Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate

Leila Ahmed's classic study of Muslim women's lives is reissued as a Veritas paperback with a new foreword by Kecia Ali, highlighting its scholarly context and enduring influence. It is considered the best-informed, most sympathetic, and reliable analysis of the subject.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2021
Publisher: Yale University Press

This groundbreaking work, originally published decades ago, has now been reissued in a new paperback edition, making it accessible to a wider audience. In her comprehensive exploration, Leila Ahmed delves into the historical roots of contemporary debates surrounding Muslim women. Spanning from the inception of Islam in Arabia to the classical age in Iraq, and finally to Egypt during the modern era, Ahmed offers a sweeping survey of Islamic discourse on women.

The book is a testament to Ahmed's rigorous scholarship and independent-minded analysis, providing the most informed, sympathetic, and reliable account of the lives of Muslim women in history. It has been widely acclaimed and praised by scholars and critics alike, with Edward W. Said describing it as "a serious and independent-minded analysis of its subject, the best-informed, most sympathetic, and reliable one that exists today." Rana Kabbani, in her review for The Guardian, hailed it as "destined to become a classic," asserting that it restores Muslim women to their rightful place at the center of their histories.

This reissued edition of Ahmed's seminal work is a valuable addition to the literature on Islamic history and gender studies. It serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the historical context and complexities of Muslim women's lives, and its enduring influence continues to shape our understanding of the world today.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300257311