Resources WISE Compact: English

We, the women of WISE (Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality), declare gender equality to be an intrinsic part of the Islamic faith. As Muslims, we affirm our conviction that the Muslim woman is worthy of respect and dignity, that as a legal individual, spiritual being, social person, responsible agent, free citizen, and servant of God, she holds fundamentally equal rights to exercise her abilities and talents in all areas of human activity. Furthermore, we insist that these rights are embedded within the Qur’an and six objectives of Shari’a—the protection and promotion of religion (al-din), life (al-nafs), mind (al-‘aql), family (al-nasl), wealth (al-mal), and dignity (al-‘ird).

As WISE women, we embrace our collective and individual responsibility to work towards building a unified change movement of Muslim women – driven by compassion and justice – that will enable Muslim women to realize their full potential as individuals and in relationship to family, community, nation, and globe. We assert our active commitment to the following principles:

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting religion.

By fostering Muslim women’s spiritual growth.
By advancing Muslim women’s positions as religious and spiritual authorities.

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting life.

By promoting the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health of Muslim women..
By eliminating violence against Muslim women.

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting the mind.

By advancing Muslim women’s intellect at all levels of education and society.
By defending Muslim women’s freedom to interpret, think, and express, especially concerning Islam’s primary texts.
By promoting Muslim women’s rights to pursue their talents.

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting the family.

By empowering Muslim women to choose their marriage partners.
By ensuring that a basic quality of life and education is the right of all children.

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting the right to wealth.

By supporting Muslim women’s financial independence and access to material assets.

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting dignity.

By empowering Muslim women to make dignified personal, familial, and career choices.
By promoting Muslim women’s human rights from an Islamic perspective.