in Islam. Sheeba believes that her lack of knowledge placed her at a disadvantage during this difficult time. To Sheeba, her mother’s story is the story of many women in patriarchal societies in the Middle East and South Asia where many religious leaders are often charged with subverting the teachings of Islam to justify their own ends. Sheeba therefore decided to deepen her own understanding of the Quran in order to better articulate the equality of Muslim women and men in Islam. References 1971 births Living people 21st-century Muslim scholars of Islam Indian women activists Indian journalists Indian Muslim activists Activists from Uttar Pradesh People from Kanpur Women writers from Uttar Pradesh Women scholars of Islam 21st-century Indian women writers 21st-century Indian writers