RE-READING THE TEXTS: A HERMENEUTIC ANALYSIS OF QUR’ANIC VERSES ON GENDER EQUALITY BY CONTEMPORARY FEMALE SCHOLARS (MUFASSIRAT)
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Female Exegetes, Gender Equality, Qur’anic Hermeneutics
Abstract
The discourse on gender equality within Islamic scholarship has undergone significant transformation as contemporary female exegetes (mufassir?t) contribute new interpretive perspectives to Qur’anic hermeneutics. Traditional interpretations have often reflected patriarchal socio-historical contexts, leading to limitations in understanding the ethical universality of Qur’anic teachings related to justice, dignity, and the balanced relationship between men and women. Contemporary female scholars emphasize a contextual, ethical, and maq??id-oriented hermeneutic approach to reveal the Qur’an’s inherent commitment to gender justice. Their scholarship reflects a growing intellectual movement that challenges hierarchical readings and reaffirms women’s agency in Islamic interpretive traditions. This study aims to analyze how contemporary mufassir?t reinterpret key Qur’anic verses related to gender equality and identify the hermeneutical frameworks that underpin their methodological approach. A qualitative hermeneutic method is applied through a comparative textual analysis of selected works by contemporary female scholars, including Asma Barlas, Amina Wadud, Omaima Abou-Bakr, and Kecia Ali. Thematic coding is utilized to examine interpretive patterns and epistemological principles employed across their tafs?r writings. The findings reveal that female exegetes prioritize egalitarian readings grounded in Qur’anic ethical objectives (maq??id al-shar?’ah), linguistic re-evaluation, and the socio-historical context of revelation (asb?b al-nuz?l). Their analyses challenge gender-hierarchical interpretations and offer frameworks that endorse reciprocal spiritual and social responsibilities between men and women. These interpretations demonstrate a commitment to restoring interpretive balance while resisting patriarchal biases embedded in some traditional exegesis. The study concludes that contemporary mufassir?t significantly contribute to advancing gender-equitable Qur’anic hermeneutics by centering justice, mutuality, and human dignity as core principles. Their scholarship provides a constructive pathway for developing inclusive Islamic thought aligned with modern understandings of gender rights.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yassine Belhassen, Amine Ali, Selma Hachicha
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