 This Ramadan, Haute Hijab is continuing its partnership with Islamic Relief USA to help support earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria. This article is the third in a three-part series focused on this longer-term relief work, the stories of survivors and what it takes for an organization like IRUSA to plan out and execute long-ranging relief projects. Read the first part 

. Please reap the rewards of supporting work like this in Ramadan and 

. In this last week of Ramadan, HH is also donating a portion of the proceeds from all our sales to this earthquake relief campaign.

When the call, text or email comes to Islamic Relief USA aid workers regarding a catastrophic event or natural disaster somewhere around the world, it doesn’t matter the day or time. It’s go time.

On February 6 of 2023 at 4:17 a.m. local time,a 7.8 magnitude earthquake followed by another massive quake rocked southeast Turkey near the Syrian border. The quake struck about 11 miles deep in the Gaziantep province and, to many Turkish Muslims who survived the devastation, sounded like 

“When an emergency launches, we go into emergency mode. It doesn’t matter what day it is. [If information and help] needs to go out, it needs to go out, says Fareeha Amir, a creative and brand manager at IRUSA.

“When an emergency happens, [Islamic Relief] may have an emergency response team] already located in the area of the disaster.” But at times they may not. In Turkey and in Syria, we do have a relatively larger team. They were able to be in affected areas, like Gaziantep, in two hours. Getting to other places sometimes took longer.”

Food distribution by Islamic Relief in Turkiye; image source: IRUSA

with the group that included HH’s Melanie Elturk

 less than two weeks after the earthquakes hit. “When I went, it was about day 10 or 11 and very fresh in the immediate response stage of the earthquake, and so still there was immediate recovery work happening. By then – finding someone alive was slim. [It was all about assisting the Turkish government in] setting up tents, food sites and temporary living situations for people who lost everything.”

In her eight years with IRUSA, Fareeha has assisted in numerous crisis situations and natural disaster campaigns, soliciting donations through a mix of sharing stories and creating photo and video assets so that people who are far removed can understand and feel the impact of the situation at hand. And, while our communities are often moved to offer support and donate in the immediate aftermath of such crisis events, sustaining that kind of support becomes challenging as the weeks pass.

The need, however, remains immense with no sight of lessening anytime soon.

“There were people who fled, their buildings were unlivable. How can we get those people back? Cities that were completely destroyed either by the earthquake or demolished because they were no longer fit for habitation. How will these cities be rebuilt?” Fareeha asks.

“[Islamic Relief] has multiple sectors that we are working in – health, education, building shelters, livelihood programs, mental health psychosocial support (mhpss),” Fareeha says, adding that one of the biggest long-term goals is to find ways “we can help people get out of their situation and not be dependent on us and other organizations to give them aid, but be able to depend on themselves.”

This kind of work – disaster relief aid – takes an immense amount of strength and fortitude for those on the ground and in direct contact with survivors of different crisis events, and for those back in the home offices of charity organizations like IRUSA, who are working to tell the stories, coordinate the relief work, plan out mid-term and long-term projects and manage the donation campaigns needed for this work to continue.

The Islamic Relief team themselves lost staff and staff family members in the earthquakes. The work was so intense in the aftermath that aid workers were sleeping in cars as they worked in shifts to pull people out of the rubble, set up medical and food sites and temporary housing, hand out clean water, food, blankets, coats and other things that were immediately needed.

“On the ground, after the first initial days, [IR brought in] staff [who were working on other projects] to relieve the existing ones. For example, we had a few whose job roles were orphan teams. But in emergency times in Gaziantep, they came to help with food distribution,” Fareeha explains. Aid workers, along with earthquake survivors, were also offered counseling to help them process trauma.

“Even here [in the United States, removed from the crisis], we are told from an HR perspective to take the time that you need. Counselors are available, especially when you go on a trip; they recommend you come and see counselors.”

I wondered how staffers like Fareeha cope with doing this kind of work. Do they ever become overcome by their emotions? Nearly a decade ago I also worked for IRUSA as their website content coordinator, and admittedly I struggled at times with the ongoing work of supporting those in need and sharing their stories. The pain and suffering I witnessed from afar was a lot to carry at times. And then I felt guilty for even feeling emotional when the survivors of such crisis events truly were immersed in life-and-death struggles.

Fareeha says that in this line of work, responding to disasters is something “we see and respond to regularly, and so we get used to it. Like doctors continue to see sick and dying patients all the time. It’s not that we don’t want to be emotional, but there is a level of having to be composed to be able to do the work. If you’re going to get emotional every time you go into the field, it won’t help. When you go into the field, those you are helping have experienced the worst of pain and loss.

“Being emotional is warranted no doubt,” she says. “But in the line of work, you have to get used to it and get acclimated to the work.”

Things that can be triggering is when you find a personal connection, Fareeha says. “One year I went to Bosnia, and there was this elder care program I was helping with, and that year my grandmother had died. I felt that deeply.”

We hold immense admiration for Islamic Relief, IRUSA and organizations like them, who rush in to help in times of acute crisis and devastation. And, with Ramadan drawing to an end, we appeal to you to not let the stories and strength of those who have survived these earthquakes in Turkey and Syria fade away. The work is only getting started.

 to help the survivors of these earthquakes rebuild their lives. Our fellow Turkish and Syrian Muslim brothers and sisters need our help. In these last precious days and nights of Ramadan, reap the 

Who Helps the Helpers? Behind the Scenes of the Nonstop Earthquake Relief Work in Turkiye & Syria

Editor's Note: For more information and to donate to Melanie’s earthquake fundraiser, click 

. To follow along with Melanie’s IG stories from Turkey, click 

 this week will be donated to earthquake relief efforts.

, when a terrible tragedy befalls our own people, unfolding into a crisis that will last for months to come? What should we do from where we are, when the strongest impulse is to drop everything and physically go and help, but that’s virtually impossible? How do we, as time passes, keep the pain and needs of our fellow sisters and brothers in our hearts and not let compassion fatigue overtake us?

More than a week after two massive earthquakes devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, with 

, Islamic Relief USA has taken a team of Muslim spiritual and movement leaders to Gaziantep and other areas in Turkey to minister to earthquake relief workers and survivors, amplify and share their stories, and continue to push fundraising efforts. Our own Melanie Elturk, Haute Hijab founder and CEO, has joined the team, composed of Dr. Haifaa Younis, Sheikh Suleiman Hani, Sheikh Abdullah Oduro and Sheikh Yaser Birjas.

A child's shoe on the ground in Turkey; image source: Haute Hijab

While IRUSA has taken teams into disaster and crisis areas before to help with raising awareness and fundraising, this is the first time the charity organization has taken a team in the immediate wake of a disaster. I spoke with IRUSA’s Engagement Manager Naeem Muhammad about why this decision was made.

“That they’re going during an active emergency – this is something that is fresh and unfolding, and it’s so massive. It’s a delicate balance of what we’re trying to do,” Naeem said.

“We’ve seen cases where people have gone and different groups have made it into sightseeing or ‘voluntourism.’ That’s the delicate thing that we’re trying to make sure is not happening here. It’s going to [take] hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild. Having [this team] go at this time, as we lead into Ramadan, they’re going to take this information and bring it back home and really bang the drum for the folks back home.”

Answering the Call of Disaster Relief Work

In disaster relief work, timing is critical, and the attention communities have to give to a crisis happening somewhere in the world can be limited due to the nature of how humans are and the never ending news cycle of things that happen that capture our attention. This was something I learned myself years ago when I worked with IRUSA coordinating their website campaigns.

 to Melanie’s IRUSA fundraising page for earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria.)

I spoke with Melanie before she left, literally while she was at the airport getting ready to take her flight, about why she answered the call.

“Honestly, something in my heart told me I had to. When [IRUSA] first asked me, I actually thought of every reason I couldn’t go, because I was scared. And then, 

, something in my heart was like – you have to go. So I was like ok, I have to do this. I didn’t allow my mind to convince me out of it, and I followed my heart, I just listened to God’s voice, 

Melanie got to know several children in Turkey who are refugees from Syria, and how their lives were affected by the earthquakes.

Naeem said one of the reasons they organized this team, which includes several imams, is to bring spiritual care to the IRUSA staff on the ground in Turkey and to earthquake survivors. “The workers at Islamic Relief (we have over 150 staff in between Turkey and Syria) are going nonstop right now. I think we had two deaths of staff [in the] quake, and of the staff who are working on the ground, 20 family members have been lost. And that’s only the people who we know of.

“These people are working 20 plus hours a day, sleeping in unsafe buildings or anywhere they can to continue the relief efforts,” Naeem said. "There’s an effort to speak to them and their hearts directly, let them know that the community is behind them. We need to take care of the caregivers.

“And again, we want folks like Melanie to be true ambassadors. Melanie is the youngest [person of this group], which is making a long-term investment in young folks in becoming lifelong humanitarians. As someone who is marshaling this international brand, it’s a big thing. And to the people she speaks to – these are the people [whose support will inform] how we respond to disasters and other situations,” Naeem said.

Melanie said while she was nervous to go, she knew things like this aren’t a coincidence. "Even if you look at the group I’m going with – it’s sheikh, sheikh, sheikh, sheikha, Melanie. Which one doesn’t belong? But I know it’s not like that at all, Alhamdulillah. I have to be me, I have my own gifts and skills and talents. Clearly Allah (S) wants me there for a reason.”

There is a lot of love to give, Melanie said, and she hopes to share that in Turkey. “I want to hug as many kids as I can, I really want to do that. And, I hope to raise as much money as possible through all the exposure we’re all bringing to this disaster on our own social media platforms. I’m kind of acting as an intermediary between all the people who wish they could be here and the people who need to see what’s going on in order to then help. 

I asked Melanie about how one manages compassion fatigue and trauma, which are very real things. In my time at IRUSA, I would get overwhelmed at times in constantly working on disaster relief efforts from afar and immersing myself in the stories and lives of people in need and those who have suffered so much. Sometimes we feel guilty for needing to turn away when witnessing the suffering of fellow humans. So, how can we maintain compassion? What do we do?

“This is a hard question for me,” Melanie told me. “Because I’m such a compassionate person, because I’m such an empath, that’s why this is so hard for me. I’m just a gentle soul and really sensitive to human suffering. So, it’s easy for me to keep scrolling or not look at it. I don’t watch news, I don’t even consume social media, and I don’t really use any other platform other than Instagram. I've done a really good job at staying in this little bubble where I don’t have to see anything.

“So I don’t know. I’m hoping that I find out how to maintain compassion without being triggered. Outside of donating money, you feel so helpless. Even posting things just feels like an echo chamber at times, and you wonder whether or not what you’re doing is even effective. And sometimes things are just a huge distraction. This 24 news feed cycle is very distracting and it gets us crippled by fear and anxiety, and I can’t live by those vibrations.”

Melanie in Turkey with Islamic Relief USA; image source: IRUSA

At the end of the day, for those of us not in Turkey and Syria, for those of us sitting at home and desperately wanting, somehow, to make a difference, there are things we can do.

“Give of your money. And don’t be stingy. Like really give, because Allah (S) will give it back to you tenfold.” Melanie said. “Now is the time to do this. And the best thing we can do is 

 said du’a is the weapon of the believer, and it’s true. Our prayers are so important, and we cannot underestimate the power of du’a and praying for our brothers and sisters and our ummah,” she said.

“I know it doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s a lot.”

Pray for the ummah, Melanie said, because in praying for the ummah, you’re praying for yourself. “Imagine all those prayers going up to Allah (S) being answered, but also going back to you, and how that reverberates within the entire ummah. And then of course, in our circles of influence, whatever that looks like, encourage people to donate. Spread awareness, encourage people to give generously of their money.

“This isn’t some socio-political issue that needs education and awareness. The earthquake survivors need money. So give of your money, make du’a, donate to my 

 or to anywhere reputable that’s giving to this disaster.”

For more information and to donate to Melanie’s earthquake fundraiser, click 

Answering the Call of Disaster Relief Ministry & Work – Melanie Elturk Joins IRUSA Team in Turkey

 With HH's Melanie traveling to Turkey this week as part of a team with IRUSA to amplify the earthquake relief work happening in Turkey and Syria and 

, Haute Hijab is donating a portion of the proceeds from all sales this week to relief efforts.

On Monday February 6, 2023, two earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitudes struck Southeast Turkey (Türkiye) near the city of Gaziantep and Northwest Syria. The initial earthquake was felt across four countries, followed by the second one. There are various media reports about how many are confirmed dead, with 

the Wall Street Journal initially reporting

, "At least 1,293 people have been killed and 3,411 injured," according to government workers. "In government-controlled areas, the toll rose to 593 dead and 1,411 injured in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus," according to Syria’s health ministry. And in rebel-held parts of the country, the White Helmets rescue group is reporting at least 700 killed and more than 2,000 injured.

The same Al Jazeera article, which is being updated nearly every hour, is also reporting that in Turkey, the death toll has 1,762 and at least 12,000 people have been injured.

Our entire team at Haute Hijab as well as our communities extends our 

and prayers to everyone suffering in Turkey, Syria and wherever this earthquake's devastation has reached. We urge everyone to donate what they can to help bring disaster relief to these regions, and make du'a for those who have lost their lives and are suffering.

Our own Melanie is joining Islamic Relief USA to travel to Turkey and raise awareness of the terrible situation there and donation funds. We will be sharing the team's work and doing our best to keep the spotlight on this heartbreaking tragedy so we can continue to help in whatever ways possible.

The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6011, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2586]

 is working with local partners to distribute immediate emergency relief. Across the country, families affected are receiving cash assistance to help pay for food, water, and medicine. Join us and help support your brothers and sisters in Türkiye in their time of need."

is on the ground in both countries: "In Türkiye , our teams are providing emergency food assistance, shelter and cash grants to enable those worst affected to meet their immediate needs. In Syria, our priorities will be providing health and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics, as well as blankets and tents for those made homeless by the quake.

"Our teams are continuing to assess the situation as it evolves and making preparations to provide emergency support to those hit hard by the crisis."

 "has launched a crisis response operation and mobilised teams in more than 10 regions across the country, while the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is delivering assistance and support to those in need in the regions of Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia." The British Red Cross is amassing donatations that the Turkish and Syrian Red Crescent will be using on the ground in the regions.

Donate directly to the Turkish Red Crescent 

 is asking for donations to help with their work on the ground with earthquake victims and survivors. According to 

, "They continue to service the area though at least one of their hospitals has been closed due to 

 reports that the disaster has affected "not only the local residents but also our ground team, who have lost their homes. The government is working hard to provide shelter, however, the weather conditions have further complicated the situation with freezing temperatures and snow storms striking the area.

"We urgently appeal to your kindness and generosity to provide aid and support to the earthquake victims. Your help in providing food, warm clothing, blankets, and shelter will make a huge difference in the lives of these people who have lost everything."

 has launched a drive through LaunchGood to drive donation dollars to Islamic Relief teams that are on the ground in Turkey and Syria.

 has been on the ground in Syria for years helping people caught in the crosshairs of the country's terrible civil war. They are now helping with earthquake relief efforts in Syria.

Please share other donation links in the comments below and continue to donate generously and pray for the people of Turkey, Syria and other regions affected by this earthquake.

Where to Donate to Help Earthquake Victims & Survivors in Turkey and Syria

In Minnesota, Zaynab Mohamed (D) became one of three Black women who made history by winning seats in the state senate. The 25-year-old politician became the youngest woman elected to the Minnesota state senate. Afghan women fought for their right to be educated as the Taliban banned them from attending universities. The first Muslim superhero made her debut in the Marvel universe. And Ustadha Maryam Amir released Qariah, the first ever app featuring women reciters of the Quran from around the world.

Muslim women had quite the year in 2022, making headlines for a variety of reasons. In recent years, there have been numerous stories about Muslim women making significant contributions to their communities and professions, such as doctors, teachers, activists and artists. There have also been stories about Muslim women breaking barriers and achieving milestones in fields where they have historically been underrepresented, such as politics, business and sports. 

In various parts of the world, Muslim women are fighting for their right to wear hijab, to not wear it, against discrimination and hate and against the ravages of war. Let's revisit some of these notable women and stories from 2022.

Women's Rights, Social Justice and Protest Movements Around the World

1. The Death of Mahsa Amani Pushes Iranian Women & Men to Fight an Oppressive Regime

A young woman paints a mural of Mahsa Amini in the UK. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

In September, the world’s eyes turned to Iran and 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who died in police custody after being arrested for “improperly” wearing her hijab (some of her hair was showing) by the country’s infamous “morality police.” Several reports said she was beaten severely by members of the morality police during her arrest and transfer to the Vozara Detention Center. She fell into a coma at the center and died Sept. 16. Iranian authorities claim she died of a heart attack, but others in the country suggest her death resulted from alleged torture and violence, according to a 

In the days and months since, protests rocked Iran, with thousands of Iranians taking to the street and Muslim women publicly tearing off their hijabs and burning them. The demonstrators 

 wearing to call for an end of the morality police and other repressive systems. Iran 

. As Hoda Katebi, an Iranian American writer and community organizer, 

, the current wave of anti-hijab protests is unprecedented in Iranian history: “This is not about Islam or enforcing ‘morality’ but about enforcing state power. … A huge number of Iranian civil society groups, including teacher collectives, worker unions, reformist political groups and religious clerics, have come out with statements demanding the abolition of the morality police.” After weeks of protests, the 

, but protests continue because at the heart of the regime’s oppression is its focus on controlling women. 

2. Muslim Women Protest Hijab Bans in Karnataka, India

Women in India protest the outcome of the Karnataka hijab ban case; image source: Wikimedia Commons.

In September of 2021, teachers at a college preparatory institution in Udupi, Karnataka, India, turned away several Muslim women students because they were wearing hijab. The girls protested against the school dress code. In January of 2022, their parents petitioned the school to overturn the ban, saying it was violating the women’s right to obtain an education. Then, a video of Mukhsan Khan protesting the hijab ban went viral, drawing the world’s attention to what was happening in Karnataka. In March of 2022, a high court upheld the state government order in Karnataka that banned hijabs in the classroom, stating that the hijab is not “essential” to Islam, setting a dangerous precedent across India. This verdict came against the backdrop of targeted violence against Muslims and continuous conflict in India. But as Justice For All’s Hena Zuberi said, “Hijab is … categorically an Islamic practice. The world needs to wake up to the reality of what is happening in India.” 

3. Women in Yemen Work to Protect Children and Marginalized Women

Ashwaq Mahmoud (in the center) works in a room inside her house, which she turned into a health clinic, in Abs District, Hajjah Governorate, Yemen (Photo credit: Essa Al-Rajehi; image source Twitter) 

 in Yemen has had a devastating impact on the people. The fighting has caused widespread destruction and displacement, forcing millions of people to flee their homes. The country's humanitarian situation remains dire, with millions facing food insecurity and a serious risk of famine. The conflict has also led to a breakdown in the country's healthcare system, with many hospitals and clinics being destroyed or damaged, and a lack of medical supplies and trained personnel.

The efforts to end the conflict and find a peaceful resolution have been ongoing but largely unsuccessful so far. The United Nations has led numerous rounds of peace talks, but these have failed to bring about a lasting peace. There have also been several ceasefires and humanitarian pauses, but these have been frequently violated by both sides.

Amidst all this, healthcare worker Ashwaq Mahmoud, human rights activist Misk al-Maqrami, and journalist Abeer Mohsen are working in the war-torn country to provide healthcare for children, rehabilitation for marginalized women and raise awareness about violations against women. As 

: “These three women are but a few out of the hundreds who have been able to use their country’s civil war to motivate themselves to realize their full potential and serve other women, as well as Yemeni society as a whole, through their experiences, awareness-raising work, qualifying and training other women, and offering services to other women.” 

4. Taliban Further Restricting Women in Afghanistan

An Afghan woman protest for her right to an education; image source: Twitter and the Associated Press.

The Taliban initially ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, implementing a number of repressive policies towards women, including banning them from attending universities. During the Taliban's first rule, women were not allowed to seek higher education or work outside the home, and were required to wear the burqa, a full-body covering, at all times in public. The Taliban justified these policies by citing their interpretation of Islamic law and their belief that women should be confined to the private sphere.

In 2001, U.S.-led coalition overthrew the Taliban, relegating them to operating as an insurgent group in the country for 20 years. But after the U.S. pulled out of the country, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August of 2021 and has resumed stripping women of their rights, including most recently the 

. They initially banned most women in girls from attending high school, and recently reinstituted the prohibition on 

. Pockets of the international community have protested this stripping of educational rights of Afghani women, but 

5. Muslim Women Win Elections and Amplify the Vote

Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed (D); image source:  Zaynab Mohamed campaign.

Muslim women have made significant contributions to American politics in recent years. Although they represent a small percentage of the Muslim population in the United States, they have been actively involved in various political campaigns and movements, advocating for issues affecting their communities and the broader society. Many Muslim women have also run for political office at the local, state, and national levels, seeking to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the political discourse.

In Illinois, 23-year-old Nabeela Syed (D) 

flipped the Republican-held 51st District

 by defeating incumbent Chris Bos and winning a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. Meanwhile in Minnesota, Zaynab Mohamed (D) was one of three Black women who made history by winning seats in the state senate. The 25-year-old politician 

became the youngest woman elected to the Minnesota state senate

, leading her opponent by 72 percentage points. And in Georgia, Palestinian-American Ruwa Romman, a 29-year-old community organizer, 

made a historic win to the Georgia House of Representatives

, becoming the first Muslim woman elected in that state.

In addition, Muslim women have also organized and participated in voter registration drives, volunteering their time and resources to help increase voter turnout in their communities. Despite facing challenges and biases due to their religion and gender, Muslim women in American politics have been making important strides. They will continue to play a vital role in shaping the country's future. 

6. Honoring Shaykha Munira al-Qubaysi (1933-2022), a Pioneer in Islamic Female Scholarship

 Shaykha Munira Qubaysi died in Damascus at the age of 89 on December 26, 2022. She started a women’s movement in the 1960s, the impact of which would reverberate around the world for decades to come. She taught girls and women to love God in the most profoundly spiritual way that went beyond legalisms, rigidity and harshness.

She was one of the first women to wear hijab while also pursuing a higher education in the 1950s at a time when going to college meant that women had to sacrifice their outward religious practice. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology when religious families commonly did not let their daughters study past the sixth grade and had them married early. She modeled to an entire generation of women that they could be pious and devout while also caring for families, attaining the highest level of education in universities, and having a career. Her closest students were erudite Islamic scholars who published exceptional works in 

for all occasions, theology, and various other subjects. Her closest students were also not only learned women in the Quran, who spent their nights in pious devotion, but they were also physicians, professors, schoolteachers, principals, lawyers, pharmacists and engineers in the daytime.

She followed the model of Khadija (ra) and believed that it was important for women to have their own source income so that women could do their work without depending on their religious communities for financial support. She established a network of schools that served as a safety net for thousands of unmarried women who needed to support themselves and married women who wished to contribute to society beyond the walls of their home. Her success in building schools and hospitals (one of her students established a women’s hospital for women run by women) is also important to understand within the context of the contemporary history of Syria, in which quality modern education and healthcare was mostly run by foreign missionary women living in Syria since at least the 19th century.

As her work continued for decades, her fame became known around the world and women came from the corners of the earth to spend time in Damascus and learn from the students she mentored into scholars and spiritual mentors in their own right. Women from the United States, United Kingdom, all of the Arab world, almost all countries in Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Turkey and even from places as far as the Comoros Islands came in droves to learn from the women scholars of Damascus, many of whom whose presence alone was transformative to the soul.

Her humility and vigilance to remain unknown may cause many to overlook the extent of her global influence during the 70 years of her work. However, it would not be an exaggeration to state that Shaykha Munira al-Qubaysi was one of the most formative Muslims who shaped the Islam of the twentieth century. Some outsiders to her movement with limited knowledge labeled her students by her name. But this label was always firmly rejected by her, saying that her students were nothing more than Muslim women whose scholarship, devotion, and achievements were a manifestation of Islam’s 1400-year legacy of beauty, piety and learning. Her life’s work was dedicated to uplifting Muslims and Islam.

7. Ustadha Maryam Amir Releases the Qariah App

 to a lot of people – an educator, a scholar, a woman who inspires (she was one of the first teachers of Islam I told my daughter to follow on 

!), a teacher of our deen, a mentor, a nurturer, a hafidha (one who has memorized the Quran), a Qariah (a skilled reciter of the Quran) and so much more.

It is this last descriptor – Qariah – that has led her to her latest work, which ignited much excitement among Muslim women around the world. Ustadha Maryam is the creator of “

,” which launched in Ramadan (April of 2022) and brought Quran recitations from women all over the world to our phones. According to the 

, the app features 60 women on a global landscape, from Tanzania to Morocco to Spain to Somalia to Pakistan to Malaysia to Yemen to the United States and so many more countries and cultures. 

The app, according to an FAQ on its website, is “intended for women and girls to learn the Quran from women’s recitations. This app is women’s recitations, for women, by women, for the sake of Allah.” Check out Ustadha Maryam Amir’s two-part interview with Haute Hijab about the behind the scenes work and prayers that led to the Qariah app: 

Muslim Women Slayed in Books, Television and Movies

8. Muslim Women Making Waves on the Silver Screen

Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins in The Great Muslim American Road Trip; image source: PBS.

This summer Disney and the Marvel universe brought forth the highly anticipated television series, Ms. Marvel, which featured the MCU’s first Muslim superhero – Kamala Khan. The six-episode series told the origin story of Pakistani-American teenager Kamala, played by newcomer Imani Velani. Our Haute Take columnist and Mommying While Muslim podcaster Dr. Uzma Jafri 

wrote about watching Ms. Marvel with her pre-teen daughter

, and how it facilitated the best conversations with her, saying “What I loved most was watching the first episode … with tween Baby Girl later that night. I sat just behind her to observe her reactions. Within the first minutes of the episode, Kamala’s brother is making 

. I heard my daughter’s sharp inhale before her head whipped around to face me with elation. There was no other way to describe her countenance. That reaction alone was enough for me to thumb my nose at anyone who criticizes the show – because my daughter saw her life on that screen.”

July of 2022 brought us The Great Muslim American Road Trip, in which Muslim American couple Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins invited us to join them as they hit the road along the famed Route 66. The three-part documentary, a film by 

’s Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe, began in Chicago and ended in Los Angeles. The couple took a few detours along the way as they met Muslims in unexpected places, examined their own relationship, and shined a light on untold stories of Muslims in America. As Hind Makki wrote, “Many readers will be familiar with Mona, 

. Sebastian, the Muslim convert son of a Jewish father and Christian mother is an educator who describes himself as a seeker. Over the years, Mona and Sebastian have made a name for themselves as a Millennial Muslim couple dedicated to 

building bridges of interfaith understanding

. This commitment is woven throughout the series, which unmistakably aims to educate non-Muslim viewers about the values Muslims share with other Americans, the community’s commitment to serve and give back to the country, and famous Muslim Americans.” 

9. Sabaa Tahir’s All My Rage wins National National Book Awards 2022 for Young People's Literature

Muslim women authors in America have made significant contributions to the literary landscape in recent years. From fiction and nonfiction to poetry and children's literature, these writers have brought diverse voices and experiences to the table, offering unique perspectives on various topics. In addition, many Muslim women authors have explored themes related to their faith and cultural heritage and issues of social justice, identity, and belonging. Their work has garnered widespread acclaim and has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. In 2022, the National Book Foundation awarded author Sabaa Tahir the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Sabaa received 

, a YA novel featuring best friends Salahudin and Noor and their struggles with family dysfunction, criminal activity and high school angst. Sabaa was 

the first Muslim and first Pakistani-American woman to win in this category

Who did we miss? We know there are so many, because no list can encapsulate all the notable moments surrounding Muslim women in 2022. Let us know in the comments below, and Bismillah for a good 2023!

From Hijab Bans to Politics to Islamic Scholarship – 9 Major Moments for Muslim Women in 2022

Hijab bans in all shapes and forms continue to be something we see happening in various parts of the world (including the U.S) and in a variety of ways – from stifling the ability of covered women to compete and play in various sports, to preventing them from attending school in India, to continued pushback against covered women in the public arena in France, to becoming a rallying cry of a national protest movement in Iran by women who are fighting against (among many larger issues) being forced to wear it.

The pushback against religious-based head covering bans or waiver requirements in athletics (and other areas of life) has belonged to the athletes and women (and men) fighting it on college campuses, in the wrestling ring, in the streets, on basketball courts, soccer pitches, volleyball courts and more across the country and globally. The message remains clear: You can’t ban us. And, you should not force us, either. We should be able to play, work, get an education (and so on) and respect our religion.

We’ve been following and reporting on these stories for years and continued to do so throughout 2022. The development of our 

 line, which included hours of interviews and discussions with Muslim women athletes and fitness lovers, helped us realize how important it was for us as a company to provide support from behind the scenes to these fierce, strong women fighting these fights to wear their hijabs and play sports or seek an education or whatever it is they want to do. And, it was also important for us to stand with those who are fighting for their freedom from being policed and forced into something that was not born of their own intention, choice and conviction.

, we continue to work with athletes, athletic associations and organizations to educate about hijab and support women to push back against rules that require waivers for religious head coverings or outright bans them. We amplify voices and these issues through our blog and our social media, through partnerships with other associations working on religious freedom bills in different states, and we voice our opinions and share stories on other platforms.

As 2022 draws to a close, here are five ways we’ve worked to amplify the fight against hijab bans and forced hijab wearing.

Women in India protest against hijab bans in Karnataka. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

1. As the year began, the spotlight turned towards Muslim female students in India, 

who had been fighting against a situation at their Indian college preparatory school in Udupi, Karnataka, where several Muslim students weren’t allowed to attend classes and were marked absent 

. Hena Zuberi, director of Washington, D.C. operations for Justice for All, said 

, “This is not a fight between equals. This is a state-sponsored oppression of a religious minority in a country with two genocide alerts. Indian state-sponsored media wants to blame the victims for creating ‘disharmony.’ We cannot share that narrative but must actively dismantle it,” We created a series of social media posts explaining the 

growing conflict in the Indian state of Karnataka

2. In March of 2022, a month after we had initially reported about the hijab ban in Karnataka, India, a high court upheld the state government order

 in Karnataka that banned hijabs in the classroom, stating that the hijab is not “essential” to Islam, setting a dangerous precedent across the India. This verdict comes against the backdrop of targeted violence against Muslims and continuous conflict in India, in which a situation arose in the past several months at an Indian college preparatory school in Udipi, Karnataka – several Muslim students weren’t allowed to attend classes and were marked absent 

, we spoke again with Justice For All’s Hena Zuberi, who said, “Hijab is … categorically an Islamic practice. The world needs to wake up to the reality of what is happening in India.”

3. In May, we heard about 17-year-old Latifah McBryde, who earned a spot on the U.S. national team

 at the 72 kg weight class by placing second in the U20 division at the competition in Texas. As the second-place winner, she was supposed to be representing the United States to compete in the Pan-American championships in July in Mexico. But after returning home to Buffalo, she and her father received a call from Cody Bickley, the U.S. national team’s high performance manager of coaches and education telling him that UWW would not grant Latifah a religious waiver to compete. And even if she traveled to Mexico to compete on her own dime, she would not be allowed. Thus, Latifah was banned from wrestling because of how she wants to dress in competition, which UWW deems to be a safety risk and also a possible advantage in competition.

spoke with Latifah and her father about what happened

. The banning was exactly what her father Mustafa had feared when he began entering Latifah and her sisters in competition. “I’m really concerned that this may have a backlash against us in preventing us from participating in further United States wrestling events. If we go to [a U.S. national competition] next year and they know we’re not going to be able to go further [because of their full-coverage wrestling uniform and hijab], that may turn against us - that we’re taking the spot of another wrestler in the bracket [who can go on to compete internationally on behalf of the United States].”

Latifah said, “My father raised me to be a woman of substance who aims high, not a woman of figure. It gives me the opportunity to be judged purely on my intellect, skill and ability. When I step on the mat during practice, no one cares what God I worship or how I am dressed. They only care about whether or not I perform.”

4. Come September, the world’s eyes turned to Iran and the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini,

 a young Iranian woman who died in police custody after being arrested for “improperly” wearing her hijab (some of her hair was showing) by the country’s infamous “morality police.” Several reports said she was beaten severely by members of the morality police during her arrest and transfer to the Vozara Detention Center. She fell into a coma at the center and died Sept. 16. Iranian authorities claim she died of a heart attack, but others in the country suggest her death resulted from alleged torture and violence, according to a 

, which calls for accountability and an investigation into Amini’s death. Our blog editor Dilshad 

At Haute Hijab, we’ve passionately fought against and spoken against hijab bans in athletics and in other areas of life in the United States and around the world. Watching what was unfolding in Iran – seeing women ripping off their hijabs and being persecuted for it – also pained us. As we wrote and shared on Instagram, “Being forced to do something you didn’t choose for yourself will likely result in resentment, if not hatred for that very thing. A woman shouldn’t be forced to wear hijab just as a woman shouldn’t be forced into *not* wearing hijab. When a woman chooses to adorn herself in hijab, it should be for Allah (S) and only Allah (S).”

Women protest against hijab bans in France; image source: Pexel.

5. Throughout the year, through partnerships with The Muslim Vibe and The Islam Channel, we worked to amplify stories of hijab bans

 and power dynamics around hijab bans for these media outlets. In 

, Dilshad spoke about how hijab is all to often used as a tool in politics: “If there are ever any political tensions or issues afoot in any country that hones in on Muslims, targeting the hijab is low-hanging fruit because it’s such a visible way to know one is Muslim. People take the hijab and use it to misrepresent a thousand different political things, when really, at its heart, it’s not anything scary or oppressive, but rather something private between a woman and Allah (S) and her visible declaration that ‘I am Muslim.’”

, we traced the numerous power struggles at play around the hijab, writing that “The power dynamics around hijab, niqab and burkini bans around the world play out against the fundamental questions of religious expression in the public square versus a government’s prerogative to police what women wear – whether that’s banning burkini or hijab or other forms of religious dress (in France, various parts of Europe and India and in Quebec, Canada) or insisting that women have to be fully covered (in Afghanistan or Iran during certain time periods).

“Which begs the question – what is up with the power dynamics around what women choose to wear and whether or not they wear it for the sake of religion? … The continued focus on banning the hijab and other forms of religious expression and headwear in the public square is part and parcel of a larger thrust of government and political entities to keep power in their hands. And if broader society does not feel for women who have been wrongly oppressed by this decision, then we need to take a hard look at ourselves. Because this is not just oppression of Muslim women, it is the canary in the coal mine that human rights are at risk.”

We remain committed to supporting women (and men) in their fight to end hijab bans, and we stand with those who are against being forced and punished if they do not. What more can we do to support you if you are facing a pushback or ban because of your hijab? Let us know in the comments below or email us at movements@hautehijab.com.

5 Ways HH Continued to Support Women & Elevate Our #CantBanUs Campaign in 2022

Giving Tuesday is here, and we are so excited to partner with 

, an initiative dedicated to supporting literacy and bringing Muslim-authored books and ones that feature Muslim characters to urban Islamic schools.

We will be donating a portion of the proceeds from 

 (Maryam Sullivan), an educator who strives to make sure Muslim children receive an education that centers them and their identities as worshippers of Allah (S). Her program, 

 [MGR], promotes literacy to Muslim children.

Muslim Girls Read program, is based in Massachusetts and provides children in inner-city Islamic schools with Muslim-authored and themed books where they see themselves, learn about their faith and embrace their identities as Muslims.I

In addition to providing books to Islamic schools, MGR offers workshops to Muslim children, parents and educators. They have weekly online 

 (learning circles), book clubs and their Global Pen Pals Connect program, all for free.

The initiative was born out of story of loss that came to Umm Juwayriyah's attention: “About seven years ago, when I was living in Kuwait, a young single Muslim mother in Philadelphia suffered a fire in her apartment,” she explains. “She requested books for her eight-year-old daughter because all of their books were lost in the fire. Her daughter loved to read and she had a great collection of books. [From that situation], Muslim Girls Read, Inc came to life, and we donated 25 books to the family.

“It opened our eyes and hearts to the lack of literary resources,” Umm Juwayriyah says, “especially Muslim-authored books, that American Muslims in the inner-city don't have access to.” According to Umm Juwayriyah, the organization has provided books to individual families, libraries and more than 15 Muslim schools in cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston and Indianapolis. 

Why is it so crucial for Muslim children to see themselves in the books they read? “[It's] important to Muslim children's literacy development and overall education because the representation and culturally relevant and responsive narratives affirm and allow children to relate content to their cultural context,” she says.

We were honored to feature Umm Juwayriyah in our second annual #WomeninCharity series this month, along with 

 and a few more stories to come. So many wonderful charities and initiatives out there to support! Please help us in supporting Muslim Girls Read by 

Help Us Support Muslim Girls Read This Giving Tuesday!

It's November and election season again, so let's talk about why, as Muslims, we should vote.