SOME REFLECTION ON PARADIGM SHIFT IN QUR’ÓNIC, INTERPRETATION ON GENDER ISSUE DISCOURSE

Abstract

The Holy Qur’Én and ×adÊth are the primary sources of knowledge for the religion of Islam. Their interpretation, therefore, has a larger effect and impact on right understanding of the divine intents. Various interpretations have developed over the time in the field of theology and exegesis. This paper aims at exploring the views of some Muslim women scholars viz. Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas, and Fatima Mernissi and their approach towards Qur’Énic hermeneutics. Thus, the paper is an attempt to study the feminist approach to the gender equality as how their interpretations differ from the traditional exegeses and on what basis they have formed a new Qur’Énic hermeneutics in view of contemporary development in gender-equality and gender justice discourse. A critique by Ayesha A. Hidayatullah has also been presented. However, our discussion is only confined to a specific verse of chapter al-NisÉ’.