Many of you have probably heard of the controversy stirred when dr. She is professor of islamic studies at virginia commonwealth university and author of quran and woman. The life and work of amina wadud is helping to change gender roles within islam. Mar 08, 2012 in an ongoing series for womens history month, odyssey networks speaks with muslim scholar and feminist amina wadud on the role of women in islam. In her provocative new book, inside the gender jihad, she brings a wealth of experience from the trenches of the jihad to make a passionate argument for gender inclusiveness in the muslim world. The qur an does not talk by itself, it is humans who make it talk. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective, led a mixedgender jumuah prayer on. Rereading the sacred text from a woman s perspective. Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion but patriarchal. Amina wadud is an islamic studies professor in the department of philosophy and religious studies at virginia commonwealth university. For many, the phrase islamic feminism would appear to be oxymoronic. Qur an and woman reareading the sacred text from a woman s perspective.
Rereading the sacred text from a woman s perspective, oxford, 1999 and, most recently, of inside the gender jihad. Amina wadud s book summarizes this insight which is both complex and sensitive. Womens reform in islam 2006, in 2007 wadud was awarded the danish democracy prize. Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion but. She is the author of the wellknown book quran and woman. Her books are wellknown internationally and she is a prolific public speaker. Quran and woman amina wadud oxford university press. Quran and woman by amina wadudmuhsin find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Amina wadud is an islamic studies professor, author of several books advocating for a more active role for women in islam, and in 2005 lead a new york city mosque in friday prayers, setting the international world on fire. Sarah lee for the guardian w ith her warm manner, academic language and greytinged dreadlocks partially covered by a headscarf, amina wadud makes an unlikely rebel. Wadud, who specializes in islam, gender and quranic studies, taught at the religious studies program at virginia commonwealth university and the international islamic university in malaysia. In order to create justice in gender in islam, there is no need to stray. Professor amina wadud has argued persuasively that the influence of patriarchy on interpretation of the quran and the practices of muslims has restricted realisation of the quranic message of equality and justice. She has been part of several civil society organizations and movements for promoting principles of equality for women under principles of islam.
Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective, was speaking as part of a series sponsored by york university and the noor cultural centre. Honoring the work and life of amina wadud the link takes you to a full pdf of the. A jihad for justice honoring the work and life of amina wadud. Wadud is absolutely brilliant, and it really shows through her past efforts to affirm her place within islam as an africanamerican woman, her observations about gender, and her interpretations of the qur an and how those interpretations affect the ummah as a whole. Amina wadud born september 25, 1952 is an american muslim philosopher with a progressive focus on quran exegesis interpretation of the holy text amina converted to islam and concerted her efforts on relation of gender and islam.
Jun 30, 2006 in 2005, amina wadud made international headlines when she helped to promote new traditions by leading the muslim friday prayer in new york city. I enjoyed reading about waduds story and how she discovered islam for herself. This is an analysis of the concept of woman drawn directly from the qur an. The longterm success of this project lies in the fact that it is all happening within islam. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective 2 by wadud, amina isbn.
For her, the term was loaded with problematic baggage. Professor wadud is the living embodiment of someone who takes to heart the quranic command to bear witness for gods sake in justice even if it is against her loved ones or herself. An explicit attempt to return to the original sourcethe quranwhen the tendency has been to confuse the works of islamic scholars with the quran, it demonstrates that in order to maintain its relevance, the quran must be continually reinterpreted. In march, a group of american muslims announced that amina wadud muhsin would lead the juma prayers on friday 18th of march in new york, delivering the khutba and leading the collective prayer. Amina wadud, professor of islamic studies at virginia commonwealth university and author of quran and woman. Nevertheless, islamic feminism does exist and is shaking the core beliefs of many traditional muslims. Some see it as an awakening of the comunity, a revolutionary issue. This past week, whitman college received the visit of dr. In 2005, amina wadud made international headlines when she helped to promote new traditions by leading the muslim friday prayer in new york city. Amina wadud is a retired professor of religion and philosophy at virginia commonwealth university with a progressive focus on quran exegesis and an activist for gender equality her books include quran and woman. Amina wadud born september 25, 1952 is an american muslim philosopher with a progressive focus on qur an exegesis interpretation of the holy text amina converted to islam and concerted her efforts on relation of gender and islam. Similar to mernissi, amina wadud is definitely one of the wellknown american muslim female scholars and a feminist writer who was seriously interested in a genderinclusive reinterpretation of the quran. If this seems dubious, then you need to read quran and woman by amina wadud, a female quranic scholar, who has a deep and practical reading of the quran as well as a critical attitude towards the malebias in much of the dominant traditions.
Wadud is professor emeritus of islamic studies at virginia commonwealth university in richmond, va and visiting scholar at starr king school for ministry in berkeley, california. To say the least, wadud is uniquely suited to write inside the gender jihad. Amina wadud, a quranic scholar and leader in islamic feminism. A new reading makes a valuable contribution to the islamic scholarshipactivism explosion of the 21st century. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective and.
Inside the gender jihad is an interesting mix of autobiography and feminist analysis of the muslim world. Her views, analyses, interpretation on quranic statements to its actual practices are with open mind, that she had expressed all her opinion. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective, and also. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective 1999 and inside the gender jihad. Her background also includes advanced arabic studies at american university in cairo. Certainly there would be an expectation of a great tension between traditional quranic interpretation and secular feminism. May 01, 2017 the life and work of amina wadud is helping to change gender roles within islam. A worldrenowned professor of islamic studies, amina wadud has long been at the forefront of what she calls the gender jihad, the struggle for justice for women within the global islamic community. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective and inside the gender jihad. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective. This is an analysis of the concept of woman drawn directly from the quran.
Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion but patriarchal interpretation and implementation of the quran that have kept women oppressed. Men in charge quran and gender as a category of thought. Professor amina wadud has argued persuasively that the influence of patriarchy on interpretation of the qur an and the practices of muslims has restricted realisation of the qur anic message of equality and justice. In this provocative book, inside the gender jihad, wadud brings a wealth of experience from the trenches of the jihad to make a passionate argument for gender inclusiveness in the muslim world. Modern and classical interpretations of islamic scripture march 1011, 2016 the communities of the quran conference brought together eminent scholars and pr. Apr 28, 2017 amina wadud has not always been comfortable with the idea of feminism when coupled with islam. Knitting together scrupulous scholarship with lessons drawn from her own experiences as a woman, she explores the array of issues facing muslim women. Rereading the sacred text from a women s perspective qur an and women. Scholar of qur anic studies and muslim theologian, amina wadud also embodies a reference within the islamic feminist. She has been part of several civil society organizations and movements for promoting principles of equality for women under principles. An explicit attempt to return to the original sourcethe qur an when the tendency has been to confuse the works of islamic scholars with the qur an, it demonstrates that in order to maintain its relevance, the qur an must be continually reinterpreted. Many lines are so beautifully quoted that knocks feminism.
Now, with quran and woman, amina wadud provides a first interpretive reading by a woman, a reading which validates the female voice in the quran and brings it out of the shadows. Rereading the sacred text from a woman s perspective and inside the gender jihad, she will blog on her life journey and anything that moves her about islam, gender. Rereading the sacred text from a womens perspective, author amina wadud examines the role of human creation and the hereafter, the influence of key female figures in the quran, and the rights of women by providing a feminine voice to a source that has been typically analyzed by males. Amina wadud scholar professor amina wadud has argued persuasively that the influence of patriarchy on interpretation of the quran and the practices of muslims has restricted realisation of the quranic message of equality and justice. Rereading the sacred text from a women s perspective by amina wadud on march 18, 2005 amina wadud shocked the world when she led an islamic prayer service in front of both a male and female audience in a new york city cathedral. About the friday prayer led by amina wadud abdennur prado.
The tendency to decontextualize september 11to treat it as a single. Wadud has embraced several public social media forums, including facebook, twitter, and instagram. This book contributes a genderinclusive approach to one of the most fundamental disciplines in islamic thought, quranic exegesis. Fourteen centuries of islamic thought have produced a legacy of interpretive readings of the quran written almost entirely by men. In essence, this is a scholar who practices what she. For in most cases what is regarded as religious thought and. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective and inside the gender jihad, she will blog on her life journey and anything that moves her about islam, gender and justice, especially as these intersect with the rest of the universe.
And the rationale for change comes from the most trustworthy and reliable source of islam itself the quran. Wadud visited classes, lectured and led a workshop on exploring islamic texts with a gender focus. May the peace and blessing of allah shower upon our beloved messenger his family, and companions many of you have probably heard of the controversy stirred when dr. Rereading the sacred text from a woman s perspective, led a mixedgender jumuah prayer on march 18, 2005 in new york. There is a lot of useful info in this book but overall wadud strikes a tone that is simply too fundamentalist for her credibility as a professional academic not to suffer. In 2005, she made international headlines when she helped to promote new traditions by leading the muslim friday prayer in new york city, provoking a firestorm of media. May 02, 2002 the longterm success of this project lies in the fact that it is all happening within islam. Her views, analyses, interpretation on quranic statements to its actual practices are with open mind, that she had expressed all her opinion with complete. Amina wadud does not come to her conclusion through brain power only her main method is looking at the qur an and sunnah.
She is professor of islamic studies at virginia commonwealth university and author of qur an and woman. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective and inside the gender jihad, she will blog on her life journey and anything that moves her about islam, gender. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective, oxford, 1999 and, most recently, of inside the gender jihad. May 18, 2016 modern and classical interpretations of islamic scripture march 1011, 2016 the communities of the quran conference brought together eminent scholars and pr. Rereading the sacred text from a woman s perspective and inside the gender jihad. Amina wadud is a retired professor of religion and philosophy at virginia commonwealth university with a progressive focus on qur an exegesis and an activist for gender equality her books include qur an and woman. Wadud the best in her future academic and liturgical endeavours. However, as the concept of islamic feminism evolved and an emphasis was place on egalitarianism and the rights of all humans, she has since embraced its usage. Many muslims read the qur an and do not see that god is saying women should cover their hair. Quran and woman rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective amina wadud. Rereading the sacred text from a womans perspective, new york, oxford, oxford university press, 1999.
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