Articles by SA STAFF

In 2022, the debut of Zolasina in Minneapolis ushered in a new era of fashion, spearheaded by Naima Bashir—a dynamic professional and A devoted mom. “I am acutely aware of the lack of well-made, high-quality, chic yet modest clothing that seamlessly transitions between professional and leisure settings, and this is why I took matters into my own hands and conceived Zolasina,” Naima passionately declares. “This brand is about ensuring women, like myself are not forgotten, and we are part of the diverse tapestry of women seeking versatile and stylish options that are also modest.” Zolasina’s collections, crafted with sustainable fabrics, is a response to the unmet needs of women often overlooked and undervalued in the fashion narrative. Each piece is a fusion of exceptional materials, skilled craftsmanship, and an easygoing and timeless style, embodying a commitment to quality and inclusivity. The brand stands as a symbol of empowerment, proudly embracing the strength and unique stories of women whose representation has been lacking in mainstream fashion. To explore and acquire these distinctive Zolasina collections, visit www.zolasina.com. For a personalized shopping experience, appointments can be scheduled by calling 612-424-0395. Step into Zolasina, where the fusion of modesty and modernity tells a story…

St. Paul teen Abshir Ali reviewed police chief candidates, weighed in on $7M budget. How the city nurtures public service in youth St. Paul’s Youth On Boards initiative allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on city committees and boards. Abshir Ali reviews public improvement projects and an approximately $7 million budget as part of a committee for the city of St. Paul. He sits through long meetings about improving the city’s parks and sidewalks, often waiting months to see projects come to fruition. But the 17-year-old high school senior loves it. It’s how Abshir, who is Somali, got his start in public service—at 14 years old. “It was kind of daunting,” Abshir said of his unusually early start in local government. “These people have, like, 20 years of experience, and then there’s a 9th grader having the same level of authority in the room.” Abshir joined St. Paul’s 18-member Capital Improvements Budget Committee through the city’s Youth On Boards initiative, which allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on committees and boards. But serving on a committee is just one of the many ways Abshir,…

Ask a scholar January 2024 Assalamu 3alaykom, I am in need of a fatwa regarding abortion. My husband and I have incompatible blood types and When I got pregnant with my first child I developed a condition that would put a future pregnancy at risk of fetal anomalies if it the fetus blood type is incompatible with mine. These Fetal anomalies prevent the child from having a normal life. There is no cure for the disease, only medical intervention to try to reduce the impact on the fetus as much as possible. Outcome is only known at birth. Is it permissible to abort a fetus before 120 days if it’s blood type is incompatible with mine? I am struggling to decide as I really want to have another child. Thank you in advance. I am sorry to hear about your predicament. I also pray to Allah to inspire you to face your test with patience and to guide you to make a decision that pleases Him. Abortion is considered Haram (and forbidden) after the ensoulment (breathing of soul into the fetus), which takes place when the pregnancy reaches 120 days. Once it has reached this stage, abortion is akin to…

ASK A SCHOLAR NOVEMBER 2023   I sent out greeting cards to all my contacts in my mailing list with generic greetings which read as follows HAPPY HOLIDAYS MERRY CHRISTMASWE WISH EVERYONE A HEALTHY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS new year the question is some one has accused me of being a KAFIR to send this type of email??? is this accusation correct? There is nothing wrong in wishing Christians Merry Christmas or Hindus Happy Divali or Jews Happy Rosh Hashanah. By doing so, you are not in any way subscribing to the specific dogmas or rituals associated with those celebrations. Instead, you only wish them well on their happy occasions. Muslims are to greet others as we would like them to greet us. The generic Islamic greeting is salaam or peace: the full words are Assalaamu Alaikum: I greet you with peace. According to a report from the Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah ordered Adam to greet the angels with salaam and also told him: “This shall be the words of greeting for you and your children.” However, there is no harm in using the standard greeting common to people. If you are greeting Christians, you may wish them Happy…

ASK A MUSLIM SCHOLAR MAY 2023   Assalam o Alaikum. I am in a tough situation and want guidance. We have 2 children together. We have been married for almost 12 years but have known each other for almost 20 years.slI settled in America and we got married after I secured a job. In the past few years and especially in the past 2 years I have started to dislike this country’s environment for my children’s upbringing. I have expressed interest to move to a muslim country with a possibility of better pay and better environment for my children, but my wife and her mother refuse to accept it. Infact whenever I start talking about this topic she starts a fight to a point where we are yelling at each other and my wife starts physically pushing me. She even starts crying loudly asking Allah to destroy me for upsetting her peace. She also said that her relationship ended with her. I hv tried all ways. Her mother supports her decision. What should I do?     I am sorry to hear about your predicament. Did you have any agreement with your wife when you got married? For example, did…