ALF MUSLIMAH The Muslim women encyclopedia
The Alf Muslimah initiative aims to build a collection of one thousand Muslim female figures beyond what can be found in history books.
We invite scholars, researchers, and experts to support us in building the encyclopedia through contributions that cross disciplinary boundaries, combine traditional and creative methodologies, and highlight models of leadership that are often overlooked in studies about the Muslim world.
In line with our focus areas, we will prioritize entries that address a public audience while maintaining the standards of scholarly and academic rigor.
How to participate
To participate, simply follow these guidelines.
- Select a figure from the recommended list of female figures or a similar example from your region or area of expertise.
- Try to identify figures who are relatively lesser known among a general Muslim audience (i.e., not from the first three generations of Islam). Living figures will be accepted only in exceptional cases.
- Specify whether you have carried out academic-level research on the proposed figures (highly recommended).
- Provide a 250-word abstract, an outline of the entry, and a bibliography.
- Include one image, graphic, or photography that is relevant to the entry.
- Submit (upon acceptance of the proposal) an entry between 1,000-2,000 words within a one-month period, beginning from the contracted date.
What we are looking for
Alf Muslimah seeks to move beyond the typical format of biographical entries to delve deeper into the lives of Muslim female figures. We encourage entries that uphold the following general standards.
- Highlight figures across professional fields alongside their caregiving roles.
- Reflect examples from across the diverse contexts of the Islamic world.
- Focus on the most significant contributions and models of leadership.
- Identify gaps in how the narratives are historically recorded and modified.
- Examine if these figures relate to other women within shared networks.
- Prioritize the figures’ own views and ideas to establish a direct connection.
- Assess the real-world impact of these figures across historical periods.
- Evaluate the relevance of these figures to contemporary or future contexts.
- Ensure entries are clear and accessible to audiences outside academia.
- Provide an image that depicts the most important aspect of the figures’ legacy.
Submit an entry
Authors can submit up to three proposals in Arabic or English.
A $400 honorarium will be awarded upon timely completion of all editorial reviews.
