From Ohio to the World: Ariel Schmid’s Journey with Ribaat
Meet Ariel Schmid, our Ribaat Student of the Month who is on a journey to deepen her connection to Islam. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, to American and German parents, Ariel now resides in her hometown with her Palestinian husband and enjoys spending time with his extended family of siblings, cousins, and young ones. Ariel works as a strategy analyst at VITAS Healthcare, a leading national hospice provider, but her life is as much about nurturing faith and knowledge as it is about her professional endeavors.
The Beginning of a Transformative Journey
Ariel was introduced to Ribaat in 2020 through a local book club led by Ribaat Teacher Certification 2024 graduate, Sarah Taufique. The group read Joy Jots by Anse Dr. Tamara Gray, where Ariel was particularly inspired by the chapter on committing to lifelong learning. Motivated by her clubmates’ experiences and raving reviews, Ariel signed up for her first class, Companions of the Prophet ﷺ (SIR101), that fall.
However, Ariel’s connection to Rabata didn’t start with the classes. During Ramadan 2020, she joined Masjid Rabata’s online programming, which was newly launched that year. She said, “I had some beautiful and touching personal moments during a few of the programs during the last ten nights. I also joined the daily Quran reading each Ramadan since then.” These experiences became foundational in her spiritual journey, grounding her in faith during the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Learning & Growing with Ribaat
Since then, Ariel has immersed herself in Ribaat’s diverse offerings. She’s taken courses spanning all of the disciplines that Ribaat offers, from fiqh and ‘aqida to Arabic and more. Her dedication even led her to partake in Project Lina and a Quran Ready Ramadan workshop. Though she finds Arabic to be her most challenging subject, Ariel remains persistent, viewing it as a vital life skill she hopes to pass on to her future children.
Asked to choose a favorite course, she said it was a difficult question since “all the classes you take with Ribaat are good classes.” Practical and enriching, the lessons she’s learned have reshaped her daily practice. From applying generosity in the Companions course to perfecting her wudu (ablution) in fiqh classes, every piece of knowledge enhances her worship and strengthens her connection to Allah.
Ariel credits much of her growth to the incredible teachers at Ribaat. While she has studied extensively with Anse Dr. Tamara, she also praises Anse Eamaan’s approachable and clear fiqh guidance, and she expresses her admiration for Anse Abeer and Anse Samah. “Each of them exudes adab and Islam,” she shares, reflecting on the Anisat’s kindness and decorum as inspiring models for her own journey.
Faith and Future Goals
For Ariel, Ribaat has become her go-to for Islamic education, a trusted resource that she enthusiastically recommends to other Muslim women. Yet, her goals extend beyond the classroom. She hopes to enhance her Arabic fluency to strengthen her Quran connection and better engage with her family. Long-term, she’s inspired by the impact her teachers have had on her life and wonders if she might one day follow their example by teaching others in a structured setting.
When Ariel is not studying, she finds joy in her hobbies—gardening, traveling, reading, and creating peaceful, organized spaces. To her, tending to plants mirrors her spiritual growth: it’s a patient, rewarding journey that reveals Allah’s greatness.
Her advice to her fellow students is a reminder of Allah’s mercy and wisdom: “We are where we are supposed to be. With due diligence, we will get to where we need to go and learn the lessons placed in our path.”
Alhamdulillah for organizations like Rabata, Ariel says, where the pursuit of knowledge is taken earnestly, personal development is prioritized, and sisterhood is celebrated.
In every aspect of her Ribaat journey, Ariel is blooming—just like the plants she so lovingly nurtures.