Muslims' America - Women in Islam

There's no sensationalism in just saying, 'Oh, look at this Muslim. Look! She's going out and feeding the homeless,'" says Khadijah Rivera and Jill Mraida of Tampa. "We're not getting that message out."

Until now.

VOA's "Muslims' America" heads to Florida to find out how women are reaching out to help not only their sisters in Islam, but also their community at large as well as people of other faiths.

Piedad (http://hispanicmuslims.com/piedad/) began as a support group for Spanish-speaking converts to Islam. But the group's mission soon expanded to accommodate all Muslim women, and then the entire community, regardless of faith.

Khadijah Rivera is one of the bonding forces behind Piedad, she's not just a social activist, community worker but is also a mother. And when she's done teaching at a local school in Tampa bay, she teaches English to Burmese immigrant children.

Khadijah says, "When you are helping the needy for food, clothing or shelter, then faith, does not matter, we are all children of God".

"When you first come to Islam, you are leaving one world behind, but you're not fully comfortable in the new world yet," says Jill Mraida who is also trying to maintain balance between her faith and her obligations as a community worker and a mother.

Imran Siddiqui visits with the women of Piedad to learn about their experiences as Muslims, as mothers, and as Americans.

____________________________

Summary Text by Gary Butterworth
VOA News Urdu service
____________________________

Alot of the credit for this story goes to Sherri Day from SP Times, without her this story would not have been possible - Here is why:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/09/Hillsborough/America_s_Muslim_popu.shtml