The issue of Muslim women's rights never seems outdated and has become trendy in the post-9 11
environment. That is the mainstream media and Western politicians often view Muslim women as
victims of male-patriarchy and frequently justify Western involvement in the Middle East and in
other Muslim majority counties at least in part to rescue women. Within this realm Nawal El
Saadawi is a famous Egyptian writer whose writings focus on the struggle of Muslim women and
are widely read in the Middle East and many Western societies as well. Because of her bold
feminist views on politics religions and gender she is described as the Simone de Beauvoir
of the Arab world. After the death of El Saadawi in 2021 a flurry of arguments and criticism
in the Egyptian press and women's press around the world is created in which different social
media platforms were filled with numerous comments and discussions of her writings and
arguments. Whereas some mourned El Saadawi andher dedication to women's issues others
celebrated her death wishing her the worst punishment in the afterlife for what they described
as her destructive thoughts. This monograph genuinely analyzes her views on five controversial
issues - marriage polygamy divorce inheritance rights and veiling - in light of Qur'anic
exegeses offered by two classical scholars (i.e. Muhammad ibn Jarir Al Tabari and Ismail ibn
Umar Ibn Kathir) and two contemporary Muslim feminists (i.e. Amina Wadud and Azizah Al Hibri).
By taking a critical look at her views the book contributes not only to this ongoing debate
but adds value to assessing El Saadawi's work and helps readers gain a greater understanding of
her writings as well. It also enables readers to comprehend the current tension between
feminism and Islam by understanding the perspectives of both sides. Since El Saadawi's writings
are available in the Western countries the book would appeal to academics researchers on
Islam and gender and Middle Eastern women as well as to lay audiences interested in women and
gender in Muslim societies.
