About Us
Founder's Message
"Women are, and continue to be, the cornerstone of society. Their impact throughout history has been powerful and significant, and their legacy continues, as witnessed by the many female leaders among us today. I founded Al-Mujadilah to nurture the next generation of Muslim women. I envision it to be a beacon for the women in our society and beyond to explore, dialogue and contemplate. I pray that they find in Al-Mujadilah a place they can speak candidly, build communities and discover new horizons."
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
Founder of Al-Mujadilah, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation
Welcome Message from Executive Director
Dr. Sohaira Zahid Siddiqui
We live in a complex and dynamic world which is continuously being reshaped by new ideas, technologies and ways of living. And while individuals have more access to one another and sources of knowledge than has ever been the case historically, the slow fracturing of communities has led to the rise of loneliness and individualism on the one hand, and misunderstandings and misconceptions on the other.
In these challenging times, communities of faith are essential to fostering cohesion between societies and helping individuals navigate increasingly complex social questions. To do so, however, requires the creation of new frameworks and brave spaces where these conversations can unfold in a meaningful and religiously informed way. This is not the task for a single individual, or a single institution; rather, it is the task for communities to undertake.
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Al-Mujadilah seeks to create one such community grounded in the lived realities of Muslim women, relevant research and thoughtful programming. Al-Mujadilah aims to be a destination where Muslim women can gather, debate, and dialogue with one another in pursuit of a community of learning, exchange, and growth. While within this community we seek to uplift one another as women, our transformational mission extends beyond those who visit us.
Through our research, programming and outreach initiatives, we seek to foster a Muslim society where all women are engaged, their participation and contributions acknowledged and recognized, and their concerns and perspectives shape contemporary Muslim thought and open public discourse.
We invite you to not simply join our programming and explore our research, but to become a part of our community and our mission.
Welcome to Al-Mujadilah. For Community. For Women. For You.
Leadership
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), founded Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women, which launched in January 2024. Inspired by the Qur’anic story of Khawlah bint Tha’alabh in Surah Al-Mujadilah and the traditional role of the mosque as the axis of society, Her Highness envisioned a comprehensive space for Muslim women to worship, study, and engage in dialogue together.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza served as the Vice Chair of the Supreme Council of Health from 2009 to 2014, and as Vice Chair of the Supreme Education Council from 2006 to 2012, where she helped institute top-down reforms of Qatar’s public schools and healthcare system. She chairs Sidra Medicine, a leading training and research hospital which specializes in women and children’s care, and Msheireb Properties, Qatar’s leading sustainable real estate company. It is a subsidiary of QF, and the owner and developer behind one of the smartest and most sustainable city districts in the world, Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza works with the United Nations to support global education and other key areas of development for marginalized children and youth. From 2003 until 2023, she held the role of UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, launching multiple projects including the International Fund for Higher Education in Iraq, and in 2016 she was appointed as an Advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She is also the founder of Education Above All and Silatech – initiatives aimed at promoting equal access to education and tackling youth unemployment.
Her Highness’ honours include the Georgetown University President’s Medal, the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, and the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service. In 2009, she was inducted into the Academie des Beaux Arts de l’Institut de France. In 2007, she was presented with the prestigious Chatham House Award for her contribution to improving international relations.
Her Highness holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy in Islam from Hamad bin Khalifa University’s Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, and graduated from Qatar University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui
Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui is a scholar, strategist, and institutional leader working at the intersection of knowledge, community, and transformation. For over two decades, she has built and strengthened educational and religious institutions that reimagine how Muslims learn, lead, and engage with the world. As the founding Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah: Center and Mosque for Women, an initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Dr. Siddiqui has led the Center from concept to global recognition. Under her direction, Al-Mujadilah has launched more than 200 programs, established a global research network of over 100 Muslim female scholars and practitioners, and built local and international partnerships that advance accessible scholarship and capacity building. Through her leadership, Al-Mujadilah has become a pioneering institution shaping contemporary conversations on Muslim women’s religious education, authority, and participation. In parallel, Dr. Siddiqui serves as Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at Georgetown University in Qatar, where she researches and teaches on Islamic law, political thought, and their intersections with gender and modernity. She is the author of three books: Islamic Law on Trial (2025), Locating the Sharia (2009), and Law and Politics Under the Abbasids (2009). She is currently editing The Cambridge Companion to Islamic Law and writing her fifth book. Dr. Siddiqui has also written over three dozen academic and public pieces of scholarship, advancing nuanced understandings of Islamic law, colonialism, and Muslim societies. Beyond Al-Mujadilah and academia, she plays a leading role in institutional development and governance, serving on numerous boards and advising Muslim organizations globally. Her work is driven by a vision to build institutions that unite intellectual excellence, ethical leadership, and transformative community engagement.
H.E. Buthaina Al Nuaimi
Was appointed Minister of Social Development and Family in November 2024. Previously, HE Al Nuaimi served as the Minister of Education and Higher Education from October 2021 until November 2024.
Her professional career includes a wealth of experience in the field of education. Within Qatar Foundation, HE Al Nuaimi served as President of Pre-University Education from 2016 to 2021. During her presidency, HE Al Nuaimi played a key role in developing innovative programs, and establishing specialised schools and centers.
HE Al Nuaimi holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris and a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Education, with a major in English, from Qatar University.
H.E. Lolwah Al-Khater
Has held numerous leadership positions throughout her distinguished career. She was appointed as the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 2018 and later as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2019, concurrently serving as MOFA spokesperson. In 2023, she was named Minister of State for International Cooperation. Currently, she serves as the Minister of Education and Higher Education.
Before assuming her current position, Her Excellency held the role of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also served as Director of Planning and Quality at the Qatar Tourism Authority and Director of Research Projects at Qatar Foundation. Beyond her official duties, Her Excellency serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Media City. In addition, she served as Executive Director of the Doha Forum from 2018 to 2023.
Her Excellency actively contributes to the academic and cultural sectors through her membership on the Board of Trustees of Qatar University, the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Georgetown University in Qatar, and Qatar Museums. In addition, she sits on the boards of Teach For Qatar, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and QatarDebate, and co-chairs the Qatar Career Development Center. Her engagement with academia extends further – she has lectured at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, is a Research Associate at the Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and is a board member of the Institute for Palestine Studies. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and is Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Qatar Academy Al Wakra. She is also the Chairperson of the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.
As an independent public policy analyst, Her Excellency co-edited “Policy-Making in a Transformative State: The Case of Qatar”, published by Palgrave Macmillan, and authored “Educational Outputs and Labor Market Needs: A Study on Labor Market Issues and Methods of Addressing Them”, published by the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Her Excellency holds two master’s degrees – one in computer science and the other in public policy. Her research interests include Islam, modernity, and public policy development.
Eng. Saad Al Mohannadi
A Lifetime Member of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Board of Directors and a Member of its Board of Trustees since joining in 1995.
He was entrusted by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Founder of Al-Mujadilah, to play an instrumental role in executing her vision for the Center, serving as the technical arm of the project during its foundational stages.
In 2013, he was appointed by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as President of QF, a position he held until 2016, in recognition of his dedication and commitment to advancing QF’s mission.
Throughout his career, he has overseen the planning, design, construction, and critical infrastructure at QF’s Education City. Eng. Al Mohannadi’s portfolio also includes working on other major QF projects, such as Al Shaqab and Qatar Science & Technology Park.
Eng. Al Mohannadi holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Miami, U.S.
Dr. Aisha Al Mannai
The Director of Muhammad bin Hamad Al-Thani Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization at the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation. Previously, Prof. Dr. Al Mannai served as Dean of the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU from 2016 to 2017, and Dean of the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University.
In addition to her roles within academia, Prof. Dr. Al Mannai has also been active in the field of public service. In 2017, she was among four women appointed to the Shura Council for the first time in the legislative body's history, and has also represented Qatar in the Arab Parliament for 15 years. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID).
Prof. Dr. Al Mannai holds a PhD and Master's Degree in Creed and Islamic Philosophy from Al Azhar University, Egypt. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Shari’ah from Qatar University.
Dr. Recep Şentürk
The Dean of the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation. Previously, he was the Founding President of Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, from 2017 to 2021. Other previous positions include Professor of Sociology at Ibn Haldun University and Visiting Scholar at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Dr. Şentürk is also the founder of the Center for Excellence in Education (EDEP). EDEP is an educational institution, offering programs for female university students in classical Islamic disciplines and social sciences, following the traditional Islamic curriculum. He is also founder of the Alliance of Civilizations Institute in Istanbul, and Usul Academy, which offers online Arabic and Islamic education from a comparative, rooted and contemporary perspective.
Dr. Şentürk holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Sociology from Columbia University in New York. He specializes in civilization studies and Islamic Studies with a focus on social networks, human rights, and modernization in the Muslim world. He has published numerous works in English, Turkish, and Arabic, which have been translated to such languages as French, Japanese, Malayalam, Urdu, and Spanish.
Dr. Bothaina Al Abdelghani
A leading figure in social, charitable, educational, and administrative fields.
Her leadership extends across several institutions as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Hadarah Foundation, Qitaf Educational Company, Al Khaleej Al Raed Management Training Center, and the Abdullah Abdulghani Center for Quranic Studies. She is also the founder and General Manager of Amjad International Academy.
Dr. Bothaina is recognized for her efforts in promoting cultural dialogue between Arab, Islamic, and European communities, serving as a board member of the Museum of Islamic Civilizations in Switzerland. She places particular emphasis on women’s issues, inspiring many through her contemporary intellectual contributions rooted in Islamic thought.
She holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Economics from the European Institute of Human Sciences in Paris and a Master’s degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies.
Her pioneering work has earned her prestigious accolades, including the Gulf Cooperation Council Award for Voluntary and Social Work and the Teacher’s Day Award from Sheikha Fatima bint Rashid Al Nahyan.
Dr. Jasem Al Mutawa
An educational and social expert, and former judge with over 40 years of experience in combining religious teachings and contemporary knowledge.
His expertise support families adopt best parenting practices, navigate conflict resolution challenges at home, and establish effective communication. This experience is demonstrated through his academic research, training sessions, media programs, conference participation, and publications that exceed 30 books on family and education. His writings have been translated into several languages, including French, Chinese, and Farsi.
Dr Al Mutawa has established various digital platforms offering counselling services in the areas of family life and education, and topics such as success in secure marriages. He was recognized by Microsoft for his innovative use of new technologies and his leadership in this area.
Dr. Ali Al Sanad
Assistant Professor in the Department of Islamic Studies, College of Basic Education, at The Public Authority For Applied Education & Training in Kuwait.
His extensive experience is evident in his research contributions, which have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, his active participation in dialogues and specialized scientific committees, and in the courses he offers on the topics of influence, effective speech, and debate.
Dr. Al Sanad’s contributions in media are highlighted by articles published in numerous Kuwaiti and Gulf newspapers, as well as programs presented on Arab satellite channels, such as ‘Wathiyabaka fatahhir’ and ‘Milad’ on Al-Resalah and Rotana Khalejia, and ‘Mawazine’ on Al-Resalah, and ‘Saa’a wa nus’ on Alam Al Yawm, and ‘Khaleej al-‘Arab’ and ‘Qira’ah Thaniya’ on Al Araby TV, and currently, Al Jazeera Arabic’s Mawazine.
Dr. Al Sanad received his Doctorate and Master's degrees in Islamic philosophy from the Faculty of Dar El Uloom at Cairo University. His doctoral thesis conducted “A Comparative Study of the Question of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice between the Mu'tazilah and Ibn Taymiyyah.” His master's thesis dealt with “The Science of the Ethics of Research and Debate: Its Origins and Development,” in addition to researching a manuscript on debate by Muhammad bin Abi Bakr al-Mar'shi. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Shari'ah from Kuwait University.
Team
Sufia Lodhi
With over 20 years of international communications experience, Sufia held senior roles at Qatar Foundation and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). Obsessed with visual language and brand, Sufia ensures the Al-Mujadilah identity is authentic and clear.
Mahveen Azam
Mahveen brings 2 decades of experience in partnership building and programming to our external engagement initiatives. A graduate of Georgetown with an MA in International Relations, she will identify partners to promote our mission and vision.