Product Description

Whether exploring the thorny issues of wives' sexual duties, divorce, homosexuality, or sex outside marriage, discussions of sexual ethics and Islam often spark heated conflict rather than reasoned argument. In this ground-breaking, lucid, and carefully constructed work, feminist Muslim scholar Dr Kecia Ali asks how one can determine what makes sex lawful and ethical in the sight of God. Drawing on both revealed and interpretative Muslim texts, Ali critiques medieval and contemporary commentators alike to produce a balanced and comprehensive study of a subject both sensitive and urgent, making this an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and interested readers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254816 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
'Ali is willing to ask the tough questions. A refreshing analysis of sexual ethics in Islam.' --The Globe and Mail.

'With unwavering focus, clarity and scholarly confidence, Dr. Ali advances our understanding of profound ethical questions far beyond the apologetics and polemics of current Islamic discourse.' --Abdullahi An-Na`im, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law at Emory University.

'This is compulsory reading for anyone interested in grappling with the enormously challenging questions of sexual ethics in contemporary Islam. Ali's approach is courageous without being dismissive; constructive for the present without being condescending to the past.' --Ebrahim Moosa, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religion and director of the Center for the Study of Muslim Networks at Duke University.

About the Author
Dr Kecia Ali is Assistant Professor of Religion at Boston University. She previously held research and teaching fellowships at Brandeis University and Harvard Divinity School.

Customer Reviews

An articulate, thought provoking work.
I approached this book with some trepidation; mainly because in my [Asian] society, anything relating to sex is taboo and not even mentioned before a person is married; but also because on the cover it says `Feminists reflections...': the whole contention of the book was that Islam has been advocated from a males' perspective, but isn't this subtitle stating that this work is the other extreme (female) point of view?

After reading it, I was uncomfortable with some of the points raised, but there is no denying that the book was beautifully written, and the subject was broken down into chapters which Muslims are continually being asked about. I think Muslims would actually benefit as much or even more by reading about the points raised in this book, because the author challanges the status quo - not blindly - but with extremly well written arguments. Highly recommended.