Gender and Islam: Normative Approach in Islamic Law

Abstract

The normative regulations in Islamic Law and the diverse cultural practices among Muslims are not consistent with each other. Muslims’ perceptions and response to these customary traditions must be evaluated on the normative standards of Islam that are mislaid. For this purpose a shift to a mode of understanding and bringing about transcultural exchange of ideas may be incorporated in contrast to the prevailing hypercritical dominative standards. With this an understanding may be developed to concentrate the needs and practices of gender in Islamic perspective. Thus general gender practices may be assessed to see their compliance with normative standards of Islam.