Amina Wadud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amina Wadud
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| Born | September 25, 1952 Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, American University in Cairo, Cairo University, Al-Azhar University |
| Era | 21st-century philosophy |
| Institutions | International Islamic University Malaysia, Starr King School for the Ministry |
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Main interests
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Islamic studies, Islamic feminism, theology, philosophy, interfaith dialogue |
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Notable ideas
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Women as imams |
Amina Wadud (born September 25, 1952) is an American Muslim scholar. She teaches about religion and has written many books on the role of women in Islam.
Wadud was born a Methodist in Bethesda, Maryland. She became a Muslim in 1972 while studying at the University of Pennsylvania. She later studied Arabic and Islamic topics in the United States and Egypt. In 2005, she made news when she led Friday prayers for a mixed group of men and women in New York. This caused some discussion in the Islamic world. Still, Wadud has continued to lead prayers in different places around the world.
Contents
Early Life and Faith Journey
Amina Wadud was born Mary Teasley in Bethesda, Maryland. Her father was a Methodist minister. In 1963, she went with her father to the March on Washington. This was a big event led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It showed her how religion could inspire people to fight for fairness and equality.
In 1972, while a student at the University of Pennsylvania, she chose to become a Muslim. She legally changed her name to Amina Wadud. She decided to spell her name without capital letters.
Education and Learning
In 1975, Wadud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She then taught English in Libya for two years.
She continued her studies, earning a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan in 1988. During her studies, she spent time in Egypt. There, she learned advanced Arabic, studied the Qur'an (Islam's holy book), and explored philosophy at famous universities like Al-Azhar University.
Important Work and Ideas
From 1989 to 1992, Amina Wadud worked as a professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia. While there, she published her important book, Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective. This book looks at the Qur'an from a woman's point of view. It has been widely used to study Islam, Muslim women, and the Qur'an.
In 2006, she published another book called Inside the Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam. More recently, in 2022, she wrote a book about her spiritual journey called Once in a Lifetime. This book explains the five main practices of Islam from a modern viewpoint.
While in Malaysia, she helped start a group called Sisters in Islam. This group works to support women's rights. Sisters in Islam later helped create an international group called Musawah in 2009.
After retiring in 2006, she became a visiting professor at the Starr King School for the Ministry in California. She also taught at universities in Indonesia, including Gadjah Mada University. She has also been a visiting professor at other universities, such as Harvard Divinity School. Wadud has given many talks and workshops around the world. She speaks about Islam, justice, and gender equality.
Amina Wadud has received grants to study how classical Islamic texts discuss human dignity and equality for all people. She believes in "pluralism" and "equality," meaning that everyone deserves respect and fair treatment.
Awards and Recognition
In 2007, Amina Wadud was honored with the Danish Democracy Prize.
Personal Life
Amina Wadud has five children and six grandchildren. She lives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and also has citizenship in Oakland, California.
Media Appearances
Amina Wadud was an advisor for the documentary Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (2002), which was shown on PBS.
She was interviewed on WNYC radio in 2006 to talk about her book Inside the Gender Jihad. She also discussed her work, including leading prayers for mixed groups.
In 2007, a documentary film was made about her. It was called "The Noble Struggle of Amina Wadud."
See also
In Spanish: Amina Wadud para niños
- Asma Barlas
- Asma Lamrabet
- Fatema Mernissi
- Ziba Mir-Hosseini
- Azizah Y. al-Hibri
- Inclusive Mosque Initiative
