Resources on Feminism
And whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his soul;
and the destination (of all) is to Allah. (Surah Fatir, 35:18)
One of the most common requests I receive is a list of resources about feminism and Islam, specifically why the two are incompatible, what Islam says about women's rights, and what Muslim sisters today can and ought to think about when considering the extent to which feminism is an ideology worth subscribing to.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this matter. What I share here (and in all my public work) is merely my own research, learning, and understanding of the matter.
If you are struggling with the question of compatibility between Islam and feminism, I think it is important to first self-reflect. Ask yourself why you are grappling with this issue. As with anything, we arrive at junctures in life based on a series of events and conditions, some of which prompt us to confront our beliefs. So, ask yourself, what is leading me to confront this topic? Why does this matter bother me? The answer will likely include more than one reason. Nevertheless, if you are honest with yourself, you may well find that one of those reasons is that you are struggling with your imaan. It is not uncommon that sisters (and brothers) who identify with feminist ideology possess weak faith. Is it weak faith that leads to doubts, or do doubts lead to weak faith? I'll leave that question for the giants of Twitter to debate.
What is important here is for you to recognize and acknowledge that you may need a holistic overhaul of your spirituality. In other words, in the process of dealing with the Islam-and-feminism question, you may need to devote time to exploring other, perhaps more fundamental questions. This effort is none other than tazkiyah, or purification of the self. It is a blessing from Allah (SWT) in so many ways, because it propels you to move closer to Him and that which matters most.
Thus, what I am including below is a short list of categorized resources. These categories relate to feminism in different ways. Again, ask yourself self-reflective questions: What is leading me to consider feminist ideology? Why does this issue matter to me? The reasons will vary, like the categories below, and there is likely a range of reasons, rather than one single reason, for your exploration of this issue.
For parents in particular, I have also included a list of additional resources here.
Theism
Losing Faith by Imam Siraj Wahhaj
The Divine Reality: God, Islam & The Mirage of Atheism by Hamza Tzortzis
Towards Sacred Activism by Dawud Walid
Realities of Faith by Umm Muhammad
Why Some People Want God Not to Exist by Peter Hitchens
Secular Liberalism
Islam’s Take on Modernity & Progress by Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy (16-min video)
Secularization in the Muslim World by Sh. Hamza Yusuf (14-min video)
Islam & Secular Humanism: Which Makes More Sense? by Hamza Tzortzis
Feminism
I highly recommend the work of Sr. Zara Faris. Visit her website, Women’s Rights Without Feminism.
Does Islam Need Feminism? by Fatima Barkatullah
Islam, Feminism & Identity Politics: A Crisis of Selfhood by Nour Goda
In the Days of Noor: Feminism, Marriage, and Sex Before Marriage by Nuriddeen Knight
LGBTQ & Transgenderism
Noteworthy Notes: On the Causes of Same-Sex Attraction by Katrina Tufaro & Ana Samuel
Understanding Same-Sex Attraction from Family Watch International
From a Same-Sex Attracted Muslim: Between Denial of Reality and Distortion of Religion by Br. Yousef, MuslimMatters.org
Male, Female, or Other: Ruling of a Transgender Post Sex Change by The American Fiqh Academy
Transgenderism: A Pathogenic Meme by Paul McHugh. A Johns Hopkins psychiatrist explains why it was a mistake to allow sex reassignment surgery at his hospital.
Sex, Gender & Identity by Ana Samuel
Here’s What Parents of Transgender Kids Need to Know by Walt Heyer
I am Ryland: The Story of a Male-Identifying little Girl who Didn’t Transition by Lindsay Leigh Bentley
Transgender Talking Points for Kids from CanaVox.org
