Written by Laury Silvers
Sunday, 19 March 2006

In honor of Amina Wadud's woman-led congregational mixed-gender prayer last year in New York City we are going to do an odd thing. We are posting a link to an essay that is an attack against Wadud, woman-led prayer, the Progressive movement, and Islamic feminism.

The best way to honor Wadud's prayer is to know the nature of the struggle.

Gabriel F. Haddad's article is comprehensive in his use of traditional authorities and arguments. It also mischaracterizes Wadud's work and the methods and goals of the Progressive movement in some significant ways. I'll let the article speak for itself for a week, then I will post a brief response. I believe some differences of agreement will be irresolvable. But I also believe there is common ground between Progressives and the most conservative traditionalists. Perhaps there will be no common ground with Haddad himself, but God knows best. I read once the best way to deal with anger towards someone is to pray for him or her. I've got a lot of praying to do. How is this for a start: May God help Haddad and I come to find some common ground in support of one another over female authority in Islam. Amin.

Please click through to a pdf of Gabriel F. Haddad's An Innovation of Misguidance: Amina Wadud's Unenlightened Feminism.

With Peace and solidarity, Laury Silvers