“Irada” | A Series Highlighting Deen-Focused Study Circles Led by Black Muslim Women: Meet Iman bint Saleem Khaild & The Angels’ Circle

This is the first interview in a multi-part series. Irada (إرادة) is a term that means “will” and signifies the determination to reach the Beloved (God) through spiritual effort, or the desire to become beloved by God by fulfilling what pleases Him.”¹ To read the introduction to the series, click here.

Iman bint Saleem Khaild & The Angels’ Circle

Iman bint Saleem Khalid comes from a family known for their legacy of community leadership. I first heard her inspiring story during an interview for my podcast in 2023². So, when I decided to showcase Black Muslim women who lead Islamic study circles she was one of the first women I thought of for this series.

After relocating to the UAE, Iman identified a need for a dedicated space for Muslim women of color, particularly black women, to study and grow in their faith. This led to the formation of the Angels’ Circle, a group committed to speaking of Allah in their gatherings. The Angels’ Circle focuses on various aspects of the Islamic faith, including a Ramadan Quran Reading circle and a weekly reading of Surah Kahf. Iman draws inspiration from her parents’ passion for dawah, aiming to create a safe environment where women can ask questions and seek guidance without fear of judgment.

This interview delves into Iman’s journey, the motivations behind her work, and the impact of the Angels’ Circle on the community.

The Interview

1. Please provide your name and the name of your circle. 

As salaamu alaikum. My name is Iman bint Saleem Khalid. A number of years ago Allah blessed a beautiful group of sisters and their families to travel and relocate to the United Arab Emirates. We refer to ourselves as the Angels’ Circle, not because we believe ourselves to be Angels. We named ourselves that because we make the intentions to always speak of Allah in our gatherings so He can say our names in His circles, the circle of Angels. 

2.⁠ ⁠How did you get involved in organizing study circles for Muslim women? 

My mother, Tahira Khalid, has been an organizer as long as she has been able to speak, and it was something she naturally passed down to her children. When I moved to the UAE, there was need for Muslim women of color, specifically black women, to have a place and space that felt familiar, that would help to increase us and those  around us. We also wanted to make a positive impact in our host country, and realized we could do so far easier when we did it as a collective. 

3.⁠ ⁠What specific aspects of the Islamic faith do your study circles focus on? 

Currently we have a Ramadan Quran Reading circle that reads a juz a day, alhamdullilah, and afterward we have a bit of a reflection and question and answer session. This circle has been taking place since Ramadan 2020, alhamdullilah. A beautiful sister, Kito Jones, keeps it alive and well every Friday throughout the year for a sisters reading of Surah Kahf, and a reflection afterwards, may Allah be pleased with her efforts. 

4.⁠ ⁠What inspired you to create a space for women to study the Quran and Islamic teachings? 

My parents have always had a sincere love and desire to give dawah, as prescribed for all Muslims. It was a second layer of their clothing that they again passed on to their children. It’s in the way you carry yourself, treat others, regard and share this beautiful deen. As I was growing and learning my own deen, there were certain aspects I couldn’t fully practice as honestly, I’d forgotten, despite being born and raised as a Muslim, and my father and my grandfather (Rahimullah) being Imaams. Then I found I was too shy to actually ask anyone as I didn’t want to be questioned why I didn’t know something deemed so small and should have been routine, had I been practicing all of those years. I realized that Allah blessed me with that as a lesson, that if it could happen to me, with access to resources about Islam, it could happen to anyone. As a teacher, I saw a need and wanted to fill it, so that no woman would ever feel that she didn’t have a safe place to ask questions and receive guidance. I’m grateful to Allah because He blessed me with the best of companions who were on the same page, either raised Muslim, converted young, or recently converted, we all had a desire to share what saved our lives with the women around us. We wanted everyone to have access to this deen, so that is what inspired us to create a space for women to study the Quran and Islamic teachings. 

5.⁠ ⁠How have women benefited, spiritually and personally, from participating in these study groups, and in what ways have they grown and developed as a result of their involvement? 

Allah knows better than me how many women and their families have benefited either spiritually and personally from the Angels’ Circle, the Quran Circles, the STRIVE (Sisters Teachings and Reflections of Iman, the Virtual Experience) classes that were lead for a number of years, and in what ways. I know that as a founder, co-founder of these spaces, I have grown substantially more patient, understanding, more reflective of Allah and in awe of His desire and ability to bring together people from every walk of life and places around the world. The circles are for all women, Muslim, non Muslim, Muslim leaning, women whose child, husband, students, friends are Muslim and they genuinely want to know more about this deen so they can understand and support their loved one. The circles have allowed us to come together and reflect, Allah swt speaks of the duty of a Muslim to reflect multiple times in the Quran. “In that are signs for those who reflect.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:21), “So reflect, O people of insight.” (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:21), “Have they not travelled through the land to reflect?” (Surah Al Hajj, 22:46) 

Notoriously we are a generation of people who pride ourselves for being “booked and busy” and Allah reminds us to take time from our so called busy lives to sit and reflect on Him and His creation. The circles afford sisters time and space to be able to sit with like minded people to ponder Allah’s words and His world and how we see Him ever present in our lives. He says He is ever present, but how often do we stop to notice Him? The intention behind the circles is to connect the sisters to Allah first, making His words understandable, digestible, his rules and guidelines doable, to have discussions on his beloved messengers, may Allah be pleased with them, and to then allow the sisters a time and space where they are connected to each other despite the perceived distance that exists with us all being placed around the world. At one point we had sisters in the middle east, Africa, Australia, America, Europe and so on, all on the calls, connecting to our source. May Allah be pleased with each of these sisters and continue to give them light, goodness, and access to people who will continue to bring them closer to Him. 

Lastly, the groups serve as a tool kit of knowledge. Little bits and pieces of etiquette, guidance, herstory, perspective, that can help to increase sisters in their understanding of Islam, Muslims, how to navigate the world we find ourselves in, preparation for the next life, lessons on how to be better wives and mothers. We want to unpack Islam the way it was revealed to our beloved Rasullulah, SAW, bit by bit, with an increase as our love for Allah and His deen increases. With these circles serving as provisional tool kit, inshaAllah, sisters have what they need to go further into their mosques, universities, their worlds to find out more. Angels’ Circle, STRIVE and the Ramadan Readings and Reflection group is not the end game, it is merely the jump start, the boost, inshaAllah to help sisters have the confidence and knowledge they need to continue to seek more. 

6.⁠ ⁠Can you share any personal stories or anecdotes that highlight the impact of these study circles on the participants? 

I’ve a multitude of stories of how these circles have truly impacted me but one of my favorite blessings of these stories is when sisters convert/revert to Islam or “return” or begin practicing again after having been “away” for awhile. We have had a number of shahaadahs, and its sweet not just because this gathering brought them in, but because it seems to revitalize each of us that is there to witness the shahadah or the return. We are reminded of our own stories of how Allah called us back to Him. Just yesterday a sister, sister Kito, who hosts the Ramadan reflection calls daily, reminded me of how she once asked Prophet Isa AS if she could have permission to become a Muslim as she was born and raised as a Christian. It was such a sweet and innocent request and she’s able to look back on that time and smile at how far along Allah swt has brought her to the truth. She didn’t have to lose her relationship with Prophet Isa AS, she just had to learn how to view him correctly, as a servant of Allah, like herself. When sisters are able to fully step into that Imaan, that belief of Allah, His angels, His prophets, His books, etc, that is when we know we are on the right track. Then when we are able to support a sister past just having her take shahadah, but to support her continued education as a Muslim, then the circles and the sisters in them, have begun to fulfil their purpose, may Allah be pleased. 

7.⁠ ⁠How have these study circles helped in building a sense of community and sisterhood among the participants? 

As Muslims we cannot just be solitary and alone, our strength is in our community. We are asked to check on our neighbors, be kind to our families, support each other, feed each other, protect each other, remind each other, as was modelled by our beloved rasullulah, may Allah continue to pour peace and blessings upon him, and his companions. We also have a responsibility to our non Muslim neighbors and family and even the souls of our ummah who have left this Earth, and homes in the graves. These circles are so important as they give our dear sisters a home, a familiar place with people who look and sound like them. It helps women see they have a place and space in this world, specifically for them where they can come and learn, be vulnerable, and even enjoy themselves. 

And speaking of Muslim women enjoying themselves, we surely encourage and plan for that. Sisters need to know that Allah wants us to be joyous and to travel this vast Earth. Imam Sadiq (a) narrates that the Holy Prophet (s) told Imam Ali (a): “O Ali, it does not befit an intelligent person to travel except for three reasons; for work and sustenance, to gather for the Hereafter, and for enjoyment that is not haram (Wasā’il, v. 8, p. 248, H. 2)”. So very often sisters will travel together, even making plans meet up for umrah, have dinner, take walks, raise money for sadaqah and zakat, celebrate motherhood, marriage, achievements, and simply just to see and hear each other. These activities and much more help to foster a sense of community and sisterhood amongst us, both near and far. When sisters migrated from the UAE and surrounding countries, back to their home countries or their next stops, they knew for sure they always had a group of sisters they belonged to, we’d established “homes” each others hearts. 

8.⁠ ⁠How do you ensure that the study circles are inclusive and welcoming to women from diverse backgrounds and levels of knowledge? 

Initially when Angels’ Circle, Quran Reading, STRIVE were started, they were all started with the intention to bring Muslim sisters and sisters interested in Islam together for the sake of Allah. He sent who He wanted to be apart of the sisterhood. Some sisters came and stayed forever, some come, drop in when it suits them, others who were invited never showed up and some, who we hadn’t anticipated wanting to join, came and helped to nourish this sisterhood of learning. For the Quran reading it began with the intention of my friends and I reading Quran, then grew to friends of friends, people from various masajid we attended and so one. Eventually a post was shared on my FB inviting women to come and read the Quran, with the intention for Muslim women to join, as I had no thought that non Muslim women would desire to join. One day a dear sister friend who is a proud Christian living in a Muslim country asked to join the call and initially I was perplexed. The Quran, with it’s beautiful reminders, also tells it like it is, with no sugar coating and at first I was nervous to say she could join the call. I spoke with some sisters whose words and world views I respected and alhamdullilah, we opened the call to any woman who would like to join. And mashaallah, women from all walks of life, ages, religions, understandings and backgrounds joined the calls, happy to be there and to learn. I honestly believe that people want access to these sacred spaces and places, not just because of “Who all over there?” but because their souls yearn for the truth, they want to know Allah. So our circles are open to women who strive to know more, all are welcome if they come for the sake of seeking Him. And surely Allah sends whom He wills. 

9.⁠ ⁠What advice would you give to others who are interested in starting similar study groups for women in their communities? 

If I were to offer advice to sisters who are interested in starting similar study groups for women in their communities, I would say two things, ask Allah to send you who needs to be there and allow them to serve and show up as they need to. Often times we have an image in our head on the size and number of the groups that we want to take part in. Just as Yunus AS found himself at the bottom of the whale, in the bottom of the ocean, in the middle of the night, the triple darkness, for envisioning his leadership looking one way, we as regular humans do the same thing. But his story isn’t just a story of old, but a guide on how not to be caught up in numbers, and to always ask Allah for forgiveness when we stray away from what He asks us to do. Set the intention that the group will serve as a benefit to the ummah, not just to those of us who love to be in control, or to teach, but to truly be for the sake of Allah swt. 

My second piece of advice would be to have patience in every sense of the word. When you “start” something, even with good intentions, it will come with difficulty, (the zoom crashes, you are tired the day you host, 20 people rsvpd, 2 showed up, and so on). Remember your intentions, to please Allah and to help support yourself and others to better understand Him, and do what needs to be done. What needs to be done isn’t always easy or enjoyable, but remember what Allah says, “It could be that you love a thing that is bad for you and hate a thing that is good for you. And Allah knows while you know not.” (Surah Baqarah 2:216) If it was for Allah, it was never a failure.

To contact Iman, go to:

• Email: ikhalid99@gmail.com
• Facebook
• Instagram

1. Mohamed Fouad Aresmouk & Michel Abdurrahman Fitzger (Translators), The Book of Ascension to the Essential Truths of Sufism by Ahmad ibn Ajība (Louisville, KY: Fons Vitae, 2011), 17 ↩︎
2. My podcast interview with Iman can be found here. ↩︎

Akanke Rasheed

Akanke is an Atlanta native who grew up in a non-religious family. In her late twenties, she embraced Islam after an unexpected introduction to the faith while training as a television producer. She volunteered to help as a camera operator on a live talk show featuring Muslim guests and was captivated by the insightful discussions surrounding Islam. Encouraged by her fellow producer colleagues, she attended Friday prayers and began reading the Quran, ultimately finding profound inspiration that solidified her decision to convert. This transformative experience ignited a lifelong passion for spirituality and personal growth rooted in her faith.

She holds a degree in Communication from Georgia State University, specializing in film, television, and anthropology. Her diverse career includes roles as a television and radio producer, life coach, voiceover artist, and abstract painter. During a decade spent in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Akanke refined her public speaking and leadership skills, mentoring women through two women-only Toastmasters clubs she founded. Above all, she emphasizes spirituality as the cornerstone of self-actualization, advocating for a life devoted to Allah. She believes personal growth and lasting success stem from a strong, loving relationship with Him.

Since 2007, Akanke has been involved with MANA in various capacities. She currently serves as Board Vice President and part-time Director of Communications.