciousness?
• Are we making our best effort to perfect the surah's we recite in our salat?
• Are we rushing off after salat without making dhikr?
• Are we missing salat altogether?
• Are we making up missed salat?
• Are we lazy and lacking in commitment?
• Are the men in our lives praying as much as possible in the masjid?

Bottom line: Are we making our best effort to perfect our salat?

Be conscious of Allah's angels who have shifts - one by day and one by night - to monitor your condition and your prayers and report to Allah Most High.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are shifts which rotate with regard to you - angels by night and angels by day. They all meet during the dawn prayer and during the afternoon prayer. Then those who spent the night with you go up and their Lord asks them – and He is the most knowledgeable of them - 'In what state did you leave my slaves?' They answer: 'We left them praying after having come to them while they were praying.' (Muslim & Bukhari)

Need an even stronger incentive to safeguard and perfect this most important second pillar of Islam?

Narrated Abu Qatadah ibn Rab'i: "Allah, the Exalted said: I made five times' prayers obligatory on your people, and I took a guarantee that if anyone observes them regularly at their times, I shall admit him to Paradise; if anyone does not offer them regularly, there is no such guarantee of Mine for him." Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 2, Number 430, Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

In conclusion, when seeking a determination as to what might be considered amongst the "best deeds", we really don't have to look any farther than our knees, do we?

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guide us, forgive our sins, protect us from the hellfire...and reward our intention to perfect our salat. Amin.

Copyright © 2006 - Aishah Schwartz
Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. Contact author for all other rights, which are reserved.

URL: http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com/2006/01/pondering-best-deeds-of-first-10-days.html
http://www.naseeb.com/naseebvibes/authors-detail.php?uid=51858532817598

Also by Aishah Schwartz
Al-Jamarat: The Rest of the Story
You're Back from Hajj…Now What?