Written by Dr. Yusuf Malik Frederick | Black Crescent Wellness Foundation
What is Epistemic Injustice?
Epistemic injustice refers to devaluing a person’s knowledge, experiences, or credibility, especially when they belong to marginalized groups (Fricker, 2007). Within Black American Muslim communities, this injustice is not only philosophical—it is deeply personal and spiritually damaging.
As Dr. Panchuk (2020) explains, epistemic injustice can be a form of spiritual abuse. It occurs when religious authorities invalidate believers’ lived realities and control how they express and interpret their faith.
The Gatekeeping of Faith
One of the most explicit expressions of epistemic injustice in African American Muslim spaces is religious gatekeeping.
Male scholars and leaders often control the narrative, deciding what counts as “authentic” Islamic knowledge (Rippy & Newman, 2024). Diverse voices, especially women and converts, are sidelined. This monopolization of theology silences dissent and allows abuse to continue unchecked (Aziz, 2021).
Lost in Translation: Struggles with Religious Language
Spiritual abuse in the form of Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) at home is frequently described as “Qadar Allah” (divine destiny), and the victim, who is often female, is advised to be patient, while the perpetrator walks free of consequences 
Now imagine being unable to express your trauma because you don’t yet know the Arabic terms expected in your faith community.
According to Fricker (2007), this is a form of hermeneutical injustice: when someone can’t make sense of their own experience due to a lack of socially recognized language.
Panchuk (2020) calls this first-order misclassification when dominant religious language actually prevents people from naming their pain.
Instead of support, many are told their suffering is a test, not abuse. This prevents them from seeking justice or healing.
Abuse Misunderstood as Faithfulness
Take, for example, a woman enduring emotional abuse in marriage. She is told to be patient when she turns to religious leaders—this is her “spiritual trial.” 
Fields (2021) explains how those raised in religiously abusive spaces are taught to interpret harm as divine love.
Over time, victims internalize their suffering, making it harder to identify abuse and even harder to speak up.
Identity Injustice: A Hidden Harm
Religious marginalization also extends to identity injustice.
This happens when dominant interpretations of faith suppress believers’ cultural or racial identity.
For Black American Muslims, this means being expected to express Islam through Arab-centric norms—language, dress, even spiritual expressions (Porcher, 2024).
Panchuk (2020) describes this as a second-order distortion, where believers feel that their racial and cultural identity must be erased to be “truly” Muslim.
Sound familiar? James Cone (2004) observed the same dynamic in Black Christian communities, where Jesus was portrayed as White, alienating Black believers from their own heritage.
The Cycle of Silence and Suppression
This epistemic injustice creates a vicious cycle:
Religious authorities uphold dominant frameworks
Marginalized voices are silenced
Abuse and harm go unrecognized
Theological spaces become environments where suffering is misclassified, distorted, or entirely erased (Cooke, 2022; Aziz, 2021).
African American Muslims are often discouraged from asserting their own spiritual insights, especially when they conflict with established norms or challenge powerful figures (Ramler, 2023).
Speaking Truth to Power Comes at a Cost
African American Muslim women who critique patriarchal interpretations of Islam are frequently accused of:
Being influenced by Western feminism Threatening Islamic unity Lacking true faith
This leads to epistemic marginalization, where survivors of spiritual abuse (SA) are labeled as troublemakers rather than truth-tellers (Ritunnano & Kidd, 2024; Gallardo-Vergara et al., 2022).
When religious gatekeepers maintain strict control over who gets to speak—and how—abuse is not only overlooked, it’s normalized.
Toward Liberation and Healing
To dismantle epistemic injustice in Black American Muslim communities, we must:
Expand Theological Frameworks
Incorporate culturally grounded interpretations that reflect the lived realities of Black Muslims.
Amplify Marginalized Voices
Create space for women, converts, and youth to share their spiritual insights without fear of censure.
Challenge Religious Gatekeeping
Question who controls Islamic knowledge—and why.
Build Inclusive Spaces for Healing
Reclaim spiritual autonomy and rebuild trust through justice-centered community care.
References
- Aziz, S. (2021). The misrecognition of abuse in Muslim communities.
- Bartlett, A. (2018). Faith, marginality, and knowledge.
- Cone, J. H. (2004). The Cross and the Lynching Tree.
- Cooke, N. (2022). Suffering and Silence in Islam.
- Fields, A. (2021). Religious harm and trauma.
- Fricker, M. (2007). Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing.
- Gallardo-Vergara, M. et al. (2022). Patriarchy in Muslim communities.
- Nsour, A. (2022). Institutional accountability in Islamic settings.
- Panchuk, M. (2020). Religious trauma and epistemic injustice.
- Porcher, J. (2024). Intersectionality in religious trauma.
- Ramler, K. (2023). Islam, race, and authority.
- Rekis, J. (2023). Faith and institutional betrayal.
- Rippy, S., & Newman, L. (2024). Gatekeeping and gender in Islam.
- Ritunnano, R., & Kidd, I. J. (2024). Testimonial injustice in faith settings.
Best regards,Yusuf Malik Frederick, JD, PGD, (Ph.D. Candidate).