Women and Islam

Five women of the Islamic faith, each with a different journey and story. They are a new face in an Italian society in transformation. They recount difficulties and misunderstandings but also the achievements of their civic engagement.

A Muslim poetess and mystic describes the journey that leads to complete annihilation in God. This is not the result of a technique or some personal effort, but a grace that the Most High pours out on those He chooses, eliminating any distance between the lover and the Beloved.

A short essay by ‘Ā’isha Al-Bā’ūniyya on the mystical path leading to the moral and ontological annihilation of the Ego

Muslim scholar amina wadud is convinced that in order to respect the universal value of the Qur’an, it must be interpreted from a female perspective

Benazir Bhutto’s appointment as Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988 raised much criticism. In response, some female scholars sought to demonstrate that the taboo of female leadership is linked to a male chauvinist interpretation of Islam’s sacred texts.

In Saudi Arabia, some women have exploited sex segregation to assume positions as religious leaders. However, their role remains ambiguous: on the one hand, they guarantee a female presence in the public space; on the other, they are spokespersons for the Wahhabi establishment.

‘Ā’isha ‘Abd al- Rahmān was the first female Muslim to make a name for herself in the field of Qur’anic studies. Whilst she remained tied to traditional positions regarding women’s issues, she made a fundamental contribution to the history of women in the Arab-Islamic world.

To give new momentum to Islamic knowledge, the Women’s Muslim College has been founded in Birmingham. The idea is to provide Muslim women in the United Kingdom with an adequate religious training.