This zine encompasses a series of essays, and poems, and original artwork that came out of a deep dive into my personal history, including my birth and lineage. This has been an interesting process, one that I began by interviewing my mother. The most effective way of doing this was by asking one question and letting her speak freely; my mom is someone who loves to talk, which was to my advantage for this project. I wrote down every single word she said; another way of effectively doing this would be recording the conversation. After our conversations I read through my shoddy transcripts for patterns and things I found thought-provoking or moving.

Haseena’s project investigates the superstructures that inform trans-health autonomy and reproductive justice. She used installation, sound and performance to curate a visual merger of Shi’a and moorat epistemologies. Secured within digital and RJF archives, her art speculates what religio-ideological convergences may yield a more just future for trans bodies in South Asia.

Beyond Birth: Somali Women on Womanhood and Becoming is a qualitative project that explores how Somali women understand girlhood and womanhood across generations and lived experiences. The project began with a focus on reproductive justice, particularly access to care, childbirth, motherhood, and bodily autonomy. As interviews unfolded, it became clear that participants did not experience reproduction as a discrete part of their lives. Conversations about birth and motherhood were inseparable from broader reflections on gender expectations. Following participants’ lead, the project expanded to ask a more foundational question: what does becoming a woman mean for Somali women?

This project is a manual for fathers to build a healthy and strong attachment to their birthing partner and the child. The manual consists of nine modules starting with the role the father has Islamically within the birthing context to offer support to their partner and child. The module takes fathers through various topics to prepare them for their role. The modules equip them with the knowledge to feel confident as they offer support. This is designed to be used as both stand alone modules and as a full spectrum offering for those looking for a more comprehensive approach. The curriculum is in the development phase and will be previewed as an outline for today’s symposium. This project is now in a collaboration phase, so interested folks are welcomed to contact Mariam directly at mariamcoker@gmail.com.

This project is a monthly book club for Muslim women in Central New York. Participants read books by Muslim writers and meet for facilitated, participant-driven discussions that connect the readings to lived experiences. The first book covered is Blood Feast by Malika Moustadraf. It is a short story collection examining “the gendered body, social class, illness, double standards, and desire, as lived by a diverse cast of characters” within contemporary Moroccan society. Purchase the book here and use the attached reading log to support your reading journey! Printing Instructions: Print double sided and fold as booklet.

From Safa to Marwa: An Islamically Motivated Guide to Postpartum Guide, is a self-paced guide for people experiencing postpartum. The guide honors the person experiencing postpartum over the arrival to postpartum by centering and encouraging oneness of self and connection to Allah through evidence-based information, interactive prompts, and stories from Islamic tradition. If you would like a physical copy of the zine, please reach out to Sadiyah at sadiyah.bash@gmail.com.

There is a clear gap of research exploring the U.S. Muslims and their experiences in managing systemic reproductive oppression. Without identifying the issues, how can healing begin? The present study aims to explore how queer Muslims engage with reproductive justice. Through a series of semi-structured interviews with queer Muslims across the United States, we (1) explore how queer Muslims engage with reproductive justice work in their every-day lives, and (2) identify recommended areas of support for queer Muslims. Participants were asked to bring 2 photos to describe their reproductive story. They were also asked to make a duaa for Queer Muslim communities. Below are instructions adapted from those activities. Please feel free to download them and use them with credit to Radia and if you wish to connect with her about her research, she can be reached at rmchab2@illinois.edu.

“With Allah As Your Guide” is a short, intimate zine created for Muslims navigating abortion and pregnancy loss. Informed by Ja’Loni’s direct experience as an abortion doula amidst increasing criminalization in the U.S. South, this guide offers practical, spiritual, and emotional companionship. This resource is an act of community care, reclaiming the narrative of reproductive choice as an expression of faith and trust in Allah’s plan.