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Rather than writing as academics or apologetics, these women share their personal experiences as Muslims and as women…
…Living Islam Out Loud is a resource for both Muslims and non-Muslims to take a peek into the minds and lives of real Muslim women…
The themes that are woven throughout the stories and poems are not unique to Muslims, but affect all women on some level.
…the contributions of the various women in Living Islam Out Loud are important and timely. |
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Alex Kronemer, Writer and Documentary Film Producer |
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Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur is one of the most authentic American Muslim voices today. In Living Islam Out Loud, she has collected the thoughts, reflections, and stories of women like herself who are both American and Muslim and who are struggling in various ways to combine the two. It is a collection of diverse voices that are in turns compelling, heart wrenching, profound, and wise. It doesn’t matter what religion you are—even if you’re a Muslim—if you want to understand Islam better, or are seeking to broaden your idea of what it means to be an American, this book and the women in it will amaze and surprise you, and you’ll never look at Muslim women the same way again. |
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Tram Nguyen, Author of Colorlines |
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"The book neatly transcends the tired fixation with hijab and wastes little time responding to prevailing stereotypes and ignorance about Islam. Instead, the best work here takes on knotty internal debates, contributing to an honest and nuanced dialogue about topics that have been difficult to broach more widely in today’s climate of hyper-Islamophobia. Some of the more fascinating stories are about coming to maturity and learning tough lessons through failed relationships. Living Islam Out Loud achieves a likeable exuberance and lots of depth, as well as inspiration for the ever-evolving culture of Islam in America that holds a promise of reclaiming 'the face of the feminine divine.' ” |
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Living Islam Out Loud received a starred, boxed review with cover in the June 15 issue of Library Journal "Living Islam Out Loud is made up of disparate essays dedicated to topics like love, faith, and religion with contributions from Sarah El-Tantawi, who has appeared on Hardball, and Asra Nomani, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Some essays are passionate, while others are subdued, but all attempt to define female identity in the context of American and Muslim ties. As editor Abdul-Ghafur, a former chief executive of Azizah, a leading magazine for Muslim Women, notes, this identity reflects the continuum of Muslim women in the West--evolving, spiritual, and unique. Moving essays and poems cover marriage, religious beliefs, homosexuality, abuse, American cultural expectations, and religious ecstasy in the idiom of Islamic belief. All entail some element of spiritual transformation and provide a wonderfully satisfying read." |
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Tara Roberts, publisher of Fierce magazine |
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“Young American Muslim women are coming out in Living Islam Out Loud, and my heart swells with pride at this bold step in authentic self-expression. Not only do these writers uproot fast-held stereotypes about the women behind the veil, but their recorded testimonies will serve as a strong and enduring example to girls in generations to come about what it takes to craft a life that is true and uncompromising to one’s inner self.” |
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Muslim activist Abdul-Ghafur edits this book of essays and poems, all related to the experience of growing up Muslim and female in the United States. Two of the best and most absorbing essays come from African-American women: Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, who grew up in Harlem and became a successful corporate attorney and public servant, and Precious Rasheeda Muhammad, who describes her childhood in the Nation of Islam as a dynamic, educational experience...This anthology opens the door for other writers to explore the important and understudied topic of Muslim American women. |
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Aisha Sarwari of Naseeb.com |
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"I yearned to land a book that had women who thought clearly and enunciated their life with such insight that even those deaf to feminism could hear it. It came from the most unlikely place: From Muslim women living in America in the book… …They captivate an audience that has no sympathy for their voice and inspire empathy for their unique journeys.
It is undoubtedly through the reliance of this intellectual faculty that the women make Islam both a spiritual haven for all humans, especially those marginalized and in transition, and enable Islam in America be carried on smoothly by the next generation of men and women.” |
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Leila Ahmed, Professor of Women's Studies in Religion, Harvard Divinity School |
"Living Islam Out Loud... edited by Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur, includes the intimate, first-person accounts of 16 Muslim women aged 16 to 40. I am excited by what I read of it in advance — it will be available on August 15 — and I am delighted to recommend it here.”
- Krista's Recommended Reading, Krista's Journal
American Public Media - Speaking of Faith (public radio)
“These are exactly the kinds of women whose voices we need to hear - sharing their perspective and reflecting on exactly these kinds of issues.” |
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"LIOL is a must read. In over 30 years of studying Islam, I have never seen anything comparable to this unique anthology--especially regarding women and Islam in North America.” |
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Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Author, What's Right With Islam |
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“As women emerge in the global dialogue on spirituality and leadership, this anthology promises to be a significant contribution, presenting the best of the new generation of American Muslim women.” |
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Endorsements
