Born in Iraq and raised in the United States, Intidar Aljabery has lived nearly three decades in her adopted homeland. Her journey brought her from Detroit, Michigan, where she first learned American Sign Language (ASL) in elementary school, to her current home in Minnesota. Deaf since childhood, ASL has been her primary language and a key to her flourishing life of service and learning.
Today, Intidar works as an Educational Assistant in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at St. Paul Public Schools. For the past three years, she has poured her energy and heart into supporting students with compassion and dedication. While she never attended an Islamic school growing up, she learned about Islam through family, friends, and personal study. But when she joined Ribaat, her learning transformed: “Ribaat made the knowledge feel real, deep, and life-changing.”
A New Chapter with Ribaat
In 2024, Intidar became a Ribaat student through the support of the Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community (MDMC). With their help, she was connected to interpreters and guided through the onboarding process. Though she had never taken a formal Islamic course before, she immediately recognized the quality and depth of what Ribaat had to offer.
“Before Ribaat, I had never attended any Islamic school,” she explains. “When I discovered Ribaat, I was amazed by the high-quality education and meaningful content they offer.” Despite the additional challenges of accessibility, she completed her semesters with success and gratitude. “It’s been a beautiful journey.”
Among her favorite classes have been Training the Tongue, Purifying the Heart and learning the Quran. These courses offered both spiritual insight and practical direction. “They helped me in my personal growth and inspired me in my professional life,” she shares. “They gave me guidance on what I should or shouldn’t do, both spiritually and ethically.”
Intidar’s dream is to eventually earn a certificate with Ribaat and become a teacher for the Deaf Muslim community. She hopes to deepen her understanding of the Quran and Arabic, and one day write something meaningful rooted in this sacred knowledge. She also prays for access to interpreters trained in Islamic and Arabic terms to make her journey even more effective and enriching.
Ribaat, she says, has given her what she never had growing up: a seat at the table of sacred learning. “I finally have the opportunity to learn Islam, even though I didn’t have access to this kind of education until my thirties. I will never forget what Ribaat has given me.”
May Allah grant Intidar ease in her studies, bless her efforts to teach and uplift the Deaf Muslim community, and open for her the doors of Quranic understanding and service. Ameen!