Windows of Faith: Muslim Women Scholar-Activists of North America

Women and Gender in Religion

by Gisela Webb (Editor)

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 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.

Genres: Islam, Religion

295 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Salma · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكتاب ليس سيئا و لكنه ليس رائعا أيضا
يلفت النظر لبعض قضايا المرأة المسلمة
قرأت الترجمة العربية الصادرة عن دار الفكر بدمشق
تحت عنوان
دعونا نتكلم: مفكرات أمريكيات يفتحن نوافذ الإيمان على عالم متغير
من ترجمة إبراهيم يحيى الشهابي

[Waheedah Bilal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muslim women are one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted groups of people in the western world. This book offers a refreshingly realistic view by Muslim women themselves. It is a candid and honest analysis by an eclectic mix of professionals. They tackle issues from birth control, spirituality, culture versus religion, identity, and more. These essays will educate and enlighten anyone seeking true information about a religion that has been demonized and women who have been blanketly labeled oppressed.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

the essays raised a lot of questions, well at least for me that didnt get answered. i'm hoping that believing women in Islam will dive further into the issues since it's one author and not a collection of essays.

[ayesha akhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic set of scholarly articles on the topic of gender in Islam. Much preferred over the Mernissi book.

[Humza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a balanced, wide range of views of female Muslim activists in America. Useful for understanding modern "Islamic feminism" (as it is referred to by some) and Islam in general.

[Tuscany Bernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this book of essays but it was really good. I'd recommend to anybody curious about the variety of voices in female scholarship.