Untold Stories of British Muslim Women Reveal as Agents of Change

In a collection of nine biographical essays, sociologist Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor and historian Jamie Gilham present 100 years of oft-overlooked British Muslim women, from the 1850s onward. Aside from sharing a common faith and advancing their communities, these women have contributed to the dynamism of today’s Islam in Britain. Many in the West still mistake Muslim women as lacking agency, often due to stereotypes associating them with patriarchal traditions. The editors, however, turn this preconception on its head with their offering of narratives of empowering women who have long shaped British history. For example, Bertha Cave, in the early 1900s, fought for women to enter the legal profession, and Noor Inayat Khan resisted the Nazis as a wireless radio operator. Instead of idealizing them, the essay authors highlight each woman’s vulnerability—her doubts, hesitations, mistakes and moments of transformation—making their stories deeply relatable to women everywhere. The editors highlight the growing interest in the history of British Islam, yet much of it has traditionally been narrated by men about men. This book broadens the frame of history to include the lives of women. Each essay relies on meticulous research, drawing from interviews, archival materials, women’s publications and personal anecdotes from descendants. As the first book to explore the history of Muslim women in Britain, it avoids the pitfalls of boxing Muslim women into a neat archetype. Rather, it focuses on the journeys of each woman through her experiences and contributions, offering new perspectives on how to engage with the past.