In this book, the author, Moin Qazi, delineates the trajectory of Islamic feminism, which scholars are now actively researching because of the transformative advances made by Muslim women. These women have escaped the subjugation and oppression they endured for centuries. The continuing grim portrayals of these women hit the author's nerve. He believed it was imperative to highlight modern Muslim women's true breadth of experience.
The Islamic feminist landscape is already undergoing a profound transformation. Historically, Islam was incredibly advanced in providing revolutionary rights for women and uplifting their status. Scholarship on Islamic women has expanded exponentially over the past few decades, and there has been cross-pollination between other fields and disciplines. Islamic doctrine has enabled women to participate in battlefields, independently carry on trade and business, and, when circumstances demand it. The most outstanding achievement of early Islam concerning women was its strict prohibition of female infanticide. A preference for male babies was evidence of deep-seated bias against girls.
Many of the revelations in the Qur'an were by nature reform-oriented, transforming critical aspects of pre-Islamic customary laws and practices in progressive ways and eliminating injustice for women. The book is a prism from which to view the Muslim feminist revolution. The author analyses how the patriarchal-oriented rulers and clerics have obliquely tried to roll back these reforms. But of late, women have finally been able to morph from their pathetic condition and redefine the contours of their gender space.