What we’re about
Join us at The Khadija Project for engaging discussions on redefining what it means to be a feminist Muslim.
Our group focuses on building a supportive community of local professionals interested in social networking, brainstorming, and exploring Islamic knowledge.
We aim to foster cooperation, collaboration, and create a space for learning about Islam and its message for women and social order. Come join us for book studies, discussions, and community building! There will be food and lively debate - don't be shy or nervous - come ready to speak and ask questions. This is an important topic that affects 51% of the population globally, and 100% of feminists and 100% of Muslims. My definition of a feminist Muslim is someone who believes in the equal spiritual rights and responsibilities of every human. I believe God created everyone with an equally valuable spirit, and therefore, that everyone must each have their individual right to exercise that spiritual right to the fullest extent. Fullest extent means engaging in beauty, interacting with the world, speaking truth to power - these are rights that become as miniscule as the right to self-expression, but which are much larger in their spiritual capacity. In this sense, I find no conflict between feminism and Islam. The question though, becomes what to do about those verses that speak of unequal property shares, unequal marital rights, and unequal parenting rights?
Well - that is what I want to ask YOU about. So I hope you will come join me for a lively discussion. I am particularly interested in hearing the view of your legal school (madrassa) on these topics. They seem to be the only points of conflict between two groups that should be one and the same. Understand?
I'll provide some snacks - please try to do your homework before coming over - and let's see if we can figure anything out, together.
Think about what it would mean if Islam was known as the religion of freedom, the religion of dignity and equality, the religion of egalitarianism and community. Think about how many more people would understand it, and how quickly it would spread to younger people and older people and middle-aged people who learn about it and see its effects? A religion that rewards you for speaking up against injustice. A reward that you receive in this world and in the next. A religion that rewards you for fighting against and overcoming inner corruptions and encourages you to fight outward corruption - and specifically encourages you to fight using dignified words, not swords. A religion that specifically says, if your enemy tells you peace, even in the heat of battle, with your sword drawn back, you must stop - you must stop your blade as it is about to fall - because they said: Peace.
Assalamu wa rahmatuilahi wa barakatuhu alaikum (peace, blessings, and god's protection to you all)
NOTE: please prepare for the topics in the order they were listed above. it is very possible we will not go past the first topic, depending on how much detail we go into this.
SECOND NOTE: I have many versions of the Kuran here, however, I suggest bringing all of yours as well. There is something nice about having them all together, and also to see the differences in the verse translations with our own eyes.
THIRD NOTE: If you have any Arabic dictionaries that you rely on to translate ancient Kuranic Arabic words, can you please also bring that with you?