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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Afra Jalabi

photo of Afra Jalabi Columnist for the Saudi daily Al Yaum and WISE Shura Council Member

Aishah Shahidah Simmons

photo of Aishah Shahidah Simmons President / Documentary Filmmaker / Lecturer, AfroLez® Productions, LLC

Asma Jamil Sadiq

photo of Asma Jamil Sadiq Director of Child Development at the Beth Israel Medical Center/Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein School

Assia Djebar

no photo available Writer, Filmmaker

Atiqa Odho

photo of Atiqa Odho Media personality, CEO of Odho Productions and Odho Cosmetics

Ayesha Mattu

photo of Ayesha Mattu Writer, Photographer, Philanthropy Consultant, and Board Member of the Muslim Women's Fund

Aylin Aykan

photo of Aylin Aykan Pianist and Composer

Azizah Kahera

photo of Azizah Kahera Chief Operation Officer, Azizah Magazine

Betul Yilmaz

photo of Betul Yilmaz Cofounder, Muslim Voices

Bina Sharif

photo of Bina Sharif Playwright and Artist

Chaiba Tallal

photo of Chaiba Tallal World Renowned Painter

Christian Mallika Dutt

no photo available Executive Director, Breakthrough: Bringing Human Rights Home

Deeyah

no photo available Singer and Activist

Dina Zaman

photo of Dina Zaman Writer, Media personality, and public relations consultant

Esma Sultana

no photo available Princess of the Ottoman Empire

Farkondeh Keyhani

no photo available Senior Television Producer and President of Eghlime Noor Institute

Fatima al-Fihri

no photo available Founded the University of Qarawiyyin, the oldest degree-granting university in operation.

Gail Lloyd

photo of Gail Lloyd Independent filmmaker, AfroLez® Productions, LLC

Gulbadan Banu Begum

no photo available Author of the Humuyanama

Halide Edib Adivar

photo of Halide Edib Adivar Novelist, Professor, Women’s Activist

Halide Edip Adivar

no photo available Turkish Feminist and Author

Hammasa Kohistani

no photo available Crowned Miss England

Hassiba Boulmerka

photo of Hassiba Boulmerka The first Algerian to win an Olympic medal

Heba Amin

photo of Heba Amin Artist

Heba Metwally

photo of Heba Metwally Researcher/ English translator/media specialist at the State Information Service

Hissa Hilal

no photo available Poet, Editor

Imane Karich

no photo available General Secretary of the CEREI, Financial Analyst, writer focusing on finance and business

Jennifer Heath

photo of Jennifer Heath Scholar, curator, writer and editor

Lama Al-Sulaiman

no photo available President, Khadijah bint Khuwalid Center for Businesswomen

Maha Fetayhi

no photo available Former UAE Minister of Economy and Planning; Businesswoman

Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva

photo of Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva Author/Journalist

Masouda Jalal

no photo available Politician, Physician, Professor, and UN Employee

Monica Ali

no photo available Author of Brick Lane

Mumtaz Mahal

no photo available Inspiration for the Taj Mahal

Nageen Hyat

photo of Nageen Hyat Rights Activist and Curator/Founder-Director of the Nomad Gallery

Nawal El Moutawakel

photo of Nawal El Moutawakel Olympic Athlete

Nimah Nawwab

photo of Nimah Nawwab Poet, Writer, Photographer, Activist

Pamela Taylor

photo of Pamela Taylor Co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein

photo of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein Equestrian, Olympic Athlete, Olympic Flag Bearer, Philanthropist

Rabia Terri Harris

photo of Rabia Terri Harris Founder/Director of Muslim Peace Fellowship and Resident Elder at Dar Anwar as-Salam

Rabia Zargarpur

no photo available Fashion Designer

Raheel Raza

no photo available Interfaith & Intercultural Diversity Consultant; Author and Speaker

Reem al-Faisal

no photo available Photographer

Rohema Miah

photo of Rohema Miah Director, Whitepaper Consultants

Saadia Boussana

photo of Saadia Boussana Head of PR and Communications at My Woman Magazine

Sajida Amin-Sabjee Khan

photo of Sajida Amin-Sabjee Khan Educator/Artist/Activist

Sarah Mendly

no photo available First Muslim to Enter & Win, Miss Nottingham Pageant; Participant, Miss England Beauty Contest

Shadi Ghadirian

no photo available One of Iran’s leading contemporary photographers

Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

no photo available Author of “Love in a Headscarf”

Shirin Neshat

no photo available Artist

Sumbul Ali-Karamali

photo of Sumbul Ali-Karamali Lawyer; Writer; WISE Shura Council Member

Tayyibah Taylor

photo of Tayyibah Taylor Founding Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Azizah Magazine, WISE Shura Council Member

Umm Kulthum

photo of Umm Kulthum The Arab World’s Most Famous Singer

Zainab Salbi

no photo available Co-Founder, CEO of Women for Women International

Zebunnisa

no photo available Sufi Princess of the Mughals

Zeynep Fadillioglu

no photo available First woman in Turkey to design and build a mosque
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.