617: Uzma Jafri and Zaiba Hasan: Mommying While Muslim

Uzma Jafri grew up in Houston, the daughter of Muslim immigrants from Pakistan and India. Coming from a traditional Muslim family and being unapologetically Muslim, while still identifying with American culture, made Uzma hyperaware of the dangers that arise when people conflate culture and religion. Today, Uzma is a physician running her own practice in Phoenix, medical director of an assisted living and hospice agency, and clinical faculty to future physicians. Uzma’s most important full-time job is that of mom to her 4 kids. 

Zaiba Hasan is an American Muslim who grew up biracial and bicultural. Born and raised in Chicago, Zaiba’s Irish/Pakistani heritage and interfaith upbringing gave her a head start on navigating between identities. She is frequently invited to speak at interfaith events since her background makes her a natural at bridging gaps between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States. When she isn’t busy with podcasting, public speaking, fostering an interfaith community, or working on her Master’s Degree & Parent Coaching Certification, Zaiba can be found with her husband and their four children at one of their sporting events.

I am so honored to have Uzma and Zaiba on the show, as this is a critically important conversation for those who want to be true allies to our Muslim friends, neighbors, and community members.

Listen in to hear Uzma and Zaiba share:

• The story of how two Muslim friends who hadn’t seen each other in 20 years decided to launch a podcast together
• How Zaiba’s son being stopped at an airport as a 14-year old Muslim boy inspired their show, Mommying While Muslim
• How creating a community and resource for Muslim moms ended up attracting a lot of white moms and evangelical men and the value of creating a space where listeners feel like they can be a fly on the wall with two Muslim moms
• The significance of being in the last pre 911 generation of Muslims in America
• The racial and religious profiling that happened and continues to happen post 911
• How we expand our capacity to connect as humans when we listen in to the stories of people who are unlike us

Links mentioned:

• Join Momentum Mamas: shamelessmom.com/momentum
• Subscribe to the Podcast: Mommying While Muslim
• Learn more about Uzma and Zaiba: mommyingwhilemuslim.com
• Reach out to Uzma and Zaiba: salam@mommyingwhilemuslim.com
• Uzma and Zaiba on IG

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