Happy International Women’s Day!

At Haute Hijab, we are here to serve you – our fellow Muslim women – and celebrate you each and every day. As Melanie writes, “We come from a long line of leaders, innovators, educators, warriors, artists, caregivers and scholars. They were outspoken, thoughtful and highly ambitious. They didn't wait around for men to tell them what to do. They leaned into their relationship with their Creator and took action. They lived meaningful lives, fueled by their gifts and potent purpose of serving God.”

Muslim women carry communities on their backs – we can comfortably state this truth with conviction. As UN Women (an entity of the United Nations) reports, “Women are often the first responders in a crisis, and whether en route or in camps, in home countries or destination countries, they play a crucial role in caring for, sustaining and rebuilding their communities.”

On International Women’s Day, we want to recognize and encourage you to support several organizations and charities servicing Muslim women around the country and globally in various aspects of life, from battling homelessness to supporting domestic abuse survivors to education about sexual abuse and sexual health issues to helping women gain education without falling into debt. We know this list is far from complete and that there are so many more wonderful groups and organizations out there doing important work for Muslim women. Here are eight we want to tell you about.

Asma Hanif is a prime and beautiful example of a sister who opened her life to giving back and never looked back, to the point of burn out. Asma opened one of the oldest homeless shelters servicing Muslim women back in 1987 with the Healthy Solutions Holistic Health Center clinic in Maryland for Muslim women. In 2007, she opened the first Muslimat Al Nisaa HOME Center in Baltimore, Maryland to battle homelessness in Muslim communities while also providing skills training, medical care, employment assistance and counseling. Muslimat Al-Nisaa as a whole offers various types of programming to provide shelter, health screenings and education to underserved Muslim women and children. Learn more about their work and how you can donate here.

Dorria Fahmy was a volunteer for the Passaic County Women’s Center in New Jersey and a volunteer with the Domestic Violence Response Team with her local police precinct when she joined forces with domestic violence counselor Nawal Kahf to advocate for the needs of Muslim women who were the victims of abuse. Their collaboration and recognition that Muslim women abuse victims in our communities are highly likely to not report their abuse and are wary to avail resources led them to create Wafa House in 2004. This program caters the needs of South Asian and Middle Eastern Muslim women who often express discomfort in going to shelters where their cultural, language and faith needs aren’t met. In 2021 they took on more than 700 clients, helped nearly 1,800 families and dispersed nearly 23,000 diapers. Click here to learn how you can help.

Whenever there is a situation of sexual abuse, survivors disclosing their abuse need understanding and support but often face insensitivity and stigmatization. Nadiah Mohajir recognized the need for a space that validates survivors and raises awareness about the scourge of sexual abuse in Muslim culture, so she co-founded HEART Women & Girls, an organization centering survivors and sexual health issues. HEART works to advance reproductive justice and “uproot gendered violence by establishing choice and access for the most impacted Muslims.” For the past 12 years they have provided sexual assault advocacy, education and training to more than 10,000 individuals, organizations and college campuses around the country. Visit the website to see how you can get involved and click here to donate.

The North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA) has served Muslim women who are victims of abuse or domestic violence for 20 years. According to its website, it was established a domestic abuse was on the rise in Muslim communities and aims to “address the concepts of ma’roof and munkar’’” meaning “enjoing with is right and forbidding what is wrong, while examining disputes within families as well as addressing elder abuse, premarital counseling, spiritual counseling and community outreach awareness.” NISA offers six primary services (and many other levels of support), including a toll-free and confidential helpline (1-888-ASK-NISA), referral services, support services (in many languages), counseling, education and advocacy. Click here to donate!

A Continuous Charity provides solutions to the interest-based student loan crisis by providing interest-free loans for higher education. In doing this, hey hope to bring about a generation of graduates “[who] will have a strong Muslim identity and be well-versed in their fields, using both for the benefit of mankind.” Their ACC for Women’s Empowerment (ACC4WE) program is especially dedicated to empowering Muslim women to achieve their educational and career goals through the support of interest-free loans. Thus far, ACC has awarded 178 female students with interest-free loans, and with your help, they will be able to award even more.

This non-profit organization is dedicated to enhancing the dignity of divorced and widowed women by empowering these women with education. With a focus on providing scholarships and grants to an oft forgotten Muslim women demographic who are stigmatized and at a high risk for poverty, Ikram’s work in the Muslim community is incredibly transformative. The dynamic duo behind this work are Executive Director Somayyah Gharian and Program Director Saman Quraeshi. Our own writer Hakeemah Cummings worked with Ikram on the #FundHerFuture campaign last October and learned why future generations should invest in helping women in need.

We’ve long been supporting ICNA Relief’s Transitional Housing Program for women through our Tote Bags for a Cause and other campaigns we’ve held with them in the past. ICNA Relief offers a safe haven to women who are displaced due to emotional or physical abuse as well as neglect. These services are more in demand than ever due to COVID-19, especially for elderly, widowed, refugee and low-income families who are unable to access the basic living necessities that we so often take for granted. You can learn more about ICNA's mission and services and how to donate here.

Through programs that empower and uplift women and girls, often in marginalized societies, HHRD provides life-changing opportunities around the world. Through its Skills Development, Education Support, Water for Life and Healthcare programs, women are empowered to focus on their dreams and aspirations despite obstacles of poverty, displacement or civil unrest. With more than a decade of service, HHRD has responded to disasters and human sufferings in crisis situations all over the world. To help a sister stand on her own two feet and pave her path to success, donate here.

So many of our local masajid offer great programming and supports for Muslim women. Be sure to see what your masjid or local women’s groups are doing, and help them to support Muslim women right where you live. Investing in your community helps you build a foundation for your children and the future generation, so donate to your local masajid!