Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE)

The Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) is a grassroots social justice movement led by Muslim women whose mission is to reclaim and reframe women's rights in Islam, enabling them to make dignified choices and fully participate in creating just and flourishing societies.

Vision: WISE envisions a world where all humans are equal, and women are empowered to realize their full potential in creating a peaceful, prosperous and just world.  

Mission: WISE embraces the collective and individual responsibility of women to achieve equal rights, empowering them to exercise their abilities and talents in all areas of human activity.

Strategy: WISE addresses the pressing challenges facing the global Muslim community, particularly gender-based inequality, with our holistic four-pronged Change Theory:

Collaboration – To foster a culture of support amongst Muslim women to collectively pursue social change. WISE’s global convenings and local forums unite diverse Muslim women and women of other faiths to promote solidarity, create long term strategic goals for women’s empowerment, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and provide skill-building to increase women’s abilities to fully realize their potential.

Education – To provide research and evidence-based knowledge kits to increase the effectiveness of Muslim advocacy efforts. Projects such as WISE Up (WISE’s Global Muslim Women’s Shura Council’s position papers), use faith-based arguments to educate and enable women leaders to address human rights and societal issues.

Communication – To amplify the voices of Muslim women at all levels of political, economic, religious, and social discourse. WISE’s online platform, www.wisemuslimwomen.org, showcases the positive contributions of Muslim women around the world, functions as an authoritative source and clearinghouse on Muslim women’s history, and publicize reliable information about an ethical and equitable Islam.

Action – To facilitate action at the grassroots level. WISE's global network of grassroots women uses a multi-pronged and culturally sensitive approach to incubate new and innovative projects,  by training, mentoring, and convening activists, and supporting partners to address pressing issues.