Clip of the Month: Mona Eltahawy: A Muslim and a Feminist or Islamic Feminism?
Summary
TLDRThe speaker explores the complex relationship between feminism and Islam, reflecting on their own journey from identifying as a 'Muslim feminist' to recognizing Islam and feminism as separate but coexisting aspects of their identity. They introduce the global movement MISAWA, which advocates for equality and justice within the Muslim community. Highlighting the work of Amina Wadud, an Islamic feminist scholar, the speaker discusses the possibility of reconciling Islam with feminism through reinterpretation of religious texts. The narrative also touches on the diverse perspectives within the Muslim feminist community, emphasizing the need for inclusive approaches to social and sexual revolution.
Takeaways
- 🤔 The speaker used to identify as a 'Muslim feminist' but now prefers to separate the two identities, considering themselves a Muslim and a feminist.
- 🌍 The speaker is part of a global movement called 'Misawa', which stands for equality in the Muslim family and was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2009.
- 👩🏫 Amina Wadud, an African-American scholar of Islam and a personal hero of the speaker, identifies as an Islamic feminist and believes in the compatibility of Islam and feminism.
- 📚 Amina Wadud's approach involves reinterpreting religious texts to align with feminist values, having studied at Al-Azhar, a prestigious Islamic institution.
- 🙏 The speaker participated in a mixed-gender Friday prayer led by Amina Wadud in New York, which was a significant event for both Muslims and feminists.
- 📖 The speaker acknowledges the importance of religious justification for those who need to reconcile their faith with their feminist beliefs.
- 💪 There is a recognition of the diversity within the Muslim feminist community, with some preferring a secular approach and others seeking an Islamic feminist interpretation.
- 🌟 The speaker highlights the need to accommodate both secular and religiously grounded feminism within the movement for a successful social and sexual revolution.
- 🌈 The speaker shares stories of two inspiring Muslim women from Egypt and the UK, illustrating the different paths to feminism within the Muslim community.
- 🔄 The complexity of being a Muslim and a feminist is emphasized, suggesting that it's not a one-size-fits-all identity but rather a personal journey with various valid approaches.
Q & A
What is the relationship between feminism and Islam according to the speaker?
-The speaker discusses the complexity of being both a feminist and a Muslim, noting that they identify as a Muslim and a feminist but keep these aspects separate. They mention that it's possible to reconcile the two, but it requires a nuanced understanding and approach.
What is the Misawa movement?
-Misawa is a global movement for equality, justice, and the Muslim family, launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2009. It brings together scholars of Islam, activists, and writers who share its goals.
Who is Amina Wadud and what is her significance in the context of the discussion?
-Amina Wadud is an African-American scholar of Islam and a personal hero of the speaker. She identifies as an Islamic feminist and has reinterpreted religious texts to support feminist values within the framework of Islam.
What was the significance of the mixed-gender Friday prayer led by Amina Wadud in 2005?
-The mixed-gender Friday prayer led by Amina Wadud in 2005 was significant because it was the first of its kind, allowing men and women to pray side-by-side, challenging traditional gender roles within religious practices.
Why does the speaker no longer identify as a 'Muslim feminist'?
-The speaker no longer identifies as a 'Muslim feminist' because they want to avoid engaging in a 'verse versus your verse' debate and prefer to focus on a secular form of feminism that is separate from their religious beliefs.
What does the speaker mean by 'complicating the answer'?
-The speaker wants to provide a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between Islam and feminism, acknowledging that there are different interpretations and approaches, such as secular feminism and Islamic feminism.
What is the speaker's view on the need for religious justification in the context of feminism and Islam?
-The speaker believes that for some people, religious justification is necessary to reconcile their Islamic beliefs with their feminist values, and that scholars like Amina Wadud play a crucial role in providing such interpretations.
Why is it important to have both secular and Islamic feminists within the Misawa movement?
-Having both secular and Islamic feminists within the Misawa movement is important because it acknowledges the diverse ways in which individuals can interpret and practice their faith and feminism, and it helps to broaden the movement's appeal and effectiveness.
What is the speaker's stance on the compatibility of Islam and feminism?
-The speaker believes that Islam and feminism can be compatible, but it requires a complex and nuanced approach that respects the different ways individuals may choose to interpret and practice their faith.
What is the role of reinterpretation in reconciling Islam and feminism according to the speaker?
-Reinterpretation plays a significant role in reconciling Islam and feminism, as it allows for a fresh perspective on religious texts that can align with contemporary feminist values.
Outlines
🌟 Muslim Feminism: A Personal Journey
The speaker begins by addressing the question of whether it's possible to be a feminist and practice Islam. They share their personal journey, having once identified as a Muslim feminist but now seeing their Islam and feminism as separate but coexisting aspects of their identity. They introduce the global movement for equality and justice called Misawa, which unites scholars, activists, and writers who support its goals. The speaker highlights the influence of Amina Wadud, an African-American Islamic scholar who identifies as an Islamic feminist, and her reinterpretation of Islamic teachings to support gender equality. The speaker also recounts a historical moment led by Wadud, where a mixed-gender Friday prayer was held in New York City, challenging traditional norms. The speaker appreciates the complexity of the question and the need for different approaches to feminism within the Muslim community, acknowledging both secular and Islamic feminism as valid paths.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Feminism
💡Islam
💡Misawa
💡Amina Wadud
💡Islamic Feminism
💡Secular Feminism
💡Mixed-Gender Prayer
💡Progressive Muslim Union of North America
💡Religious Justification
💡Social Sexual Revolution
Highlights
The possibility of being a feminist while practicing Islam is a complex question.
The speaker used to identify as a Muslim feminist but now sees Islam and feminism as separate parts of her identity.
Misawa, a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family, was launched in 2009.
Misawa includes scholars, activists, and writers who support its goals of equality.
Amina Wudud, an African-American scholar of Islam, identifies as an Islamic feminist.
Amina Wudud led the first mixed-gender Friday prayer in New York City in 2005.
Islamic feminism involves reinterpreting religious texts to align with feminist values.
Amina Wudud's reinterpretation is based on her studies at al-Azhar, a prestigious Islamic institution.
The speaker's feminism is secular and focused on legal and social change.
The need for religious justification is important for some Muslims who want to reconcile their faith with feminism.
The speaker appreciates the work of Islamic feminists like Amina Wudud for providing religious arguments.
Different Muslim women have different approaches to reconciling Islam and feminism.
The speaker's roommate prioritizes her Islam over her feminism.
An Egyptian feminist prioritizes her feminism over her Islam.
The speaker argues for the necessity of accommodating both secular and Islamic feminism for social change.
The complexity of being a Muslim and a feminist is acknowledged, with the answer being both possible and nuanced.
Transcripts
is it possible to be a feminist and
actually practice Islam that is a good
question
that is going to require somewhat of a
complex answer I used to call myself a
Muslim feminist I no longer do and I
call myself a Muslim and a feminist and
my Islam and my feminism are in separate
parts of my being but I belong to a
movement called misawa which and mosa
was the Arabic word fake but equality
it's a movement a global movement for
equality injustice and the Muslim family
it was launched in Kuala Lumpur in
Malaysia in 2009 and that movement
brings together scholars of Islam
activists writers like myself and others
who identify with the goals of misawa
now among misawa's members is a woman
who is a personal hero of mine and a
mentor a african-american scholar of
Islam called amino a dude I mean or dude
identifies as an Islamic feminist so I'm
a Muslim and a feminist she says I'm an
Islamic feminist Amina in 2005 March of
2005 in the City New York where I used
to live at the time led us in the first
public friday prayer she was the mmm in
the first mixture and it was a mixed
gender Friday prayer it was men and
women praying side-by-side some of us I
think I was one of two women who didn't
wear a headscarf and I had my period so
I broke all kinds of laws but I but I
took part in this prayer as a Muslim and
as a feminist I mean it led us in this
prayer as a woman mm as an Islamic
feminist Amina believes you can be a
Muslim and a feminist because she
reinterprets the religion she has
studied at al-azhar which is where all
the clerics of the world of the Sunni
world go and study so where they can
then go and spread the message of Sunni
Islam Amina believes that you can be an
Islamic feminist the reason I don't call
myself a Muslim feminist but I do
believe you can be a Muslim in ephemeris
but I wanted to complicate the answer
for you for a bit is because I don't
want to engage in my verse verses your
verse I don't want to
now Amina produces the verses that are
feminist and that say things like the
Prophet was married to Khadijah the
prophets last sermon said you must treat
women well um if there was a time where
certain things just as in the Bible or
the Torah were acceptable now they're no
longer acceptable that kind of stuff so
it's a it's an
civ feminist reinterpretation of Islam
I'm fighting so many things I'm so glad
that there were women like Amina around
my feminism is much of a secular kind I
say to its 2015 it's against the law so
I need a law that helps you with this
but I also understand that there are
there were people before that Friday
prayer who contacted us because at the
time I was a board member of the
progressive Muslim Union of North
America and we were co-sponsors of this
prayer I went to this prayer no
questions asked but there were some
people who contacted us and said I need
the religious justification for why this
prayer is ok and if I want those people
along with me in this revolution is
social sexual revolution
I need more sour and I need women like
Amina or dude who can then give me the
verse and the saying of the Prophet and
the Sunnah of the Prophet that will then
allow those who need Islam to come
before their feminism to come to the
prayer and at the launch of Messiah
there were two young women that were
very that I found very inspiring at the
meeting my roommate was a British
Pakistani Muslim and she would say to me
often if it's a competition between my
Islam and my feminism my Islam will win
but there was an Egyptian feminists who
have gotten to know much more sense and
who recently launched what before the
Revolution launched an anti Street
sexual harassment movement called harass
map this young Egyptian woman said to me
in the contest between my Islam and my
feminism my feminism will win these are
two Muslim women one from Egypt one from
the UK or South Asian descent both on
with this conference both are the
members of misawa one of them wants a
secular Islam I mean a secular feminism
and one wants an Islamic feminism and we
have to be prepared to give both of them
what they want if we want this social
sexual revolution to succeed so that was
my long-winded answer of by way of which
I can say yes you can but it's
complicated
you
you
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