Ep 6. The Light in Her Eyes

At a time when women's rights and Islamic faith seem to be at odds, the documentary "The Light in Her Eyes" explores the remarkable story of Houda al-Habash, a conservative Muslim teacher who founded a Qur'an school for girls in Damascus, Syria when she was only seventeen years old. This POV episode offers a captivating window on the strict patriarchal society and its attitudes towards women in the Muslim world, as well as on the internal debates of Islam itself.

Houda al-Habash was educated at the University of Damascus and is an accomplished woman in a society where a woman's role is often dogmatically restricted to the private sphere. When Houda founded the school, she hoped it would give more young women a chance at an education and that her society would come to take greater advantage of the contributions women could make to its future success. She has been famously quoted as saying, "A woman aspires to complete half her faith in order to be able to increase her reward in heaven." Indeed, the idea of engaging female Muslims in their faith is central to "The Light in Her Eyes."

Through interviews with Houda, her students and the parents of her students, this POV episode portrays the challenges that women in Syria face when attempting to engage with their faith in a meaningful way. There are many struggles that women face in realizing their role in the larger Islamic community, even if they share Houda's belief that faith is incomplete without educating oneself. Houda explains that, at the Qur'an school, a woman's primary role is to become intimate with God and to use that connection to make a difference in her community.

The documentary also explores the tensions that the unique teaching methods of the school engendered in traditional Islamic societies. The school permitted the teaching of religion in a language which was more welcoming and accessible than the traditional Arabic or Farsi. This was seen as a direct challenge to the more conservative elements of the Islamic faith. Houda herself faced considerable backlash, receiving threats and accusations of encouraging her students to form illicit relationships with one another.

Despite these difficulties, Houda and her students pressed on, continuing to seek an education that promoted both intellectual and moral growth. The documentary powerfully showcases their triumphs. For example, the girls stage debate competitions and even form a religious choir, all encouraged by Houda's innovative and compassionate approach to teaching. These opportunities for creativity and individual expression are a direct challenge to the limitations that can be placed on women and young people within more conservative Islamic circles.

"The Light in Her Eyes" is an engaging and moving documentary that will appeal to anyone interested in the efforts of women across the Muslim world to educate themselves and contribute to their communities while still respecting the more traditional aspects of their faith. These women are integral to the future of a more equitable and tolerant world, and "The Light in Her Eyes" is an important reminder of how vital they are in the fight towards this goal.