About Us
Inspiring Sisters One Heart At A Time
It all started with an Idea....
We realized sisters wanted to learn Islam tailored to them. So, we created a place where YOU could feel relevant as a Muslim Girl/Woman seeking knowledge based on the Quran and Sunnah. Hence, Gems of Light started and we want you to be a part of it!
“Gems of Light was the answer to my du'a (prayers).”
Noora (revert), Washington D.C.
Our Story
In 2013 a large number of sisters we meeting weekly for a Halaqa with Dr. Aysha Wazwaz in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sisters from all different backgrounds would come and learn. It was the highlight of their week. Until....
The administration of the Mosque called Dr Aysha Wazwaz to his office. They said she would have to cancel the Halaqa. They said the reason was there wasn't enough room for parking due to the big number of attendance. The sisters were discouraged, but one of them decided she wouldn't accept that her learning would stop. After all, Those classes changed her life! That's when she came up with the idea to start Gems of Light: A Non-Profit Organization just for Muslim Women. This organization was to be for the benefit of sisters and would be run by sisters. This is how Gems of Light first started. Sisters would come study all kinds of Islamic Sciences and form meaningful bonds in Sisterhood. As Gems of Light grew Dr Aysha and her student realized if if Gems of Light were to be brought online, more women could benefit and bring the love for Allah swt and Islam to their homes. The founders realized that sisters were the key to changing the Ummah in a positive way through Inspiration, Education, and Sisterhood so, they decided to start Gems of Light University online. They tirelessly worked hard to find the MOST Qualified Female Instructors in the world to teach Islam in the english language. Alhomdulileh, technology has made all of this possible where sisters can come together and study Islam from their own homes. Gems of Light University provides students with Authentic Islamic Knowledge that stands on the strong basis of the Quran and Sunnah with the understanding of the righteous predecessors and great scholars.
Gems of Light University offers courses relevant for every Woman and are applicable to daily life. Gems of Light University considers the views of the great Imams of the different schools of Islam in Ahul-Alsunnah wa alijaam'a. (Medhaaheb: Medhabs).
Our Partners
Our Philosophy/Beliefs
What we believe
Gems of Light’s core beliefs are based on the Authentic Islamic teachings of the Quran (Islamic Holy Book-Revelation) and Sunnah (Authentic Hadiths and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh) and teachings from the Majority Scholars (Ahul Quran was Sunnah Aj’maa) (Traditional Sunni Scholars) of the past and present.
Pillars of Faith
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Tawheed: Oneness of God in Lordship and Attributes
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Prophets and Messengers: They came to teach us, be our examples, guide us to the straight path and that Muhammad saws was the last and final Messenger sent to all mankind.
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Religious books as revealed in original form (Quran actual Words (Wahi) from God-criteria for previous revelations due to its Preservation as promised by Almighty God), Old Testament (Torah) books given to Moses, New Testament (Injeel), Psalms: (Zaboor) as revealed at the time of revelation.
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Angels and their existence and that they have no free will and were created from light (part of the unseen). Some have a specific job such as Angel Gabriel who sent down the Revelation to the Prophets, etc.
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Divine Decree: That everything that happens, happens by the will of God and everything is under His command and everything that happened and will happen was by His Authority, Permission, and Will.
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Hereafter: Paradise and Hellfire: The life after death and that it is eternal and exists and is part of the unseen and that God Almighty is the Most High, Supreme, and Just in dealing with His creation in this life and Hereafter.
5 Pillars of Islam
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Shahada-Testimony of Faith
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Salah-5 Daily Ritual Prayers
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Fasting-During the Month of Ramadan
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Zakat-Alms Tax/Charity 2.5% of wealth made throughout the year
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Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca (Kaaba)
A Muslim (Muslimah) one who submits themselves to God and God Alone and believes in the pillars of Iman and practices the 5 pillars of Islam to their best capability.
Rights of Sisters at Gems of Light
To be respected as a Muslimah within the community and not be discriminated against based on culture, color, language, or disability. Non-Muslims can join us if they want to be a part of Gems of Light as well. In order to be a member, you need to be female because we are an all-female organization. We respect one another when we have different opinions or follow different methaabs (schools of thought). When there is a problem we seek guidance from our Religious Leaders and make shu’ra (involve other parties, if necessary, but keep adherence to mutual respect and keep the privacy of others intact.)
Modern Issues
Since the beginning of Islam even during the Prophet saws’s life, the Sahaba r.a. and scholars r.a. had different ways of understanding Islam and what the Quran/Hadith taught. We at Gems of Light consider this a mercy of the Ummah (main body of Sunni Muslims). We are balanced in our understanding of Islam and don’t go to extremes in our method of understanding with respect for all human beings and believe in the potential of good in every human being. Although scholars in modern contemporary Fiqh issues may be different on rulings or understandings and it may require a re-evaluation of fatawa: rulings. We believe Islam with its core values and principles must be taught and based on evidence from Authentic Islamic Resources: Quran and Hadith and understandings of our predecessors (scholars) unless there was a clear mistake in understanding for whatever reason and even in that case we accept the good from their contribution to Islam and leave that which was erred.
