Azizah Magazine

REAL GEMS VOLUME. 6 ISSUE. 2

A Date to Remember
For those who love dates and have a sweet tooth, there’s a chocolatier we want you to know. Sweet Pillar & Co combines smooth Belgian chocolate with delicious California Medjool dates to create mouth-watering delights. There are several selections: the Sunrise Collection, the Sunset Collection and the Mosque Collection, but take it from us – they really can be eaten at any time of day or year. Packed in beautiful boxes, these gourmet treats arrive bursting with sweetness. Sweetpillarandco.com

Know Your Place & Your Menu
Beautiful, elegant, functional and green are words that describe the erasable ceramic place cards from PlaceTile Designs. For your next dinner party, shower or iftar, you can use them to seat your guests or to distinguish the vegetarian biryani from the lamb couscous. There is an array of designs from casual to elegant and any one of them will lend style to your table. Shipped in a sturdy turquoise box that is great for storage, the tiles come with a dry-erase marker so you can use them over and over again, earning PileTile Designs the Azizah Green Favorite for this issue. www.placetile.com/placetiles.html

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CONTENTS

SPECIAL REPORT

Women’s Religious Authority - Female Scholars They are researching debates about Islamic laws, examining interpretations of Qur’an and shari’ah, challenging statist-military perspectives through an examination of early semantics of jihad and martyrdom, and doing much more. The critical work of our female scholars is having an impact on the discourse of Islam in societies throughout the world.
by Zahra Ayubi, Nimat Hafez Barazangi & Tayyibah Taylor

FEATURES
Color Blind Although we are seeing more interracial and interethnic marriages in the community, not everyone has transcended the snares of cultural bias. by Heather Laird Jackson

Rooms to Call our Own Five years after Hurricane Katrina people are still rebuilding. The Muslim women of New Orleans have carved out special spaces for themselves. by Taslim van Hattum

Streets, Stages & Spirituality See what happens when 20,000 people convene in a Chicago park for a summer festival of international music, art and conversation. by Yahsmin M. B. BoBo & Sabira Khan

Having Our Say Instead of thinking of yourself as a victim of the media, use social media and make your opinions heard. by Molly Darden

Date Night One way to keep your marriage fresh and romantic is by regular dating. It’s the cure for the common marriage. by Tayyaba Syed

The Generation Divide The complicated cross section of adolescence, culture and religious identity brings communication challenges. by Molly Darden & Sabira Khan

Healthy, Halal & Humane More people are standing against the inhumane treatment of animals in factory farming. They say it's not just how an animal dies that makes meat halal, it's also how it lives. by Nadirah Z. Sabír

The Soothing Art Famed calligrapher Elinor Aishah Holland tells why the art of calligraphy is alive and well. by Dujanah Descartes

Common Ground Muslim scholars, the Dalai Lama and some other Buddhists find that, although Islam and Buddhism are different, we have much in common. by Kaukab Khalid

LIFESTYLE
Décor Extraordinary Days, Extraordinary Décor When celebrating Eid, creative decorating touches embrace the joy of these special days. by Azizah Kahera

Menu The Lunch Combo Dietitian YaQutullah Ibraheem shares options for nutritious lunches consisting of smoothies, salads and sandwiches.

Destinations Blooming in the Desert: Kuwait Having rebounded from the Iraqi invasion, Kuwait offers a peaceful spot for vacationers. by Tahira Muhammad

Style It's a Wrap! Designers and retailers are paying attention to scarf styles and offering chic selections. by Nuzalita

Well-Being Liquid Gold. Benefits of Honey

Matters of the Heart A look at three conditions that afflict this essential organ, its delicate electrical circuits and life-giving function. by Tabassum Firoz MD

DEPARTMENTS
Deen Forgiveness: As human beings we are prone to commit sins and errors. When we seek forgiveness, we experience the love and mercy of God. by Zaynab Ansari Abdul-Razacq

Shahadah God’s Promise is Always True by Binta Diop

Book Club Reviews of Reviews of The Size of a Mustard Seed written by Umm Juwayriyah & Love in a Headscarf written by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Real Gems Melt-in-your-mouth gourmet dates, fragrant sachets, elegant ceramic place cards, a basket device to make laundry day easier and a candle you can use as a body moisturizer or for a massage. by Staff Writers

Global Voices Capturing the Beauty Shahida Ahmed uses her creativity as a tool for promoting peace and understanding. by Kelly Crosby

Fiction Dance Steps by Imane Fawzy Nofal. Art by Marini Widowati

Poetry Rain by Ameenah Sablan
Art by Fadoua Abida

Reflections The Inner Journey In the third essay of a series about fulfilling our purpose, we think about how we think. by Jacqueline Freeman Ennaffah

Point of View Between Deen & Dunya: Our Children's Tug O'War by Bayyinah K. Muhammad

Ayah Surah Al Isra, Ayah Art by Fadoua Abida