Intellectual Traditions in Islam - 10th Essay

The tenth essay is about "Woman, Half the Man - The Crises of Male Epistemology in Islamic Jurisprudence" by Abdulaziz Sachedina

In this essay he mentions the two spheres of Sharia' one of which is Ibada (acts of honoring God) and the other is Mu'amalat (inter-human relationship). Muamalat or inter-relation among humans need re-thinking and reinterpretation of Quranic and Sunna sources according to changed social conditions, specially on personal status of Muslim women. Madrasas, that train ulema to interpret law, are traditionally male oriented and they disregard female voices, arguments connected with women's issues and human rights. In today's time it is only possible when women themselves participate in legal-ethical system of Islamic law.

Abdulaziz Sachedina went into detail in explaining traditional interpretations leading to women, half the man? it's sources and how it is out of context or derived from male dominated justice system. In his understanding, women will not get their proper position until they are part of interpreting women related matters in sharia and be the part of the rethinking process. Sharia will nto reflect proper interpretation of Islamic law until the women voices and participation are included to be useful for today's changed society.

It was a wonderful essay and as a women it was a joyous occasion for me to hear a male scholar expressing women's rights and addressing issues related to equality of women. I completely agree with him that women also need to take initiative in mastering Sharia, at least to justify their own proper position in society.