Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation (Book report)
The title is a book by Barbara Freyer and published by Oxford University Press. The following is a report of the book.[1]
Overview
• A much needed introduction to the role of women in Islamic faith, law, and imagination
Description
Islamic ideas about women and their role in society spark considerable debate both in the Western world and in the Islamic world itself. Despite the popular attention surrounding Middle Eastern attitudes toward women, there has been little systematic study of the statements regarding women in the Qur'an. Stowasser fills the void with this study on the women of Islamic sacred history. By telling their stories in Qur'an and interpretation, she introduces Islamic doctrine and its past and present socio-economic and political applications. Stowasser establishes the link between the female figure as cultural symbol, and Islamic self-perceptions from the beginning to the present time.
Author Information
Barbara Freyer Stowasser, Professor of Arabic and Director of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University, USA
Reviews and Awards
Named an Outstanding Academic Book for 1995 by Choice
"An excellent study of women in Islamic scriptures and commentary. A significant contribution to the scholarship. There is no comparable study in terms of either focus or approach, despite the fact that the topic and materials are so fundamental." - John Esposito