Muslim Women: Past and Present

Recommend a Muslim Woman

Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Betty Shabazz

“We can say ’Peace on Earth.’ We can sing about it, preach about it or pray about it, but if we have not internalized the mythology to make it happen inside us, then it will not be.”

—Betty Shabazz

photo of Betty Shabazz Photo credit: Patrick J. Cunningham/AP Images

Known For: Social Activist and Educator
Dates: Hijri 1352 – 1417 (AH)
Common Era 1934-1997 (CE)
Country: United States

About

Betty Shabazz was a prominent social activist, health professional, and educator. 

Betty Shabazz (born Betty Dean Sanders, later on known as Betty X) was raised in Detroit, Michigan by adoptive parents and attended the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. After two years in Alabama, Betty moved to New York to begin nursing school at Brooklyn State Hospital. It was during her time as a student there that Betty Shabazz met Malcolm X, the dynamic civil rights leader and Nation of Islam member. They married in 1958, two years after meeting.

In 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a speech in Harlem, New York, leaving Betty to raise their six daughters on her own.  Soon after her husband’s death Betty, returned to school and earned a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts in 1975.  She then began working as an administrator at Medgar Evers College, eventually overseeing the college’s Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Relations.

In addition to her work, Betty traveled extensively, speaking on racial equality and civil rights.   

Betty died in 1997 three weeks after suffering from third degree burns from a house fire set by her grandson, Malcolm.  More than 2,000 people attended her memorial service.

Sources

CNN: Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s widow

GALE Cengage Learning: Betty Shabazz

More Information

NY Times: Articles about Betty Shabazz
Jamie Foster Brown, Betty Shabazz: A Sisterfriends Tribute in Words and Pictures (Simon and Schuster, 1998).
Russell J. Rickford, Betty Shabazz, Surviving Malcolm X (Sourcebooks, Inc, 2005)

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.