Windows of Faith: Muslim Women's Scholar-Activists in North America (Women and Gender in North American Religions)

This collection of essays brings together voices from the most recent development in Muslim women’s studies, namely, the burgeoning network of Muslim women working on issues of women’s human rights through engaged revisionist scholarship in such areas as theology, law and jurisprudence, and women’s literature. The essayists are leading Islamic women scholars in North America who affirm their religious self-identity in their acknowledgment of, and striving toward solving, serious problems women have faced in Muslim societies and communities around the world. Their approach is designated as “scholarship-activism” because it comes from the common conviction that to look at women’s issues from within the Islamic perspective must unite issues of theory and practice. Any theory or analysis of women’s nature, role, rights, or problems must include attention to the practical, “on-the-ground” issues involved in actualizing the Qur’anic mandate of social justice. Concomitantly, any considerations of practical solutions to problems and injustices faced by women must have a solid theological grounding in the Qur’anic world view. Contributors include representatives from the variety of constituents of Islam in America” immigrant” and “indigenous”—whose works are in the forefront of Islamic discussion and reform today: Amina Wadud, Nimat Hafez Barazangi, Maysam J. al-Faruqi, Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Asifa Quraishi, Riffat Hassan, Aminah Beverly McCloud, Mohja Kahf, Rabia Terri Harris, and Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons. Introduction: May Muslim Women Speak For Themselves, Please? / Gisela Webb -- Alternative Qurʾanic Interpretation And The Status Of Muslim Women / Amina Wadud -- Muslim Women's Islamic Higher Learning As A Human Right: Theory And Practice / Nimat Hafez Barazangi -- An Introduction To Muslim Women's Rights / Azizah Y. Al-hibri -- Women's Self-identity In The Qurʾan And Islamic Law / Maysam J. Al-faruqi -- Her Honor: An Islamic Critique Of The Rape Laws Of Pakistan From A Woman-sensitive Perspective / Asifa Quraishi -- The Scholar And The Fatwa: Legal Issues Facing African American And Immigrant Muslim Communities In The United States / Aminah Beverly Mccloud -- Braiding The Stories: Women's Eloquence In The Early Islamic Era / Mohja Kahf -- Reading The Signs: Unfolding Truth And The Transformation Of Authority / Rabia Terri Harris -- Striving For Muslim Women's Human Rights- Before And Beyond Beijing: An African American Perspective / Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons -- Is Family Planning Permitted By Islam: The Issue Of A Woman's Right To Contraception / Riffat Hassan -- Appendixes: A. Human Rights In The Qurʾanic Perspective / Riffat Hassan ; B. A Partial List Of Organizations For Muslim Women's Rights, Advocacy, And Higher Islamic Education In The United States / Kareema Altomare. Edited By Gisela Webb. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 267-280) And Index. These essays by Islamic women scholars in the USA give voice to and are evidence of the growing network of Muslim women involved with the issues of women's human rights through ""scholarship activism"". It brings together critical arguments for the fair treatment of women. Brings together critical arguments for the existence of religious mandates within the core scripture and teaching of Isam for the fair treatment of women.