Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's PerspectiveFourteen centuries of Islamic thought have produced a legacy of interpretive readings of the Qu'ran written almost entirely by men. Now, with Qu'ran and Woman, Amina Wadud provides a first interpretive reading by a woman, a reading which validates the female voice in the Qu'ran and brings it out of the shadows. Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion but patriarchal interpretation and implementation of the Qu'ran that have kept women oppressed. For many, the way to reform is the reexamination and reinterpretation of religious texts. Qu'ran and Woman contributes a gender inclusive reading to one of the most fundamental disciplines in Islamic thought, Qu'ranic exegesis. Wadud breaks down specific texts and key words which have been used to limit women's public and private role, even to justify violence toward Muslim women, revealing that their original meaning and context defy such interpretations. What her analysis clarifies is the lack of gender bias, precedence, or prejudice in the essential language of the Qur'an. Despite much Qu'ranic evidence about the significance of women, gender reform in Muslim society has been stubbornly resisted. Wadud's reading of the Qu'ran confirms women's equality and constitutes legitimate grounds for contesting the unequal treatment that women have experienced historically and continue to experience legally in Muslim communities. The Qu'ran does not prescribe one timeless and unchanging social structure for men and women, Wadud argues lucidly, affirming that the Qu'ran holds greater possibilities for guiding human society to a more fulfilling and productive mutual collaboration between men and women than as yet attained by Muslims or non-Muslims. |
Contents
How Perceptions of Woman Influence Interpretation of the Quran | 1 |
Human Creation in the Quran | 15 |
2 The Quranic View of Woman in This World | 29 |
The Hereafter in the Quran | 44 |
Some Controversies | 62 |
Conclusion | 94 |
List of Female Characters Mentioned in the Quran | 106 |
| 109 | |
| 117 | |
Other editions - View all
Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective Amina Wadud Limited preview - 1999 |
Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective Amina Wadud Limited preview - 1999 |
Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective Amina Wadud No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
Adam al-Zamakhshari Allah Allah's perspective AMINA WADUD analysis androcentric anfus applied Arabic ayat azwaj ba'd basis believe Chapter child concerns context created creation of humankind cultural darajah deeds demonstrate depictions distinction earth equal equity example exclusively exegetical existence explicit faddala Fazlur Rahman Fi Zilal al-Qur'an Finally fulfil function gender guidance hadith Hereafter human husband imra'ah indicate individual intellectual Jahiliyyah Judgement justice language limited Madinan Madinan period Makkan period male or female males and females means moral mu'min Muhammad Muslim nafs norm nushuz pair Paradise particular polygamy potential prior text Prophet qiwamah qunut Qur'an and Woman Qur'anic account Qur'anic discussions Qur'anic intent Qur'anic interpretation Qur'anic principles Qutb reader recompense reference responsibility restricted revelation role says Sayyid Sayyid Qutb significance society specific taqwa tawhid tion translated understanding universal unto verse Weltanschauung wife wives women Women in Islamic words world-view Yusuf Ali zauj zawj