Jul 13 2007
Review: Muslim Girl magazine
**1/2 out of ****
I was excited when I first came across this magazine. Finally, a magazine geared towards Muslim girls - insha’Allah a publication with which they could identify and through which they could be inspired.
I applaud the effort, but so far, I don’t think that Muslim Girl lives up to its promise. I keep hoping and praying (insha’Allah) that it will - as unlike a book, it is possible for a magazine to reinvent itself in every issue - because our girls could really benefit from a good magazine just for them.
Good things
Here’s what I think Muslim Girl magazine gets right:
- Makes an effort to find exemplars/role models for girls from the Muslim community. Sisters who have interesting and meaningful careers, are involved in philanthropic work, have been blessed with artistic or literary talents.
- Profiles Muslim girls who are doing interesting things - as individuals or as groups.
- Follows a familiar magazine format
What I didn’t like
- The majority of the sisters featured in the magazine are non-hijabis. While I know that most Muslim women, especially in the US don’t cover, I would like to see the magazine make more of an effort to seek out those who do so that
- - It could normalize hijab-wearing for Muslims and non-Muslims. Seeing a glossy American magazine full of positive profiles and images of hijabis would help do that for many people. Mind you, I think covering is an individual choice and like to see non-hijabi sisters acknowledged as well.
- - It is really young muhajabas who need the support of seeing themselves in media outside of negative news coverage on the Middle East
Instead it’s a bit as if Muslim Girl’s staff thinks of hijab as a cultural marker or fashion statement rather than a choice of faith. Something we’ve moved past.
- The clothing in the fashion section tends toward the immodest. Think, sister in headscarf but skin-tight pants and shirt. I would like to see more tunics, long skirts, fluid pants and dresses and even jelbabs and abayas here.
Okay, I’ll pause here to say that looking through it, I am not sure about the magazine’s message or its target audience. And I wonder about who is behind the magazine. Are Muslims at the helm, or is the publication an attempt by non-Muslims or non-religious Muslims to tap into a so far untapped market?
- I would like to see more Muslim-produced/marketed products, both in terms of the magazine’s advertising and in terms of the products it chooses to profile and feature in its beauty and fashion sections. Where is Shukr Clothing, Muslim Gear, Crescent Moon Boutique and so many others?
- The magazine treats “Muslim” like a superficial ethnic designation and not as a living faith. So, it will profile, for exmaple, Asma Rasheed because she has an Arabic name and comes from a Muslim family, but never really ask her about her faith or how it influences her life. It’s good enough that she would check off “Muslim” on a form that asked about her religion. In similar vein, there is little about Muslimahs whose central focus in life is Islam and whose vocations and community work were chosen to fit their lives in Islam.
- It’s great that Muslim Girl shows our girls women who are succeeding in difficult or unusual fields - but then I expect the magazine to go further and have them talk about how their faith informs their work, if there are any day to day challenges to being Muslim and holding that job (for example, finding time to pray), etc.
- Too much space given to conventional, pop culture that 1) Muslim girls can get from any other magazine and that 2) many of us parents are trying to keep out of the home. I have zero interest in having my girls read about “Gilmore Girls,” “24,”"Harry Potter” (many Muslim parents would especially cringe at that one) or other such pop culture drivel.
- I’d rather the magazine talked to nasheed artists, featured good books (more than television or movies), maybe even covering halal things that teens outside North America are doing for fun. Instead we get the Disney, Warner, view of things.
- Muslim Girl - be brave enough to set trends instead of being a follower. Perhaps you did some polling of young Muslim girls and found that most of them are into the same things that their non-Muslim peers are. Well and good, but then make it part of your mandate to introduce them to some new things and encourage them to think a little bit more.
- Oprah’s booklist had an amazing impact on the publishing industry and on American women’s reading habits. These major changes could never have happened if Oprah had simply said, “You know, my audience just reads mysteries and romance novels, they won’t be interested in anything else.” In fact, she got women who weren’t used to difficult reading to challenge themselves with books like “Beloved.”
- If our girls are only interested in the mall, iTunes and makeup then I want a Muslim girls’ magazines that will challenge that and present alternatives.
In writing this review, I looked around for Christian girls and women’s magazines and found several that seem to be doing a better job of creating reading imbued with faith than Muslim Girl is so far doing.
I ask the publishers of Muslim Girl to look at Azizah , al-Jumuah and Emel magazines for inspiration.
At this point, I would not let my daughter read Muslim Girl without reading the issue first and then may still have to set it aside. We do so much in our home to try to encourage good values and focus on meaningfulness (not to mention keep out conventional consumerist influences) that we would be stupid to serve up fluff (like the current Muslim Girl) to our daughters.
Insha’Allah, Muslim Girl will improve. I will keep watching.
Salaams. Thanks for your comments on this magazine; I agree. I was very disappointed when I checked its site online and saw what it was aiming at.
I live in an area with a growing Muslim population, and our suburban library carries this magazine, prominently on display in the magazine section (issue on shelf mentioned “High School Musical”). The library also has a children’s ethnic section, featuring Indian, Spanish, Polish, and Arabic books/videos. One Arabic video or CD was about Jewish/Muslim youth friendships in the Middle East or Israel, joining together for “peace” (meaning, “take our land, please–you’re welcome”). [OF COURSE we wish for peace, but not on their terms.]
Like you, I wonder who is really behind the Muslim Girl magazine. Certainly, it COULD be simply secular-minded Muslims who think its content is o.k. , who thought it could fill a “void,” provide THEIR more secularly oriented youth with identity validation, etc., and become a nice business project (ultimate goal, sales). On the other hand, I WONDER if it is part of the effort to get Muslims to “assimilate,” meaning, they should give up the “undesirable” aspects of Islam (sure, we always go for the conspiracy theory–but those who would deny any conspiracies are even more delusional).
But, Sister, truly, how much of a market would there be for a truly Islamically acceptable magazine for Muslim girls? Who would buy it? Probably very few of the Muslims living in North America. It COULD be done, but not as a commercial enterprise–the publishers might turn a small profit, just enough to publish, with little left over. Any volunteers? Insha’Allah, someday (no sarcasm intended; I do hope for someday…).
Maybe you could contact Muslim Girl and tactfully inquire about their content, etc., and express your interest in alternative content. Let them see your post and mine, and see what they have to say. Best wishes.
Wa salaam, Sister. Jazakh Allah Khair for your post.
I’ve since noted that the editor of Muslim Girl is Muslim (South Asian origin it seems from her name, etc.).
I guess I don’t understand the whole “secular Muslim” position. Even if you aren’t very religious yourself you would think that you would at least want to embue your childrens’ lives with some substance and grounding. Giving them the best. To not take care in this respect so obviously has bad results.
Regarding what you said about the profitability of a good magazine for Muslim girls - hmm, I think that a lot of Muslim parents may buy Muslim Girl for their girls or the girls might choose it themselves simply because it seems to be aimed at Muslim girls.
Unfortunately, not every family (however much they may wish for their kids to be practicing Muslims) screen the media they encounter or are capable of doing so (there are those whose English is not so strong, for example).
So, I would like to think that if something truly beautiful and praiseworthy was served up with similar labeling that they might also choose it. This kind of knee-jerk reaction, is after all the basis of some very successful marketing.
But even if it started small (as a zine or newsletter) it would be useful, insha’Allah. Are you volunteering for such an endeavor??
BTW, I think it is remarkable that your public library hosts so many diverse materials. Mash’Allah. As I said in my post though, it is unfortunate that Muslim Girl has squandered its opportunity.
Assalaamu’alaykum
I had the chance of browsing through the magazine a month ago, and I must admit I agree with you. The thought that passed through my mind as I was looking through it was, “Hmm.. what IS the message being sent out through this magazine?” There was a lot of mixed messages, and perhaps some even misinterpreted… and was also curious as to whether a Muslim was driving the magazine..
I was quite excited initially, but then I wasn’t after completing the magazine.
There is an on-line magazine which is inshaa Allaah, well done and also done within the boundaries of the Qur’an and sunnah.
It is at www.sistersmagazine.com
Subhanallah, it is very well done, although I would much prefer it to be hardcopy!
Wassalaamu’alaykum
Asalaam walaikum
Dear brothers and sisters. I live in the Uk and my husband went to one of the islamic conferences held in Toronto USA last year. There he met and spoke to people from Muslim Girl magazine and found out that the owners of this magazine are not muslim at all. The editor as you mention is muslim but why would nonmuslims want to produce a magazine aimed at muslim girls and especially promote images of young muslim women as it does? This is really the important question. In this day just because something is called islamic or muslim doesnt really always mean what it calls itself. Just be aware of what your buying and do a little research which never hurst. Inshallah there will be practising brothers and sisters who will set up magazines that appeal to the youth which inspires the heart and mind to loving Allah and Mohammad saw. May Allah make it easy for the youth and all Muslims and mankind to know the truth and follow the greatest man to have ever existed and may Allah forgive the Ummah of Mohammad saw AMIN.
Salaam walaikum wa rahmatullah all dear muslims
Asalaamu Alaikam,
First things first: nice blog! You have some interesting topics/links/etc!
Second, about Muslim Girl magazine: As far as I know, it is run totally by Muslims. One of my friends has worked as a contributing editor for the magazine, and was even featured on the cover (she’s a hijabi, and a very fashionable, beautiful hijabi at that! I literally love her styles with long flowing skirts and gorgeous tunics!).
I don’t know why they do tend to showcase more non-hijab wearing Muslimahs. This would be a very good question to raise to the editors. We should let them know that we would like to see more hijabis featured in the magazine. For example, there are hijabi girls who are participating in sporting activities across the nation in their high schools and colleges. It would be beneficial that they get star billing so our daughters can see that you can be modest and participate in sports.
InshAllah, I am sure that the magazine will get there; it just needs our full support & feedback. This magazine is not just for Muslim GIRLS, but also for Muslim WOMEN. Since it is FOR us, we should let the editors know what we WANT. Oh, and I totally agree about the fashion comments that you made. They should be MORE MODEST! We want our daughters (and sisters who may not be covering yet) to see that hijab can be BEAUTIFUL!
Wasalaamz to all of my beautiful sisters in Islam!