Fadilah Ali As a young girl growing up in a small Muslim-majority town in South Nigeria, I never found it necessary to explain my hijab. It felt as natural as a shirt or a sock. The thought to question it did not occur to me until I got to university and encountered harsh opposition. Fellow students wanted to know why I wore something that made … Continue reading Hijab: The Limits of Choice
Growing up, I often joined my parents and watched the evening news on television, through which I became aware of the various injustices faced by vulnerable populations across the world. Coming from a South Asian background, I was conscious of the unjust cultural practices many women from the subcontinent were subject to. As a teenager, I felt compelled to be involved in efforts to serve … Continue reading Cultural Imperialism and Saving Muslim Women
As part of Al-Arqam Institute‘s Ramadan 2021 programme, our editor Aisha Hasan delivered a lecture on feminism. Outlining how the Muslim community should approach conversations on feminism, she discusses what we can learn from feminist analysis, evaluates Islamic feminism, and highlights the challenges posed by misogyny for Muslim women. Continue reading EVENT: Feminism – Al-Arqam Institute
Sabrina Amrane Shortly after he rose to power, former President of Algeria Houari Boumediene visited Tuggurt, a city more than 600km south of Algiers. His arrival is documented on film, where you can see him carefully step down from a private plane and then wave from a Lincoln town car, followed by dozens of police Vespas. When looking closely at the black-and-white montage, one can … Continue reading The women of Tuggurt in their houses: Framings of women’s liberation in Algeria
“I just don’t think Muslim women should be working … I mean, as a Muslim woman, your duty is to look after your husband and children; it’s the man’s duty to provide, and the woman’s duty to take care of the household.” “This is a modern day issue. Muslim women of the past knew their roles and responsibilities; they didn’t neglect their husbands and children … Continue reading Gender series: “I just don’t think Muslim women should be working”
The Qarawiyyin Project 