1. Born Mary Teasley, daughter of a Methodist minister, in Washington, DC. Converted to Islam in 1970s Distressed at treatment of women in Islam, turned to Qur’an for solution Amina Wadud (b. 1952)

2. Developed view that problem was use of the Qur’an, not the Qur’an itself. Led to Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective (1992) August 1994 Asked to give khutba (sermon) at Claremont Main Road Mosque, Cape Town, South Africa

3. March 18th 2005 Led mixed public prayer service in Manhattan, New York. Reactions ranged from praise to condemnation and even death threats. Muslims supporting both sides of debate Teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University Amina Wadud (b. 1952)

4. Born in Riyadh into very wealthy family friendly with Saudi royal family. Very privileged upbringing Usama ibn Ladin (Osama bin Laden, 1957-2011)

5. Usama ibn Ladin (Osama bin Laden, 1957-2011) At university met Islamist shaykh ‘Abd Allah Azzam, who was major influence and preached need for liberation of Islamic world from foreign intervention and for practice of strict form of Islam Usama joined Afghan jihad against Soviets after they invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Some fighting, but mostly used vast wealth to support mujahidin, with US aid

6. Usama ibn Ladin (Osama bin Laden, 1957-2011) Founded al-Qa‘ida (“the Base”) in 1988, initially to aid Afghan cause. Later expanded operations elsewhere. In 1990 King Fahd of Saudi (r. 1982-2005) asked Americans to post troops on Saudi soil to protect from Iraq. Usama outraged and started agitating against monarchy. Disowned by family and expelled from Saudi

7. Orchestrated numerous terrorist attacks against Americans and declared public jihad in 1996. Culmination was 9/11 Killed in 2011 Usama ibn Ladin (Osama bin Laden, 1957-2011)