Rebecca Masterton

Dr. Rebecca Masterton is a British Islamic scholar, educator,religious leader, public speaker, Qur'anic interpreter,  TV Presenter  and philosopher of the Shi'ite Sect of Islam.

Biography
Born in the South of England in a small town near the sea, Rebecca moved to London when she was eighteen to study Japanese. She attended the School of Oriental and African Studies London, where she received a B.A. in Japanese, a M.A. in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in francophone and Islamic mystical literature of West Africa. She previously worked at Birkbeck College where she taught Islamic mysticism and presented a series on religion and culture with Press TV. She's currently a presenter for Ahlulbayt TV (an Islamic Channel based in UK)* in which she interviews islamic intellectuals and presents her views on Shi'ite Islam. She also teaches M.A.at Islamic College London *.

Conversion to Islam
Rebecca Masterson, originally a Catholic, became a Muslim twelve years ago and has interviewed women converts for a research project at London University. Giving an interview to Economist she said, ""Because in an increasingly raunchy Britain they dislike being seen as sexual objects—the veil frees them from the male gaze. Many male converts, who include men of Afro-Caribbean stock, prize the Muslim family model in which men are idealized as dignified providers and protectors, she says. Other studies suggest that Islam has helped people escape from drugs and alcohol. Men are more likely than women, it seems, to react against British policy in the Middle East by embracing a violent form of Islam.""

After her conversion to Islam Masterson describes: ""My life has changed completely since my conversion—I wear a headscarf and gown, and would rather socialize with Muslim “sisters” than spend time unchaperoned with men.""

She also describes her spiritual journey to Islam in an interview published on an Arabic online newspaper as well as in several videos that can be found online.

Speeches/Conferences/Seminars
Rebecca Masterton is a special guest at many conferences all over the world delivering speeches on different topics with serious scholarship and warm humor sharing the grace, purity and mystery she's found in Islamic values. Some of her speeches became viral on YouTube and she has become an inspirational figure in the Muslim community.
 * "Women’s Authority and Visibility in Our Religious Communities" IKETh Conference July 8th – 11th 2010 in the Dominican Centre, Huissen, the Netherlands
 * Aston University Ahlul Bayt Society
 * Muslim & Christian Perspective held on 8th November 2011 at University of Dundee, Scotland
 * Irfan of Leader-Imam Khomeini Conference 2009
 * The Heart of Wilayah - Saturday 21st November 2009 at the Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale
 * Divine Justice With the Hollow Western Notions of equality, on Friday, June 29, 2012 in Dearborn, Michigan, USA
 * Humanity in Nahjul Balagha, Islamic Thought Academic Nahjul Balagha Conference 2012 in Peterborough on 30th September 2012
 * Convert/Revert in Islam
 * Spirituality and Political Activism a Seminar at SOAS University of London, 19th November 2008
 * Dr. Rebecca Masterton was also interviewed by BBC Radio 4 in a program "Woman's hour", 5 September 2005

Work at Ahlulbayt TV
Dr. Rebecca Masterton as a presenter on Ahlulbayt TV.
 * The Awaited is a weekly exclusive show about the Awaited Imam Mehdi (atf) with guests joining us with stories and facts about the Imam of time.
 * Karbala Round Up is a live transmission from the city of Karbala.
 * Karbala Today is an afternoon show focusing the pilgrims who have come to visit Imam Hussein’s shrine from across the globe.
 * Karbala Insights is a live 2 hour scholarly evening show with Haj Arif Chandoo and Haj Abbas Datoo, Haj Shams Kanani, Sh. Abbas Ismail, and Haj Makbool Raheem and others.
 * Through The Eye of a Pilgrim a documentary (two episodes) narrates the events leading to the Martyrdom of the grandson of Muhammad.
 * Misconception is a program shedding some light on the major misconceptions surrounding various topics in the Shi'ite school of thought.
 * Outside the Box a brand new Art show, featuring a range of artists and creative individuals looking into their work and passion.
 * Ahlulbayt Live a program where Rebecca interviews various intellectuals and scholars on current hot topics in this contemporary society.

Work at Press TV

 * Dr. Rebecca Masterton denounced Myanmar Noble Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s “neutral stance” on the ongoing persecution of Rohingya Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country as surprising and hypocritical.
 * Dr. Rebecca Masterton's interview on Press TV about Saudi Women right to drive.
 * Interview about Hajj, coming together of Muslims in unity.
 * Islam & Life a discussion on converts/reverts within Muslim community.

Literary Work
As an author, Dr. Masterton has published a variety of literary works. Her latest project, a book entitled *Passing Through the Dream is a collection of short stories blending esoteric Islam with the culture of Western Europe, meeting the twenty-first century with humour and hope, overturning the tired stereotypes and rigid definitions of what many imagine to be the scenario of ‘Islam and the West’ today. We find ourselves in a world where Muslims of the spiritual path avoid commenting on the political; and Muslims of the political path have no time for the spiritual. Secular literature has become the platform for a critique on the Islamic way of life while classical Islamic texts do not always reach English-speaking readers.

These stories blend spirituality and politics written both from within the secular literary tradition and the Islamic tradition opening a window to the inner realms of experience for all readers of all backgrounds.

Essays

 * Islamic Mystical Readings of Cheikh Hamidou Kane's Ambiguous Adventure (2009)

Journals
Journal of Islamic Studies
 * The Journal of Islamic Studies is a multi-disciplinary publication dedicated to the scholarly study of all aspects of Islam and of the Islamic world. Particular attention is paid to works dealing with history, geography, political science, economics, anthropology, sociology, law, literature, religion, philosophy, international relations, environmental and developmental issues, as well as ethical questions related to scientific research. The Journal seeks to place Islam and the Islamic tradition as its central focus of academic inquiry and to encourage comprehensive consideration of its many facets; to provide a forum for the study of Islam and Muslim societies in their global context; to encourage interdisciplinary studies of the Islamic world that are crossnational and comparative; to promote the diffusion, exchange and discussion of research findings; and to encourage interaction among academics from various traditions of learning.

As translator

 * The Moral World of the Qur'an' (2008, with Danielle Robinson)