Lunch & Learn: Marriage Traditions in Muslim Cultures

Marriage Traditions in Muslim Cultures:

What does marriage look like in diverse Muslim cultures? Learn about the Islamic perspective on marriage while developing an understanding of the diversity of cultural marriage traditions in the Muslim world. The highlight of this workshop is a panel of Muslim women sharing their marriage stories.

Meet the Panellists:

Bahiyye Ahram, B.Sc Architecture, IDC, RESACSA

An interior designer by profession, Bahiyye is the founder of Design by Bebo, a staging and design business. She is also on the Board of Directors of Coalition of Muslim Women. Bahiyye holds a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Beirut Arab University, a Diploma in Interior Decorating & Design from Mohawk College, and ten years of experience in staging and design in Waterloo Region and Hamilton. She is also a member of the Canadian Arab Women Association. Bahiyye is a community activist who has made an impact on many lives and continues through her volunteering and contributions through the projects she leads where she empowers and inspire the members of the community to accomplish their goals and increase their sense of belonging. She has volunteered with the Women Empowerment Society, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Strong Start, Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington, and Hamilton Wentworth District Schoolboard. Bahiyye is proud of her Palestinian heritage and enjoys spending time with her three beautiful children.

Amna Arshad

Amna Arshad is a Pakistani-Canadian residing in Canada for the last five years. She is married to an amazing husband and enjoys spending time with her all-time fun-loving four-year-old son and a beautiful one-year-old daughter. She is a graduate in Economics from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan. She is currently on parental leave but used to work as a financial service representative. Living in Canada as a Pakistani-Muslim woman, Amna feels proud to be a part of a society representing diversity and inclusion. She loves Canada and she loves snow (seriously) but also misses the land she was born in – Pakistan. To fill that void, she loves cooking traditional Pakistani cuisine. she loves hosting too her weekends are mostly spent cooking delicious food for her family and friends. She also loves watching romantic comedies, and Bollywood movies. She likes reading blogs on social issues and parenting approaches. She also loves dress designing and dressing up and aspires to launch her own clothing brand one day.

Wisam Osman

Wisam Osman came to Canada 12 years ago with a bachelor’s in computer science and Statistics. Since her arrival, Wisam has been engaged in the community in different ways. She started with her friends a moms & Toddlers’ interactive group that welcomed everyone to join. She became very active in the local Sudanese community helping and organizing social events, ladies gathering and youth activities. In 2012 Wisam joined the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW as a volunteer and shortly after became a member. Wisam has served CMW in many capacities including 4+ years as a member of the Board of Directors. Wisam always believed that everyone is able to give back to the community because everyone is gifted in a special way.

Fauzia Mazhari

Fauzia Mazhar has 20 years of experience in the local social profit sector, much of it in leadership and management. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree with a specialization in Community, Policy, Planning, Organizations (CPPO), and a post-graduate certificate in Leadership and Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.

In 2010, Fauzia joined hands with a handful of women in KW to start the modest initiative to empower Muslim women to be leaders and change-makers, able to address stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslim women through community outreach and bridge-building, which is now known as the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW or CMW.

Fauzia is a community builder and an engaged citizen, passionately bringing people and groups together to build a welcoming, inclusive and safe community. She is also an optimist who likes a good laugh.

A-Zoom link will be emailed to participants prior to the event.

This presentation is presented in conjunction with Schneider Haus’s newest exhibit

UN/COVERINGS – Mennonite & Muslim Women’s Heads and Hearts

On exhibit September 4, 2022

Why do Muslim head coverings cause such visceral reactions? Do Mennonite bonnets provoke the same response? And when the vast majority of both North American Mennonite and Muslim women don’t veil at all, why do these headcoverings receive so much (and such different) public attention?

In reality, Mennonite and Muslim women represent so much variation and contrast within and beyond their communities. Their stories and identities are as complex and creative as the clothes they wear.

If you think you know these women, just wait.

UN/COVERINGS turns stereotypes on their head.