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WOMEN IN ISLAM PRESENTATION
This presentation will cover the RIGHTS and HIGH status of WOMEN in Islam..
James Trapasso
Programming & Events Coordinator at the Ossining Public Library
March 19, 2018
"Ola Nosseir recently presented at the Ossining Public Library on the topic of Women in Islam. This was in recognition of Women's History Month. This was the second presentation that Ola has done at OPL and it was once again informative and educational. The discussion afterwards amongst the participants was terrific to. Ola also brought many fantastic artifacts that were on display. Ola is great to work with and I highly recommend her for your next lecture/presentation."
(Presentation done on March 14, 2018 at
The Ossining Public Library)
Marga Spiller, Parishoner
Katonah Presbyterian Church, Katonah, NY
March 15, 2018
Your presentation "Women in Islam" was an eye-opener to me:
You started with the timeline of women's rights in the Western, predominantly Christian world-not something to be proud of.
In Islam women and men are equal, but different. Education of women and men is not just encouraged but required by the teachings of Islam. Women have the right to participate in government and hold public office. They have the right to own property, the right to reject a potential spouse and the right to divorce. You explained that deviations from these religious ground rules are matters of local tribal culture and politics...and definitely Colonialism did not help.
THANK you, Ola, for educating us about Islam and our wonderful Muslim neighbors!
(Presentation done on March 14, 2018 at
The Ossining Public Library)
Emily Coca
March 25, 2018
The presentation on Women in Islam by Ola Nosseir was informative and timely. It is an opportunity to learn firsthand about Islam and not from the media. Ola speaks from her personal experience, perspective and faith. She uses the Qur'an as the direct source of information. The foundations, and not the variations are presented with honesty.
An eyeopening comparison, the rights of women among the major world religions is included in the powerpoint.
Overall the hope is to inform and educate the people Ola interacts in the community and to dispel the negative publicity Islam has received since the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
(Presentation done on March 14, 2018 at
The Ossining Public Library)
TESTIMONIAL
With Thanksgiving for your gracious spirit . . .
Last year at a local interfaith women’s gathering, I found myself overcome with a glimpse of beloved community. I wondered how that experience of peace, shalom, salaam can be carried into the world. How do we intentionally create spaces in this political and cultural climate to recognize and be transformed by the miracles that happen among us? To be blessed by the fruit of other faith traditions that might offer new understanding and wisdom into who God is calling us to be?
As I contemplated this vision, I happened to sit next to Ola Nosseir. She mentioned that she organized presentations that highlighted the connections between Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faith traditions.
We began to imagine what it might look like to integrate what many might assume are incompatible teachings into a Christian worship service that focuses on God’s perfect love.
Over the next few months we spent hours developing a friendship and sharing about our lives and our faith journeys. I invited Ola to speak during the sermon time at Asbury’s Sunday worship service. I was so thankful for her voice and her grace. The congregation was so appreciative to learn from her about Islam. It was a joy to have friends from other houses of worship come and hear from Ola.
After church, we had a community lunch and Ola was open to questions from the congregation in addition to others in the community who came to hear her.
When we break down walls of fearful separation and begin to see each other in the same way that God sees each one of us – made in the very image of our creator – fear is driven out and replaced with love. There is no room for fear when we love as God loves. Our creator loves us more than we can ask or imagine and we are called to embody and extend love that builds peace, salaam, shalom.
Truly it was an informative time and created space for much needed dialogue. I am thankful for a new friend and for insight into Islam and our common connections to Christianity.
Rev. Melissa Hinnen, Asbury United Methodist Church, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Reverend Melissa Hinnen
Asbury United Methodist Church, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
October 30, 2018
(Presentations were done on April 29, 2018 and September 15, 2018
at Asbury United Methodist Church, Croton-on-Hudson, NY)