Born Genius Kindergarten certificate  From Cleveland Municipal Clerk of Courts  Foreshadowed Momina’s greatness and intelligence “…your exceptional performance…evidence of your determination, hard work, and tenacity…place you among a select group of young people capable of providing the future leadership our society needs”

Brought up as a child With Islamic values In Pakistani culture With American principles Momina assimilated all three  She was simple  Did not fall into cult of appearances or self-perceptions With her intelligence, trained her parents how to properly raise her

Childhood Education Ordinary schooling throughout  Al-Rahmah Islamic School, Baltimore  Mali Embassy School, Saudi Arabia  Pakistan Embassy School, Saudi Arabia

Rural Roots Deep attachment  Pride  Quoted in essays many times  Family values  “You taught me how important family is. Thank you for taking me to Pakistan”.

Middle School At Beaconhouse  Extremely intelligent  No significant encouragement  No significant mentor Disappointed  In education system  Requested move to USA American principles  Best education system  Opportunities for all  Freedom of speech and justice

High School Academic encouragement  Valedictorian Mentoring & excellent coaching  Foreign Extemporaneous speech  Winner of many competitions & tournaments  Ohio state champion  National qualifier  FBI & 9/11 story

Graduation & College Accepted by many prestigious schools  Medical school  Cornell University  Duke University  MIT Chose Duke University  Dean’s List  Who’s Who Among American Colleges & Universities  Majored in English Literature; minored in History

Duke University Studied Philosophy & critical thinking  Allama Iqbal and related philosophers  Bergson  Kierkegaard  Nietzsche  Sartre  Concluded that only Iqbal’s philosophy was relevant to today and awakened consciousness in humanity, Muslim youth in particular

Harvard University M.A. from Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations  Studied Farsi, Urdu, Arabic, and Hindi  Poetry of Iqbal, Rumi, Hafiz  Spirituality taken to next level  Presented original paper at 2008 Duke-UNC Islamic Studies Conference  “Body and Spirit: Interlocutory Moments between Muhammad Iqbal and Existentialist Philosophers”  Developed a semester-long course  “Readings in Indo-Muslim Thought in North India from the Medieval Period to Partition”

UVA School of Law Aspiration to be American- Muslim legal scholar Belief in Law  As best means to free intellect from oppression  Law Firm  Paralegal  ‘Mona Standard’  Improve conditions of poor and marginalized  i.e. prisons University of Virginia School of Law  One of few students in history of school to get straight A’s  Professor Caleb Nelson’s Letter of Recommendation

Allama Iqbal & Momina Studied Iqbal’s philosophy & poetry Followed his footsteps  Learned German  Visited Germany & same lecture hall where Iqbal studied  University of Heidelberg Brought back poster of Iqbal and Jinnah

Allama Iqbal & Momina Called herself ‘Allama Iqbal’  Studied his philosophers & Iqbal himself  Against capitalism, colonialism, globalization and their exploitative inclinations  Deep love for Prophet

Allama Iqbal & Momina Studied Qur’an and applied principles in same way as Iqbal ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Iqbal aur Qawm al-Zalimeena ‏ From: Momina Cheema To: Dr. Akhtar Cheema, tayyeba zia Tue 2/26/08 5:55 PM 10:85 They said: "In Allah do we put our trust. Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who practice oppression“ َ meri tarha Iqbal bhi aalimi Capitalist nizam pe socha karte the aur is ke azlam is zamane ki dunya mein. wo in alfaz mein Allah ko puchtey: tu qaadir o' adil hai magar tere jahaan mein hain talkh bahot banda-e mazdur ke auqaat kab doobega sarmaya parasti ka safeena dunya hai teri muntazir-e roz-e makaafat

Love of Family Respected, listened, discussed  Valued by her and her family “My sister is wise and intellectual. My parents cannot argue with her because what she says is the truth” Academic guidance and role model to brothers Unique diary written to mother

Love of Pakistan Studied and followed Pakistan’s social and political problems Wanted to implement interest-free microfinance for indigent, home-staying women in her village 1 st place essay for Pakistan Independence Day  “Shaping the Future of Pakistan”  Solutions given; still relevant today  Optimistic I am without a doubt that Pakistan can overcome these obstacles and become a great nation, for I am reminded of the words of Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, who once remarked “Failure is a word unknown to me.”

Islamic Faith Strong and certain faith in Quran & Sunnah  Thoroughly studied tafsirs while at Duke & Harvard  Ibn Kathir original exegesis  Bukhari, Muslim hadiths  Often meditated on Quranic verses  To find deep understanding Shared with family and friends

The Perfect Way of Life Impressed by Sufi approach to life and its teachings Al-Ghazali, Data Ali Hujwiri  Sultan Bahu, Baba Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, Ghalib  Grandfather: Ch. Sardar Ahmed Zia  Influence Spiritual, down-to-earth, humble, sincere, generous, witty

Activism Palestine Solidarity Movement  Duke University  Recognition by Dean Brodhead Movement for Restoration of Judiciary  Actively participated in 2008

Activist Wanted to improve Muslim image in world, particularly of Pakistanis after 9/11 Personal trip to Pakistan with best friend Cathy  Visited Iqbal Academy, Data Darbar, Kasoor, Ali Hajweri Spread message of respect and peace, inspired friends  Through knowledge of Islam and Sufism  Friends claimed to be astray; Momina changed their lives by bringing them into spiritual realm  Even online with those not on personal terms