Malaysia
Counsellor, a writer, poet
She is deeply interested in the role of spirituality in healing trauma, in writing, permaculture, and movement as nutrition. She also enjoys mindfulness and archery. As a university student, she began her online Islamic studies with Qibla (Sunnipath), alongside her volunteer work as a hospital chaplain for 5 years. After completing her Bachelor's of Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Arts (English) at the University of New South Wales, she completed Qibla’s Shifa Summer program on the ground in Kharabsheh, Amman. She stayed on for almost two years and studied Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Sira, Aqida, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajwid with various teachers such as Shaykh Nuh Keller, Shaykh Hamza Karamali, Shaykha Noura Shamma, Ustadh Farid Dingle, Ustadh Qays Arthur. Ustadha Raidah works a counsellor for the SeekersHub Question and Answer service, a writer for SeekersHub blog, and a creative instructor for Axiom Learning, Kuala Lumpur. She completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She continues her study through local scholars, SeekersHub and Rabata. Her work has been published in SBS, SISTERS magazine, The Feminist Wire, Daily Life, Lip Mag, The Elephant Journal, Venture Beat and MuslimVillage. Her novel, Finding Jamilah & The Story of Yusuf was published by MyLegacy Publications in early 2014. Her poetry has been published in the “Armed With Only Our Souls” anthology by New York Poet, Caits Meissner. Her poetry was featured in the 2014 Australian Muslim Artists exhibition at the Islamic Museum of Australia. Her recent publications include her short story ‘Datuk’, featured in the short story anthology, Bitter Roots, Sweet Fruits. Her poetry has recently been published in Rumi Center’s Opening the Eye of the Heart Anthology II taught by Baraka Blue. Her personal narrative, “The Memory of Mee Soto”, was shortlisted in the local Fay Khoo Award in 2018.
