Student of the Month – June

Born and raised in Philadelphia as one of six children, Salimah Shaheed grew up in a Muslim household shaped by the courage and conviction of her parents who are both converts to Islam. Today, she lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two children. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, Salimah brings both heart and intellect to the spaces she serves.

Her passion rests in building safe and nourishing spaces for Muslim women and youth. For over sixteen years, she has contributed to numerous community-led initiatives across Houston, currently facilitating a bi-monthly women’s halaqa and developing youth programs for children under seventeen at her local masjid. “I care deeply about the ways in which a community creates safe, healthy, and sustaining spaces of belonging, protection, and support for those within its reach,” she says.

A Search for Meaning

After working on tajwid and Quranic fluency for several years, Salimah reached a turning point: “I wanted to understand what I was reading.” When an email landed in her inbox about a grammar course with Ribaat, she gave it a try. That was Spring 2023 and she’s been on the journey ever since.

“I am the child of Muslim reverts who didn’t have training in Quranic Arabic. So I grew up with very little exposure or education,” she shares. While she had taken Arabic as an adult, the path had been inconsistent. “I wasn’t all that confident this experience would be different,” she admits, “but I was willing to give it a try.”

That leap of faith paid off. “It was more homework and vocabulary than I had ever had in a course… but I realized I was understanding and retaining more than ever before.”

Conquering a Mental Hurdle

Among her Ribaat classes, Salimah found a special connection in Arabic Novice High with Anse Saimah. For years, verb conjugation had been the stumbling block that made her quit courses. “I was feeling the familiar anxiety,” she recalls. “But Anse was so patient and understanding. More importantly, she gave me tools that helped me overcome my mental hurdle with this topic.” That moment of clarity didn’t just help her pass, it gave her the confidence to keep going.

“I thrive best in spaces where there is clear vision, structure, organization, and communication,” Salimah reflects. “Ribaat has given me that.” Most importantly, it’s made the Quran more accessible to her. “I understand much more of the language than I ever have, and it has allowed me to translate a little while I read the Quran, alhamdulillah!”

Passing the Light On

Salimah hopes to recite the Quran with excellence, understand its meanings in the original Arabic, and live by its guidance.

Her prayer is simple and powerful: “That whatever of the Quran Allah allows me to learn will benefit me, my family, and my community in ways that are pleasing to Him.”

May Allah grant Salimah ease and baraka in her studies, and make her a radiant vessel of the Quran for her family and community. Ameen.

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