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In this comprehensive open access book, written for readers from any or no religious background, Leena El-Ali does something remarkable. Never before has anyone taken on every last claim relating to Islam and women and countered it not just with Qur'anic evidence to the contrary, but with easy-to-use tools available to all. How can a woman's testimony be worth half of a man's? How can men divorce their wives unilaterally by uttering three words? And what's with the obsession with virgins in Paradise? Find the chapter on any of the seventeen topics in this book, and you will quickly learn a) where the myth came from and b) how to bust it.
The methodology pursued is simple. First, the Qur'an is given priority over all other literary or "scriptural" sources. Second, the meaning of its verses in the original Arabic is highlighted, in contrast to English translations and/or widespread misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
List of contents
Part I First the Qur'an, then Islam.- 1. A Spiritual Journey.- 2. Hadith Corpus.- 3. Hadith Content.- 4. Women and the Development of hadith Literature.- AT A GLANCE: First the Qur'an, then Islam.- Part II The Nature of Women.- 5. Women Were Not Created of Inferior Celestial Material.- 6. Eve Is Not Blamed for the Fall from Eden, Nor Are Women Guilty by Association.- 7. Women Are Not a Constant Source of Social Discord - Nor Naturally Conniving!.- 8. Women Were Created with the Exact Same Spiritual and Intellectual Capacity as Men, So of Course They Can Lead.- 9. When Men Deprive Women of Their Free Will, They Are Not Protecting Anyone: They Are Obstructing God's Plan.- 10. God Does Not Prefer Sons Over Daughters (!).- AT A GLANCE: The Nature of Women.- Part III The Rights of Women.- 11. Women Were Not Meant to Be Subordinate to Men.- 12. Inheritance: No, Women Did Not Get the Short End of the Stick.- 13. Nuptials: Women DoHave the Right to Choose Their Own Spouse, and How the Qur'anic Nuptial Agreement Advocates for the Bride.- 14. Marriage: A Sublime Institution, Not Mere Social Contract.- 15. Divorce: Men Do Not Hold all the Cards - The Qur'an Actually Levels the Playing Field Through Mandated Process and Etiquette.- AT A GLANCE: The Rights of Women.- Part IV Some Inconvenient Truths.- 16. Clothing: There Is No Dress Code for Women Beyond Covering their Private Parts, as with Men.- 17. Segregation: There Is No Restriction on Men and Women Mingling.- 18. Witnesses: A Woman's Testimony Is Worth the Same as a Man's, Except in Two Cases Where It May Count for More or Less.- AT A GLANCE: Some Inconvenient Truths.- Part V Carnal Matters.- 19. Sexual Misconduct: What the Qur'an Tells Us About Pre-Marital vs Extra-Marital Sex.- 20. Domestic Violence: The Qur'an Does Not Instruct Husbands to Hit Their Wives for "Disobedience" or Anything Else.- 21. Virgins:There Are No 72 Virgins Waiting for Anyone in Paradise.- AT A GLANCE: Carnal Matters.
About the author
Leena El-Ali is an international affairs, development, and investment professional with three decades of experience in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and emerging market finance.
Summary
In this comprehensive open access book, written for readers from any or no religious background, Leena El-Ali does something remarkable. Never before has anyone taken on every last claim relating to Islam and women and countered it not just with Qur’anic evidence to the contrary, but with easy-to-use tools available to all. How can a woman’s testimony be worth half of a man’s? How can men divorce their wives unilaterally by uttering three words? And what’s with the obsession with virgins in Paradise? Find the chapter on any of the seventeen topics in this book, and you will quickly learn a) where the myth came from and b) how to bust it.
The methodology pursued is simple. First, the Qur’an is given priority over all other literary or “scriptural” sources. Second, the meaning of its verses in the original Arabic is highlighted, in contrast to English translations and/or widespread misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
Additional text
“Leena El-Ali’s work under review is a substantial, extensive elaboration on gender parity in the Qurʾān. ... This highly user-friendly work is divided and subdivided into 5 parts, 21 chapters, and a summary of each part devoted to the following themes: the nature and the rights of women, some problematic issues and carnal matters. Appended to the work are a note on contraception and abortion and an index. ... El-Ali’s sweep over the relevant material is astounding.” (Abdur Raheem Kidwai, The Muslim World Book Review, Vol. 45 (3), 2025)
Report
Leena El-Ali s work under review is a substantial, extensive elaboration on gender parity in the Qur an. ... This highly user-friendly work is divided and subdivided into 5 parts, 21 chapters, and a summary of each part devoted to the following themes: the nature and the rights of women, some problematic issues and carnal matters. Appended to the work are a note on contraception and abortion and an index. ... El-Ali s sweep over the relevant material is astounding. (Abdur Raheem Kidwai, The Muslim World Book Review, Vol. 45 (3), 2025)
