What We Learned Along the Way is about 4 Muslim women, but don’t let that scare you. It’s also about you. Confused? Read on.

When you walk into a bookstore, two things become immediately obvious: 1) the wide assortment of books, and 2.) the many section signs that help guide book seekers to their destinations. No matter if you’re looking for the latest Twilight installment, a book on origami or something by Tolestoy, there’s a sign to lead you there, and praise the Lord for that!

We love these signs. We need these signs. They make our lives better. BUT (I know you knew a “but” was coming) they also have a less desirable effect. When most of us (myself included) walk into bookstores, we use these signs to go straight to the sections we want; the ones we’re most comfortable with, the ones we probably already know tons about. Unless we’re forced to learn about a non-traditional topic (read: school research paper) we rarely–if ever–venture outside of our comfort zones. Therein lies the problem.

Comfort zones are like cages. They keep us locked up (comfortably so) and away all of “that” and “them.” Who wants to be around “that” or “them” when I’m so comfy here in my cage, surrounded by nothing but “this” and “us”? Subconsciously, this is our thinking. The result is what we see everyday: racism, bigotry, narrow-mindedness, intolerance and ignorance. That is why What We Learned Along the Way is for everyone.

What We Learned Along The Way isn’t just for Muslims or women, just as books on or by black people aren’t just for black people. And books on or by Indians aren’t just for Indians, and books on or by Jewish people aren’t just for Jewish people… I could go on.

When you’ve been exposed to other cultures, you’re less likely to blindly accept the misinformation being circulated. You’re less likely to judge someone based on appearance alone and you’re less likely to pass ugly views on to your children. The status quo remains only because of the static positions we hold. It’s not enough to sit back and complain about what others are doing. We have to examine our own actions (or inaction) and assess the damage we’ve created.

As different as this world would have us believe we are, we share far more similarities than we know. Everyone — regardless of race, class, or religion — needs love and acceptance. We all want to step out into a world that welcomes us with open arms. We all smile when happy, cry when sad and laugh when amused. Expression may vary, but emotion is universal. This is what we’d find if only we took the time to look. The characters in this book may not look like you or act like you, but I can guarantee you’ve felt the same happiness they have. I guarantee you’ve cried similar tears. I guarantee you’ve had similar concerns. The journey toward peace and happiness is one we’re all on. Why not walk together?

Buy the book What We Learned Along The Way from Amazon; also available for Kindle.

Image: flickr

Nadirah Angail
Writer, author, editor.

Read more from sister Nadirah on her blog {http://blog.nadirahangail.com}

'My Sister Is Muslim', one of the personal stories on My Best Friend Is A Muslim

"Amarra is single handedly one of the funniest human beings I have ever met. Rapping into a microphone in the middle of the Student Union one realizes how being a Muslim is part of her identity, but isn’t strictly part of who she is as a person. While she does pray the allotted times per day and never shows her hair to the opposite sex, when she opens her mouth the Muslim factor is gone!"

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to the Muslim youth who may feel underrepresented?

"He was this suave, sexy, brooding man who blew me away with his intellect, wit, and charm. Me, being brand new to the city of San francisco, was not even trying to find a love interest (part of it was a fear of something that I knew nothing about). Time went on, events drew us apart, then brought us right back together… The more I listened to his heart, the more I fell in love with his Love for people, for his family and upmost his Love for God."

What have the reactions been so far to MBFIM?

What: Badass Muslimahs, the Tumblr blog on the rise.

In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ Peace be with you السلام عليكم

The Sisters Who Blog network on Ning has been running for a few months now and with many new members, it's time for a shameless plug!

Created by sister Amber, the Sisters Who Blog is a female-only network used by female bloggers throughout the world to promote their blogs and make new contacts. It's safe, sweet and very, very colourful.

I'm a member of the British Bloggers on SWB. For more halal blog exposure - Check it out!

The Sisters Who Blog.

Maybe you're getting sick of hearing it from me, but at the same time, end up listening anyhow hoping to learn something fascinating you don't already know about getting married... sound familiar?

If so, I totally understand. If you've been single for some time, or have had some not so grand experiences with the opposite gender, I would guess by now you have this kind of love/hate relationship with this subject.

What I want to tell you, though, is not to give up! In my Find Your Mr. Right program, I remember a sister telling me how she was getting older (almost 30) and feeling super desperate to get married, thinking she was going to have to settle for whoever showed up next at her parent's door.

With some work, though, and specific action items on her list, alhamdulellah, within 3 weeks things had turned around completely! She had met a great brother, and their families were
also very pleased with each other. Allahu Akbar.

Another sister I worked with once who was previously married, and nearly 30, was also feeling quite depressed. She wanted to be married, and felt like it was an impossible reality at this point in her life. Again, with a few months, things turned around completley, and I got to send her my congratulations on her wedding.

I could go on and on with stories like these. Not everyone walks away married in one month flat. Most women, though, walk away with much greater clarity about who they are, what they can do better, and believe they do have choices.

And something else really important changes: their attitude!

Think about it. If you feel super negative about marriage all the time, it will get expressed to others. I've had women send me angry and nasty emails asking me why I can't just find a man for them if I am such an "expert."

My first thought is usually, "even if I did know someone, I wouldn't recommend you for them
because your attitude right now tells me a lot more about your character than your marriage resume does!

I know it's natural to get frustrated, and lose hope sometimes, but I'm here to tell you that renewing your intentions for marriage, staying positive AND being proactive in the process can change things around.

I remember a sister I knew who was so negative when someone asked her why she wasn't married yet, or when she planned to get married. She would make cold comments, and say "It's none of your business."

She was fed up of everyone and their mothers being in her personal business..... until I told her that that each of those conversations were actually opportunities in disguise. For every aunty that asked, what damage would happen if she replied, "I pray soon, as I am looking. Please let me know if you have someone in mind," leaving it off with a pleasant smile? :)

I hope you get my point!

May Allah makes things easy for you, grant you a heart that has patience, guide you in all of your affairs, and grant you the best of this dunyah and akhirah, including a righteous husband. Ameen.

Sincerely,
Megan Wyatt

Your "Finding Your Other Half" Coach
Discover Him Online.com

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Well it's been several months since I returned to Canada, I'm a little more settled in and a lot rounder.

In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم

Peace & respect ★ www.Muslimness.com

The French lower house of parliament voted today (July 13th 2010), expectedly and overwhelmingly, to ban face veils in public places. BBC reports that the vote was 355 to 1, with some abstentions. If passed by the Senate in September, the law is expected to go into effect early next year. Women who defy the ban and wear a face veil in public face a 150 Euro fine ($190) for each offense. If it can be proven that a man forced a woman to veil, he would face an even stiffer penalty.

I have a hard time understanding the rationale behind such a ban. The argument seems to go back and forth like this:

We must liberate women from these oppressive, humiliating "muzzles" they wear!

There are only about 2,000 women in France who wear a face veil. Many of them do so out of free choice and their personal interpretation of religious practice.

They must integrate and adopt French values!

Isn't "liberte" one of those French values? Women who believe strongly in a religious duty to cover their face will continue to do so despite the law, or will retreat further into their homes and private spaces in order to avoid being fined. How does policing their movements in the public sphere help accomplish your goal? To promote integration, other issues are certainly more important, such as economic injustice, discrimination, and racial oppression.

We're not targeting Muslims! The law doesn't specifically mention Islam or niqabs/burqas.

Who else is the ban likely to affect? Supporters of the law continue to speak about women's equality, immigration, and the importance of "French values." This sounds more like a cultural identity crisis than a matter of public safety.

If they don't like it, they should just go back to their own countries!

Muslim community leaders have said that the majority of the 2,000 women who wear face veils are French converts to Islam, not immigrants.

Even Muslim leaders in France approve of the ban!

The head of a government advisory body, the French Council of the Muslim Faith, has said that Muslim leaders favor discouraging the face veil, without an outright ban.

I don't know, maybe I'm not thinking like a European. A recent poll found that Europeans generally see this issue differently than do Americans. The Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project found widespread support throughout Europe for banning the face veil: 82% of those polled in France, 71% in Germany, 62% in Britain, and 59% in Spain. In the United States, though, the opposite was true; only 28% were in favor of a ban. One possible reason for the difference: Americans generally have stronger concerns about personal civil liberties and religious freedom. Amen to that!