Gender Relations in the Qur'an: Conceptualising Space and Male-Female Interaction

By F. Redhwan Karim

A constricting attitude towards the relationship between non-maḥram (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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1399561340
• ISBN13: 9781399561341
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"