Comparative Studies of Quran

Comparative Studies of Quran

The Challenge of Gender Inequality in Modern Intellectual Discourse: A Study of Contemporary Interpretations of "Men have a degree above them" with a Comparative Exegetical Approach

Document Type : Original

Author
Mohammad Hassan Shirzad
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran.
10.22034/csq.2024.448791.1404
Abstract
One of the most debated Qur’anic verses that have, in the transition to the modern era, suggested a form of gender inequality between men and women is the verse "Men have a degree above them [women]" (Qur’an 2: 228). Early and medieval exegetes, influenced by narrations attributed to the Companions and their Followers (Tābi‘ūn), believed that this statement indicated the absolute superiority of men over women, either in terms of rights or in a creational sense. These interpretations prevailed until the threshold of the 14th Hijri century. However, as the Muslim world transitioned into the contemporary period and new concerns and questions emerged, the cultural and social conditions were set for a shift away from long-established exegetical traditions and the rise of interpretations that are more justifiable in light of modern circumstances and demands. Therefore, this study aims to focus on the prominent exegeses from both Sunni and Shiite scholars in the contemporary period, exploring new interpretive perspectives on this Qur'anic verse through a comparative approach. The research identifies the theoretical frameworks that have shaped these new interpretative viewpoints, which include: emphasizing the notion of duty over that of rights, highlighting the concept of difference instead of superiority, and replacing the idea of absolute superiority with that of relative superiority.
Keywords
Comparative exegesis
Contemporary interpretation
Gender equality
Gender discrimination
Women in the Qur'an

Subjects

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Comparative Studies of Quran
Volume 9, Issue 1 - Serial Number 17
September 2024
Pages 122-145

  • Receive Date 15 March 2024
  • Revise Date 22 June 2024
  • Accept Date 08 July 2024
  • Publish Date 22 August 2024