What Islam really says about women | Alaa Murabit

Summary

In this powerful talk, a young Muslim woman shares her journey as a peacebuilder, emphasizing the vital role of women in peace processes and conflict resolution. She highlights the misrepresentation of religious scriptures and the necessity of reclaiming religion to ensure women's full participation globally. Reflecting on her experiences growing up in a large family, moving to Libya, and her involvement in the Libyan revolution, she underscores the importance of women being at the decision-making table to drive lasting change. She calls for challenging distorted religious messages to transform societies and uphold women's rights.

Takeaways

• ✈️ Interesting conversation with a fellow passenger about unique job titles.
• 👩‍💼 The speaker identifies as a peacebuilder, amplifying women's voices in peace processes.
• 🕌 As a young Muslim woman, the speaker values her faith but recognizes its misuse.
• 👪 The speaker grew up in Canada, as one of 11 children in a devout, patient, and fair family.
• 📚 The speaker's research uncovered strong female leaders in Islamic history.
• 💪 Questioning the role of women in religion led the speaker to focus on equality.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Religious institutions are male-dominated, affecting women's participation.
• 💼 The Libyan revolution temporarily increased women's roles in decision-making.
• 📖 The speaker used Islamic scripture to support women's rights in Libya.
• 🌍 Promoting women's rights through religious messaging can lead to societal transformation.

Q & A

What was the context of the conversation the speaker had with the passenger on the flight?

The speaker had an interesting conversation with a passenger who joked about the United States creating jobs like 'cat psychologist' and 'dog whisperer' due to a lack of real jobs.

What is the speaker's profession and what is their daily work focused on?

The speaker is a peacebuilder who works to amplify the voices of women and highlight their experiences and participation in peace processes and conflict resolution.

Why is reclaiming religion important to the speaker?

Reclaiming religion is important to the speaker to ensure the full participation of women globally. The speaker recognizes the damage done in the name of religion and aims to address misrepresentation and manipulation of religious scripture.

How did the speaker's upbringing influence their perspective on religion and gender?

The speaker's parents were devout and spiritual, treating their children equally and teaching them that God does not judge differently based on gender. This upbringing shaped the speaker's understanding of fairness and equality.

What challenges did the speaker face when moving from Canada to Libya at the age of 15?

The speaker faced challenges adapting to the cultural aspects of religion in Libya, where terms like 'haram' (religiously prohibited) and 'aib' (culturally inappropriate) were used interchangeably, leading the speaker to question their own role and aspirations.

What did the speaker discover about the role of women in their faith during their research?

The speaker found that women in their faith were historically leaders, innovators, and strong figures politically, economically, and militarily, but these contributions were not being taught or recognized.

How does the speaker view the role of women in religious institutions?

The speaker believes that religious institutions are dominated by men and that this male leadership creates policies that do not reflect women's equality. The speaker advocates for women's participation in decision-making processes to ensure equal rights.

What significant event in 2011 influenced the speaker's views on women's participation?

The Libyan revolution in 2011 allowed the speaker and other women to be involved in decision-making and information sharing, highlighting the importance of women's roles in such processes.

What strategy did the speaker use to promote women's rights in Libya?

The speaker used Islamic scripture to promote women's rights, citing verses from the Quran and sayings of the Prophet to support their arguments. This approach led to widespread campaigns and policy changes in Libya.

What challenges does the speaker mention about advocating for women's rights and religion?

The speaker faces criticism from both liberals and conservatives, with some viewing the use of religion for women's rights as problematic. The speaker also receives personal insults and threats but remains committed to the cause.

What is the speaker's ultimate message about women's rights and participation?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of women being at the decision-making table and not remaining silent, as this silence allows for the continued persecution and abuse of women. The speaker believes that reclaiming the message of human rights and religious principles is essential for transforming societies.