The Azhari Scholar | عالمة الأزهر
"She teaches Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar. He's the Western academic studying her interpretation. Between texts, they write their own story."
The Azhari Scholar
عالمة الأزهر
Al-Azhar is a thousand years old.
The oldest university in the world. I teach Islamic law within its ancient walls.
David challenges everything I know.
I'm Dr. Nadia.
Forty-nine, Egyptian, one of the few female scholars at Al-Azhar. My interpretations are progressive.
David studies Islamic feminism.
He's fifty-two.
American, professor at Princeton. He came to Cairo to learn from me.
"Your work is revolutionary."
"It's traditional. I just read the texts differently."
"How can tradition be revolutionary?"
"When people forget what tradition actually says. I remember."
"The original meanings."
"Before politics corrupted them."
He attends my lectures for months.
Asks questions no one else asks. Challenges respectfully.
"You disagree?"
"I want to understand."
"Understanding requires disagreement sometimes."
"Why do you risk so much?"
"Risk what?"
"Your position. Your safety. For progressive interpretations."
"Because women deserve to know Islam honors them. Always has."
"Dinner. To discuss the texts."
"Just texts?"
"Whatever else develops."
"That's not very scholarly."
"Some things transcend scholarship."
The first kiss is in the Al-Azhar library.
A thousand years of knowledge watching.
"Is this halal?" he asks.
"The Prophet, peace be upon him, married a scholar. He'd approve."
"Come to Princeton."
"My work is here."
"Your work could be everywhere."
"David—"
"Or I could stay. Write here. With you."
He undresses me in my Cairo apartment.
Books stacked everywhere, learning surrounding us.
"Beautiful."
"David—"
"Let me worship you as the texts command."
We make love while scholarship watches.
Centuries of knowledge, one new lesson.
"Ya habibi—David—"
"Right there?"
"Aiwa—teach me—"
Five years later
We lecture together worldwide.
Islamic feminism gaining ground. Our partnership scholarly and personal.
"Happy?" he asks.
"We wrote new commentary."
"On what?"
"On love."
Alhamdulillah.
For scholars who question.
For academics who listen.
For knowledge that becomes love.
The End.