There is a wealth of materials available on the web on issues relating to women, gender, and Islam. These links, to online essays and organizations, provide a starting point for exploring the range of opinions on topics related to sexual ethics. Our inclusion of these materials represents the Project’s commitment to dialogue and diversity of perspectives and does not constitute an endorsement of any of the views expressed.
Islamic Feminism
Veiling
Interpretations of Qur’an 4.34
Islamic Family Law
Domestic Violence
Honor Killings in Islamic Law, Scripture, and Prophetic Traditions
Honor Killings in Muslim Societies
Lesbian/Bisexual/Queer Muslims and Same-Sex Sexual Activity
Muslim Women’s Organizations
Gateway Pages
Primary texts – Qur’an and Hadith
Resources for Scholars
Islamic Feminism
“Aisha’s Legacy” by Amina Wadud
http://www.newint.org/issue345/legacy.htm
“Islam from Patriarchy to Feminism” by Zeeshan Hasan
http://www.liberalislam.net/women.html
“Islamic Feminism And Its Discontents: Notes On A Debate” by Val Moghadam
http://www.iran-bulletin.org/islamic_feminism.htm
“Islamic feminism”: compromise or challenge to feminism?” by Mehrdad Darvishpour
http://www.iran-bulletin.org/Islamic_feminism.html
“Muslim women and the Feminist Movement” (unsigned)
Brief introduction to the relevant issues; declares that “a feminist movement for Muslims must come out of Islam and not be adapted from an alien environment if it is to be successful in increasing and upholding the rights of women.”
http://piglet.ex.ac.uk/archive/1998-99/itp3002/islam/feminism.htm
“The Feminist Movement and the Muslim Woman” by Maryam Jameelah
Presents a conservative perspective stating in part that “Feminism is an unnatural, artificial and abnormal product of contemporary social disintegration, which in turn is the inevitable result of the rejection of all transcendental, absolute moral and spiritual values.” Argues for the incompatibility of Islam and feminism. http://www.sharif.org.uk/jameelah.htm
“Why Feminism is AWOL on Islam” by Kay S. Hymnowitz
Challenging essay concerned primarily with non-Muslim feminists’ approach to Islam and Muslim societies rather than with Islamic feminism: “[T]he sound of feminist silence about the savage fundamentalist Muslim oppression of women has its own perverse logic. The silence is a direct outgrowth of the way feminist theory has developed in recent years. Now mired in self-righteous sentimentalism, multicultural nonjudgmentalism, and internationalist utopianism, feminism has lost the language to make the universalist moral claims of equal dignity and individual freedom that once rendered it so compelling.”
http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_1_why_feminism.html
Siyanda Resources
Links to more essays as well as a database of other resources:
http://www.siyanda.org/jan03_siyanda.htm
Feminist Expectations and the Response of Muslim Women, lecture by
Hujjatul Islam Dr.Saied Reza Ameli
Transcript and online audio available. Argues that Islam must have a holistic approach to men’s and women’s rights and roles in family and society, while feminism promotes a “monosex” position. http://www.inminds.co.uk/feminism-muslim-response.html
Veiling
This list of links is a starting point for those interested in learning more about why Muslim women wear, or don’t wear, hijab. Web searches using key words including “veiling,” “hijab,” and “Islamic dress” will turn up many additional sites.
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/2003/11/000358print.php
Boxed in by a Bit of Cloth
http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-5-57-1820.jsp
"The French parliament's decision to ban conspicuous displays of religious belief in schools including the Muslim headscarf has outraged many liberals and believers while gaining the support of a majority of French people. An American Muslim critically examines the principles at stake on both sides."
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/2003/10/000253print.php
Muslim woman who has worn hijab for eight years explains her decision to no longer do so.
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/2004/02/000541print.php
Article on the current controversy over the French headscarf ban.
http://www.mwlusa.org/pub_hijab.html
From the Muslim Women’s League, a consideration of the scriptural sources surrounding clothing and their key concerns – above all, modesty. Presents balanced and fair depiction of various positions on hijab, arguing ultimately for each woman’s right to follow her conscience.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam/hijabexperience.html
Personal discussion of one woman’s experience wearing the hijab in Canada.
http://www.isop.ucla.edu/cnes/outreach/media/veiling/docs/sondra_hale.htm
Text of a lecture by respected anthropologist Sondra Hale discussing scholarly treatments of “veiling” and how those may or may not be thoroughly grounded in actual practice rather than stereotypes about Middle Eastern women’s oppression.
http://www.maryams.net/text/articles_veil02.html
“Muslim Feminists and the Veil: To veil or not to veil - is that the question?” Scholarly but brief article with references. (TEMPORARILY OFFLINE)
http://www.islamicperspectives.com/Chastity1.htm
Article from a fairly traditional perspective addressing issues related to how the hijab should be understood, and its relationship to “chastity” in the practice of Muhammad and Jesus.
http://www.islamicgarden.com/page1004.html
Links to numerous thoughtful articles from pro-hijab sources addressing diverse considerations surrounding veiling, conversion, “Islamic dress” in the West, etc.
http://www.islamonline.net/english/Views/2002/04/article05.shtml
Muslim man who argues that the importance placed on hijab in Muslim communities not only alienates some women but diverts attention from more pressing issues facing Muslims in the West and in the world.
http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~elguindi/VResistance.htm
Full text of scholarly article by Fadwa El Guindi that addresses, among other topics, veiling and unveiling in twentieth-century Egypt.
Interpretations of Qur’an 4.34
There are many opinions about the meaning and importance of Qur’an 4:34. These links represent, but do not exhaust, the spectrum of views to be found within the Muslim community. Their inclusion here does not, of course, constitute an endorsement of any particular views expressed.
http://www.muhajabah.com/marriagedynamics.htm
Essay by a Muslim woman who argues that Q. 4:34 refers to a balance of power in marriage, where women have a primary responsibility for childbearing and rearing and men have both the responsibility of support and the right of leadership. Has links to additional sites.
http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/dv-4-34-shafaat.html
Essay by Ahmed Shafaat, first published in Al-Ummah, Montreal, Canada in 1984. Presents a generally conservative view, though with some original arguments.
http://www.yuksel.org/e/religion/unorthodox.htm
Essay by Edip Yuksel, Turkish translator of the Qur’an, who argues that the conventional understanding of Q. 4:34 is wrong, and that daraba (the verb usually translated as beat) means to “strike them out” – to divorce them.
http://pub1.ezboard.com/flahoreahmadiyyamessageboardarchive.showMessage?topicID=27.topic
A series of thoughtful posts from a number of men to a message board. Addresses the issue of the controversial translation of Q. 4:34 by Ahmed Ali.
http://www.abc.se/~m9783/fiqhi/fiqha_e32.html
From the Living Islam page, this page in the Question and Answer format gives numerous examples from Prophetic tradition (hadith) about whether it is permissible to strike one’s wife, and also addresses linguistic issues in interpreting Q. 4:34 .
http://www.crescentlife.com/thisthat/does_the_quran_sanction_the_beating_of_women.htm
“Does The Quran Sanction The Beating of Women?” by Mohammed Abdul Malek. Argues that the word usually translated as “beat” means “separate” in the context of Q. 4:34.
http://bismikaallahuma.org/Quran/Commentary/q4-34.htm
Short essay by Shibli Zaman with references to traditional sources, framed as a refutation of anti-Islamic polemic.
See also our DOMESTIC VIOLENCE links below
Scholarly Discussions of Qur'anic Exegesis and Q.4:34
The links below provide a nuanced discussion of Qur’an 4:34 within the broader framework of its scriptural and interpretive contexts. This trio together helps to make sense of the political and theological issues associated with reading and understanding the Qur’an. Their inclusion here does not, of course, constitute an endorsement of any particular views expressed.
http://theothervoices.org.za/Religionsa/jotafs.htm
“Exegetical Violence: Nushuz in Qur'anic Gener Ideology" by Sa'diyya Shaikh. Deals with the issue of patriarchal interpretation of the Qur’an through the example of 4:34.
http://www.faridesack.com/Presentations/p_5.asp
“What Do Men Owe to Women? Social, Religious, and Political Dimenstions of Predjudice: Reflections of a Muslim," by Farid Esack. Challenging to conventional Muslim feminist discourse that absolves the Qur’anic text of any blame for its patriarchal interpretation.
http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/abarlas/papers/macalester.htm
“Muslim Women & Sexual Oppression: Reading Liberation From the Qur'an,"
by Asma Barlas. She argues, and provides evidence for her claim, that “Quranic epistemology is inherently antipatriarchal."
Islamic Family Law
The Islamic Family Law Project at Emory University
http://www.law.emory.edu/IFL/
A source for material on Islamic law as applied in numerous countries around the world as well as discussions on possibilties for reform in interpretation and application. Contains a discussion of the application of Islamic Family Law in the United States with a useful summary of much of the secondary literature currently available: http://www.law.emory.edu/IFL/index2.html
Why Iraqi Women Aren’t Complaining by Haifa Zangana, for The Guardian. Iraqi women's response to proposed replacement of secular law with Islamic family law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1151087,00.html
Temporary Marriage in Islamic Law by Sachiko Murata. Full text of scholarly study about the Shi‘i Muslim practice of temporary marriage.
http://www.al-islam.org/al-serat/muta/
*Karamah: Muslim Women’s Lawyers for Human Rights
Website: http://www.karamah.org
E-Mail: karamah@karamah.org
Address: The T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173. Currently working on creating a model Islamic marriage contract
*Women Living Under Muslim Laws
Website: http://www.wluml.org
Email: run@gn.apc.org
Address: International Coordination Office
P.O. Box 28445
London N19 5NZ, UK
“The Network 'Women Living Under Muslim Laws' was created to break women’s isolation and to provide linkages and support to all women whose lives may be affected by Muslim laws.”
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Forum – ISNA (Islamic Society of North America)
Contains links to articles and other resources as well as to a list of Muslim-oriented shelters and programs
http://www.isna.net/dv/
See also the materials under Interpretations of Qur’an 4.34 above.
Honor Killings in Islamic Law, Scripture, and Prophetic Traditions
"Honor" Killings: Condemnations Are Not Enough by Shahed Amanullah. (Note: contains photo of a mutilated victim.)
http://www.altmuslim.com/opinion_comments.php?id=854_0_25_0_C
Muslim Women’s League position paper on honor killings: http://www.mwlusa.org/publications/positionpapers/hk.html
Article demonstrating that traditional Islamic law does not permit honor killings, but insists on punishing any perpetrator as a murderer, by Mohammed Fadel. http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org/bin/site/wrappers/default.asp?pane_2=content-legal-honor_killing
Legal opinion on honor killings from “Fatwa Bank” at Islam online.
http://www.islam-online.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=9882
Whose Honor? Muslim Women and Crimes of Honor, by Azza Basarudin. http://www.iifhr.com/womens%20website/ppaperhonor_killing.html
Honor Killings in Muslim Societies
Women in Pakistan: Murdered in the Name of "Honor." Amnesty International report detailing several cases; link to full text of report on violence against women in Pakistan. http://www.amnestyusa.org/women/honor_killings/
Documentation for cases of honor killing and other abuses in Pakistan, from the International Network for the Rights of Female Victims of Violence in Pakistan.
http://inrfvvp.org/documents.htm
Thousands of Women Killed for Family "Honor" by Hillary Mayell, for National Geographic News. Deals with killings of Muslim and non-Muslim women in countries around the world. Note: contains link to graphic photo gallery.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/02/0212_020212_honorkilling.html
“Commodifying Honor in Female Sexuality: Honor Killings in Palestine,” by Suzanne Ruggi.
http://www.merip.org/mer/mer206/ruggi.htm
“Jordanian Parliament Supports Impunity For Honor Killings,” Human Rights Watch report, 2000.
http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/01/jord0127.htm
Arab Honor's Price: A Woman's Blood, by Douglas Jehl, from New York Times online.
http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/chastity.htm
Nigerian Woman Facing Death Seeks Leniency, from the Associated Press.
http://www.religiousconsultation.org/News_Tracker/Nigerian_woman_facing_death.htm
Honour Killings' Law Blocked, from BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3088828.stm
MORE LINKS to sources on honor killings at About.com: http://women3rdworld.about.com/cs/honorkillings/
Lesbian/Bisexual/Queer Muslims and Same-Sex Sexual Activity
As our essay on this topic notes, same-sex attractions and relationships are a very controversial subject among contemporary Muslims. These links present a range of views, including some that can be described as traditional and others that are anything but. Most of these sites focus on male-male relationships, but allude to lesbian issues also.
Al-Fatiha Foundation http://www.al-fatiha.net/
“Al-Fatiha Foundation is a member of an international grassroots network of organizations dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning, those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity, and other sexual and gender minorities.”
Contains a brief essay entitled “Homosexuality and Same-Sex Acts in Islam”:
http://www.al-fatiha.net/pamphlet.html
Queer Jihad
http://www.well.com/user/queerjhd/aboutqj.htm
The Yoesuf Foundation http://www.yoesuf.nl/engels/index.htm
Contains a brief discussion of varying views among queer Muslims as to what is and isn’t acceptable behavior; possibility to join an online forum.
http://www.gaycharlotte.com/lgbtfaqs/islam.htm#Islam%20&%20Homosexuality
A brief discussion of “mainstream” Muslim views as well as a short bibliography and links to other sites: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_isla.htm
Contains reviews of two main books about (male) homosexuality in Islamic history and literature: http://www.nathanielwandering.net/Islam.htm
Gateway Pages
*Islam and Women's Rights
Website: http://www.uga.edu/islam/Islamwomen.html
Email: godlas@uga.edu
Address: University of Georgia, Atlanta, GA.
Notes: This information is provided as part of the website of Dr. Alan Godlas, Department of Religion, University of Georgia.
Muslim Women’s Organizations
*Muslim Women’s League
Website: http://www.mwlusa.org/welcome.html
E-Mail: mwl@mwlusa.org
Address: 3010 Wilshire Blvd, Suite #519 Los Angeles, Ca 90020
Phone: (213) 383-3443
Notes: “Works to implement the values of Islam and thereby reclaim the status of women as free, equal, and vital contributors to society.”
Sisters in Islam
Website:http://www.muslimtents.com/sistersinislam/
E-Mail: sis@sisfora.po.my
Address:JKR No. 851, Jalan Dewan Bahasa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: 603-21426121, 21483705
Fax: 603-21483601
Notes: “Sisters in Islam (SIS) is a group of Muslim professional women committed to promoting the rights of women within the framework of Islam.”
Primary Texts
Electronically accessible (and often searchable) Qur’an and hadith texts (in English) are wonderful resources.
Qur’an
The Qur’an is the sacred scripture of Islam, which Muslims believe was revealed by God to the Muhammad over the course of his 23-year prophetic career. Though its Arabic language is considered integral to its message, there are numerous English versions available. The site below contains those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, and M. H. Shakir. For information on other published translations, see the Bibliography.
One can search these three English versions of the Qur’an by keywords at http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/searchquran.html
One can also select individual chapters (surahs) to scroll through from a list at http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
To read selections from one translation of the Qur’an dealing with male and female believers: http://www.muhajabah.com/womenquran.htm
Hadith (prophetic traditions)
Hadith are reports of sayings or actions of Muhammad, and sometimes his companions. There are numerous compilations of hadith, but those of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, who both lived during the ninth century, are considered by Sunni Muslims to be the most authoritative. These sites have a keyword search feature available.
Sahih Bukhari, translated into English by M. Muhsin Khan.
The Book of Marriage: http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/hadeeth/bukhari/062.html or http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/062.sbt.html
The Book of Divorce: http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/hadeeth/bukhari/063.html or http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/063.sbt.html
Sahih Muslim, translated into English by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.
The Book of Marriage: http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/hadeeth/muslim/008.html or http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/008.smt.html
The Book of Divorce: http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/hadeeth/muslim/009.html or http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/009.smt.html
Resources for Scholars
Bibliography
Teaching about Women, Gender, and Islamic Law (PDF file)
Online essays on gender-conscious Qur’anic exegesis
Finding the Law: Islamic Law (Sharia), Andrew Grossman
http://www.llrx.com/features/islamiclaw.htm