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.

  • By Category
  • By Name
  • By Century
  • By Country
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Asli Sancar

photo of Asli Sancar Author

Ayse Önal

no photo available Journalist

Bina Bektati

no photo available Journalist

Claire Alkouatli

photo of Claire Alkouatli Founder and Research & Development Manager, Enchanted Garden Child Enrichment Center

Dilshad D. Ali

photo of Dilshad D. Ali Editor, Beliefnet.com

Famile Arslan

photo of Famile Arslan Lawyer, Arslan Lawyers

Farida Nekzad

no photo available Journalist

Fatin Yousef Bundagji

no photo available Director of Women Empowerment & Research, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Horria Saihi

no photo available Award-winning Journalist

Irshad Manji

photo of Irshad Manji Feminist; Author; Activist

Jila Baniyaghoob

no photo available Freelance Iranian Reporter

Lamees El Hadidi

no photo available Executive Chief Officer, Al Alam Al Youm Newspaper

Lolwah Al-Faisal

no photo available Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees and General Supervisor, Effat College

Maha Akeel

photo of Maha Akeel Managing Editor of OIC Journal (Organization of the Islamic Conference)

Maha Alkhateeb

photo of Maha Alkhateeb Co-director, Peaceful Families Project

Mahdis Keshavarz

no photo available Principal, The Make Agency

Maliha Ahmed Alshehab

no photo available Board member, contributor to Al-Waref Institute; Activist

Manal Radwan

no photo available Assistant Director for Political and Congressional Affairs at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

Mona Eltahawy

photo of Mona Eltahawy Columnist and International Public speaker

Muna Abu-Sulayman

no photo available Executive Director of the Kingdom Foundation, Saudi Arabia

Nadia al-Sakkaf

photo of Nadia al-Sakkaf Editor in Chief of the Yemen Times

Rafiah Al-Talei

no photo available Journalist, Specializes in Civil Rights, Women's Issues & Politics

Rasha Hefzi

no photo available MD of Think N Link Cooperation

Rashida Manjoo

no photo available United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women

Razia Bhatti

no photo available Journalist

Rehab El-Bakry

no photo available Deputy Editor, Business Monthly, Egypt

Sadia Dehlvi

photo of Sadia Dehlvi Columnist

Saida Ramadan

no photo available Journalist

Salima Tlemcani

no photo available Algerian journalist

Samar Fatany

photo of Samar Fatany Chief Broadcaster, Radio Jeddah

Shabana Azmi

no photo available Acclaimed Indian actress and activist

Shahla Sherkat

no photo available Journalist

Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy

photo of Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy Executive Director - Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy and Associates

Sharifa Akhlas

no photo available Journalist

Somayya Jabarti

photo of Somayya Jabarti Managing Editor of Arab News

Sumi Khan

no photo available Journalist

Tasneem Ahmar

photo of Tasneem Ahmar Director of Uks Research Centre

Tawakul Karman

no photo available Chairwoman of Woman Journalists Without Chains

Wafa Amr

photo of Wafa Amr Journalist

Zainah Anwar

no photo available Malaysian women’s rights activist
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.