Voices from the Diaspora: Towards a Gender Sensitive Re-Reading of the Qur’an

Abstract

The Qur’an as the main Holy book of Islam affirms that men and women are created from one soul, and that they are partners to each other, that males and females have the same religious responsibilities, and that both genders will receive similar treatment on the Day of Judgment. Yet the reality of Muslim societies all across the globe diverges greatly from the ideal and forces women into a type of religious practices and daily living that are extremely patriarchal and oppressive. The main research question is: How can Qur’an hermeneutics and developing a gender sensitive approach to rereading the Qur’an can enhance the current status of Muslim women? With reference to the works of Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas, the aim of this current research is to examine the two approaches to gender re- readings of the Qur’an and to find women’s voice in the interpretative dialogue of Islam’s primary text. It also aims to explore how such voices may unshackle Muslim women from discrimination.