Gender Relations in Marriage Practices in Islam A Comparative Study of Islamic Feminists

This chapter engages in a comparative analysis of the works of Olfa Youssef and Kecia Ali, two scholars who represent distinct cultural backgrounds (Arab and American), disparate geopolitical locations (Tunisia and the U.S.A.), and different languages (Arabic and English). By exploring the intersections of life experiences and geopolitical positioning, this study delves into how these factors contribute to the diverse re-conceptualizations of Islam, gender, and sexuality, the chapter scrutinizes Youssef and Ali's approaches to Islamic texts, as well as medieval and contemporary scholarship. By attending to the questions they raise in their respective works, the analysis uncovers both similarities and differences in their problematization of Islamic jurisprudence. Notably, this chapter highlights a lack of reciprocal exchange of ideas between Arabic and English scholarship on Islam, gender, and sexuality, even among contemporaries. Consequently, parallel worlds emerge within the fields of Islamic and feminist studies. This research underscores the importance of engaging in a discourse on decolonizing scholarship produced in non-European languages.