What is it about?
Through presenting various readings of key verses from the Qur’an, this chapter describes the religious injunctions brought forward that impact women’s participation in the public sphere. The few verses in the Qur’an dedicated to male-female interactions and Muslim women’s dress are discussed. The various understandings of those verses are presented and the implications on female participation are described. The chapter reflects upon the controversies revolving around the “hijab” verse and what this means for women’s presence in the public sphere. The chapter explains how arguments that effectively seclude women are indeed based on the sacred text.
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Why is it important?
The chapter explores how alternative explanations and interpretations of the same texts can be brought forward that call for understandings that include, rather than exclude, women.
Perspectives
To many, it is surprising to read directly from the Qur'an and try to understand what exactly does it say regarding the role of women in the public sphere. Current practices in Muslim societies impacting women stem not only from the Qur'an or the traditions of the Prophet, but also from the diverse readings and cultural practices that developed over the years. That's why one sees lots of diversity among Muslim societies in that regard.
Professor Yusuf Sidani
American University of Beirut
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: What the Qur’an Says, September 2017, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-63221-6_3.
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