Nailah Dean is a writer and attorney who has spent years writing candidly about love, dating, and marriage in the Muslim world. Her essays on the Muslim marriage market have been published by Al Jazeera and Insider, and her photo series The ISMs Project documents the ageism, racism, sexism, and colorism Muslim women run into while looking for a spouse.

In this episode, Nailah and Hiba get into the conversation Muslim women have in the group chat but rarely in public: the apps, the shame around admitting you are trying, the rejection nobody talks about, divorce, and the pressure to build your whole life around a husband who may or may not show up. Nailah shares how heartbreak turned into writing, what happens when the men she meets find her essays, the reader message that made a whole month worth it, and the advice she gives herself while living with uncertainty: create your own milestones, because "behind" is only measured against someone else's life. She also opens up for the first time about becoming a foster mom as a single Muslim woman, and why community service is the most fulfilling thing she has done.

Like every episode, we close with Nailah's mind, body, and soul non-negotiables and the one thing she wants you to take home. Stay until the end for an exclusive Araam Mind meditation, Listen When You're Feeling Stuck.

Find Nailah
Instagram: @nailahdean28
Substack: Nailah's Musings
Website: nailahdean.com

Episode notes: araamwellness.com

About Inspire with Araam
The podcast for Muslim women breaking barriers, from Araam Wellness. Hosted by Hiba Anjum (@hibaanjum), founder of Araam Wellness. New episodes every Tuesday.
araamwellness.com · @araamhq

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This episode is sponsored by Araam Mind, Araam Wellness' official meditation and mindfulness app. Download it on the App Store: Araam Mind