Muslim Women For works toward a future where Islam is understood as a source of dignity, justice, compassion and love for all humanity. We hope to foster and nurture vibrant Muslim societies that work to create positive social change and uplift their communities through political education, leadership development, relationship building, women of color empowerment and grassroots organizing.
Our pillars are our values and guide all our decisions.
Political Education
“As the South goes, so goes the nation”
W.E.B. Du Bois
We recognize that many people consider the American South to be backward, ignorant and abhorrently racist. We stress that racism is not an issue of geography but of systemic violence and institutional principles and recognize the American South as a hotbed of political resistance and civil disobedience. The South represents a key link in the chain for the U.S. working class in terms of resistance against exploitation and the violent suppression of organizing among workers, especially among Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and Middle Eastern populations.
We believe in continuing this tradition by providing resources and equipping people with a nuanced political education. We know how dangerous and violent it is to confine our narrative to a single story. We practice this by engaging deeply to unravel our ways of thinking, unlearning oppression, reimagining freedom and decolonizing our minds. We seek to provide brave and welcoming spaces that recognize the myriad intersectional identities in Muslim communities, encouraging them to amplify their voices and reclaim their narratives
Projects include: Anti-Islamophobia Training, Revolutionary Reading Library
Leadership Development
“The true greatness of man lies in his capacity for eternal progress.”
Imam Al-Ghazali
We believe in creating spaces that reflect the diversity of our society. We believe each person has a unique, important contribution to the movement. In short, collective liberation demands collective participation. We believe that true leadership requires that one is deeply rooted in the truths, triumphs, failures, and histories of one’s ancestors and elders. Through learning our history, we can mold our future.
Relationship Building
“Without community, there is no liberation.”
Audre Lorde
This work does not exist without a deep love and commitment to people, all people, no exceptions. Muslim Women For began with the deep friendship of three women and is fueled today through the links of community members, intergenerational conversations, grassroots organizers, coalition support, elected representatives, allies, family members, and other comrades in the work. We pride ourselves in our transparency within our own networks as well as to the broader community we serve, for both Muslim and non-Muslim populations. We do not believe in transactional relationships, rather, we seek to be part of transformative and intentional relationships with all the networks we are part of. See the organizations we work with and the coalitions we take part in on this page!
Empowerment for the Historically Marginalized
“Give light and people will find the way.”
Ella Baker
The work of Muslim Women For challenges the monolithic image of Muslim “women” that continues to contribute to gender-based Islamophobia and inter-community marginalization. We address issues that concern vulnerable communities like gender-based violence, anti-blackness, immigrant injustice, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and violence against LGBTQ persons. We develop our spaces with a deep commitment to elevating the voices and contributions of femmes, non-binary folks, black, brown and indigenous folks.
Grassroots Organizing
“What makes revolutionary thought unique is its clarity and dignity, and its clear grasp of freedom and justice: simple, clear words that are understood without the need for any help from elite writers or thinkers.”
Nawal El Saadawi
Muslim Women For works to create transformative change by organizing locally and building power through direct service, advocacy, and spiritual resistance. We have lead rapid response efforts including vigils, protests, and servicing our community at a local, national, and global scale through service projects or through contributions to
