Born with Wings: The Spiritual Journey of a Modern Muslim Woman

Khan, founder of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality, passionately tells her singular life story in this fine memoir. Destined, according to her family, to “climb the sky,” Khan writes of her early years in a vibrant household in Kashmir and later moving to New York City, where she became a pioneering reformer, campaigner for women’s rights, and advocate for peace and equality. She explores her advocacy for cross-cultural dialogue and pursuit of equal rights for Muslim communities within Western countries by explaining her responses to such events as the Salman Rushdie fatwa, conflicts in Bosnia, the 9/11 attacks, and the so-called “Ground Zero mosque controversy,” in which she played a major role as the wife of the mosque’s imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf. Khan also highlights other women, such as Queen Rania of Jordan, the members of the Muslim Feminist Artists Collective, and Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, for their work in advancing the cause of justice along with their spiritual commitments. Readers will be entranced as they see Khan’s persistent fight for peaceful dialogue in a world sometimes torn apart by religious conflict and misunderstanding. Khan’s fantastic memoir is a testament to courage and resilience as well as an important chapter in the story of American Muslims and women of faith. [em](Apr.) [/em]