Gender Relations in the Qur'an

Conceptualising Space and Male-Female Interaction

Karim, F. Redhwan

A constricting attitude towards the relationship between non-mahram (marriageable) men and women is often either politically enforced or self-imposed in Muslim societies, with notions of separation and segregation upheld as normative ideals. This book challenges such interpretations, delineating a more permissive and nuanced position rooted in the Qur’an. Responding to the oft-held notion of men occupying the public sphere while women are restricted to the private, the book explores whether the Qur’an adopts a conception of gendered space and gendered roles.
The book analyses the various forms of male–female interaction in the Qur’an, providing a comprehensive overview of gender relations and a critical dissection of restrictive readings. It also discusses clothing, offering a thorough overview of sartorial prescriptions in the Qur’an. Engaging with both classical and modern scholarship to provide a contextual reading, this book offers a comprehensive and expansive analysis of gender relations within a Qur’anic context.