Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective

I give this book 5 stars because as I was reading it I wished every Muslim woman (and man) would read it. The book is written by a professor of Islamic studies who (as she writes in the preface)" approached this research as if my life depended on the understandings I gained from studying the Quran". The book is aimed at proving the equality of men and women in the religion of Islam by going to the source: the Qur'an. It challenges the false concepts held by many Muslims (concepts that do not reflect Quran and Islam) such as:" men are superior to women", men are in charge of women", "men are natural leaders", " men rule the family and should get obedience from women", " women should not leave the house unless it is necessary"," woman's voice is taboo", etc. The author breaks down specific verses and key words that have been used to oppress and limit women, to show that their real meaning defies such oppression and limitation. The book covers many aspects of equality manifested in the story of creation and the events in the Garden, the Quranic view of woman in the world with discussion of distinctive female characters in the Quran, the Hereafter including companions in the Hereafter e.g. "the virgins of paradise". The book also discusses controversies around the rights and roles of women and the relationship between men and women: male authority: polygamy, marital disharmony, divorce, inheritance, women as witness, etc. I think the author should have discussed two other important topics: veiling and segregation. Although the book is only 118 pages, and is well organized into chapters and subtitles, it was a little difficult to get through: the writing style is somewhat academic, some concepts I think needed more elaboration to be clear, and I had to open my dictionary several times. There are many footnotes and I would have preferred that they be incorporated in the text. Having said that it was certainly worth the effort and I certainly enjoyed "studying" this book. I have felt like a bad Muslim before for not surrendering to these concepts of male superiority, and I thank the author for liberating me( and I am sure many other women) from these feelings. A must read for all Muslims.

Wadud's "Qur'an and Woman" was a joy to read. Clearly, Wadud knows her stuff. The information presented is very accurate, and the book is nicely organized. Her writing is not only clear and coherent, but very cogent and persuasive. I would recommend this book not only to all Muslims, especially in Afghanistan, but also to those thinking about converting to Islam or who want to know more about the religion from a viewpoint that is not often represented in today's biased media.

The sister evidently did a lot of research and she did alot of citing to prove her point. I am so pleased to see a well thought out arguement (in book style) for the rights of women. i have long said it is not islam that keeps us down but the men who misinterpret it to their own advantage!

This is the book i was waiting to read. I have spent so much time and energy thinking about this topic, being a Muslim woman. I can completely relate to this book. All of Wadud's arguments are on point and logical. I agree with her analysis of the subject of women. Reveiwing the Qur'an from this perspective has shed light on a very confusing and sometimes frustrating matter, for many females today. I recommend this book to all Muslims, male and female. It may open your eyes to something you did not see before. It may also help to separate the mixture going on too much these days of cultural gender roles slapped on to people using Islam as an excuse. thankyou..

Quran and Woman is an incredibly rich and resourceful book for anyone who wants a close, etymological study of the Quran and its conjectures on Women. It establishes with sufficient proof that gender equity was part of the Quran's mission.