Tamara Gray
Shaykha Dr. Tamara Gray (born: November 8, 1966.[citation needed]) is an American Islamic scholar and founder of Rabata, an organization dedicated to promoting positive cultural change through creative educational experiences.[1]
She is a proponent of accessible Islamic knowledge for women and works to promote positive cultural change through individual empowerment, spiritual upbringing of women by women, and the revival of the female voice in scholarship[2].
Dr. Gray is passionate about education, and serves as both faculty and an academic council member for The Islamic Seminary of America[3], teaches at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities[4] and is a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute[5].
She is also a part of the Fiqh Council of North America[6].
In addition, Dr. Gray is an author and translator. Her publications include several culturally appropriate English language curriculum programs, as well as translations of sacred texts.
She has authored two books: Joy Jots: Exercises for a happy heart[7] & Project Lina: Bringing our whole selves to Islam[8], and co-translated the Mukhtasir al-Jami’ fi al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya by Samīra Zayid [Compendium of the Collection of Sources on al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya].
Early life and education
Dr. Gray was born and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. She grew up in the Lutheran church, and converted to Islam during her time at college. Dr. Gray officially took her shahada (testimony of faith) on January 7, 1985[9].
Dr. Gray holds a doctorate in leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree in Curriculum Theory and Instruction from Temple University. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Elementary Education, Macalester College[10].
After college, Dr. Gray moved to Syria, where she spent 20 years studying a full curriculum of Islamic sacred texts and subjects including: Shāfiʿī jurisprudence, Islamic theology, Quranic sciences, Arabic grammar, geography of the Muslim world, Islamic civilization and culture, Islamic history and classical methods of spiritual growth[9].
Career
Education
Dr. Gray worked in the field of education for 25 years before moving to the nonprofit world[2].
Rabata
After seeing a need for well-written books in English for the American Muslim audience, Dr. Gray founded Daybreak Press with fellow convert to Islam, Najiyah Maxfield. As their publishing work grew, Dr. Gray went on to found Rabata.
The Arabic verb ‘rabaṭa’ is the root form of many words which are semantic variations of connectedness: to bind and connect, to take positions, to line up for combat, joining, fastening, establishment of relationships, an area of town, an actual tie, or knot,: composure, calmness, bonds of friendship, and the ‘ribat’ which was historically a place of spiritual retreat.[11]
Rabata, as an organization, envisions a rising tide of Muslim women teachers, faith leaders, and community stewards in every digital and local neighborhood around the world.[11]
Other Organizations
Dr. Gray serves as both faculty and an academic council member for The Islamic Seminary of America[3], teaches at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities[4] and is a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute[5]. She is also a part of the Fiqh Council of North America[6].
In addition, Dr. Gray is an author and translator.
Interfaith
Dr. Gray is on the Collegeville Institute’s Inter-religious Fellows Program, where she works to develop educational programming for faith leaders around social justice issues[12]
Personal life
Dr. Gray lives with her husband.[citation needed] They have three children and two grandchildren.[citation needed]
Publications
| Title | Description | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Jots: Exercises for a Happy Heart - Second Edition | The second edition of Joy Jots, a collection of 52 weekly essays that take the reader through a year of seasons, blessings and joyful spiritual growth. | 2019 | Books and Pamphlets |
| Project Lina | The Project Lina book and workshops are designed to bring converts to a place of joyful confidence in themselves, their faith, and their place in their families and communities. Co-authored with Najiyah Maxfield. | 2020 | Books and Pamphlets |
| Mukhtasir al-Jami’ fi al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya by Samīra Zayid [Compendium of the Collection of Sources on al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya] | Translations |
References
- ↑ "Rabata | Online Islamic Knowledge for Muslim Women". Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Dr. Tamara Gray | RABATA". 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Tamara Gray". Islamic Society of North America. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Tamara Gray". United Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Dr. Tamara Gray". Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "About". Fiqh Council of North America. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ Bookshop, Daybreak Press Global. "Joy Jots Exercises for a Happy Heart (Second Edition)". Daybreak Press Global Bookshop. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ Bookshop, Daybreak Press Global. "Project Lina: Bringing Our Whole Selves to Islam". Daybreak Press Global Bookshop. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Changing religions, changing names". MPR News. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "Dr. Tamara Gray | RABATA". 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Philosophy | RABATA". 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
- ↑ "2022-24 Multi-Religious Fellows". Collegeville Institute. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
External links
- 9 Female of Scholars of Islam, Quran and Hadith You Need to be Following By Layla Abdullah-Poulos
- The 100 Most Innovative Global Muslim Startups to Watch in 2022 & the 200+ Global Investment Firms Funding Them By Dustin Craun
- Rabata, Henna & Hijabs named to innovative ‘Muslim Startups’ list By Naasir Akailvi
- Beyond Stereotypes: Daybreak Press Aims to Broaden Depiction of Muslims in Minneapolis School Books
- A Woman’s Place at the Mosque By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil
- Conference Report on Spiritual Abuse: Education and Prevention for our Communities
- International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development: “Faith, Feminism and Human Rights” and “Unlocking the Power of Faith-Based Partnerships”
- What does it mean to be a Convert By Claudia Seise
- Stories in the Attic: Unleashing the Treasures Within: Third Annual Daybreak Press Muslim Women’s Literary Conference
- American Muslim Networks and Neotraditionalism By Brendan Peter Newlon
- Anse Tamara Gray: Building Brave New Spaces
- Scholars Endorse Statement on the Full Inclusion of Women in Mosques
- Women Seek Diverse Paths to Leadership in Islamic Spaces By Mariam Fam of The Associated Press and Aysha Khan of Religion News Service
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