… and Happy March!

I can’t believe it’s already March! I mean, I know February is a short month, but dang, it really flew by!

This month will be filled with a bunch of exciting things as there is just so much to look forward to and prepare for.

There are approximately only 38 days left until Ramadan, so we will be sharing a range of content to help you prepare for this special month, from decoration ideas, to iftar recipes, Ramadan activities, Eid outfits, and so much more! What a coincidence it is that I am actually fasting while writing this (who else waits until the last minute to makeup their fasts 😬?), and boy am I itching for some coffee right now!

As excited as I am for Ramadan, I am not sure how ready I am to give up my morning coffee for an entire month, especially since I have been trying to get in the habit of waking up a lot earlier than before.

I am also the type of person that’s hungry as soon as I wake up–literally as soon as I open my eyes–so let’s just pray that this month won’t be too hard with my new early-morning routine. I will say though, it feels amazing to wake up early! I have been so much more productive, and surprisingly more energized than when I would sleep in. So, even sans coffee, as hard as it will be, I know it’ll still be worth it!

Another thing we have to look forward to is the spring and hopefully, nicer, warmer, and sunnier weather. We’ll be sharing spring fashion inspo, tips for spring cleaning, and more spring-related activities as well!

And last but certainly not least, this month is Women’s History Month, which is a month devoted to celebrating the contributions women have made in American history. We tend to think of this in the past tense, and while it is important to celebrate and honor the trailblazing women who have paved the way for us, it is just as important to highlight the impactful work and contributions women are still making today.

This year’s theme is “Refusing to be Silenced” which celebrates and recognizes the historic breakthrough women achieved in gaining the right to vote. As Muslim women, this theme truly speaks to our experiences, as our stories and voices are often ignored and silenced. And when they are shared, they are usually done for us in a stereotypical way that panders to the West’s ideas of what a Muslim women is or how she lives her life.

There are Muslim women today who are fighting to give us a voice, to give us better representation, and who are taking up space in places Muslim women were never seen in before. They are countering stereotypes and challenging norms like never before, and we are here for it.

So, this month, we would like to honor these women, and celebrate the achievements they have made and continue to make for us, no matter what criticism, hate speech, racism, or stereotypes they are faced with each and every day.

Let’s use our voice, the one that our fellow Muslim sisters are still fighting so hard to make heard, to help uplift and empower other Muslim women, and to promote, advocate for, and contribute to their mission and efforts toward a better, more inclusive, fair, and just world!

Who’s with me? Let me know in the comments below!

And stay tuned for more! 🙂

With love, support, and power,

Ayah Shaheen
Editor-in-Chief