Monday marked the first-ever Muslim Women's Day — a day to celebrate the identities and experiences of Muslim women around the world as well as to encourage action and solidarity. There are many important ways you can support Muslim women today and everyday: You can listen to and amplify their narratives, actively work to challenge and dismantle Islamophobia, and ensure that your feminism is intersectional in a way that includes Muslim women. Additionally, you can also highlight the incredible work Muslim women have done by supporting businesses owned by Muslim women both in the U.S. and abroad.
Pull your money out of stores and businesses that either directly or indirectly perpetuate Islamophobia, and invest those funds in the work that Muslim women have been doing for a long time. And right now, at a time when Islamophobic rhetoric and violence is mounting at a terrifying rate around the world, it is vital that we support these businesses and their owners and make it clear that they matter to us.
Intentionally investing your money in a business is a political act. Putting money into marginalized communities is a concrete strategy to support them — and it can help these communities thrive. Muslim women deserve so much better than the sexism, racism, and xenophobia that they often experience, and investing in the following businesses is just one way to support them.
The Mocktail Company
"I’d always known growing up in Britain that the culture of being British and being Muslim sometimes conflicted, particularly at University when a lot of my friends were drinking," The Mocktail Company founder Shahin Hussain told the BBC. So she created a company that makes non-alcoholic drinks like the "Nojito" and the "Strawberry Mockiri." You can visit the The Mocktail Company's website for more info.
Saudah Saleem Interiors
Saudah Saleem Interiors is an interior design and event styling company based in Baltimore, Maryland. According to Saleem's website, her company provides everything from furniture layouts to fabric consultations. For clients outside the Maryland/Washington, D.C. area, Saleem provides virtual decorating services.
Joud, Home Accessories
According to BuzzFeed, Deena Fadel is an Egyptian artist who started her own home accessories line — Joud — after quitting her job at an advertising agency. Fadel's products draw inspiration from Arab motifs and calligraphy, as well as the streets of Cairo. "Work is not work for me," Fadel told BuzzFeed. "It's a passion. It's love."
Islamic Moments
Sabah Nazir's company sells beautifully designed greeting cards, stationery, and home decor, which you can shop on the Islamic Moments website. From feminist coffee mugs to charming picture frames, there's something there for everyone.
Amira Rahim Art
Amira Rahim is an abstract artist. On her website, you can purchase canvas originals, frames, bath bombs, phone cases, and even pillows that feature her incredible art. Make sure to browse her collections today!
Aneeqi Naturals
Aneeqi Naturals — a skincare and wellness boutique based in New Jersey — sells a range of skincare products, from bath bars and handmade soaps to lip balm and whipped cream body butters. Check out their products here.
Zakiyah Candles
Zakiyah Candles produces handmade, 100 percent natural soy candles in a variety of scents, including apple pumpkin and sandalwood. The company is currently on vacation, but will reopen in a month, so keep an eye out for their products on their official Facebook page.
These are just a few of the many amazing companies owned by Muslim women around the world. Take some time to explore the products and services offered by these companies, and if you are able to, purchase some of them! Muslim Women's Day is not the only day we should be supporting Muslim women; we should be doing so every single day, and this is just one way to do so.
