Zainab Alwani

Zainab Alwani is an Iraqi-American scholar, educator, and community advocate focused on Islamic law, gender justice, and family empowerment. She currently serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Islamic Education at the Collins College of Christian and Islamic Studies in Kentucky. In addition, she is the founder of the Alwani Institute, which works to support women’s religious and spiritual development within Islamic contexts. Born and raised in Sudan and Iraq, she earned a BA in Islamic Studies from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University and an MA and PhD from the International Islamic University Malaysia, specializing in Islamic law, family ethics, and women’s issues. She later taught Islamic jurisprudence and legal studies at Howard University’s Islamic Studies program in Washington, DC. Dr. Alwani has published extensively on women’s roles in Muslim societies, the Qur’an’s guidance for family life, and the interactions between Islamic tradition and modern gender norms. Her books include “Gender Equity in Islamic Family Law: Justice and Ethics in the Islamic Legal Tradition” and “Muslim Women and Shari‘a in North America.” These works have shaped academic and legal discourse on women’s rights in Islamic contexts. She has lectured globally at universities, mosques, and interfaith forums, addressing issues related to gender justice, ethical leadership, and community wellbeing. Through her teaching, writing, and public engagement, Zainab Alwani continues to influence both scholarly study and grassroots empowerment.