Dr. Zainab Alwani is the first woman to serve as Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the Howard University School of Divinity (HUSD), where she also chairs the Master of Arts in Religious Studies program. A pioneering scholar and educator, Dr. Alwani brings over 30 years of experience in teaching and curriculum development in Quranic and Islamic studies.

She holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Sciences and Jurisprudence from the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Her groundbreaking dissertation explored the application of the higher aims of Islamic law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) within the context of the American Muslim family—a theme that continues to inform much of her research and scholarship.

An accomplished author and thought leader, Dr. Alwani has written extensively across books, academic articles, and textbooks. She is particularly interested in deriving methodologies for approaching the Quran, Sunnah, and Islamic jurisprudence in the area of women and family relations.

She is the first female jurist to serve on the Fiqh Council of North America, where she now serves as Vice-Chair.

Dr. Alwani also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Islamic Faith and Practice, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Islamic Seminary of America in partnership with IUPUI University Library.

She is the President and Chairwoman of Glass Lamp Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals connect with, reflect upon, and implement the teachings of the Quran in their daily lives. Through Glass Lamp Institute, Dr. Alwani is developing a growing body of work centered on Taddabur al-Qur’an—a methodology for deepening one’s relationship with the Quran through reflection, contemplation, and practice.

Her current initiatives also include the Orphan Care Project, a pioneering effort aimed at reviving the central role of orphan care in Islam through education and research.

Above all, Dr. Alwani is a dedicated mother of four and grandmother of eight. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.