A History of Islam in 21 Women

Dr. Kamaly chooses an unusual framework for presenting the history of Islam. Beginning with the wife of Muhammad, he sketches the lives of 21 women who lived in various parts of the Islamic world from the Middle East to Asia, Africa to Turkey and India. The author acknowledges the pitfalls of his subject matter. For women predating the 20th century, there is more legend and hagiography than historical fact. Often birth and death dates are uncertain as well as birth places and given first names. As the author notes, many are famous because of whose husband, mother or daughter they are. Some, sold into slavery as little girls, claim notoriety and power from their position in a caliphate harem. At times the power evaporated after the death of a ruler and accession of a prince. In some cases, the "favored" wife ruled briefly.The author acknowledges that "... the situation of women in most contemporary Muslim majority countries today ...remains far from ideal." Practices like polygamy, the leverate and misogynist divorce laws stack the deck against Muslim females. The author recognizes that women are restricted in educational and professional opportunities as well as in the parameters of their social engagement. The author writes, "Society has changed," but he fails to elaborate or provide evidence on this pivotal point.Chapter 19 about Umm Kulthum, the renowned Egyptian singer, contains historial misinformation about the origins of the Six Day War of 1967. President Nassar closed the Straits of Tiran to the passage of Israeli shipping in 1950. The Israeli Government continued to petition to get the Straits open. In early June, Egypt formed military alliances with both Syria and Jordan and was amassing troops along the border with Israel. Nassar's bellicose rhetoric against Israel escalated. These factors promoted Israel to make a preemptive strike on its borders with Egypt, Jordan and Syria. The author writes that the attacks were unprovoked.Dr. Kamaly does provide end notes, although they are scanty. A very detailed bibliography is provided. There is an extensive list of suggested further readings.

The books stories about individual women across several timelines doesn’t really add up and form any connections. Often there are themes or at least a clear understanding of why the particular characters and people are chosen to be written about. I didn’t get that understanding in this book.