- ISBN13: 9780195128369
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- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Fourteen 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 oppress… More >>
Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective
Upon careful examination of her theories, I have concluded that she is an internally torn individual who confuses the woman’s role (that of respect, human rights, but different roles) with that of a man’s. Being equal doesn’t mean you have to do everything the other person does. I find comfort in The Quran, which informs us that men have a degree of responsibility over the woman, i.e. to provide, protect. I think bearing children and raising them is a huge responsibility, and the woman shouldn’t be in a position to try to “do it all” (both the man and woman’s role). Until men start having babies, I don’t see how the overall principles can change regarding roles.
I find Ms. Wadud’s theories to be an extension of her desire to feel respected. I do not see them as scholarly, because they only pander to those who think there is something wrong with the religion of Islam and feel they have the authority to change Allah’s/God’s commands.
Rating: 1 / 5
I did like Dr. Wadud’s book and I think it is a must read for Muslim women along with Fatima Mernissi’s books. But injustice against women is part of a bigger crisis caused by rigid exegesis of the Quran in the Bedouin countries of Islam and by political Islam.
The whole picture is analyzed by another courageous, progressive, Muslim thinker and that is Judge Said al-Ashmawy. Along with Mernissi, I recommend two of his books for starters: “Against Islamic Extremism” in English and “The Truth About Hijab” in Arabic. “The Truth About Hijab” relates the public confrontations he had with Azhar scholars in 1994. He defended women’s right to free themselves from Hijab tradition since Muslim men no longer posses or need to distinguish their women slaves (”your right hand possession”) from free women (”thus be recognized and not molested”). Hence, there is no need now to distinguish free Muslim women from slave Muslim women since slavery was abolished all over the world over 100 years ago except in Saudi Arabia. The later started to abolish it gradually under international pressure in 1962 as they believed that is halal in their Bedouin version of Islam (Read al-Ashmawy, Iqbal Baraka, Mohamed Shahrour and Mernissi’s books).
The Quran recommends decency in women’s clothing, covering “Faraj”, “Jaib” or sexual area but states nothing about women covering their heads. The Holy Quran has new regulation for these naked Bedouins in hot Arabia and it is for them specifically: “O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury.”.These Bedouins needed to learn these new Islamic customs: 1. garments are not vanity and nakedness is not humility. 2. Free women need to identity themselves from slave concubines. It is clear that the Quran does not try to give specific laws for all occasions but it gives fundamental principles which enable us to establish the basic guidance for our behavior in all aspects of our life. It is a question of using common sense and reason on the basis of guiding principles. In this sense, Islam guides us to freedom and ethical behavior and no more sex slaves and curtain covers any more.
But, in any case, any Muslim woman who likes to apply the holy text out of context and “word for word” and would like to communicate to people from behind a curtain – as the Quran states 1400 years ago in “ask them from behind a curtain” or “stay in your houses” – is welcome to move and live, happily ever after, among the Taliban or live in Saudi Arabia. In both cases, they should not walk naked like Bedouins anymore or “put their cloth aside” as the Quran permits for the elderly. Nudity is nolonger the etiquette of our days and law breakers – anywhere in the world- would be confined for “public exposure” if they adhear to these literal habits and manners of naked Bedouins living in the detached arabian deseret 1400 years ago.
It is very sad that the Muslim world is going backwards.
Rating: 5 / 5
This book is fantastic! Wadud opens your eyes to a new way of looking at and understanding the Quran! Another good way to topple the idiotic patriarchy that is currently in charge.
Rating: 5 / 5
I think this is an amazing book, however it’s not the easiest to read. The writing is hard to follow and I couldn’t find some of the words she use in the English or Oxford dictionary…still her points were great and the issue was made clear in the end. Very educational.
Rating: 3 / 5
This book it good but short, and there are already many good reviews, so I will only add that, for a better understanding of Islam (neither flattering nor biased against it), it is worth reading also the following works:
A) ASSESSMENTS OF ISLAM: 1) The best, impartial, wise: “Islam. History, present, future” by Hans Küng . 2) Moderate Islam at its best: “The Great Theft : Wrestling Islam from the Extremists” by Khaled M. Abou El Fadl; and 3) Harsh but well argued: “Muslims in the West: Redefining the Separation of Church & State” by Sami Awad Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh;
B) WOMEN AND ISLAM. 4) A good reference book: “Women In Islam: An Anthology From The Qu’ran And Hadiths” by Nicholas Awde; and 5) Autobiography of a courageous woman: “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She is a controversial thinker with a very interesting life.
C) HISTORY: 6) General: “The Venture of Islam”, by Marshall G. S. Hodgson (nowadays a classic included in any bibliography on Islam); 7) Turks: “The Turks in World History” by Carter Vaughn Findley; 8) Political theory: “God’s Rule : Government and Islam” by Patricia Crone; and 9) Jihad: Understanding Jihad” by David Cook.
Rating: 4 / 5