Meet Dr. Tamara @ NISA Conference Singapore 2025
Dr. Tamara Gray is the founder of Rabata, an organization dedicated to promoting positive cultural change through creative educational experiences. As executive director, faculty, and chief spirituality officer, she focuses on uplifting Muslim women within community and without. She has a special interest in digital spaces in faith communities.
Dr. Gray holds a doctorate in leadership from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree in Curriculum Theory and Instruction from Temple University and spent twenty years in traditional learning spaces studying Islamic sciences, Quran, and Arabic in Damascus, Syria.
Dr. Gray is also an author and translator. Her publications range from several culturally appropriate English language curriculum programs to
translations of sacred texts. She has authored two books: Joy Jots: Exercises for a happy heart & Project Lina: Bringing our whole selves to Islam and co-translated the Mukhtasir al-Jami’ fi al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya by Samīra Zayid [Compendium of the Collection of Sources on al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya]. She is currently working on a third book about theology and creed.
In addition to her work at Rabata, Dr. Gray also serves as
a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute and is a member of the Fiqh Council of North America. She has recently taken on the position of Board Chair for the Minnesota Multifaith Network. Dr. Gray is Full Focus Certified Pro exemplifying her commitment to productivity and impactful leadership.
She is a mother of three, grandmother of two, an avid reader and a lover of cultures, coffee, and road trips.
Her topic for NISA Conference: Essence of Women
In a world where identity, purpose, and values are being constantly challenged, Essence of Women brings clarity and spiritual grounding. This talk is a heart-opening reflection on what it
truly means to be a woman—through the lens of Islamic spirituality, history, and lived experience.
Dr. Tamara Gray invites us on a journey to rediscover the divine wisdom encoded in our womanhood. Drawing from classical Islamic texts, Quranic narratives, and her own personal journey of over two decades of study in Damascus and leadership work in the United States, she brings a powerful message: that being a woman is
not a burden to be explained or defended—but a sacred trust, a source of strength, and a mirror of Allah’s mercy.
She explores:
- The Spiritual Identity of Women: What does the Quran really say about women? How did the Prophet ﷺ uplift women in a society that buried their daughters?
- Tension between Culture and
Faith: How can modern Muslim women navigate the cultural expectations imposed on them while remaining true to their spiritual core?
- The Power of Purpose: From Khadijah (RA) to Fatimah (RA) and the female companions who shaped the early Muslim Ummah, this talk honours the legacy of women who lived with purpose and conviction.
- Healing and Empowerment: Dr. Tamara
also addresses internal wounds—generational, societal, and personal—and how women can reclaim their power through connection to Allah, to each other, and to their God-given roles.
Let Dr. Tamara’s words reconnect you to your essence—and walk away with renewed strength, deep spiritual insight, and a profound love for who you are as a Muslim
woman.
