Asra Nomani: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Nomani.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Asra Nomani accepting an award from the [[Al-Fatiha Foundation]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], on [[September 4]], [[2005]].]] |
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[[Image:AsraNomani.jpg|frame|Asra Nomani on Book TV]] |
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'''Asra Q. Nomani''' is an [[Indian-American]] journalist, author, and feminist |
'''Asra Q. Nomani''' is an [[Indian-American]] [[Muslim]] journalist, author, and feminist, known as an activist in the Muslim reform and [[Islamic feminism|Islamic feminist]] movements. |
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She is the author of two books [[Standing Alone in Mecca|Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam]] and [[Tantrika: Traveling the Road of Divine Love]], and of the [[Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in the Bedroom]] and the [[99 Precepts|99 Precepts for Opening Hearts, Minds and Doors in the Muslim World]]. |
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Nomani became the first woman in her mosque in [[West Virginia]] to insist on what she sees as her right to pray in the male-only main hall, defying centuries-old gender barriers of Islamic tradition. |
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Asra was born in [[Bombay]] [[India]] and moved to the [[United States]] with her parents when she was four years old, where she grew up in [[West Virginia]]. |
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She was born in [[Bombay]] [[India]], the granddaughter of the Indian Muslim scholar Mowlana [[Shibli Nomani]] — known for writing a biography of [[Muhammad]], the prophet of Islam — and moved to the [[United States]] with her parents when she was four years old, where she grew up in West Virginia. |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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Nomani is a former [[Wall Street Journal]] correspondent and has written for the [[Washington Post]], [[New York Times]], and [[Time magazine]]. She was a [[War correspondent|war correspondent]] in Afghanistan for [[Salon.com|Salon Magazine]], and her work appears in numerous other publications. She has also worked as a correspondent for [[NPR|National Public Radio]]. |
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She is a visiting scholar at the Center for Investigative Journalism at [[Brandeis University]]. |
She is a visiting scholar at the Center for Investigative Journalism at [[Brandeis University]]. |
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She is the founder and creator of the Muslim Women's Freedom Tour. She has also defied literalist interpretations of Islam that segregate women from men in prayers at Mosques, [http://www.detnews.com/2005/religion/0507/20/A14-242112.htm] and was a lead organizer of the woman-led Muslim prayer in New York City on [[March 18]], [[2005]], which she described as "the first mixed-gender prayer on record led by a Muslim woman in 1,400 years." [http://www.asranomani.com/mecca/archives/2005/05/washington_post.php] |
She is the founder and creator of the Muslim Women's Freedom Tour. She has also defied literalist interpretations of Islam that segregate women from men in prayers at Mosques, [http://www.detnews.com/2005/religion/0507/20/A14-242112.htm] and was a lead organizer of the woman-led Muslim prayer in New York City on [[March 18]], [[2005]], which she described as "the first mixed-gender prayer on record led by a Muslim woman in 1,400 years." [http://www.asranomani.com/mecca/archives/2005/05/washington_post.php] |
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| ⚫ | In ''[[Standing Alone in Mecca]]'', she describes giving birth to her son after his father abandoned them in [[Pakistan]], then going to [[Mecca]] to perform the [[hajj]] in order to investigate and rediscover her religion. The ''Washington Post'' writes that the title echoes ''Standing Again at Sinai'' (1990), in which the author, Judith Plaskow, an American [[Jew]]ish feminist, explored what she saw as the patriarchal origins of [[Judaism]]. [http://www.asranomani.com/mecca/archives/2005/05/washington_post.php] |
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| ⚫ | In ''[[Standing Alone in Mecca]]'', she describes giving birth |
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==Books== |
==Books== |
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Revision as of 16:12, 3 January 2006
Asra Q. Nomani is an Indian-American Muslim journalist, author, and feminist, known as an activist in the Muslim reform and Islamic feminist movements.
She is the author of two books Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam and Tantrika: Traveling the Road of Divine Love, and of the Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in the Bedroom and the 99 Precepts for Opening Hearts, Minds and Doors in the Muslim World.
Nomani became the first woman in her mosque in West Virginia to insist on what she sees as her right to pray in the male-only main hall, defying centuries-old gender barriers of Islamic tradition.
She was a friend and a colleague of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was staying with her in Karachi when he was murdered by Islamists in January 2002.
Life
She was born in Bombay India, the granddaughter of the Indian Muslim scholar Mowlana Shibli Nomani — known for writing a biography of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam — and moved to the United States with her parents when she was four years old, where she grew up in West Virginia.
Career
Nomani is a former Wall Street Journal correspondent and has written for the Washington Post, New York Times, and Time magazine. She was a war correspondent in Afghanistan for Salon Magazine, and her work appears in numerous other publications. She has also worked as a correspondent for National Public Radio.
She is a visiting scholar at the Center for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University.
She is the founder and creator of the Muslim Women's Freedom Tour. She has also defied literalist interpretations of Islam that segregate women from men in prayers at Mosques, [1] and was a lead organizer of the woman-led Muslim prayer in New York City on March 18, 2005, which she described as "the first mixed-gender prayer on record led by a Muslim woman in 1,400 years." [2]
In Standing Alone in Mecca, she describes giving birth to her son after his father abandoned them in Pakistan, then going to Mecca to perform the hajj in order to investigate and rediscover her religion. The Washington Post writes that the title echoes Standing Again at Sinai (1990), in which the author, Judith Plaskow, an American Jewish feminist, explored what she saw as the patriarchal origins of Judaism. [3]
Books
- Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam. ISBN: 0060571446
- Tantrika: Traveling the Road of Divine Love. ISBN: 0062517147
Articles
- Washington Post: A Gender Jihad For Islam's Future
- Sojourner magazine: The Islamic Reformation has begun
- Slate magazine: How retailers are marketing to fashion-conscious Muslim women
- Daily News: My answered prayers
- American Prospect Magazine: Pulpit Bullies
- Sojourner magazine: Struggle for the soul of Islam
- Salon Magazine: Who really killed Daniel Pearl?
- New York Times: Hate at the local mosque
- Washington Post: Rebel in the mosque
See also
References
- Asra Q. Nomani's website
- "A Pilgrim's Progress" by Leila Ahmed, Washington Post, May 1, 2005
- Detroit News Muslim women take bold steps for role in Islam Photo of Asra defying orders to move to women's section of Mosque
- Asra Q. Nomani. La Cueva de Zaratustra
- Article by Asra's father Excommunication From the Mosque?