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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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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Nabila Freidji

photo of Nabila Freidji CEO, Cash One

Nadia al-Sakkaf

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

Nadia Malik

photo of Nadia Malik Board Member/Treasurer, Muslim Women’s Fund

Nadira Mirza

photo of Nadira Mirza Dean, School of Lifelong Education and Development; Director of Access, Public, and Community Engagement

Naela Quadri

no photo available Conscience promoter and member of the Democratic woman association, Balochistan

Nafis Sadik

photo of Nafis Sadik Special Advisor to UN Secretary General

Nageen Hyat

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

Nahida Mahboob Ellahi

photo of Nahida Mahboob Ellahi Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Najah Amro

photo of Najah Amro Head of Research and Islamic Jurisprudence, Office of Chief Justice of Shariah Court

Najia Elboudali

no photo available President of the Association Synergie Civique in Morocco

Nana Asma’u

photo of Nana Asma’u Poet, Scholar

Nani Zulminarni

photo of Nani Zulminarni National Coordinator, PEKKA (Women-headed Household Empowerment)

Nathalie Handal

no photo available Poet and playwright

Naveeda Ikram

no photo available First Muslim Woman to be a Lord Mayor in the UK

Nawal El Saadawi

photo of Nawal El Saadawi Novelist

Nawal El Moutawakel

photo of Nawal El Moutawakel Olympic Athlete

Nawal Haddadin

no photo available General Secretary at the Arab Women Organization of Jordan

Naziema Jappie

no photo available Women’s rights activist; Executive Director: Advancement, Durban University of Technology

Nazira Moosa

no photo available Business Development Director, Motlekar Holdings

Nazli Kayahan

photo of Nazli Kayahan Board Member, Turkish Women’s Cultural Association Istanbul

Ndeye Andujar

photo of Ndeye Andujar Co-founder and Vice-President, Junta Islamica Catalana

Necva Solak

no photo available Attorney, Shura Council Member

Nese Tas

photo of Nese Tas Board Member, TURKKAD; Board Member, Nefas Publishing

Nevin Reda

photo of Nevin Reda Shura Council Member

Nigar Babayeva

no photo available Ph.D. candidate, Marmara University

Nimah Ismail Nawwab

photo of Nimah Ismail Nawwab Poet, Writer, Photographer, Activist

Nisreen Haj Ahmad

no photo available Senior Academic Manager, The Columbia University Middle East Research Center

Noor Inayat Khan

no photo available British Secret Agent during World War II

Norhayati Kaprawi

photo of Norhayati Kaprawi Muslim Woman Activist

Nur Jahan

no photo available Empress of the Mughal India

Nurah Amatullah

photo of Nurah Amatullah Manuscript librarian in the Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Books Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Nurbanu Sultan

no photo available One of the First Great Valide Sultans

Nurbibi Hassanali Shermohamed

no photo available Activist for HIV positive Muslim women seeking treatment

Nurjannah Ismail

photo of Nurjannah Ismail Lecturer, Faculty of Letter, State Institute for Islamic Studies (IAIN) Ar-Raniry

Nursuna Memecan

photo of Nursuna Memecan Member of Turkish Parliament

Nusayba bint Ka’b al-Ansariyah

no photo available Early convert to Islam, first female to fight in defense of Islam

Nuzhat Jafri

photo of Nuzhat Jafri Executive Director, Office of the Fairness Commission (Ontario)

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.