Biographical details

Malala Yousafzai was born on the 12th of July, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. She attended Kushal School, a school that her father Ziauddin ran for girls that had been banned from attending school by the Taliban, up to 2012, and completed the rest of her education at Edgbaston High School in Birmingham, England. Malala is an activist who has spoken out publicly against the Taliban and their prohibition of girls receiving education. She has given several speeches and interviews, including a speech given at the United Nations, has appeared on TV numerous times, and has in the past blogged about life under Taliban rule for the BBC. On the 12th of October, 2012, a Taliban gunman attempted to kill her as she was going home from school by shooting her in the head, but she survived. She had published a book, I am Malala, and has received multiple awards, including the United Nations Human Rights Prize in 2013, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Her Work

The most noticeable work Malala is currently involved in is the Malala Fund. The Malala Fund is an organisation that works towards every girl being able to have a full 12 years of education, as is their right. They operate in countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Kenya, as well as working with Syrian refugees. They do work such as provide funding for textbooks, equipment and uniforms for schools and students, provide education programs for girls that can’t attend a school or who have married early, and work with UNICEF and UNHCR to provide tutoring for girls in refugee camps.

How is She a prophet?

The definition of prophet in modern times, it would seem, is someone who educates people in important matters, who upholds the values that they think are important, and who, most importantly, helps improve the lives of others. While some of these modern-day prophets incorporate the words of their God into their teachings, not everyone does. Malala is a prime example of that. In the Bible, the prophets tried to educate people about God, as well as other important matters. While Malala may not be preaching about God, she is trying her best to let people know about how much girls are suffering under rules and restriction that prevent them from going to school, and hoe they can be helped. She is striving for girls to receive better education, and is one of the biggest voices when it comes to education rights. These things she has done, these amazing things, are what make her like a prophet.

Amos was a shepherd and fig farmer living in Tekoa, Judah, before God showed Himself to him. He wrote his book, The Book of Amos, during 760-750 BC, which were his active years as a prophet. Amos was sent by God to Northern Israel to judge and condemn the Israelites that had become powerful because of the suffering of other less fortunate than them. He is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and most of his book was based around social justice and basic human rights.

There are several reasons why Amos and Malala are similar. They are both social justice warriors, they both started off as normal, humble people before realizing what they could do, they both advocated for basic human rights for everyone, and they both had similar ideas of oppression.

Pieces of Scripture

"I will not revoke the punishment; because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.” (Amos 1: 13-14). This passage is talking about how the Ammonites attacked Gilead and killed everyone to gain power, while not caring about the lives they were ending. In a similar way, the Taliban that were oppressing Malala and practically every other girl in Pakistan, not by killing them all, but by taking away their basic human rights

“I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. 22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen …” (Amos 5: 21-24). In this part of Amos' writing, he is insulting and degrading the rich and powerful of Israel, and calling them out on their poor religious affiliation. In 2009, Malala did something similar in relation to the Taliban when she said, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to an education?” on national TV. On both occasions, both people are calling people out on the wrongs they have committed, and pretty much said, "How dare you do this?"

"You put off the day of disaster and bring a reign of terror" Amos 6:3. This particular passage relates directly to the Taliban and the way they ruled the land when they had taken control. They ruled with violence, threats and force, which ended up directly affected Malala when she got shot for speaking out against them.