B. Grammatical structure or syntax of the text: This requires the analysis of each verse, within its contextual constraints, in light of similar language, syntactical and grammatical structures used elsewhere in the Qur'an. Amina Wadud, in her book Qur’an and Woman, writes:
Systematic attention to the relationship between universals and particulars would also bear on our understanding the Qur'an's usage of particular terms, since it establishes its own paradigmatic field of meaning for key terms. Both the whole revelation and the particular context in which each term is used bear on its meaning. Each term should therefore be examined on the basis of its language act, syntactical structures, and textual context in order to more fully determine …show more content…
Adopting a re-interpretive approach helps to challenge the denial of women's rights based on this verse. The traditionalists' interpretation is not consistent with Islamic principles. This is clear from the verse 4:128 that states: “If a women fears ill treatment from her husband, or desertion, it is no sin for them twain if they make terms of peace between themselves. Peace is better than separating.” This verse, clearly, allows for a wife to seek divorce and emphasizes that there is no domestic violence and ill treatment in Islam. The Prophet also explicitly, on a number of occasions, prohibited violence against women. To arrive at this different understanding of the verse, we need to reexamine the meaning of isolated words and to take a holistic approach to the Quran rather than reading it verse by verse.
The traditional interpretation of polygamy is another example of how this interpretation discriminates against women in the name of Islam. According to traditionalists, a man may marry up to four wives at any given time. Verse 4:3, one of the most often cited passages to justify polygamous practices, …show more content…
Traditionalists believe that as polygamy is mentioned clearly and explicitly in the Qur’an. According to them, there are no reasons to ignore it and it is sunnah. Based on this verse, they maintain that a man can marry more than one woman and that Islam gives a limitation of four wives. In their opinion, polygamy is a solution to the social problem of zina (i.e., committing adultery). In this context, they argue that basically a man has a strong, indeed insatiable, desire in sexual relationships. Without polygamy, they will commit adultery behind their wives’
Systematic attention to the relationship between universals and particulars would also bear on our understanding the Qur'an's usage of particular terms, since it establishes its own paradigmatic field of meaning for key terms. Both the whole revelation and the particular context in which each term is used bear on its meaning. Each term should therefore be examined on the basis of its language act, syntactical structures, and textual context in order to more fully determine …show more content…
Adopting a re-interpretive approach helps to challenge the denial of women's rights based on this verse. The traditionalists' interpretation is not consistent with Islamic principles. This is clear from the verse 4:128 that states: “If a women fears ill treatment from her husband, or desertion, it is no sin for them twain if they make terms of peace between themselves. Peace is better than separating.” This verse, clearly, allows for a wife to seek divorce and emphasizes that there is no domestic violence and ill treatment in Islam. The Prophet also explicitly, on a number of occasions, prohibited violence against women. To arrive at this different understanding of the verse, we need to reexamine the meaning of isolated words and to take a holistic approach to the Quran rather than reading it verse by verse.
The traditional interpretation of polygamy is another example of how this interpretation discriminates against women in the name of Islam. According to traditionalists, a man may marry up to four wives at any given time. Verse 4:3, one of the most often cited passages to justify polygamous practices, …show more content…
Traditionalists believe that as polygamy is mentioned clearly and explicitly in the Qur’an. According to them, there are no reasons to ignore it and it is sunnah. Based on this verse, they maintain that a man can marry more than one woman and that Islam gives a limitation of four wives. In their opinion, polygamy is a solution to the social problem of zina (i.e., committing adultery). In this context, they argue that basically a man has a strong, indeed insatiable, desire in sexual relationships. Without polygamy, they will commit adultery behind their wives’