Islamic Feminism from A Liberal Muslim Perspective

Abstract

The challenge addressed herein are impacts from feminism on Muslims in particular. The authors discuss this based on an understanding of the position of women in the west vis-à-vis variegated Muslim societies. Some believe that Islamic feminism obtains full sovereignty for women and thus gel with western rejection of male chauvinism and dominance with arguments straight from the Quran. Liberal Muslim feminists believe a woman must be given equal considerations in various circumstances to include inheritance rights, legal testimony and so forth. Based on hermeneutic interpretations, socio-historical analysis and relativism, Muslim feminists believe the Quran needs a robust dusting and reinterpretation that allow socio-historical reconsiderations for this worthy cause. Since Muslim societies embrace Islam and its prevailing patriarchal culture, it is difficult to accept the concept of Islamic feminism. This paper investigates feminism from a liberal muslim perspective. A literature review provides a thematic analysis that refers to emerging trends in gender issues. Findings reveal that ideas and practices regarding rights and freedom seek to enhance the status of women. The discussion solely focuses on historical and contextual analysis to realize the expanding potential of feminism’s path to freedom of choice in the Islamic context.