Women?s Health and Hygiene Program in Kaolack, Senegal.
In spite of the lack of information available about Muslim women business trends, the growing number of Muslimah entrepreneurs is obvious when on the ground and doing business in local communities. Houston alone boasts dozens of Muslimah run enterprises from restaurants and clothing boutiques to home day care centers; and a 2009 study from the Center for Women?s Business Research estimates that women-owned firms in the U.S. have a total economic impact of nearly 3 trillion dollars annually.
Muslim business women are part of a long standing tradition that began in the seventh century with the first wife of the beloved Prophet of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, the Lady Khadija Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her. Lady Khadija Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her, a wealthy merchant-woman of a prominent tribe, conducted trade by caravan during the middle of the 600?s and she has set a beautiful example that flourishes to this day among Muslim women around the world. In light of the accomplishments achieved by the Lady Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, it is important to highlight the successes of modern Muslim women whom have also endeavored into the world of entrepreneurialism.
At a time when the political debate rages concerning the rights of Muslim women as a result of the Arab Spring and democratic efforts within predominantly Muslim countries, awareness of the accomplished modern day and historical Muslim businesswomen supports the idea that not only can Muslimah businesses flourish but that they have in the past as well.
Queen Sheba Village Inc. (QSV) and Queen Sheba Cisse exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of the modern Muslim woman navigating the global economy while juggling work, family and religion. Sister Cisse founded QSV, an online fashion boutique offering African textiles and clothing, Arabian fragrances for the body and senses, and crafted accessories from Africa, in 2005 after a lifelong interest in fashion and in addition to providing clothing and accessories, the QSV fashion boutique raises funds for a micro-credit loan program to assist Senegalese women in the development of sustainable village based businesses that support their families.
Queen Sheba Cisse accepted Islam during her teen-aged years and has said when asked what advice she would like to impart to women who are striving to find their voice, ?By The Grace, Will and Mercy of Allah I am here to inspire women. I push?forward every day and I am currently writing my life story. For now I am out in the fields!?
Sister Cisse and QSV are out in the community sowing the seeds of good deeds for the benefit of the ummah while providing clothing that is both beautiful and modest. QSV offers a wide assortment of exquisite African garments and products collected on visits and buying trips throughout the African Motherland while offering social services to communities in need. Over the past several years QSV has distributed collections of clothing and supplies for personal, financial and medical use to villagers throughout Senegal and is currently working on their upcoming children?s school supplies drive called Project Education. They have recently completed a Women?s Health and Hygiene Program this past February in Kaolack, Senegal that was designed for improving the health of women and for empowering women towards gender equality.
When asked to provide one aspect of how Allah Ta?aala?s guidance and grace has manifest in her life Sister Cisse responds, ?I have been blessed with remarkable women in my life and my roots are a deep part of my willpower and desire to promote empowerment. Al hamdulilah (praise be to God) I began to practice the spiritual adage to ?know thyself? and in this expression have been able to aide, help, and inspire others because I deeply feel that we as Allah?s creatures have to have a sense of self and purpose. We may not know all at once, but we are constantly taking baby steps towards understanding ourselves and learning about our Creator Allah Ta?aala. I would like to say I am a rooted individual who respects our parents, our people, and our elders whom are all our ancestors; every human being is globally and intimately connected.?
The Queen Sheba Village Inc. mission is in part one of empowerment for the women of Senegal and the desire to use the development QSV endeavors as a role model for encouraging women to create businesses of their own. Queen Sheba Cisse believes that understanding one?s individual role in history is an important first step towards success, especially as women. Women around the world have struggled to find their voice and to be treated equally in societies where they have been oppressed or legally bound by laws that repress their human rights and have in effect been able to initiate changes that are reforming the present and creating a historical narrative that is just and compassionate.
Read More on Houston Islam Examiner.com
Isahah Janette Grant is the author of the children's book, Sameerah's Hijab and the First Day of School. She is a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), an internationally based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions of members of the Muslim community. She currently owns and runs Mindworks Publishing, a community based desktop publishing business, and is working on completing her first work of fiction. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts majoring in Print Journalism and currently resides in Missouri City, TX.woody guthrie benson henderson 2012 dunk contest edgar vs henderson berkshire hathaway ufc 144 james jones
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