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Short Summary |
What is Islamic feminism? Islamic feminism's
key argument is that Islam's fundamental and central holy text, the
Qu'ran, affirms the equality of all human beings. However, the interpretation
of this text has been patriarchal. Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and
the reported, but not always authentic, sayings and deeds of the Prophet
Mohamed, (hadith) have also been used to defend patriarchy. Islamic
feminists go back to the original texts and reinterpret them. Islamic
feminism is formulated by those who explicitly take on an Islamic
feminist identity themselves, but also by others who may not subscribe
to this term, but nevertheless advocate such values. Islamic feminism
became visible in the 1990s in writings by Muslims in Iran, Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, and South Africa. It is a global phenomenon which
transcends East and West, is developed in both Arabic and English,
and is open to both religious and secular people in Muslim countries,
who both may use Islamic arguments to advocate women's rights. It
is generally more radical than Muslims' secular feminisms, in that
it insists on full equality for women and men throughout the private/public
spectrum.
(Please also see Islamic Feminism Revisited: http://www.siyanda.org/static/badran_islamicfeminismrevisited.htm)
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http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/569/cu1.htm
