“Woman and Islam in Fatima Mernissi Perspective”

The Main ideas of Fatima Mernissi in the article titled Religion and Sate basically trying to clear understanding of the religion concepts, particularly the issue of equality between men and women so they can stay relevant in the midst of the demands of tradition and modernization.[1] Because of it, Mernisi following the pattern of critical and historical analysis. She started the studies with the question of troubling things. The most fundamental question is it possible that Islam teaches discrimination against women? Could the very Apostles were known Trustees issued bear sayings that trap women? Is it true tradition tend to be discriminatory against women is Islam? Is not it possible that there were irregularities that appear patriarchal culture history?

These questions showing Mernissi to perform reanalysis and reinterpretation of the history of the sacred texts (Al-Qur'an and hadits). The study of history is very important to see the whole debate and the ongoing struggle around issues of women.[2] The result, Mernissi discovered that early Muslim historians place it gives privileges to women in his writings. They are not just talking about female figure solely as mothers and daughters of men in power, but also women active as participants and fully engaged in the important events that shape human culture. Contribution of women with clear and recognized for what it is (without the plus or minus), either as a companion of Prophet or the writer Hadith.[3]

One of the interesting things of the article of Mernisi is another matter concern that is hijab as an instrument restrictions, segregation and exclusion of women from public space, for Mernissi is a form of religious understanding predominantly by men. Hijab also the separation between the rulers and the people. Thought hijab latter is influenced by the realities of power that occurred in the Arab society. Fatima Mernissi said that:

“Within the meaning of the hijab headscarf, as the impression to separate women from society are not known at the time of the Prophet ... [ but ] ... the two centuries after the Prophet 's death, especially after the Book of Jurisprudence drafted (second century Hijri) and after Islam spread and accommodate a variety of local cultures and myths, such as the former Persian empire and the Roman act firmly against the use of the hijab.”

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[1] Fatima Mernissi and Riffat Hassan. Setara di Hadapan Allah, Relasi Laki-Laki dan Perempuan dalam Tradisi Islam Pasca Patriarkhi, transleted  by Team LSPPA (Yogyakarta: LSPPA – Yayasan Prakarsa, 1995),  pp. 111.

[2] Ibid.,

[3] Ibid., hlm. 149