Amina Wa'dud Readings

The readings from Amina Wa’dud’s book dispel some of the misconceptions people carry about the position, and the rights, of women in Islam. Wa’dud states that guidance with relation to gender roles and rights as stated by the Quran are sometimes as clear as day and night, but at times, verses require interpretation, and interpretation depends on the open or close mindedness of a person. From my experience, there are people like Wa’dud who believe that while the Quran is a source, man as an interpreter is a resource, but I have encountered people who vehemently protest further analysis of Quranic versus - it is what it is, and reading between the lines is questioning Allah’s word. Therefore, the first of the Wa’dud reading deals with the interpretative ability of the Quran and the scripture’s ability to appeal universally irrespective of region or time.

The second reading addresses the rights and protection guaranteed to women by the Quran. For a religion accused of subjugating its women, the Quran, addresses in great detail rights of women in lieu of inheritance, divorce, marriage and childcare. While men and women are considered equal but different, from the reading, I did get a sense that men have command over women because men are considered ‘best suited’ for a position of authority. So I guess it boils down to gender dynamics that have been sewn into our DNA and despite ordinances of the Quran against domestic abuse, female infanticide and subjugation of women, sadly these practices continue to exist and at times I feel like the verses empowering men are taken more seriously than those empowering women.