Join us for an informative program designed to support mothers during the first 40 days of postpartum. Learn how to navigate this transformative period through an Islamic lens, as well as insights from experts in mental health, nutrition, birth and breastfeeding.
Nursing babies ages 2 and under are welcome to attend with their mothers.
Seminar Schedule
10:15 – 10:30: Registration and Welcome
10:30 – 11: Before Postpartum Comes Birth: Preparing for the Unknown to Ease the Journey Ahead – with Shannon Costa
11:05 – 11:35: Fiqh in the First Forty Days and Beyond – with Alimah Amina Tirmizi
11:40 – 12:10: Mental Health in the First Forty Days and Beyond – with Alimah Farheen Farooq, LPC, M.Ed, NCC
12:10 – 12:25: Refreshments
12:25 – 12:55: Postpartum Nutrition and Bodywork – with Faaizah Patel
1:00 – 1:30: Feeding Baby in the First Forty Days – with Nour Sahraoui, MD
1:35 – 2:00: Panelist Q&A
Learn about the Speakers
Alimah Amina Tirmizi, MA:
Amina Tirmizi began her pursuit of sacred knowledge in 2006 under esteemed scholars across North America, and in 2007 embarked on the path of Tazkiyah under the mentorship of Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar (db), a journey she continues today. She earned a degree in Psychology and English from Stony Brook University in 2008 before traveling to Pakistan for advanced studies in Qur’an, Hadith, Arabic, and Islamic Law, completing the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum in 2014 with an Alimiyyah degree, double Masters in Islamic Sciences and Arabic, and later specializing in Islamic Law & Women’s Issues.
In 2015, she founded Sumaiyah Institute to guide women in classical Islamic learning and spirituality, and in 2018 launched the Sisters Islamic Forum, an online space providing women access to beneficial Islamic knowledge and timely Q&A. A dedicated mother of five, she recently relocated to Chicagoland to be part of its vibrant Islamic community while continuing her mission of teaching, spiritual growth, and community service.
Alimah Farheen Farooq, LPC, MEd, NCC:
Farheen is a nationally board-certified, licensed psychotherapist and an Alimah dedicated to supporting Muslim women and children. She works full-time in the mental health field and teaches Hadith from Mishkat Sharif at Zaynab Institute, and also teaches Asma’ul Husna at Aisha Fatima Community. Farheen brings deep empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a spiritually integrated, holistic approach to care. Her background in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, along with training in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness informs her multifaceted, compassionate work. Farheen has also trained in brainspotting and is currently working on pursuing her EMDR certification this year to build on her skills in trauma-focused therapy. She is committed to empowering clients and her students through education by helping them build confidence, heal within, and navigate complex relationships through the lens of the Sunnah.
Shannon Costa, Certified Doula:
Shannon Costa is a certified birth doula (DONA) and childbirth educator (Lamaze) serving families across Greater Chicago. With a focus on Muslim families, she blends evidence-based care with faith-aligned support.
She has studied Islamic Ethics through the Al-Amin Ethics Institute, integrating this knowledge into her work through guidance on ritual purity and Islamic perspectives on childbirth.
Shannon centers her care on dhikr, comfort, and compassion—honoring each birth as a sacred journey and supporting families with presence, knowledge, and faith.
Faaizah Patel, BSN-IHNP:
Faaizah completed her nurse training in Leeds, UK where she was born and raised. She went on to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Endocrinology.
Her move to the US led her to a journey to open her Hijama practice. She studied Unani Tibb under the tutelage of Hakim Salim Khan, which she incorporates into her practice.
For a mind-body-soul approach, Faaizah went on to complete her postgraduate diploma in Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College. After having 3 children, she studied postpartum healing practices from various traditions such as the Ayurvedic, Malay, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
Nour Sahraoui, MD, FAAP:
Nour is a board-certified pediatrician and mother of two with nearly 8 years of experience caring for infants, children, and adolescents. Born and raised in Upstate New York, she completed medical school at Upstate Medical University. She went on to complete her residency training in Pediatrics at the University of Chicago Medical Center. In recent years, she served as a primary care pediatrician to an underserved community with a large immigrant population in Chicago’s West Town. In her role, she also provided some inpatient pediatric and newborn nursery care.
Nour’s approach to healthcare focuses on patient and parent education. She believes that when parents are informed, they are empowered to make the best decisions for their unique family’s needs. Nour’s clinical interests include picky eating, obesity prevention in early childhood, and breastfeeding. She plans to become an internationally board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in order to better serve her patients and community.