Dr. Amina Wadud<\/p><\/div>\n

Dr. Wadud wanted to be treated as any other guest. She insisted on participating in the group\u2019s normal agenda for the day. But it was not a normal day. The informal prayer lunch hosted an impassioned female scholar who provided participants with sound guidance. She asked questions, listened, and engaged students in a deepening conversation about Islam. She encouraged students to develop their own formula for Jummah. Students explained that the social engagement aspect of Jummah was an important way of community building but the second half of the prayer service did not work as well for them. They discussed how time was a factor in creating a more formal structure for Jummah which would allow participants to pray together regularly. Students were inspired to examine new possibilities for Jummah Prayer creatively and spiritually. Dr. Wadud recommended that they \u201cdeconstruct the rigidity of formula and create something unique\u2026create what the fore mothers will not live to see.\u201d She advised them to keep the conversations going around women leading prayers and use their time together as a \u201clearning circle.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the students present for Jummah attended the next day\u2019s events, which included a public panel consisting of Dr. Wadud and two renowned Muslim academics, Dr. Kecia Ali from Boston University and Dr. Saadia Yacoomb from Williams College. The panel discussed a historical trajectory of the Quran, higher level studies of Islamic tradition and Islamic history replete with female scholar activists from the 14<\/span>th<\/span> century. \u201cWhat did Allah intend for the woman\u2019s relationship with the Creator?” Dr. Wadud pondered. She acknowledged that young people are not accepting divisions perpetuated by tradition and that \u201chuman personhood with the Creator is outside of binary gender.\u201d Dr. Ali discussed an inclusive just theology that is \u201ccharacteristically modern not feminist\u201d in its conception, and Dr. Yacoomb offered that \u201creligion was a social construct\u2026all human knowledge is a construct,\u201d making it imperative to work across differences. The day was rounded out with a dynamic five-member student panel which grappled with Muslim student life on campus. Students, many of who attend the Jummah service, talked about complex cultural identity, halal dining versus the kosher line, Islamophobia, homophobia, and what it means to be a Muslim student at Smith.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the conference has ended, the ideas and intellectual thought stimulated the consciousness of students as they attempt to apply Dr. Wadud\u2019s advice to Jummah and other aspects of their College experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life has offered Jummah Prayer lunches since last spring. The prayer lunch alternates weekly between the Helen Hills Chapel sanctuary or Wright Hall Prayer Space (in the lower level of Wright Hall) on Fridays from 12:10-1 p.m. All are welcome! \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n