My Story

Like many people born into a religion, Islam was only a cultural dogma until I began college six years ago. I questioned and struggled with my faith until God opened my heart to His Book, the Qur’an, and eventually Islam, literally: “submission to God to render peace in and around oneself.”

Here I am today: taking a leap of faith to quit my career in cancer research to contribute to the larger American society by engaging in theological scholarship and community activism.

Who am I?

My name is Sidra Mahmood and I graduated in 2012 from Mount Holyoke College, MA. I was actively involved in the Muslim and interfaith community during my undergraduate studies and moved to Boston afterwards to benefit from the company and knowledge of Imam Suhaib Webb and those around him at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC).

Not only do I volunteer at the mosque as a tour guide and help them in their interfaith and youth endeavors, I have also been taking local Islamic classes along with my full-time job as a research technician. Fortunately, I am at a point in my studies where my thirst of knowledge has motivated me to undertake Islamic studies full-time, and hence my enrollment in the Dream Program.

Why “Dream”?

My life changed when I started reading the Qur'an in English, a language I related strongly to. I quickly realized that my understanding of the Qur'an and Islam is limited without the knowledge of classical Arabic as so much of the text is lost in translation.

The Arabic-intensive Dream Program will facilitate my comprehension of the Qur'an and will serve as a stepping stone towards further Islamic scholarship in the future. I wish to pursue the Qalam Institute's Seminary Program (classical Arabic being its prerequisite) that aims to train American Muslim leaders under the mentorship of Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda the year after Dream, God willing.

I recognize the dire need of Muslim women scholars and mentors in our country. No matter how accessible the imams and male scholars are, if you are a woman, you don't have the same opportunities to learn and benefit from them once outside the classroom and conferences. Women also happen to have completely different social, emotional and psychological needs. That's why we need more of us to specialize in the sacred sciences to provide knowledge, counsel and support to one another including men who surround us. 

Calligraphy Giveaways

I have been self-financing myself since I graduated high school and those who know me personally, also know that I help my dad support our family of six. He lost his job few months ago, straitening our circumstances as a result. The total cost for the 9-months Dream Program is around $17,500 out of which I need $10,000.

In order to raise funds for the Bayyinah Dream Program, I am giving away custom-ordered and hand-made ink drawings of your favorite Qur’anic verses. Check out samples of my work on my Facebook page:

Then, open the Qur’an (yes - the Love Letter God sent to us!), especially in this blessed month of Ramadan, and order along with your donation the verses you’d like me to draw for you. It’s just that simple! You fall in love with the Qur’an and I will give you your favorite verses back in return, God willing.

As a consequence, we all share the goodness. Together.

How to Support

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