Women in the Qur'an, Traditions, and Interpretation

Named an Outstanding Academic Book for 1995 by ^BChoice^R

Despite the attention surrounding Middle Eastern attitudes toward women, there has been little study of the statements regarding women in the Quran. This work studies the women of Islamic sacred history by telling their stories in the Quaran and interpreting them.Islamic ideas about women and their role in society spark considerable debate both in the Western world and in the Islamic world itself. Despite the popular attention surrounding Middle Eastern attitudes toward women, there has been little systematic study of the statements regarding women in the Qur'an. Stowasser fills the void with this study on the women of Islamic sacred history. By telling their stories in Qur'an and interpretation, she introduces Islamic doctrine and its past and present socio-economic and political applications. Stowasser establishes the link between the female figure as cultural symbol, and Islamic self-perceptions from the beginning to the present time.