A Critical Review of the entry "Women and the Quran" in Encyclopedia of the Quran

Abstract

"Women and the Quran" is the title of an entry written by Dr. Ruth Roded in the Encyclopedia of the Quran [EQ]. She has attempted to give a picture of women from the Quranic point of view. The author started with the verses that address men and women about their religious duties and explored women's creation, and spiritual, social, and economic status in depth. She has also mentioned a large number of Quranic verses which refer to women. Dr. Roded has also paid special attention to some female characters such as Zulaykha, Al-Azīz's wife, and Bilqis, the Queen of Saba, and has collected Quranic exegesis and narratives about these figures which look like "Isra'iliyyāt" rather than authentic sources. Despite her previous Islamic studies and writings, she has made major mistakes in this article. Some of her important declarations definitely need to be analyzed and criticized.