America's
First Muslimah Judge
Zakia Mahasa,
Master Chancery in the Family Division of the Baltimore City Circuit Court
by Nadirah Z. Sabir, Azizah magazine.
Zakia Mahasa,
the first Muslimah ever to be appointed to a
judgeship in the American courts, never apologizes for who she is; instead, she
gains respect and accumulates success after success by focusing on being
outstanding at whatever she does.
A powerful presence in
the courtroom and a dynamic woman who knows her own mind, Zakia
has possessed this drive to achieve and strong sense of direction since her
earliest years.
"When I was about
four years old," she smiles, "I was reading the newspaper. There's a
game, Wishing Well. 'You'd count the letters in a name--mine spelled out, One
day, you'll be a lawyer or doctor.' So I thought, I
have to do really well in kindergarten so I can get into a really good first
grade!"
Since then Zakia's fortunes have multiplied with the power of that
kind of determination and focus and on her belief in God. She asserts
passionately that what gives her the aplomb to pursue her interests and to be herself is her Islamic faith.
"You really have to
have a certainty and surety and confidence about yourself," as a Muslimah, Zakia advises. "It
carries me through everything I do. My way of life [as a Muslimah]
is superior to anything out there. I believe God wanted me in this
position."
Zakia's study of Islam began while she
was an undergraduate at the
"It was initially
difficult for my mother," Zakia recalls. "I
had a cousin who had a bad experience with the Nation of Islam." But Zakia knew her path and stuck to it, and by the time
Ramadan came, only two weeks after her conversion, Zakia says her mother "had my meals ready at the end
of the day!"
Zakia's father had more pragmatic
concerns over his daughter's conversion to Islam. Since Zakia
was headed toward law school at that time, he wondered whether there would be
any place for a Muslimah in the circles of American
law. Zakia herself was not at all worried. She
explains, "Islam really does free you of all that. If God wants it for
you, nobody can take it away. I felt that as long as I looked professional and
really knew what I was doing," success would follow.
Zakia's father asserted that appearances
are important in the legal profession, but Zakia
would not compromise her faith. "When I first became Muslim, from the very
beginning I was covered," she says. "At work I knew it was important
to look professional. I dress well. I wear suits, skirts, dresses, blazers.
They're longer, looser. I don't wear over-garments to work, but it's evident
I'm being modest. My hair is always covered, but pulled back and out of the
way. I did my research and I am convinced that I am properly covered; you can
dress many ways and still be properly covered."
Much of her success Zakia attributes directly to this refusal to betray herself
or her Islamic principles in order to be accepted by or blend in with others.
Of her iman [faith], she says firmly,
"I don't wear it on my sleeve. But I don't hide it. It's who I am."
If you stand for what you are, even if it is different from the mainstream, Zakia believes, others will respect you.
"My being a Muslim
doesn't mean I'm standoffish or reclusive. I'm very approachable," she
says.
Above all, she advises,
in order to earn the respect of others, "You have to be good," at
what you do.
Zakia excels at what she does. As
Master Chancery in the family division of the Baltimore City Circuit Court, she
presides over domestic cases, hearing anywhere from nine to thirty of them a
day. These cases tend to be emotional and complicated, involving abused,
neglected and delinquent children. Zakia unabashedly
brings a healthy Islamic outlook to her work, believing that often the best way
to propagate Islam is by example.
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