Feminist Edges of the Qur'an

Aysha Hidayatullah presents the first comprehensive analysis of contemporary feminist interpretations of the Quran. Synthesizing prominent feminist readings of the Quran in the United States since the late twentieth century, she provides an essential introduction to this nascent field of Qur'anic scholarship and engages in a deep investigationas well as a radical critiqueof its methods and approaches. With a particular focus on feminist impasses in the Quranic text,she argues that many feminist interpretations rely on claims about feminist justice that are not fully supported by the text, and she proposes a major revision to their exegetical foundations. A provocative work of Muslim feminist theology, Feminist Edges of the Quran is a vital intervention inurgent conversations about women and the Quran.

forays into scriptural interpretation, analyzes and critiques their assumptions and methods, and proposes strategies for moving past the aporias generated by existing exegetical approaches. Combining historical explication, lucid analysis, and theologically constructive critique, Feminist Edges of the Quran is a landmark contribution to scholarship and a must-read for anyone interested in gender, authority, and Islam., This book is a comprehensive introduction to the American Islamic feminist debate.

Aysha A. Hidayatullah is Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit Catholic institution where she teaches courses on Islam, gender, and race.