Stereotypes about Muslim women abound: hidden behind the veil, voiceless, oppressed, uneducated, brainwashed, and bereft of rights.
In this absorbing evening, Muslim scholar Zeyneb Sayilgan sheds light on the status of women in the Islamic tradition and analyzes why and how the lived realities of Muslim women are at times in contradiction or at odds with the teachings of Islam.
Sayilgan provides a historical overview of the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia of the 7th century, from where Islam emerged. She then examines the rights and roles granted to women in the Qur’an (the holy scripture for Muslims) and the sunna (the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad). She discusses the influence of these sources—both guiding forces for Islamic law—on spirituality, political participation, gender equality, sexuality, and legal rights.
The evening concludes with an examination of how Islamic law affects Muslim women in the 21st century, the challenges and misconceptions they face around the globe, and possible solutions to overcome these obstacles.
Sayilgan is Visiting Assistant Professor of Islamic Theology and Religious Pluralism at Virginia Theological Seminary.
