Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryam Marhumah.
Maryam, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my entrepreneurial journey in Pittsburgh, PA. I launched my first barber salon studio in December of 2020. I ran my former salon for three consecutive years. I was blessed with numerous opportunities during my professional barber stylist journey, yet I sought additional challenges. I realized my mission was greater than remaining behind a chair for my entire life. I served in my previous church because one of my former Pastors advised me that to discover my purpose, I must serve; may Allah (God) be pleased with him. Upon hearing that, I committed myself to serve in my former church and within other Christian organizations. As I started to serve more, I went back to college to advance my education in Social Work/Psychology. My Lord provided me with greater insight regarding my life’s purpose. Assisting individuals, in what manner? That I was still uncertain about.
Fast forward to October 2023, I chose to shut down my barber salon studio. My time there had ended, and it was time for me to leave my comfort zone. I became comfortable remaining in my bubble, but if I wanted to serve my Lord as I aspired to. I had to confront greater challenges and difficulties. Nobody encountered greater challenges than the prophets of God (peace be upon them). I couldn’t comprehend why specific events were unfolding, doors were shutting and friendships were quietly ending. On Christmas day of 2023, I asked a Muslim friend about Islam. I was unaware of the reason, but now I understand it was Allah, Exalted be His Majesty, guiding His ﷻ servant who was longing to draw nearer to Him ﷻ. On March 15, 2024, I proclaimed my Shahada (the declaration of faith in Islam) and embraced Islam.
My life was transforming, and it was transforming quickly. I stepped away from my previous career of seven years, which I believed I would be doing forever. My Lord set me in protection disguised as isolation, I stopped working, and no income was arriving. But do you know what? I stopped caring about the expectations of the world. In December 2024, I made the choice to deepen my faith. I aimed to be more disciplined in my daily prayers and to draw nearer to Allah ﷻ. The world will attempt to shatter you, and without that link to the divine, it will ultimately triumph in your destruction. The existence in this world can tarnish your heart, impacting your demeanor, your self-importance, your arrogance, and your goals.
During the hardship I was facing, I became more connected to my greatest companion, Allah ﷻ. The One who has guided and protected me throughout my entire life. My Lord brought me into the light, in the midst of my former life coming to an end. As I started to develop in my faith, things began to fall into place spiritually and fall apart in the 3D world. All that has weighed on my heart for many years, starting from the time I began my serving in my previous church, indeed. The motivation behind my return to college, my profession as a barber stylist, a business owner and my strong desire to serve others. Everything became evident during times of difficulty, Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah). Skip ahead to 2026. I am currently a devoted Servant of Allah ﷻ. My women’s mentorship “Marhumah Mentorship” serves as a platform where I guide, support, and mentor both Muslim and non-Muslim women. I plan to serve my Lord in the best manner that I can. I am thrilled that I can assist women in discovering their purpose through devotion to Al-Aziz (The Almighty).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A smooth road, not so much. A merciful road, yes! The ultimate struggle was submitting to the will of God. Other struggles don ‘t really matter because nothing happens unless it is the will of The Almighty, The All Wise. When you find peace in Allah ﷻ and have faith, you can find peace and provision in any situation. Faith is all you need ; in Islam, that’s called “Al-Imanu Billah (الإيمان بالله) ,” which means ” Belief in Allah (God). ” When one obtains that level of certainty, nothing can break it.
When everything is falling apart and your entire world feels like it’s crashing down , that’s because Allah ﷻ wants to rebuild your life on a firm foundation. Some of us don’t realize that our initial success was built on survival. Something built on survival will eventually come crashing down unless you choose to die in survival. My life today is new, fresh, and built on the foundations of Islam. My obedience and worship will never amount to what my Rabb (Lord) has done for me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Marhumah Mentorship is a mentorship designed for women. It is faith-based mentoring for women of all backgrounds who want to grow in their faith and perhaps embrace the faith of Islam. Muslim women and non- Muslim women can benefit from my mentorship because it’s my purpose, and I ‘m passionate about it. There are many people who are serving the Lord in the way that the Lord ordained for them to serve Him. The only thing that truly sets people apart is discipline, vision and the depth of prayer. I will say that my mission is to serve my Lord and make it into Paradise (Heaven). I want the green garments made of fine , thick silk, those nice couches, and the never-ending supply of fresh fruit that Allah ﷻ promises those who are obedient to Him ﷻ.
My business and brand are an answered du’a (prayer). I wanted a career where I can stay close to my religion. I am most proud of my brand being 100% Islamic. I am Muslim at home , in my business, online, and when I leave the house. That’s a gift from Allah ﷻ that not everyone receives. Everyone doesn’t receive the blessing of standing firm in their religion. I am thankful and grateful to my Lord. My mentorship offers 1:1 mentorship for Muslimah development, femininity and etiquette, faith-based eBooks, and courses. I am also a Speaker and able to be reserved for events that are aligned with my faith, morals , and values.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Yes, I watch many lectures online from my teachers, Shaykh and scholar in the religion of Islam , Dr. Sh. Haifaa Younis founder of Jannah Institute, Ustadh AbdulRahman Hassan founder of AMAU Institute, Shaykh Mikaeel Smith from Qalam Institute , and scholar Dr. Shadee Elmasry. I watch them all on YouTube and highly recommend them for people from all walks of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maryammarhumah.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marhumahmentorship/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Marhumahmentorship
- Other: https://pillar.io/marhumahmentorship
