Customer Reviews

Feminists, Islam, and Nation

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The other reviews of this book say that it is not so great- I actually think it is a very good book. I wanted to let people know that as a scholar involved in studying the Arab World I read and appreciated this book. It makes me sad that others don't take the time or try to learn enough to be able to appreciate such effort while other books on Arab women that are sensationalist, unethical or naive not to mention ill-researched are praised. The book may not be perfect, but it offers a lot of information and thoughtful analysis.

I ve found this book very usefull as a compendium. There is a lots of detailed informations not to be found in others books on this subject. Maybe it is not to a good idea to start with this one if u r absolute beginner but if u look for the detaild informations on women's history in Egypt this is one of the best!

maybe it's because I am a college student or maybe it's because I am not really into the Middle East, but I used this book for my final paper on the religions of the middle eats, and i didn't get it. I was dense and hard to read and I was unable sythesize the ideas I got from reading the book. My term paper was no good, and I had no time to read another book because I spent so much time on this. I guess if you're really really smart or like being confused or something, then read this. But If you're trying to do well in class or teach a good class-avoid this and get cliff's notes.

Unknown to most Westerners, Mohammed's sayings and teachings are collected in literature called Hadith (or Ahadith). The most famous and most reliable according to Islamic "scholars" is the Bukhari collection. Every Muslim knows the quote from Mohammed, who when asked why the Koran gives the testimony of two women the weight of the testimony of one man, answers "Women are deficient in intellect." Mohammed created a world in which man can marry up to four "wives," and sexually exploit any slave women the Muslim man has on hand. Muslim men, under classical Sharia law can divorce a wife for any reason that pleases him at any time and he is authorized by God to beat his wife if necessary to obtain obedience from her.

A Muslim wife does not hold the same position as a Christian wife who Christ taught may not be abandoned by divorce except for adultery. Islam does NOT make sacred the pairing of one man with one woman as does Christianity.

This is all part of the bedrock of Islam and anyone who tells you different is not being honest. Muslims could in theory change their practice, even their theology, but they will have to invalidate writings that they themselves have held sacred for 1400 years.