maimouna

17 hours ago, fitness trainer said:

Good afternoon

Congrats, I am still waiting on my OATH new schedule. My Oath was supposed to be March 26,2020.

How did you guys received the new oath date. did USCIS called or you saw it on MYUSCIS.

My location is Houston TX.

Thanks in Advance

We received a physical letter and also saw it on myuscis.

I hope you will get yours soon.

17 hours ago, Amadia said:

Congrats to you both!  

Now, for the next hurdle - - - - - PASSPORT 🤦‍♀️

LOL. We are not even thinking about that.

Maybe in a couple of months when things calm down

Our journey is complete. My husband took his oath yesterday and is officially naturalized.

His oath was originally scheduled for end of March, and got reschedule for yesterday. 

He said only 5 other people were in attendance and it went pretty quickly.

Good luck to everyone

My husband had his interview today at the Milwaukee office and passed.

He was told his oath ceremony will be in 2 weeks. 

By the time we got home, on the online system, we received a notice that Oath Ceremony was scheduled and that a notice will be sent out.

His interview started right on time. He said the officer was extremely nice, reviewed the questions in the application, asked him the civics questions and told him he was good. It took a total of 20 minutes.

I am grateful the process did not take long as we filed online on Dec 19 2019.

Just now, Giovanna024 said:

Great! So its not correct estimated time which is a good thing 😁

Yeah, I don't think the estimated timelines are correct.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Pc_6j98ovzeg0xHgbxsqZAhl8sCPzriB7L8oURdHkL0/edit#gid=0

Just checked the document for my interview notice ; It's there for March 12!! Milwaukee Office

13 hours ago, Giovanna024 said:

What was your estimsted time???

What office?

Estimated June 2020

Milwaukee Field Office

Exciting! Got a note interview was scheduled. Wonder how long before it shows under documents in my uscis.

20 minutes ago, Giovanna024 said:

USPS has confirmed that the delivery will be held until tomorrow December 31^st

Yay, awesome news

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2 hours ago, Newsjustin said:

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MAO36, I am so sorry to hear about this. Sending you a lot of positive e-vibes!!!

Hello Ladies,

Again, I feel so bad when I hear the horror stories and also feel somewhat good when I hear the happy endings, babies on the way etc... I wish those couples nothing but success.

I think I said it before, I was born and raised in West Africa and just can't believe/stomach what these people are doing. Be strong, I am praying for all of you. If this thread even help one woman, helps her open her eyes, I think it is worth it!!

Congrats Zee Bee and the 4theloveofHenry on your bundles of joy. Sounds so exciting!

Wow!! This is great news!! Congratulations Lisa!

Another thing too is that anytime I tried to warn sisters in these "relationships", the men will try to make them believe that I was jealous than an African man was not with an African woman(pff like I cared). Please be open minded and listen to people from that culture or country warning you, they most likely are trying to protect you.

Hello,

I am sorry this is happening to some sisters. It makes me so mad. I was born and raised in Senegal and absolutely hate when men give West Africans such a bad rep. They act like they do not have sisters of their own. Despicable. Here is my insider advice and my take on possible red flags.

-They are poor back home, they don't work

-There is a woman living in their house back home, a so "called cousin", ie probably his wife

-He doesn't take you out and mingle with you with their community once they get in the states, ie he is hiding you

-He sends most of his money back home, ie he is not building a life with you here in the US

-After he gets his 10 year green card, he quits his job, doesn't work and bums around the house, he is waiting for you to kick him out and file for divorce so he can tell USCIS that you divorced him

-USC is much older and past child bearing age

-When you visited him in Africa, you never met his extended family, again he is hiding you...in Africa marriages are very public and all the extended family know about it

-He hangs out with other Africans without you, does things without you, ie you are not a part of his life

-He goes to Africa without you for long periods of times (3 months) he probably has a double life over there, maybe another wife and potentially kids

-Before the 10 year GC he was sweet and loving and became a whole another person after the 10 year GC, he is trying to leave you

There are a lot more, as I think about it...I'll post them.

Again I am sorry for folks who are going through this. This is the only way to get the message out. And if you find yourselves in this situation, leave him cause he defiinitely doesn't love you.

UBL was not a follower of Islam, so bona fide grade A Muslims (I speak for all of them) wouldn't have wasted even the sheet on him. much less make sure he got an Islamic send off.

My name is Maimouna and I approve this message!

Islamic Society of Noth America press release on Usama Ben Laden's news

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Islamic-Society-of-North-America-Welcomes-Justice-For-9-11-Victims.html?soid=1102610362609&aid=ZiVm94Rbuac

Interesting. My husband now checks the box marked "other" or describes his race as arab.

I dont see why one would check white/black when you are arab, so neither applies.

The sad part is if one was compelled to think those are the only choices, and cant seem to check the "other" box,

I definitely believe the caucasian box will be checked more than the black one.

There are very strong perceptions of skin color in Morocco. The lighter vs the darker arab. And its not some secret

either.. I have heard the jokes of dark moroccans, seen with my own eyes...a family turn down a male who

was interested in marrying their daughter because his skin was dark/black.

But hey, its everywhere...the idea that lighter skin is more attractive is percieved in India, Mexico...you name it.

Skin bleaching cremes are seen in homes with no running water.smh.

Thats a reality, sad is an understatement.

My husband said he was raised with the same perceptions of lighter vs darker skin..until he came to America

Until he witnessed a white man making a racist remark to him...thinking he was a african american with a light complexion.

He said to me " I used to think this country saw me as white until this man called me a #######." But now I see he

hates me just as much as he would hate a moroccan with darker skin.

I said yes dear....dont get confused. You are arab, and racist people see you in categories..and obviously you didnt

meet the white criteria lol. So now he checks the "other" box...because he had a piece of american reality.

Best post in this thread!!

I agree with you. He is neither white nor black, he is arab or Arab African!! The world is not black or white!! I come from Africa and I check the other box and put African. I do not think of my self as African american or anything else on the list so I check Other.

I guess to the OP the real question is what does your husband think he is? What would he check? Isn't it what matters? What box he thinks he fits in!!

I am just curious as to why it's always assumed the Christian in the relationship has to be the one to convert?? Why can't some of the Muslims convert to Christianity? Just wondering!

Betsy,

I think it depends on who out of the two who holds religion more importantly.

I heard of muslims converting to christianity (love conversion as they call it here) after marriage and it was because it was important to the christian spouse.

It's all about how important your faith is to you!!

Alhamdulilah!

My apologies to sister LongRoadHome as well for going so off topic.

Sofiyya, I didn't get defensive, sorry you felt that way and I appreciate healthy discussion that stimulates our minds and reaffirms our faiths one way or another.

I forgot one critical sentence at the end of the post.

Allahu Ahlam (Allah (swt) knows best!!)

Praying for them as well!!

Hope everyone's family is safe and sound!

Salam Sofiyya,

I think you said somewhere that you studied Islamic Law, so you must know that when it comes to Islamic Law it boils down to 4 sources: Quran, Sunnah (ahaadiths), ijima'a (consensus of the scholars, 4 main ones 4 example), and qiyas (your own judgment). I am a big fan of that last one by the way when it comes to law. However when it comes to hijab, the ulema has virtually no difference of opinon on that regard. When you say the verse explicitly commands conceiling women's breasts, that is your interpretation. I along with the majority of classical commentors agree that this verse commands us to extend the veil to covers our breasts. So your interpretation of the verse is a minority opinion.

In the end, I wear hijab to please Allah (swt), to exercice modesty and humility and I hope HE is happy with my efforts.

I do believe that the companions of the prophet (saw) wore the veil, can you please share references on where in your research did you see that the sahabiyaats did not wear proper hijab?

I am very curious about that, and Inshallah afterwards I'll drop the subject as we can sit here and throw verses back and forth at each other all day and it is not going change my beliefs and probably not yours. I pray for your guidance and I hope you will pray for mine.

Jazaks!

Salam Sofiyya, What about this one? Not authentic for you as well?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith # 282

Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba (Radhiallaahu Ánha) "Aisha (Radhiallaahu Ánha) used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.

PS - I failed to note that khimar did not connote a veil as a piece of cloth during the time of the Prophet (pbuh). It was merely a cloth used by men and women as protection from the elements and to carry goods. The connotation as a head veil was added at the time headcovering was determined to be required through fiqh.

To you the word "khimar" means a mere cloth, to me "khimar" means headcovering. During the time of the prophet (pbuh), it was well understood what hijab was, the sahabiyaaas (the best of our ummah) wore it around the prophet so there was no debate needed about what it meant back then.... To me the ayat is clear alhamdoulilah...this is a matter of faith, the little details do not matter to me. To each their own!!

Let's just be careful in making haram halal especially as we have new converts in this forum.

Betsy, I'd hope that you are not talking about me when it comes to hypocrisy, I never said anything about anyone entering hell as I am solely concerned with my own relationship with Allah(swt) however I will not sit quiet if I feel like someone's comments/views might mislead people. At the end of the day everybody is responsible for their own literacy when it comes to religious beliefs. Muslim men who do not live up to their own responsibilities are condemned in the Quran.If you need a copy of the Quran, I'll send you one.

Masalama!!!! (forgive the typos...didn't re-read as it is bed time)

Salamu Aleikum Sister Sofiyaa,

Disclosure: I wear the hijab( muslim headcovering)

Do you believe in authenticated hadith when it comes to your practice of Islam?

I know that their is a lot of "opinions" when it comes to this ayat:

24:31 "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands.." even though the word khimar means veil or headcovering in arabic but if you do believe in authenticated hadith then this:

"Ayesha ® reported that Asma’ the daughter of Abu Bakr ® came to the Messenger of Allah (s) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: 'O Asma’! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to the face and hands." [Abu Dawud] is proof that the fact that women in Islam believe that hijab is fard does not stem from cultural beliefs or practice but their belief in Sunnah.