love

Something Special (an excerpt)

Editor’s Note: Most people think the term a “Muslim romance author” is an oxymoron, but Islamic history reveals that stories of a romantic or sensual nature are very much a part of our tradition. After all, sexuality, love and marriage are as much a part of a Muslim’s humanity as they are…

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A sudden thrill of control

American Muslim women today are owning their narrative like never before. Author, Huda Al-Marashi, recently released her first book, First Comes Marriage, the “first Muslim-American memoir dedicated to the themes of love and sexuality.” Below, author Huda Al-Marashi shares an excerpt with us: Chapter 12: A Sudden Thrill of Control Nadia called…

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Outliers in the Search for Love

For anyone who has experienced one too many setbacks in search of love, the question “Where am I going wrong?” is a familiar one. And if you have asked this out loud, you will find no shortage of opinions that scrutinize your character or the foibles of your long-gone suitors….

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Jewish and Muslim courage in the face of hate

On Saturday nights, a man stands on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica yelling false and insulting words against my religion and its followers. I am Muslim; I wear a headscarf, so this feels personal. And while I’ve become somewhat desensitized to it, it is still awful to listen…

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33 and Single: Faith and Finding Love

I’m 33-years-old and still single. Well, the “still” is the lamentation some Muslims in the community add when they describe my status. The Muslim culture, not unlike most others, abides by a set of expectations when it comes to women, marriage and motherhood. A woman’s identity is strongly braided with…

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The Divinity of Love

[tweetthis] What happens when you give up the love of your life for your love of God?[/tweetthis] This is not a question I ever expected I’d have to answer. As a young girl, I always assumed that I would not need to sacrifice one for the other, but rather my…

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From Darkness into Light: God, the Protecting Friend

A letter to my daughter. I often feel lonely. Being surrounded by supportive family and friends is wonderful, but after losing your dad Amr, there has been a loneliness in my heart that I’ve had a hard time filling. Amr listened to me talk for as long as I needed…

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