The Light in Her Eyes

Riham, a young girl in Syria, dreams of furthering her education and becoming a pediatrician. She hopes that even after marriage, she can continue her studies and reach her goals. However, her family wishes her education to end with high school so that she can marry young and become a good wife as theirs customs dictate.

Houda al-Habash encourages her students never to give up the right to choose their own paths in life, and to continue their education.

Four young Muslim women discuss marriage and educational goals while at lunch one day in Syria.

Houda al-Habash and her daughter Enas explain that there is nothing in the actual faith of Islam that prevents women from getting an education, and it is the cultural norms of their community which typically limits the education of a women and stresses early marriage.

Houda al-Habash explains the reasons and significance of wearing the hijab to her students, even though she doesn't require it of them.

Two women show that it is cultural norms and customs, as advocated my conservative male clerics, present the biggest challenge for women in the Muslim world, rather than conservative religious behaviors. Distinguishing between these two brings a better understanding of how women can empower themselves in a Muslim community, while still living under religious laws.

Dr. Iman Al-Jabi, a dentist in Syria, lives a pious life, obeying religious laws, while shrugging off the typical gender roles assigned to women by cultural norms rather than the faith of Islam itself.

A woman recites a memorized passage from the Qur'an.

The filmmakers of 'The Light In Her Eyes' talk about their portrait of a leader, filmed before the start of the Syrian uprising, who challenges the women of her community to live according to Islam without giving up their dreams.

A Qur'an student recites a sura, then explans why this sura has special meaning for her

Hind Tabab, one of the teachers at Houda al-Habash's school, explains how her extensive education led her to being a teacher. Holding degrees in various subjects, she works as an English teacher at a public school in addition to teaching the memorization of the Qur'an.

In July 2012, The Light In Her Eyes subject Enas gave POV an update on her life since the start of the Syrian uprising.