Our initiative aims to demonstrate that laws rooted in outdated interpretations of qiwamah and wilayah, which place women under male authority, no longer align with the principles of justice (‘adl) within Islam. Alternative interpretations are not only possible but also more in line with human rights principles and the current lived experiences of Muslim families.
Why and how did verse 4:34, and not other verses in the Qur’an, become the foundation for the legal construction of marriage? Why are qiwamah and wilayah still the basis of gender relations in the imagination of modern-day jurists and Muslims who resist and denounce equality in marriage as alien to Islam? These are just some of the questions asked in our effort towards Decoding the “DNA of Patriarchy” in Muslim family laws.
Described as “a valuable contribution” (Karyawan) and as carrying “immeasurable value for scholars and students of Islam, religion” (American Journal of Islam and Society), “Men in Charge? Rethinking Authority in Muslim Legal Tradition” is an essential addition to your bookshelf
