Program Overview

Introduction to ISL355 Women in Islam and Islamic Cultures

This subject addresses critically the modern paradigms concerning women and gender roles within contemporary society. Developing arguments within a critical framework of an Islamic set of paradigms and values, it takes a fresh look at women in Islam by examining the status and role of women in scripture, exploring heroines in the mystic world, and discussing critically the authentic status of Muslim women in Islamic societies.

Subject Information

Grading System

The grading system for this subject is HD/FL.

Duration

The duration of this subject is one session.

School

This subject is offered by the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to assess critically women's status in Islam
• be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary Muslim women's experience in Islam
• be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of women in Islamic sources, art, history, and contemporary societies
• be able to recognise the gender factor in social and interpersonal space for men and women
• be able to develop a critical approach to patriarchal as well as counter-patriarchal discourses regarding women's status in Islam
• be able to understand critically non-Islamic factors contributing to women's status in Islamic cultures and societies
• be able to analyse critically widely discussed issues of inheritance, divorce, hijab (veil), and polygamy in Islamic societies
• be able to articulate critically contemporary Muslim women's experience in social and religious activism
• be able to research interdisciplinary topics and apply critical reasoning while presenting arguments in oral and written (essay) forms

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Concepts and definitions, paradigms and thinking out of paradigms
• Women role models and womanhood in the Qur'an
• Reforms of Prophet Muhammad on women's status in the seventh century
• Women's status and responsibilities according to the Islamic sources
• Gender issues in Islamic worship and law
• Women and Sufism
• Harem: myth and reality of Muslim women through the middle ages
• Women-poetry, art, and architecture
• Social status of Muslim women from a variety of backgrounds through Muslim history
• Women: nation building and nationalism
• Influence of feminism in Islamic cultures
• Contemporary status of women in Islamic societies
• Muslim women in the West