a resource on domestic violence

Topics:

• Emotional, Verbal and Physical Abuse
• Signs of Abuse and How You Can Help
• Quranic Model of the Muslim Family
• Perspective of Shariah on Family Abuse
• Impact of Abuse on the Family
• The Cycle of Violence
• Violence’s Legal Effects on Family Members
• The Mind of the Batterrer
• Real Life Cases
• Prevention, Intervention, and Conflict Resolution
• Marriage & Divorce in Islamic and American Law
• The Muslim Marriage Contract

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik is the head of the National Association of Muslim Chaplains in Higher Education. Imam Johari also serves as the Chair of Government Relations for the Muslim Alliance in North America. He is the Director of Community Outreach for the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and President of the Muslim Society of Washington. Imam Johari is a founding member of the Muslim Advocacy Commission of Washington, D.C. He lectures on a variety of subjects that motivate the Muslim community and the community at large to better themselves and their world.

Imam Johari is trained in Islamic Studies, with an emphasis on tawhid, seerah, and exegesis.

Salma Elkadi Abugideiri is a licensed professional counselor who is certified in marriage and family therapy. She has a private practice in Reston, VA, and works with individuals and families who are dealing with a wide range of problems, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, abuse, and cultural adjustment issues. Ms. Abugideiri has worked extensively with refugees, immigrants, and Muslim and Middle Eastern families. She has sought to improve the Muslim community’s access to mental health services. In addition to providing therapy, she enjoys consulting and providing cultural sensitivity trainings. She has co-authored a brief guide for helping professionals entitled “What Islam Says About Domestic Violence“, and has written a chapter in “Walking Together: Working with Women from Diverse Religious & Spiritual Traditions.” Since 2005, she has been Co-Director of the Peaceful Families Project. 

Zainab Alwani teaches “Qur’anic Studies” and “Women & Family in an Islamic Context” at the Graduate School of Islamic Social Sciences (GSISS). From 2003-2006 she was recognized for her teaching in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Ms. Alwani is a member of the Fiqh Council of North America.

She has studied Shariah and Law at Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan, holds a Masters in Islamic Studies from GSISS, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Islamic Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia in the area of Fiqh and Usul al Fiqh. Some of her works have been published in Arabic, such as” Al Ghazali and his Methodology in Fiqh Legislation”, and “Aisha and her Methodology in Understanding Qur’an and Sunnah.” She also co-authored “What Islam Says about Domestic Violence: A Guide for Helping Muslim Families.” The focus of Ms. Alwani’s upcoming publications include Qur’anic studies, objectives of Shariah (her Ph.D. dissertation), Usul and Fiqhi issues, education, and women and family studies in Islam. She has presented numerous papers on Islamic studies.

Ms. Alwani works with many social service organizations and offers frequent workshops about the role of women and family from an Islamic perspective. She conducted a leadership workshop for Muslim Women Lawyers, and has led many group studies for women and youth to promote Islamic education and to advance mental and spiritual inner peace. She participates in interfaith dialogues and conferences to promote positive understanding among faith communities. Ms. Alwani’s travels throughout the world have served to broaden her academic and social perspectives.

Imam Mohamed Magid is the Imam and Executive Director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, ADAMS Center, in Sterling, Virginia. Under his direction, the Center has grown to be one of the largest Muslim community organizations in the Washington Metropolitan Area. With his encouragement, ADAMS has become active in local interfaith dialogue programs, social work, government relations, civic involvement, community service, and the education of the local public about Islam and Muslims. Very active in the Islamic community, Imam Magid is Vice-President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and serves as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Muslim, Sikh and Arab Advisory Board. He also occupies the Chairmanship of the Fairfax County Faith Communities in Action, is a board member of the Fairfax County Partnership for Youth, and is a member of the George Mason University Campus Ministry. Imam Magid’s domestic violence advocacy activities include serving as a board member of FaithTrust Institute, and as a member of the National Interfaith Planning Committee for Domestic Violence. 

In May 2006, Fairfax County Human Rights Commission awarded Imam Magid with their Human Rights Award. A Sudanese-born American, Imam Magid is the son of the Grand Mufti of Sudan. At the hand of his father and other notable scholars, he studied and graduated in traditional Islamic disciplines, including Shariah (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Tawwauh (Islamic Spirituality). Imam Magid views marriage and pre-marital counseling as his passion. He currently resides in Reston, Virginia with his wife and daughters.

Marwa Zeini  acquired her law degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida graduating with honors in the top 10% of her class. She practices with the Zeini Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Zeini has an interest in and has lectured at various venues regarding women’s issues in Islam and how Muslims can integrate and apply Islamic law under the American law system.