Is the Qur'an Biased Towards Men? Divine Justice & Patriarchy with Dr Asma Barlas | Thinking Islam Ep.6
With verses like qiwamah and the so-called “wife beating” verse, does the Qur’an truly promote equality and egalitarian ideals, or does it embed a vision of hierarchy and male-dominance? In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr. Asma Barlas joins us to rigorously interrogate whether God, described as supremely just in the Qur’an, could be seen as biased towards men. We explore how anti-patriarchal readings of the Qur’an challenge dominant interpretations, reexamine controversial passages, and ask what it means to practice critical scholarship while navigating the realities of the Muslim community.This wide-ranging conversation delves into the heart of Dr. Barlas’s influential book, "Believing Women in Islam," unpacking her approach to Qur'anic exegesis, her critiques of both traditionalist and secular-feminist readings, and her arguments for divine justice and mutual guardianship in Qur’anic gender discourse. Together, we reflect on the historical legacy of patriarchy in Islamic interpretation, the distinct difference between biblical and Qur’anic accounts of Abraham, and rethinking family structures and gender roles in light of the Qur’an’s holistic teachings. Our discussion journeys through scholarly debates, personal experiences of dissent within the Muslim community, and the challenges of staying faithful to both faith and reason.Dr. Asma Barlas is a renowned scholar of Islamic intellectual history, Qur’anic hermeneutics, and gender politics. She is the author of the landmark work "Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur’an," which argues for the anti-patriarchal essence of the Qur’an and continues to shape contemporary conversations about gender, faith, and justice.
New Zealand