Islam Matters
Gender Bias
in Fiqh
by Areeba Baig
Is it possible that Muslim scholars and jurists throughout
the centuries past have been gravely mistaken as far as the
laws regarding women are concerned? While not many
will make such a blatant statement, yet we frequently
find people who are willing to discount Shari‘a rulings
pertaining to women with the argument that these laws
were established by male scholars and thus are flawed due
to the inability of men to comprehend a woman’s situation.
Numerous rulings relating to women that have been, for
centuries, accepted as God-revealed commands are being
denied and reinterpreted by people, often with nothing
to guide them but whimsical appeals to common sense.
Issues like a woman’s role in family and society, and hijab
have long been under scrutiny. But now, even seemingly
innocent matters like that of women being considered
ritually impure and thus excused from prayer during their
monthly cycles is often questioned by people who claim it
either a male ploy to limit women’s spiritual advancement
or a mistaken ruling stemming from cultural bias and a
lack of understanding.
10 January - February 2020 | AL-MADINAH