Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the tendency to view Islam as intrinsically constraining women owes a great deal to fundamentalist movements that rest on interpretations of the Qur'an that do not hold up to scrutiny. The author points out that these fundamentalist overlook the Islamic project of building the Ummah, which the Prophet meant for women and their status vis-a-vis men. The paper relates that the Qur'an states what men must do to support and protect women and to give them liberty. The author stresses that effort must be devoted to encouraging re-education of Muslim males to understand that their attitudes and practices expecting female subservience and confinement to the domestic sphere are not signs of Muslim adherence and respectability. The paper states that the same poles of mysticism versus fundamentalism in the treatment of women may be said for fundamentalist Christianity in Western countries.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Islam, Women and Environment
The Qur'an
Strengthening Men's Obligations
Concluding Remarks

From the Paper:

"Again and again, one sees efforts to clarify what the Qur'an does say concerning the sexes and women's status. Fundamentalist Muslim males do violate what was intended. For instance, Allah is said to hold women in the same position of men, rules working both for and against them, according to conduct. (2:228) Women are not to be passed from one household to another against their will, are not to be treated harshly and deserve kindness and equity. (4:19) Both men and women are to display their obedience to Allah, the righteous woman one who makes this adherence plain, as does the righteous man. (4:34) The Qur'an stresses how Allah created men and women to live in a complementary peace and tranquility. (30:21)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Afary, Janet. "Feminism and the Challenge of Muslim Fundamentalism" in Spoils of War - Women of Colour, Cultures and Revolutions. London: Rowan & Littlefield, 1997, pp. 83-100.
• Ali, Abdullah Yusuf. Trans. The Qur'an. Elmhurst, New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, 2005.
• Esposito, John L. Islam. Rev.3rd edn. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
• Esposito, John L., D.J. Fasching and T. Lewis. World Religions Today. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
• Lawrence, Bruce. Defenders of God - the Fundamentalist Revolt against the Modern Age. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989.

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