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 Mary Teasley, September 25, 1952) is an American Muslim thinker and teacher. She is known for her ideas about the role of women in Islam. She has written many books and articles on this topic.
Amina Wadud was born in Bethesda, Maryland. She grew up in a Christian family. In 1972, she became a Muslim while studying at the University of Pennsylvania. She later studied Arabic and Islamic topics in the United States and Egypt. In 2005, she became well-known for leading Friday prayers in New York. This was special because both men and women attended the prayer together. She has continued to lead prayers in different places around the world.
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Early Life and Faith Journey
Amina Wadud was born Mary Teasley in Bethesda, Maryland. Her father was a Christian minister. When she was young, she went with her father to the March on Washington in 1963. This event was led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. It showed her how religion could inspire people to work for fairness and equality.
In 1972, she chose to become a Muslim. This happened while she was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. She studied there from 1970 to 1975. She later changed her name legally to Amina Wadud. She chose to write her name without capital letters.
Amina Wadud's Education
In 1975, Amina Wadud finished her studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She then became a certified teacher. After that, she moved to El-Beida, Libya, for two years. There, she taught English at a university.
She continued her education and earned two more degrees. She received her Master's degree in Near Eastern Studies. Then, she earned her Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies. Both degrees were from the University of Michigan in 1988. During her advanced studies, she spent time in Egypt. She studied advanced Arabic at the American University in Cairo. She also studied the Qur'an and its interpretation at Cairo University. She learned about philosophy at Al-Azhar University.
Amina Wadud's Work and Ideas
Amina Wadud's main work focuses on the Qur'an. She studies how to understand its teachings, especially about gender. She also looks at how gender and identity are discussed in Islamic texts.
Teaching and Publications
From 1989 to 1992, she taught as a professor in International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While there, she published her first important book. It was called Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective. This book became very important for studying Islam and Muslim women. It is used in universities all over the world.
In 2006, she published her second book, Inside the Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam. More recently, in 2022, she wrote a book about her spiritual journey. It is called Once in a Lifetime. This book explains the five main practices of Islam from a modern point of view.
Advocacy for Women's Rights
While in Malaysia, Amina Wadud helped start a group called Sisters in Islam. This group works to support women's rights. Later, Sisters in Islam helped create an international group called Musawah in 2009. Musawah works for equality and justice for women in Muslim families.
After retiring in 2006, she continued to teach. She was a visiting professor at Starr King School for the Ministry in California. In 2008, she traveled to Indonesia. She taught at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. She returned to Yogyakarta in 2020 to teach at other universities there.
She has also taught at Harvard Divinity School and Melbourne University. Amina Wadud has given many talks and workshops around the world. She has spoken in the United States, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Her talks often focus on Islam, fairness, and gender. She discusses how to understand the Qur'an in a way that includes everyone. She also talks about spiritual growth and working for social change.
Amina Wadud has received a special grant to study Islamic ideas about human dignity. She believes in fairness and respect for all people.
Awards and Recognition
In 2007, Amina Wadud received the Danish Democracy Prize. This award recognized her work for democracy and human rights.
Personal Life
Amina Wadud has five children and six grandchildren. She lives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. She also keeps her citizenship in Oakland, California.
Media Appearances
Amina Wadud was an advisor for the documentary Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (2002). This film was shown on PBS.
She was interviewed on WNYC radio in 2006. She talked about her book Inside the Gender Jihad. She also answered questions about women leading prayers in mixed groups.
In 2007, a documentary was made about her. It was called "The Noble Struggle of Amina Wadud". It was made by Iranian-Dutch filmmaker Elli Safari.
See also
In Spanish: Amina Wadud para niños
- Asma Barlas
- Asma Lamrabet
- Fatema Mernissi
- Ziba Mir-Hosseini
- Azizah Y. al-Hibri
- Inclusive Mosque Initiative
