Summary: The role of women in Islam is a heated topic. On internet message boards, in college classrooms and on the street the mere mention of those two words ndash; women, Islam ndash; produces a strong reaction, both from those who see Islam as a force for equality and from those who see the religion as oppressive of women. March is Womenrsquo;s History Month in the United States and the next two weeks Muslim Voices is launching an occasional series exploring Women in Islam. Over the course of the series wersquo;ll learn about the experience of being female and Muslim from a wide array of sources ndash; including scholars, critics and Muslim women themselves. Today features Fort Wayne, Indiana, based Uzma Mirza. Mirza considers herself a thoroughly Westernized Muslim woman. In her roles as architect, artist and philanthropist Mirza says shersquo;s constantly trying to find her place in the world as well as reconcile her faith in Islam with her sense of self. Mirza says all of her work- her art, architecture and writing- is all woven to critique herself. She has been adamant about the existence of God since she was five years old ldquo;because thatrsquo;s the only thing that safeguards who I am. As not just a woman, not a Muslim woman, but a human being.rdquo; Mirza says that religion often has a tendency to be stagnant, but the prophets of Islam all talked about womenrsquo;s rights. ldquo;I believe todayrsquo;s Muslim men are hijacking Islam. Not even just Muslims ndash; non Muslims. And this problem is not a religious problem. Itrsquo;s a human problem.rdquo; ldquo;I stand for womenrsquo;s issues in the likeness of all prophets,rsquo; says Mirza. ldquo;The prophets are the only people in history that stood up for womenrsquo;s and menrsquo;s and the orphans and the elderly rights.rdquo;
