A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women

Al-Huda is a movement of Islamic education and reform with a dedicated female following in Pakistani cities. Its founder and leader is a woman, Dr. Farhat Hashmi, who has become a well-known public figure in Pakistan. This paper explores how Hashmi derives her authority, displays it, and defends it...

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Main Author: Faiza Mushtaq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud 2018-04-01
Series:South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3030
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author Faiza Mushtaq
author_facet Faiza Mushtaq
author_sort Faiza Mushtaq
collection DOAJ
description Al-Huda is a movement of Islamic education and reform with a dedicated female following in Pakistani cities. Its founder and leader is a woman, Dr. Farhat Hashmi, who has become a well-known public figure in Pakistan. This paper explores how Hashmi derives her authority, displays it, and defends it against challenges. Women who become active participants in her classes claim she transforms their understanding of Islam and inspires them to change their lives. However she is criticized by the secular-liberal elites of the country and by the traditional male leadership of Islamic institutions, who question her religious expertise and are uncomfortable with the role of both gender and class in this movement. This analysis highlights the collective interactions and organizational innovations through which Hashmi’s teachings acquire an authoritative status for selected women.
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publisher Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud
record_format Article
series South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
spelling doaj-art-efedf1596a9f4feeb8805da0455fc1dd2025-08-20T01:55:08ZengCentre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du SudSouth Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal1960-60602018-04-01410.4000/samaj.3030A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani WomenFaiza MushtaqAl-Huda is a movement of Islamic education and reform with a dedicated female following in Pakistani cities. Its founder and leader is a woman, Dr. Farhat Hashmi, who has become a well-known public figure in Pakistan. This paper explores how Hashmi derives her authority, displays it, and defends it against challenges. Women who become active participants in her classes claim she transforms their understanding of Islam and inspires them to change their lives. However she is criticized by the secular-liberal elites of the country and by the traditional male leadership of Islamic institutions, who question her religious expertise and are uncomfortable with the role of both gender and class in this movement. This analysis highlights the collective interactions and organizational innovations through which Hashmi’s teachings acquire an authoritative status for selected women.https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3030Islamreligious authorityeducationorganizationgenderPakistan
spellingShingle Faiza Mushtaq
A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
Islam
religious authority
education
organization
gender
Pakistan
title A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
title_full A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
title_fullStr A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
title_full_unstemmed A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
title_short A Controversial Role Model for Pakistani Women
title_sort controversial role model for pakistani women
topic Islam
religious authority
education
organization
gender
Pakistan
url https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3030
work_keys_str_mv AT faizamushtaq acontroversialrolemodelforpakistaniwomen
AT faizamushtaq controversialrolemodelforpakistaniwomen