Muslim Women Leading Prayer
3-15-2005, last updated 4-29
Posted Mar 13, 2005 •Permalink • Printer-Friendly VersionINTRODUCTION
Assessing the Gender Insurgency of Professor Amina Wadud: Strategic, Tactical, and Legal Perspectives by Robert D. Crane
On March 18th, 2005, Professor Amina Wadud launched what might be seen as the first intifada in a widespread gender insurgency by serving with much public fanfare as the imamah in a mixed-gender jumu’a salah. This triggered a flurry of interesting fatwas from every trend of thought and seemingly every country on earth. Her action may produce an entire literature not only about its legal validity but about the political wisdom of her chosen strategy of “shock and awe.”
From a strategic perspective one must ask whether it is counter-productive to push this issue when the broader issue of women’s oppression should be our focus. There are so many worse aspects of gender apartheid than women not leading men in prayer.
Is Professor Wadud committing a major strategic error by focusing on a peripheral issue like women leading mixed-gender public prayers. This is the kind of issue that the extremists in NOW (the National Organization of Women) would love to use in attacking Muslim male chauvinism as an opening to attack Islam as a religion. Secular fundamentalist feminism, known as woman’s liberation, can easily be clothed in religious terms and is growing among Muslim Americans. This is part of the American cultural baggage that has been brought into the American Muslim umma by social revolutionary converts and by alienated foreign-born Muslim expats.
By adopting the standards of modern Western culture (or lack of culture) Sister Amina Wadud is shifting the burden of proof from the West to the East in defining the nature of dignity and justice. She thereby is buying into the Orientalist insistence that the base case for evaluating Islamic law is Western culture, when she should be comparing Western law with Islamic law as the base case. She should shift the burden of proof onto the secular fundamentalists by showing how deficient Western positivist legal jurisprudence is compared to the sophisticated normative legal system and code of human responsibilities and rights known as the maqasid al shari’ah.
The fact that Muslims have observed this code of human rights primarily in the breech for hundreds of years reflects poorly not on Islam but on Muslims. Professor Wadud points this out, but she appeals to the Western obsession with freedom rather than to the emphasis of all the world religions and of America’s founders (fathers and mothers) on justice, without which freedom means nothing. She is caught in the wrong paradigm.
The tactical blunder of Sister Amina in launching this first intifada of postmodern gender insurgency is to set Muslims up for attack by the Muslim-bashers who can use this to claim that Muslims hate freedom.
Furthermore, these strategic and tactical blunders may generate what in current parlance is called blowback, as illustrated by the failure so far of the Neo-Con strategy to stamp out chaos in the world. Since Professor Wadud can’t win on this issue, her intifada will serve as grist not only for those who bash Islam but for those troglodite Muslims who oppose gender equity, i.e., human dignity and rights for women (part of the maqasid known as haqq al karama). Extremism elicits counter extremism, just as terrorism produces much more terroristic counter-terrorism. Sister Amina’s confrontational approach mirrors the paradigm of the clash of civilizations, known as the West versus the Rest, which, in turn, gives rise to the counter-paradigm of Al Qa’ida known as the East versus the Beast.
Even from the legal perspective, Sister Amina Wadud’s counter-cultural crusade is at best problematic. She tries to defend it in terms of Islamic law simply because her detractors cast it in terms of Qur’anic exegesis, hadith interpretation, and legal commentary. Many religious people like to reduce complex issues to a simple question of good or bad and right or wrong. Since the shari’ah or “Islamic law” is so important for Muslims, it is perhaps natural that most Muslims like to label everything as either legal or illegal.
Traditionalist thought in all religions teaches the wisdom of respecting the nuances of competing perspectives on what is good. These cannot be fitted into a narrow legal framework, unless this framework is based on justice, which emphasizes the purpose of the specific legal injunctions. This is why the maqasid are so important.
Furthermore, many Muslims seem to forget that in the shari’ah, unlike in Western law, there is a spectrum of categories from required (wajib) and good (halal) all the way to haram or forbidden. Most acts fit into categories in between, namely, mandub or desirable and makruh or undesirable, with a large middle category that depends entirely on intention. The same applies to bid’a. Not all innovation is bad. Some is desirable, namely, bida’ hasana, and some is undesirable or even haram.
The differences in approach may ultimately depend on what aspect of the ‘usul al fiqh one uses. Adopting the maqasid or universal purposes and essentials of the shari’ah as the starting point for analysis is merely the first step, though the most important one. The next is to decide what analytical technique one wants to use. Self-styled liberals, like Professor Muqtedar Khan, may prefer istihsan, which is the most liberal form of jurisprudence approved in the ‘usul al fiqh, based on what the faqih thinks is good or hasan. Self-styled conservatives, like myself, prefer the istislah, which requires derivation from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Proceeding from these two approaches, equally competent jurists may end up on opposite sides of important issues.
Islamic jurists, of course, will always be aware of the difference between applying rational thought to the muamalat or socio-economic and socio-political issues of everyday life and applying such thought to the ibadat or rules of Muslim worship. The maqasid are ideally suited as a normative framework for analyzing the muamalat, whereas the ibadat, as well as most family law (especially marriage, divorce, and inheritance), are revealed and are not equally subject to reasoned debate for application by and to Muslims.
For purposes of teaching courses on the shari’ah, as well as on comparative legal systems and on human rights, I would think that Amina Wadud’s unprecedented intifada designed to legitimize women leading the jumu’a salat should be a perfect case study. Although I personally think that she is violating the fundamental Islamic principle of mizan or balance, the extreme case she has chosen to raise fundamental issues of human responsibilities and rights should challenge students to approach fourteen hundred years of Islamic scholarship with an open mind.
This open-mindedness in the search for knowledge, which is part of the maqsud of the maqasid known as haqq al ‘ilm, is the current task of Muslims in fulfilling the third jihad, the only one mentioned specifically in the Qur’an, namely, the jihad al kabir. This is the intellectual jihad, which assumes the first two taught by the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam, the jihad al akbar and the jihad al saghrir. The jihad al akbar for self purification is fard ‘ain or the individual responsibility of every person. The jihad al saghrir or use of force within the constraints of a just war doctrine to defend human rights for oneself and others is both an individual responsibility and a group responsibility known as fard kifaya. The third jihad, the intellectual jihad, in the complexities of the modern era increasingly requires the joint ijtihad of group effort.
Each person should educate oneself in order to use individual ijtihad as guidance for one’s own life, just as one should respect personal inspiration or ilham from Allah, but neither this individual ijtihad nor this personal inspiration is applicable to other people, and one certainly should not try to impose it on them. Group ijtihad evolves to meet the changing needs of the era and of different cultures. It is an incremental and evolutionary process.
Of course, there is the old saw that revolution never pays, except when it does.
SOME ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC:
A Prayer Toward Equality, Mona Eltahawy http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/a_prayer_toward.php#more
A Sacred Conversation, Hesham Hessaballa http://www.altmuslim.com/opinion_comments.php?id=1414_0_25_0_C
A Statement From the Organizers of the March 18th Event http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/a_statement_fro_1.php#more
A Sweet Way to Distort the Message http://images.trafficmp.com/tmpad/content/mediastorm/royalwedding/0405/720x300charles_2005479224.htm
A Woman’s Reflection on Leading Prayer, Yasmin Mogahed http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13883/
American Islam http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=7385
Announcement of March 18th Friday Prayer Led by Amina Wadud http://www.muslimwakeup.com/events/archives/2005/03/friday_prayer_l.php
Case of the Woman Imam, Yamin Zakaria http://www.jihadunspun.com/intheatre_internal.php?article=102067&list=/home.php
Dispute Over Women Imams, Anwer Iqbal http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=89119 and http://expressnewsline.com/phpnews/news.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=681
Do Female Prayer Protests Miss the Point, Dr. Aslam Abdullah http://www.altmuslim.com/opinion_more.php?id=1407_0_25_0_M
Female Led Prayer in the Arab Press http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2005/03/the_femaleled_p.php
Female Led U.S. Service Irks Muslims in Mideast http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050319/w031924.html
Female Imam Sparks Global Controversy, Shahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1417_0_26_0_C
Feminism and the Struggle Against Globalization, Farish A. Noor http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005apr_comments.php?id=658_0_38_30_C
First Generation of Female Imams Emerges in West China http://english.people.com.cn/200308/24/eng20030824_122957.shtml
First Female Imam for Ningxia http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/25/content_257969.htm
Friday Prayers Led By Women, Aslam Abdullah http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005apr_comments.php?id=656_0_38_30_C
From rebels to leaders: The Fitna of Women Leading Men in Prayers, by Abid Ullah Jan http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13702/
Frontal Assault http://www.cairomagazine.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=737&format=html
Historic Moment for Islam http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-nyisla104170606mar10,0,7421771.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines
Inspired By a Woman Leading Prayers, Pamela Taylor http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/232023-5259-021.html
Interview With Dr. Amina Wadud on Controversy http://www.naseeb.com/naseebvibes/prose-detail.php?aid=3631 and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/interviews/wadud.html
Islamic Woman Sparks Controversy By Leading Prayer http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11174658.htm
Jihadist Message Board Calls for Fatwa For the Death of Amina Wadud http://www.siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications28805&Category=publications&Subcategory=0
Kyrgyzstan: Girl Pursues A Difficult Dream—Becoming An Imam http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/3/E2597C9B-6D1E-4354-94CE-B5785B62C910.html
Leading Ladies, Ejaz Haider http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_27-3-2005_pg3_5
Making History at the Friday Prayer, Mona Eltahawy http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/28/opinion/edeltahawy.html
Middle East and Women’s Status http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/03/20/58722.html
Mideast Muslims Aghast At Mixed Gender Service in NY http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/11186328.htm
Mideast Muslims Outraged http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050319/w031924.html
Mideast Muslims See Conspiracy http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050319/w031924.html
Mixed Islamic Prayer, Carole Eisenberg http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-islam0312,0,5708609.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines
Mixed Islamic Prayer in New York http://www.kashar.net/compleat.asp?id=1421
Much Ado About Nothing http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5983_1302679,004300140003.htm
Muslim Professor Plans to Keep Teaching at VCU http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781799277&path=!news&s=1045855934842
Muslim Woman Leads Prayer Service in NYC http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/national-41/1111191316301070.xml&storylist=national
Muslim Woman Sparks Controversy By Leading Prayers http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11174550.htm
Muslim Woman’s Prayer Causes Stir http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/18/national/main681609.shtml
Muslim Women Are Finally Demanding Equality, Kamal Nawash http://www.americandaily.com/article/7119
Muslim Women Can Lead Some Prayers Scholars Say http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2005-03/12/article06.shtml
Muslim Women Leading Friday Prayer, Mirza Baig http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2005%20Opinion%20Editorials/March/25%20o/Muslim%20Women%20Leading%20the%20Friday%20Prayer%20By%20Mirza%20A.%20Beg.htm
Muslims Cry ‘Blasphemy’ As a Woman Leads Prayers http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Muslims-cry-blasphemyas-a-woman-leads-prayers/2005/03/19/1111086059079.html?oneclick=true
Muslims Howl at Woman Led Service http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/19/world/main681775.shtml
Muslims Split Over Gender Role http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0328/p11s01-wogi.html
Muslims Told to Focus on Ethics, Not Symbols http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050324.A08&irec=7
Nasr Ahmed Said Says Wadud’s Action Important for Muslim Women in America http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781927615&path=!news&s=1045855934842
No, We Don’t Have More Important Issues: In Support of Women-Led Prayer
By Sarah Eltantawi http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/no_we_dont_have.php#more
Not Heroic Enough?, Amin Tais http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/not_heroic_enou.php#more
Outrage As Woman Leads Friday Prayers http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=107166&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27365
Paving the Way for a Muslim Holocaust, Abid Ullah Jan http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13843/
Pioneering Muslim Women and Amina Wadud’s Initiative http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2005%20Opinion%20Editorials/March/24%20o/Pioneer%20Muslim%20Women%20and%20the%20Amina%20Waduds%20Initiative%20By%20Ali%20AlHail.htm
Political Participation of Women in Society, Muslim Womens League http://www.forf.org/TRADITIONS_and_MOVEMENTS/ISLAM/Women_Politics.htm
Power of Prayer http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/03/31/ed.edit.imam.0331.html
Prayer Leader Condemned http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/03/20/967002-sun.html
Prayers and Protest http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/newyork/nyc-nyisla194182527mar19,0,5878875.story?coll=nyc-nynews-print
Prayers Stir Debate http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NjgxODMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky
Real Debate on the Status of Women, Aslam Abdullah http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0503-2643
Response to Woman Led Friday Prayer http://www.mwlusa.org/responses/womanledprayer.htm
Safety of Professor Wadud Discussed by Virginia Commonwealth University http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781780964&path=!news&s=1045855934842
Scholars Urge Debate on Women’s Role in Prayer http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050323.A07&irec=6
Securing the Campus http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/03/28/muslim
Security Boosted for Islamic Activist http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4894643,00.html
Security Concerns for Amina Wadud http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1010137&tw=wn_wire_story
Security Level Raised at VCU http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0327muslim27.html
Shock and Awe in the First Intifada of American Gender Insurgency: Paradigmatic, Strategic, and Legal Perspectives, By Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005apr_comments.php?id=179_0_38_30_C
Showdown With Satan, Jawad Ali http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/showdown_with_s.php#more
Standing By My Sister, Hesham Hassaballa http://www.altmuslim.com/opinion_comments.php?id=1408_0_25_0_C
Step Toward Equality in Islam http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=EECE1A42-E8FA-4742-A45B-B9F9B02D1C60
Understanding Amina Wadud and the PMU, Ahmed Rehab http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13733/
University Protects Professor http://news.newkerala.com/world-news/?action=fullnews&id=90535
VCU Professor Threatened http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=3146124&nav=0Rcx3aIN
Western Muslims Are Dying to Fit In, Muhammad Elmasry http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13724/
What A Damn Shame, Hesham Hassaballa http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/what_a_damn_sha.php#more
What Would the Prophet Do: the Islamic Basis for Female Led Prayer, Nevin Reda http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/women_imamat.php
Will Muslim Women Defeat Tradition, Anwer Iqbal http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050320-022907-6032r.htm
With Prayer A Call for Equality http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/11175952.htm
Woman Leads Friday Prayer in NYC http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=60658&d=19&m=3&y=2005
Woman Leads Muslim Prayer Service http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4281904
Woman Leads Prayer Despite Criticism http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw113202_20050318.htm
Woman Leads Prayer Sparking Worldwide Controversy http://www.teamamberalert.net/Delaware/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=102
Woman Led Friday Service Despite Illegitimacy http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=6&id=4908
Woman Led Prayer Sparks Controversy http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3222788a12,00.html
Woman Led Prayer - Views From Europe, Amine Tais http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/04/the_womanled_pr.php#more
Woman Officiates at Muslim Wedding, Kecia Ali http://www.naseeb.com/naseebvibes/prose-detail.php?aid=3393
Women and the Masjid Between Two Extremes, Louay Safi http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005apr_comments.php?id=660_0_38_30_C
Women As Imams http://www.crescentlife.com/thisthat/feminist%20muslims/women_as_imam.htm
Women Imams and Gender Justice, Nazry Bahrawi http://www.todayonline.com/articles/42374.asp
Women Leading Prayers, Halima Klausen http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-307/_nr-8/_p-1/i.html
Woman Led Friday Prayer Sparks Furor in U.S. http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2005-03/19/article06.shtml
Women Leading Friday Prayers: Why Am I Silent, M.A. Muqtedar Khan http://www.ijtihad.org/Wadud.htm Response to Muqtedar Khan’s Article http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2005/03/poultry_in_moti.php
OTHER WOMEN PLAN TO ALSO LEAD MIXED GENDER PRAYERS
Another Woman (Asra Nomani) to Lead Muslim Prayers http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_25-3-2005_pg7_9 and http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=43832
Asra Nomani Leads Prayers at Brandeis University http://images.trafficmp.com/tmpad/content/ZentropyPartners/HRB/U_06_720x300_G_35K_L0.html
WE ARE SEEING SATIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE
New York Group Spices Up Its Khutbah http://ds-films.com/khutba.htm
The Secret of Why Only Men Can Lead Prayer: An Interview with Saudi Scientist Dr. Muhammad bin Saad an-Nutfah http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/the_secret_of_w.php#more
DISCUSSION GROUPS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE
http://www.maryams.net/dervish/index.php/2005/03/14/p446
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/movabletype3/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=2713
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4369681.stm
STATEMENTS AND COUNTER STATEMENTS ARE BEING MADE
A Critique of the Argument for Women Led Friday Prayers, Dr. Hina Azam http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1416_0_24_0_M A response to Dr. Azam’s Critique, Hussein Ibish http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/erudition_as_de.php#more
Rand Reports Attempt to Change Islam, Abdus Sattar Ghazzali http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=IV0503-2647 Response to this article Fighting Manipulation With Conspiracy, Hesham Hessaballa http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1420_0_25_0_C
Women Leading Friday Prayers: Why Am I Silent, M.A. Muqtedar Khan http://www.ijtihad.org/Wadud.htm Response to Muqtedar Khan’s Article http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2005/03/poultry_in_moti.php
A Womans Reflection on Leading Prayer, Yasmin Moghahed and A Response to Yasmin Mogahed’s article by Ginan Rauf
Islam’s Encounter With American Culture: Making Sense of the Progressive Muslim Agenda, Louay M. Safi and A Cunning Con-Census, a response by by Hussein Ibish
SCHOLARS HAVE GIVEN OPINIONS ON THE ISSUE
A Critique of the Argument for Women Led Friday Prayers, Dr. Hina Azam http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1416_0_24_0_M A response to Dr. Azam’s Critique, Hussein Ibish http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/erudition_as_de.php#more
Can a Woman be an Imam? Debating Form and Function in Muslim Women’s Leadership, Ingrid Mattson http://macdonald.hartsem.edu/muslimwomensleadership.pdf
Examination of Women and Prayer Leadership, Imam Zaid Shakir http://www.iio.org/filemgmt_data/files/female%20imam.pdf
Position on Muslim Woman Leading Salat, Sh. M. Nur Abdullah http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005jan_comments.php?id=569_0_31_0_C and http://www.isna.net/news/miniheadlines.asp?dismode=article&artid=565
Position on Women Leading Salat, Yusuf al Qaradawi http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=39045 and http://www.islamonline.net/fatwaapplication/english/display.asp?hFatwaID=122751
Position on Women Leading Salat, Islamic Fiqh Academy of the OIC http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=60899&d=23&m=3&y=2005 and http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=160656
Position on Women Leading Prayers by Muhammad Abdel Ghani Shamaa, an advisor to the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf http://www.cairomagazine.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=814&format=html
Position on Women Leading Salat, Javed Ghamidi, Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-4-2005_pg7_13
Women Cannot Be Imams, Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamed Zin of Malaysia http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/NST32296889.txt/Article/indexb_html
THE GRAND MUFTI OF EGYPT IS QUOTED AS BOTH ALLOWING AND DISALLOWING WOMEN LEADING MIXED GENDER PRAYER
Position on Women Leading Salat, Sh. Ali Gum’a Grand Mufti of Egypt http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/03/thank_you_sheik.php
another article saying he gave the opposite opinion
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5621062
SOME SEE A CONNECTION WITH OTHER EVENTS AND GROUPS (CONSPIRACY THEORIES)
Mideast Muslims See Conspiracy http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1366312/posts
Planned Provocation, Norman Griebel http://www.muslim-affairs.com/home/artikel.cgi?nr=94
Rand Reports Attempt to Change Islam, Abdus Sattar Ghazzali http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=IV0503-2647 and Rand Report Revisited http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2005%20Opinion%20Editorials/March/19o/Rand%20Report%20on%20Islam%20revisited%20By%20Abdus%20Sattar%20Ghazali.htm Response to this article Fighting Manipulation With Conspiracy, Hesham Hessaballa http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1420_0_25_0_C
SOME BACKGROUND ON THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
Free Muslims Against Terrorism
Muslim Women Are Finally Demanding Equality, Kamal Nawash http://www.freemuslims.org/news/article.php?article=491
Muslim Women’s Freedom Tour
Muslim Women’s Freedom Tour http://asranomani.com/freedom/
Muslim Wakeup
Mission Statement http://www.muslimwakeup.com/info/
Time to Wake Up, Rob Eshman http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=13753
Progressive Muslim Union (PMU)
A South African View of the PMU, Na’eem Janeh http://www.amperspective.com/html/a_south_african.html
COLLOQUIUM: ‘Progressive Muslims’ Call for Abandoning Religion in order to Survive?”
By Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2005jan_comments.php?id=577_0_31_0_C
Epicure’s Bastards: Proponents of Religious Anarchy in Islam, by Ayub Khan http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/13796/
Failing to Find Moderate Muslims at the PMU, Daniel Pipes http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/361
Progressive Muslim Union Formed http://www.archives2004.ghazali.net/html/progressive_muslims_union.html
Progressive Muslim Union, Kaleem Kawaja http://www.pakistanlink.com/Opinion/2004/Dec04/31/08.htm
Progressive Muslim Union, Rachel Zoll http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36994-2004Oct15.html
Progressive American Muslims Push for a Reinterpretation of Islam http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2004-10-07-progressive-muslims_x.htm
Re-examing the Practice of Faith http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/11248494.htm
Why We are Launching a Progressive Muslim Union http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2004/11/why_we_are_laun.php
SEE ALSO the collection of articles under GENDER ISSUES http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/2003nov_comments.php?id=427_0_23_0_C
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