We’ve spoken to Esra Alhamal about the art of Islamic illumination, Azeezat Adeola about mindfulness in knitting and how to get started and knitting for social issues, Neda about pole fitness, body confidence and online trolls, Chaimaa Creates about baking and cake design, Katie Haseeb about illustrating and fine arts, Brooke Benoit about jewellery design, Firdaws Clotaire about ceramics and pottery-making, and Zainab Alema about her journey to becoming a professional rugby player and encouraging more Muslim women to get involved in sports.
Last month we spoke to Tenille who is a quilter and natural dyer
If you would like to interview a Muslim woman about her hobby/hustle, get in touch: selina@amaliah.com
Where can we find your work?
You can find me on Barakah’s Doula on instagram.
What do you call yourself in relation to your hobby or hustle?
I started off with the term doula which is widely known as someone who works with pregnant women but as my love for womens holistic healing grew that somehow transformed into the term womb healer.
How did you get into this?
I definitely believe that womens holistic healing is something that has surrounded me my entire life is gentle forms. Although it’s never been given the label it has now.
I grew up surrounded by a strong women lead community where healing in the form of food, herbs, companionship and tea was constant.
I later certified as a doula and began traveling and spending time with beautiful Muslim scholars and healers. It changed my perspective on the importance of women holding space for each other. That’s when the journey of unlearning and relearning indigenous healing techniques came about.
What is your favorite thing about being a womb healer/doula?
There are so many things I absolutely love about womb healing but the one that I could say is my current favorite would be when a woman had the initial realization to the fact that she is not alone in her trauma, pain or hardships. Seeing the look in her eyes when she comes to this realization gives me goose bumps ever single time and is an extremely humbling experience.
What is the most challenging thing about it?
When it comes to such intimate and personal work it can take a lot of physical, emotional, spiritual and even mental energy from you. I wouldn’t say it was a challenge per say but something that can become a challenge if it’s not checked constantly. The saying of don’t pour from an empty cup is everything on this line of work. Finding your tribe, listening to your intuition and making sure that you are in a constant state of mercy for yourself are crucial.
How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by remembering that this work is an act of service and worship. Removing myself from the equation and serving Allah’s creation is the only thing that can keep one motivated because it can be an all consuming journey.
And when the motivation disappears I always take a break and reset my intentions and fill my cup back up.
What is the work that you are most proud of, and why?
I don’t think there’s anything in particular I’m proud of when it comes to the work itself.
I’m proud of each and every woman who makes the step towards healing her womb and psyche. It’s not easy to dive head first into yourself and look into the mirror sincerely. I’m infinitely proud of their bravery.
Between your hobby and work, family, personal errands etc. how do you organise your time and make sure that you’re staying on top of everything?
Who are your biggest inspirations/who are the people making waves in this field?
There are so many women who inspire! I couldn’t count them. The dozens of female scholars in places like Senegal, Mauritania, Yemen and more inspire me daily and are the ones who I am eternally grateful to for sharing their knowledge.
There are quite a few Muslim women who are making waves within women’s healing and education whatever form that may be. Women like the OG Village aunty, sister Chantelle from the honored womb and Aamirah from wholistically rooted are doing real work and are women who I look up to for sure.
What would be your advice for someone that wants to get into it?
Seek knowledge! That’s where the journey begins.
There is a beauty in seeking knowledge to benefit one’s self and then to share that knowledge by being of service to others. My teachers always taught us the importance of this.
Seek knowledge and sit with women who remind you of Allah SWT and take the inner journey of healing yourself first. With pure intentions everything else seems to fall in place.
Selina Bakkar
I'm a simply striving to be better and improve in different areas of my life through more self awareness, experiences and learning more about the deen. You'll find me talking about community, connection, planting & growing, seeking the truth in an age of propaganda and misinformation. This year I want to document more to do with food heritage and history so watch this space or reach out. Have a listen to the Amaliah Voices podcast where I talk passionately about Islam, nature, motherhooding and back home. Link in bio peeps. To join the Amaliah Writer Community email me at selina@amaliah.com IG: SelinaBakkar
