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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Monica Ali

Known For: Author of Brick Lane
Dates: Common Era 1967 – Present (CE)
Country: United Kingdom

About

Monica Ali is the author of Brick Lane, the novel which brought international attention to the Bangladeshi immigrant experience in the UK.

Ali is the daughter of a Bangladeshi father and an English mother. Her family moved to the UK when she was three years old. She grew up in a poor area in Britain and later moved when she was accepted to Oxford University.  After graduating with degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, she worked in the fields of publishing and marketing. In 2003, after the birth of her second child, Ali began writing and published her first novel, Brick Lane.

Following publication, Ali was named one of the “20 best young British novelists” by the literary magazine, Granta, and the novel was shortlisted for the 2003 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. It was later made into a film and released in 2007. Her other work includes Alentejo Blue (2006) and In the Kitchen (2009).  Ali lives in southeast London with her husband and her two children.

Sources

Brick Lane’s reluctant queen of outrage

Monica Ali

Monica Ali

Videos

Brick Lane Trailer

More Information

Ali’s in wonderland

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women alphabetically by their first names. Many Muslim names have alternative spellings once rendered into English so if you cannot find the name you are looking for, please try the general search tab where you can enter keywords of your choice.
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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.