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Statement Against Abuse: The Female Scholars Network

Published

statement against abuse

{…يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّـٰمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ} 

{You who believe, uphold justice and bear witness to God, even if it is against yourselves…} (4:135)

We, a network of Muslim women scholars, teachers, and da’iyas, are horrified by recent criminal allegations that have come to light against a prominent Qur’an teacher. We are appalled and angered by this allegation as well as the instances of abuse in our community’s recent history where the perpetrators have faced few consequences and little accountability.

We stand in solidarity with victims, survivors, and community members as they speak out, seek justice, and heal. There is much work to be done in addressing the cultures and behaviors that enable the abuse of vulnerable people. We pledge to our communities that we will stand firmly against all forms of abuse and participate in creating effective safeguards for all, especially women and children. We also promise to do our best to build communities of goodness and justice in order to resist and repair the effects of abuse in all its forms.

It is the responsibility of religious leaders to address and strongly condemn any and all abuse – spiritual, sexual, physical, emotional, and financial – especially when the perpetrator is in a position of power or influence. A reticence on the part of religious leaders to do so and an unacceptable societal tendency to blame victims of abuse have led to a sense of impunity among perpetrators, the serial retraumatizing of survivors, and feelings of abandonment and betrayal among women. This silence and enabling must end.

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We will be issuing a formal statement along with a list of resources for victims and communities in the coming days insha’Allah.

Signed:

The Female Scholars Network

  1. Ustadha Aamenah Patel, UK
  2. Anse Afshan Malik, USA 
  3. Ustadha Aisha Hussain Rasheed, Maldives / Malaysia 
  4. Ustadha Alia Dada, USA
  5. Ustadha Alima Ashfaq, UK
  6. Ustadha Amal Abdifatah, USA
  7. Ustadha Dr. Amina Darwish, USA
  8. Ustadha Amina Mujela-Botic, Bosnia and Herzegovina 
  9. Ustadha Arzoo Ahmed, UK
  10. Ustadha Dur-e-Nayyab Khan, UK / Pakistan
  11. Ustadha Faduma Warsame, USA
  12. Ustadha Fadwa Silmi, USA
  13. Anse Fadiyah Mian, USA
  14. Ustadha Fatima Patel, UK
  15. Dr. Hadia Mubarak, USA
  16. Ustadha Hafsah Sayeed, UK
  17. Sh. Dr. Haifaa Younis, USA
  18. Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi, USA
  19. Dr. Huda Waraich, UK
  20. Sh Ieasha Prime, USA
  21. Ustadha Imaan Barday, UK
  22. Dr. Ingrid Mattson, USA
  23. Ustadha Dr. Jinan Yousef
  24. Ustadha Kaltun Karani, USA
  25. Dr Khadijah Elshayyal, UK 
  26. Ust. Lobna Mulla, USA
  27. Ustadha Louma Sebai, USA
  28. Dr. Mariam Sheibani, USA
  29. Ustadha Marjaan Ali, USA
  30. Ustadha Maryam Amir, USA
  31. Ustadha Maryam Bint Khalisadar, USA
  32. Sh. Muslema Purmul, USA
  33. Ustadha Najiyah Maxfield, USA
  34. Muftiyyah Nasima Umm Hamza, UK
  35. Ustadha Noura Shamma, USA
  36. Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil, Singapore/Malaysia
  37. Sh. Dr. Rania Awaad, USA
  38. Ustadha Rashida Esakjee, UK
  39. Ustadha Reem Shaikh, USA 
  40. Ustadha Rehana Meer, UK
  41. Ustadha Dr. Saadia Mian MD (USA)
  42. Ustadha Sadia Abdul Sattar, USA
  43. Ustadha Sophia Khan, USA
  44. Ustadha Razia Hamidi, Canada
  45. Ustadha Rumaysa Sidat, UK
  46. Ustadha Romessa Mirza, USA
  47. Ustadha Saira Master, UK
  48. Ustadha Safiyya Dhorat, UK
  49. Dr. Sameera Ahmed, USA
  50. Ustadha Sarah Ahmed (USA)
  51. Ustadha Sana Mohiuddin, USA
  52. Ustadha Shazia Shamshad Ahmad (USA)
  53. Ustadha Sheam Khan (UK)
  54. Ustadha Sumaiyah Saleem, UK
  55. Ustadha Suzane Derani, USA
  56. Sh. Dr. Tamara Gray USA
  57. Ustadha Taimiyyah Zubair, Canada
  58. Umm Ayyoub, UK
  59. Umm Hasan bint Salim, UK
  60. Sh. Umm Jamaal ud-Din, AUS
  61. Ustadha Umm Maryam, UK
  62. Yusairah Batan, UK
  63. Ustadha Zahida Suleman, UK
  64. Dr. Zainab Alwani,  USA 
  65. Zainab bint Younus, Canada
  66. Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, USA
  67. Sh. Zehra Hazratji, USA

With support from the following scholars:

  1. Sh Abdullah Anik Misra (Islamic Society of Orange County, Southern California, USA)
  2. Abdirahman Kariye (Imam of Dar Al-Farooq Center in Minnesota, USA)
  3. Sh. Abd Alfatah Twakkal (Al-Ghazali Centre; London Council of Imams, Canada)
  4. Imam Adam Jamal (Muslim Association of Puget Sound, WA, USA)
  5. Imam Adeel J. Zeb, USA
  6. Imam Adeyinka Mendes (Marhama Village, Houston, Texas)
  7. Shaykh Alauddin Elbakri (Tawasaw Institute, USA)
  8. Ustadha Afshan Syeda, USA
  9. Imam Asad Patel (Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte, NC)
  10. Ustadha Asiya Shaikh, USA
  11. Imam Atif Chaudhry (Rahma Center of Charlotte, NC)
  12. Imam Bilal Elsakka, USA
  13. Ustadha Dana Nass, USA
  14. Imam Daniel Hernandez (Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley)
  15. Anse Eamaan Rabbat, USA
  16. Anse Emmanuelle (Eman) Manigat, Canada
  17. Anse Dr Farhana Yunus, USA
  18. Ustadha Farheen Farooq, USA
  19. Imam Fawad Kalsi (Calgary, Canada)
  20. Shaykh Hammadur Rahman Fahim, UK
  21. Ustadha Hazel Gomez, USA
  22. Anse Heather Elsayed (USA0
  23. Dr. Jamillah Karim, Dallas, TX
  24. Dr. Jasser Auda
  25. Ustazah Khadijah Monica Dingjan, The Netherlands / Malaysia
  26. Anse Maha Gaafar, USA
  27. Anse Marah Dahman, USA
  28. Anse Marlene Poulin, USA
  29. Dr. Michael Dann, Tayseer Seminary
  30. Anse Michelle Sekusky, USA
  31. Sh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith (Dallas, Texas) 
  32. Mufti Moinul Abu Hamza, UK
  33. Sh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, UK
  34. Dr Norainee Kamaruddin, Malaysia
  35. Dr. Ovamir Anjum, USA
  36. Sh Rami Nsour, USA
  37. Ustadha Roohi Tahir, USA 
  38. Aalimah Sabah Memon, USA
  39. Anse Samia Uddin, USA
  40. Sh Samir Hussain (Fahm Education, Canada)
  41. Ustadha Sakina Syeda, USA
  42. Shaykha Saleha Bukhari, UK
  43. Ustadha Shahidah Sharif, USA
  44. Imam Shuaib Mansoori (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)
  45. Ustadha Sobia Ahmed, USA
  46. Chaplain Sondos Kholaki, USA
  47. Anse Soofia Ahmed, USA
  48. Imam Suhaib Webb, USA
  49. Sh Suhail Mulla, Khalil Center (Los Angeles)
  50. Sh Umer Khan, Fiqh Council of North America
  51. Shaykh Uthman Khan (Academic Dean, Critical Loyalty)
  52. Ustadha Zeba Syeda, USA
  53. Dr Zohair Abdul-Rahman, Faith Circle Academy, Brisbane AUS

 

Related:

MuslimMatters Official Statement On Wisam Sharieff

What Do I Do When I Find Out My Favorite Preacher Is Corrupt?

A Code of Conduct To Protect Against Spiritual Abuse

Who Can We Trust?

Blurred Lines: Women, “Celebrity” Shaykhs, and Spiritual Abuse

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Anonymous

    November 9, 2024 at 10:55 AM

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