I do not think that this book is one with a feminist agenda. I believe that it is more of a, "How to be a good Muslim book" and, because of some reason women were supposedly more inclined to use their nafs than their aql, Thawnawi is writing this book. I agree, however, that the book is progressive towards a feminist scope inasmuch that he advocates for women to attain education, be devote Muslims, for they are able like any other human. As he claims, all humans are inclined to be Muslim. Other than that, he makes clear distinctions that a woman's place in fuctional society lies within the confines of the walls of her husbands home. Here is where she will rear good Muslim children by being model Muslims, keep her husbands happy, and not squander away his money.
I can see how feminists would perhaps site the book as a push toward a notion of equalizing the playing field in the ability to attain education. Ultimately, however, in reference to Ajai's question, I think the feminists would try to be making a move towards having women fill more masculine roles within society, rather than the meek oil on the cogs in the functioning world that belongs to men, as Thanawi suggests they be. I also question if the move historically was toward that notion of masculine role attainment, and I wonder what the general response in regards towomen was after the release of the book and how woman who received this book began to truly feel about their roles.
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I think that you have the right idea, but I want to pose one challenge. If in Islam, the most venerated position is the position of the Islamic scholar AND in Thanawi's book there is an explicit argument that women can and should attain enough learning to be Islamic scholars, then isn't that in itself a fairly radical challenge to the sexist practices of the day?
ReplyDeleteI think this book is the product of a feminist movement that aims to teach Muslim women the "new" ideals which will elevate them in society. While I agree with you that the book is a "How to be a good Muslim" type of book, I think it is also a medium for teaching women these new, radical ideas, but also reminding them of their more traditional gender roles in the home and in society.
ReplyDeleteI do see how Thanawi's belief that women can become Islamic scholars would've been viewed as radical at the time, but I have to agree with Roberta's post.
ReplyDeleteThanawi's beliefs that women should be educated seem unintentionally feminist. The liberties women would gain from education are just a side effect and not Thanawi's main concern. The liberation and elevation of women isn't what he's arguing for, his goal is to do whatever is absolutely necessary to make them into good Muslims so they can prevent the downfall of the faith.