New Book by Bohra women: I Speak for Myself‏

[Aymelek]

We are the co-editors of a new book, I Speak for Myself: American Women on Being Muslim, which was recently published by White Cloud Press. This book, a collection of essays from Muslim-American women, is the first book to be edited by Bohra women and has received critical acclaim.

Ever since 9-11, Islam has become one of the hottest of hot button topics in America. Time Magazine featured the rise of Islamophobia on its cover and attacks on Muslims and mosques are taking place regularly across the United States. Pundits and politicians raise the stakes by questioning whether it is possible for an American to be both a good Muslim and a good citizen. Muslim American women are the subject of endless discussions regarding their role in society, their veils as symbols of oppression or of freedom, their identity, their patriotism.

In this polarized climate, our book challenges stereotypes about being Muslim in America through the stories of forty women. I Speak for Myself(http://ispeakformyself.com) brings together a diverse group of women, all born and raised in the United States, telling their stories of faith, family, and country. Some contributors are Sunni, some Shi‘I (and two are Bohra, of course). The writers’ ethnic backgrounds are Arab, African-American, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, and Afghani. Each addresses a personal aspect of her life with regards to being a Muslim and being an American.

Maria bhen Ebrahimji is an executive editorial producer at CNN in Atlanta, and Zahra bhen Suratwala is a writer and editor who owns Zahra Ink, a writing firm in Chicago. We wanted to fill a gap in current literature on American Islam by bringing out the stories of American-born Muslim women between the ages of 20 and 40. Maria bhen notes that “As a member of the mainstream media, I am frequently exposed to the stereotyping of my faith, and this book was created to present the public with more candid, realistic portraits of a diverse group of women who are proud of their faith and their country.”

Readers of I Speak for Myself are presented with a kaleidoscope of deeply personal stories. A common theme linking these intimate self-portraits is the way each woman uniquely defies labeling, simply by defining for herself what it means to be American and Muslim and female. Each story is a contribution to the larger narrative of life stories and life work of a new generation of Muslim women.

The essays featured in I Speak for Yourself are not intended to be reactionary to the current climate of suspicion towards Islam in America, but they certainly address such suspicion in a very personal way. The contributors embody real everyday American women who struggle with their faith while balancing their careers and private life.

The book has already caught the attention of thought leaders who are calling the book an important addition to the literature on religious pluralism in America.

Jim Wallis, founder of the Sojourners magazine and faith community calls I Speak for Myself “a very important contribution to the growing interfaith dialogue in this country.”

Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan notes that “By telling their stories they offer us new perspectives that are vital to the peace building process, and through their honesty and courage they are making a lasting contribution to the search for cross-cultural understanding.”

Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International says that this is “a must read for anyone curious to understand Islam from a woman’s and an American-Muslim perspective. I Speak for Myself is the story of every woman embodied in voices of today’s American Muslim woman.”

Bestselling author and school builder Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea) feels that “this collection of essays . . . is empowering and inspiring, and a vital part of any education.”

Some of the topics the essays cover are:
• Rediscovering faith in the wake of 9/11
• Balancing western values with Islamic ones
• Becoming Miss Arab USA
• Playing college basketball wearing hijab
• Struggling with interpretations of Islam that subjugate women
• Working as a Senate staff member
• Being one of the first Muslim women elected as a state legislature representative

Our intention is to involve and empower the Bohra community in the ongoing dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims. Further, we hope to inspire other Bohra women to explore beyond traditional career paths.

We invite all mumineen to see our book’s website, http://ispeakformyself.com, and welcome your feedback. Shukran!

[ozmujaheed]

Congratulations

Good on them and notice they are liberal looking and not orthodox?

The more such women act as role models the better for the community to progress into the 21 st century

Better bio than a Bensaheb or shazadi

[Safiuddin]

Good work. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Conscíous]

Boring & not interested to learn about those 38 women & two slaves.. I would rather read about how the Palestine women are living in the middle east... go find another forum, were people can feel sorry and care about those in the book..
Stupid American women..

[candela]

Salaam,

Sorry to have to come to this point, but... it occurred to me that I should just learn to ignore boom's inexplicable comments and that others should do the same, but now I can't but wonder whether boom should perhaps be warned or banned?

[Muslim First]

Sorry to have to come to this point, but... it occurred to me that I should just learn to ignore boom's inexplicable comments and that others should do the same, but now I can't but wonder whether boom should perhaps be warned or banned?

Boom koi Jhoot bolia?
Boom koi insult karia?
Boom koi Gali bolia?

Oina-Oina

He expressed his opinion.

[Conscíous]

hehe ^ ^

[Conscíous]

Dear Sister candela,
Isn't it enough, that people from the community are trying to banned & throw me out, and you want to duplicate the same here ??
You have no idea were I come from & what I've experienced with this fanatic cult.. This people have stolen my childhood, holding my parents captive & enslaved them with all this religious nonsense & rituals, when they could have spent time with us.. I remember the times how my parents were struggling and how difficult life was made, because of this cult.. And I'm sure, what I have experienced, is nothing new to others..
I know, some of you, have a VERY BIG problem being honesty & truthful,, because most of you are deluded,, savage wolfs, disguised as sheep's.. Yeahhh,.. I'm so blind & ignorant, that I can't see the compassion & harmony in our community, that why they have to divide and separate us in the mosque huh, like wild savage beast & treated like rubbish!!

[fearAllah]

Boom,

For your kind information a Mosque is the house of Allah whereby any lover/worshiper of Allah can pray, for us bohoras the fundamental thing in our place of worship is that you HAVE to be a worshipor of Sayedna first before anyone/anything to get an entry, you have to sit down and watch videos of Sayedna (assuming its like a talking idol), sing like atleast 5 Madehs in his praise every majlis, learn hundreds of his moujiza , pray for his long life, make shukar for his blessings etc then after you can pray namaz for Allah as a pretext for praying 2 rakaats for Sayedna and his father.

Please don’t compare/insult the house of Allah (Mosque) with the house of Sayedna, please use the word temple from now onwards, many thanks.

P.S. If you are still interested in visiting our temples, there is a special offer going around “First entry free of charge” for the followers of Allah (both Sunni/Shia). This offer however can be extended if you show signs/love of worship to Sayedna otherwise you will be kicked out from the temple! Welcome

[Biradar]

I think BooM has a point and we should not simply dismiss what he says as ravings of a crazy person (although he sometimes does sound like one). Very often religious beliefs can have a deeply negative impact on ones life and this can leave one bitter and angry. In many cases the Bohra way of life is not conducive to spending time with family. In my own case my father was so busy with the community and traveling to various pilgrimage places that he was almost absent from our life. For him the community was the central focus and his family certainly took a second place.

We can see such behavior encouraged by the clergy: the Sayedna is made so central in our life that Bohras often sacrifice their own family's well being for him. This is particularly true when large sums of money need to be given to the Sayedna at the drop of a hat, leaving our families wanting. I can vouch that this is what happened in my family, when my parents would rather have us wear old hand-me-down clothes or cut back on even necessities then not give copious amounts to the jamaat.

As for the book, I think it will be an interesting read and one should not be in a hurry to dismiss it without reading it. From the website it does seem that a diverse set of women contributed and this would give a perspective on modern and well-to-do American Muslim women. Of course, one should not take it as what a typical Bohra woman would say. I am sure even the two essays by the Bohra editors are not meant to be that.

[candela]

You have no idea were I come from & what I've experienced with this fanatic cult.. This people have stolen my childhood, holding my parents captive & enslaved them with all this religious nonsense & rituals, when they could have spent time with us.. I remember the times how my parents were struggling and how difficult life was made, because of this cult.. And I'm sure, what I have experienced, is nothing new to others..
I know, some of you, have a VERY BIG problem being honesty & truthful,, because most of you are deluded,, savage wolfs, disguised as sheep's.. Yeahhh,.. I'm so blind & ignorant, that I can't see the compassion & harmony in our community, that why they have to divide and separate us in the mosque huh, like wild savage beast & treated like rubbish!!

Hi Boom,

I sympathize with you regarding what this fanatic cult might have done to your childhood/family, because I feel like it has destroyed my family in some significant ways too. But I feel like your comments are very often inappropriately misogynistic... I don't mean to pry, but how does what you went through translate into a dislike and distrust of all Bohra women, instead of just all Bohras (men and women)?

Isn't it enough, that people from the community are trying to banned & throw me out, and you want to duplicate the same here ??

Good point... I retract my earlier proposition to have you banned, but I still should say that as a male ex-Bohra, I'm offended by your gross generalizations about Bohri women.

[accountability]

Biradar you rightly pointed out the hardships that bohras go through if they try to implement jamat directives in letter and spirit. One shaikh who is very active in karachi and is financially ok. But his brother lives in sub human condition. On one order he will produce tens of thousands of rupees for jamat, but will not help his own brother, though he is suffering from serious illness. I wish he comes to this forum and read this and realize that the heaven he is chasing may not so alluring and enticing as promised , but by helping his brother he would sure get satisfaction that will be more filling than that promise of heaven.

[Conscíous]

I admit, pity for the abdes (men & women) doesn't exists anymore within me & my comments have been misogynistic lately, but some of it, is just my sick humor.. I believe If I manage bohras to start getting married outside the sect, then I have accomplished my goal, to break this evil cycle .. The reform movement is aimed to go after the leader/headpriests, while I'm going after the followers whom are between there 20s & 40s.. It's this generation of fanatic abde women(not the common bohri who has to work from a young age to support their parents) , whom are obese, insalubrious & indolent.. It's this group of women whom like to sit in there usual places in the temple & are willing to fight for it.. Just look at the young children (from the age of two years) of the fanatic abdes.. They are very well fattened and one can just imagine what kind of rotten gene they are caring..

I will try to "tone it down", with my generalizing about bohri women .. But i want you all to know one thing.. I have immense respect for our elderly (above 70s) bohras (men & women).. They are the ones whom have build our community & it's because of them, we have become so successful.. They were much liberally & enjoyed life, and not like the fanatic abdes today!!

Very often religious beliefs can have a deeply negative impact on ones life and this can leave one bitter and angry. In many cases the Bohra way of life is not conducive to spending time with family. In my own case my father was so busy with the community and traveling to various pilgrimage places that he was almost absent from our life. For him the community was the central focus and his family certainly took a second place.

This is exactly what happened with me & that's how I feel.. And the way you have describe your father, I could almost say the same about my father too.. He hardly ever got the chance to spend time with us, because he had to have two jobs, so others could drive, fly, go hunting, travel around the world in firstclass & live in big palaces on our expense!!

[ghulam muhammed]

To keep the bohra youth preoccupied, 'shabab' was established some years back, now it is burhani guards, saifee scout etc. although they dont consume much time and their services are taken during urus, salgirah, muharrum etc. There is a new trend going on to keep the bohra women occupied in the form of 'burhani womens' and 'saifee womens' and the best part is that there is no creative or social work involved but these women attend gatherings which is chaired by some zaadis who obviously makes a quick buck by way of salams and innumerable gifts showered on her and it also inflates her ego seeing these dumb women doing 'jee huzuri' and 'wadhawni' etc. No wonder this community is being reduced to a club.

[ozmujaheed]

Boom leaving aside your language you have a point
Welcome

How do you intend to Target 20-40 and get them out of the cult ?

I am concerned you will scare them deep into the fold as they will think we are goons ?

The 2 women mentioned don't seem to be die hard abdes so why attack them ?

[accountability]

This is true that every jamat sponsored and created forums are shows of extravagance, lavishness and debauchery. Shabab is not involved in any charitable humanitarian work ever since its inception. Saifee and Burahani women associations are get together forum, As GM said. All they do is mithishitabi numerous times, thaal is sold for upto 150 dollars, Bensahibs and amil's wives are beneficiary or only beneficiary. There is no religiousity in these mithishitabi thaals. This is also a creative invention to make money.
They want to control bohras bodily, and from mind. They want to involve them in such a way, they either produce children by marrying at teenage, after that they have children to send them to madrasa, pay wajebat and sabeel, or do ziarat, each of it is useful for jamat and royal family. they dont care about the quality of life bohras are having. how happy they are, or not

[aqs]

Br. Accty,

I agree with you that all the groups be it shabab, tolaba, talibaat, burhani womens or any other organisation are not involved in any humanitarian causes except the local Shabab guys doing voluntary work in natural calamities(which is very rare).

the maximum they do is serve Food in local Jamatkhanas, thats it.

A lot more can be achieved then playing scout band a couple of times during the year, and doing meethi shitabis or a funfare on salgirah.

Their are exceptions in few cities where these groups are involved in some voluntary activities but they are too rare to be counted much of

[Conscíous]

How do you intend to Target 20-40 and get them out of the cult ? I really don't know.. Unfortunately, there are not many where I live.. But those few I know (globally).. I try talking to them & a few do agree with my views & opinions about this cult.. But the only thing I try, is to make them be aware of all the wickedness, unfairness in our community & if they are bachelors, I try to discourage them form getting married to a bohri for some of the reasons I have mentioned on this forum..

I am concerned you will scare them deep into the fold as they will think we are goons ? true

The 2 women mentioned don't seem to be die hard abdes so why attack them ? I should have stopped after my first two sentence on this tread & should have spared you all from my frivolous remark..