The Quranic discourse on gender is far from monolithic. While centuries of patriarchal culture have heavily influenced Islamic jurisprudence, the text itself contains the seeds of gender equality. By emphasizing the common origin of humanity, the spiritual equality of men and women, and the overriding imperatives of justice and mercy, contemporary scholars are reclaiming the Quran as a source of empowerment.
This "return to the text" does not seek to import Western secular values into Islam, but rather to excavate the egalitarian ethos that has arguably been present in the revelation since its inception. The ongoing project of Islamic feminism is to distinguish the divine, immutable principles of the Quran from the fallible, human-made constructions of historical law, thereby realizing a vision of society where justice encompasses all, regardless of gender.
References
No external sources used.