Women’s Question Between the Hammer of Modernity and the Anvil of Traditions: A Study in the History of Texts

The article examines the complex interplay between religion, culture, and societal structures in shaping the status of women in Arab Islamic societies. It highlights how religion serves as a legal and moral reference, influencing perceptions of gender roles amidst internal and external pressures. Continuous defeats in the Arab socio-political landscape and imperialist hegemony have fueled identity crises and distorted portrayals of Islam as antagonistic to humanity and gender equity. This has led to a dual dynamic of external blame and internal marginalization, exacerbating women’s oppression. The study distinguishes between inherited traditions and Islamic shari’a, revealing a gap between the Quran’s intent and jurisprudential interpretations. By analyzing the origins of shari’a and utilizing contextual methodologies like asbab alnuzul (occasions of revelation), it demonstrates that Quranic descriptions of gender roles often reflect historical contexts rather than prescriptive norms. Citing thinkers like Muhammad ‘Abduh, the article argues for equality between men and women in Islam, emphasizing shared roles in religious, social, and political domains. Finally, the study critiques selective interpretations that marginalize women and advocates for methodologies that incorporate narrative context, linguistic analysis, and the sequence of revelations, offering a deeper, more authentic understanding of gender in Islam. The study distinguishes between inherited traditions and Islamic shari'a, revealing a gap between the Quran's intent and jurisprudential interpretations. By analyzing the origins of shari'a and utilizing contextual methodologies like asbab al-nuzul (occasions of revelation), it demonstrates that Quranic descriptions of gender roles often reflect historical contexts rather than prescriptive norms. Citing thinkers like Muhammad 'Abduh, the article argues for equality between men and women in Islam, emphasizing shared roles in religious, social, and political domains. Finally, the study critiques selective interpretations that marginalize women and advocates for methodologies that incorporate narrative context, linguistic analysis, and the sequence of revelations, offering a deeper, more authentic understanding of gender in Islam.