Nine To Five: Muslims In The Western Workplace

Covered from head to toe with only her eyes visible, the sight of a Muslim woman on a western city street rarely fails to provoke a strong reaction. Feelings of shock, horror, repulsion, pity or even fear are not uncommon. But have you ever wondered who it is behind the veil and what makes her tick? Ever wondered what her life is really like and whether her dreams, hopes and aspirations differ from yours? From My Sisters’ Lips offers a rare glimpse into the lives of a community of women, most of whom are converts to Islam, and invites you to share their joys, sorrows, convictions and faith.

When Na’ima B Robert abandoned her western lifestyle and embraced Islam six years ago, it was not a decision taken lightly. Yet soon after she took her first tentative steps towards covering, she felt empowered; no longer judged on physical appearances alone, no longer seeking the approval to feel beautiful – or using her looks to wield power over men – the experience effected her greatly. Before long she grew in confidence and courage. As she says, ‘Something just clicked. I thought, “Good, don’t look; don’t compare me with your latest squeeze, don’t try and guess my measurements – my body is my own business!”‘
From My Sisters’ Lips offers a glimpse into the lives of just some of the extraordinary women who, like herself, have chosen to live behind the veil. What emerges is a vivid and intimate portrait of a sisterhood; as they speak candidly and with conviction on a diverse range of subjects ranging from marriage to motherhood, stereotypes, submission and self-image, we hear the strong, proud voices of those who are seldom heard.

Muslims today, especially – but not exclusively – those living in the West, are faced with a variety of problems. There are the internal struggles of living an Islamic lifestyle in a world dominated by Western culture, the conflicts between parents and children, the challenge of being single in a society where one is surrounded by temptations, the frustration caused by parents who refuse to allow their children to get married, the strains on marriages, the repercussions of terrorist actions perpetrated by Muslims, the effects of racism, the confusion among the various ideologies of Muslims today, and various other trials confronting our communities. We need a book for English readers that tackles these issues, explaining the reasons for these problems and providing specific recommendations for handling them, based on the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him). How to Make It in Today’s World is such a book.