The Qur’an’s Narrative of Mary: Repressive or Emancipatory?
Muslim feminists often interpret the story of Mary in the Qur’an favourably, seeing it as a story of chosenness, if not prophecy. However, given the Qur’an’s masculine discourse and the historical context of the Middle East in Late Antiquity, a question arises about whether this representation could...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Year: 2025, Volume: 36, Issue: 2, Pages: 175-200 |
| Further subjects: | B
Patriarchy
B masculine God B Symbolic language B matrilineality B feminist critique B Mary in the Qur’an |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Muslim feminists often interpret the story of Mary in the Qur’an favourably, seeing it as a story of chosenness, if not prophecy. However, given the Qur’an’s masculine discourse and the historical context of the Middle East in Late Antiquity, a question arises about whether this representation could be understood in a fundamentally different direction. In other words, does the qur’anic representation have the capacity to turn from a narrative regarding, and in favour of, women to one that serves male interests and desires? In this article, I argue that there are various indications within the Qur’an suggesting that Mary’s representation could be interpreted as masculine and male-centred. Finally, I conclude that, due to its symbolic language, this qur’anic narrative serves as a paean for the triumph of a masculine religion and a victory song for the annihilation of all traces of matriarchy in early Islamic society and religion. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-9311 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/09596410.2025.2548711 |
