Hampshire College’s Syma Sheikh has studied and practiced Islam in Pakistan since childhood, and is always anxious to display her vision of a modern Islamic woman to non-Muslims.
Syma is always anxious to display her deep and continuing interest in Islam, which she has studied and practiced since childhood.
Syma has worked for many years for the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Karachi, Pakistan, and has served as the executive secretary of the U.S. Information Agency, making many friends among both the US and Pakistani military and intelligence services, often assisting them and the ISI in their operations.
Qur’an on proper Islamic etiquette:
Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property for the support of women. So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded.
As for women who won’t listen to you, admonish them and then don’t sleep with for a while by spending time with your other wives or sex-slaves – only then may you beat them if they don’t get the message. Then if they obey you, don’t hold a grudge against them.
Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great. – Quran 4:34
Hampshire College – Inter-cultural Spiritual Advisor – Syma Sheikh
The intercultural community advisor encourages, develops, and guides the deepening of cultural and spiritual life through the experience and appreciation of crossing one’s own identity or background and sharing with related communities, and facilitates an ecumenical worldview and ethic of caring through cross-cultural celebratory, communal, cultural, and spiritual experience.
Young Pakistani girls studying the Qur'an
Syma Sheikh was born and raised in Pakistan, where she studied Islam from elementary school through college. She chose Islamic studies as one of her subjects at the University of Karachi, Pakistan, which inspired her deep and continuing interest in Islam.
She settled in the United States in 1997. Prior to coming to this country, she was employed by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Karachi, Pakistan. She served as the executive secretary of the U.S. Information Agency, and received three awards for excellent performance during her six-year tenure.
Hampshire is just the right place for her to share her Islamic beliefs with non-Muslims. She has co-facilitated with students on programs of Dhur prayers; Desi lunches; and celebrations of Eid al Adha, Ramadan, Diwali, and Holi. She advises students about the Baha’i, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian faiths.
Sheikh is the mother of three precious children also has a wonderful and obedient husband, who prefers to “guard in secret that which Allah has guarded” while working hard behind the scenes for Islam and Pakistan and allowing his wife to enjoy festive and colorful Hindu festivals like Holi with kafir students.
In America, Syma's children are given freedom of choice, and can even choose to fall in love with a Christian or Jew.
Besides serving Hampshire, she also works as an interpreter for state offices, schools, and two major medical centers in the area. She enjoys reading, traveling, and working closely with Dr. Hazratji and the ISWM to further the cause of Allah.
Celebrating Holi, Lord Vishnu's victory over the demon Hiranyakashipu, at Hampshire College - organized by Syma Sheikh
Muslim in America
Young Muslim girls do not fantasize about teen heartthrobs like Justin Bieber, who do not have the maturity to know the proper Islamic way to treat a young lady.
Instead they pray and hope that someday they will be blessed like Aisha, who married the 58 year old prophet when she was 6 years old.
According to Islamic authorities – “As for the prophet, peace and prayer of Allah be upon him, thighing his fiancée Aisha. She was six years of age and he could not have intercourse with her due to her small age. That is why [the prophet] peace and prayer of Allah be upon him placed his [male] member between her thighs and massaged it softly, as the apostle of Allah had control of his [male] member not like other believers..”
Young Muslim girls do not fantasize about immature teen heartthrobs like Justin Bieber, but think only of their love for Islam and its prophet, who was the 'perfect example' for mankind to follow.
When Allah's Apostle came, 'Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as Muslims. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!"
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The Hindu festival of Holi celebrates the victory of Vishnu, whose devotees love Him spontaneously and unconditionally, over a demon king who demanded that people offer their submission only to him - even by force if necessary!
Kaneez Bajwa, Surryyia Shiak, Mosheem Attique and Sabeen Sheikh at the ISWM 2011 Open House.
I’m confused about your position. You’re telling two stories here. One, with your words, presents a very Christian, patriotic American view of this woman and her hard work towards greater understanding, but with some of the images and quotes you’ve chosen you’re presenting another image. I like to place violent or sexist quotes from the Qu’aran alongside similar quotes from the bible, for context, or simply provide some of the more loving quotes. I have studied the book a little and never found anything like the words you placed under the image of the little girl holding the gun. You also seem to make blanket statements using radical, fundamentalist Islam to color the entire religion, when only a small fraction of Muslims are from that part of the world, let alone that extreme. Please exercise more caution. On the internet, you never know who will read your words. A child could see this and get the wrong idea.