Introduction
The rampant mistreatment of women in most Islamic societies has left many wondering whether it is Islam as a religion that sanctions the mistreatment of women. Prejudiced observers hold firmly that Islam is an undesirable religion for women because Islam is more often associated with radicalism. This paper intends to find out appropriate qualitative research methods and perspectives that I can use to show that Islam as a religion does not in any way sanction mistreatment of women and that instead cultural implications and misinterpretation of the scriptures can be blamed for the widespread abuse of women’s rights in the majority of Islamic societies.
Methods and Perspectives
Silverman (123) advises that research methods are not mere techniques that a researcher can use in any quantitative or qualitative case study because theoretical explanations like the one facing us provide different validations of using a particular research method. I intend to use a combination of Quranic hermeneutics and exegesis that will enable me to undertake impartial qualitative research in demonstrating that Islam is not the cause of the wild mistreatment of women in Islamic societies. My research study will start with an in-depth analysis of what has been written on my research topic by other scholars especially those of the view that Islam gives backing to oppression and exploitation of women in Islamic setups. I will use Content analysis, objective hermeneutics, and critical discourse analysis methods as well as any other literature review approach that can help me support my arguments authoritatively (Bazerman and Prior,31; Oeming,113).
The main source of knowledge in an Islam religion is the Holy Quran and reason Huseyn Atay as cited in Campanini (126). Therefore; the most reliable method of establishing where the Islamic religion places women and what it teaches as far as the treatment of women is concerned is an objective interrogation of what the Quran teaches. In addition to what is recorded in the Quran on this topic of study, I will use qualitative research and data to form and defend my arguments by inquiring various documents, theological and scholarly works, and many religious texts and commentaries using textual analysis methods mentioned earlier. These methods will help me present an argument on the reasons why Islam is often represented as being a religion that is undesirable for women and turn the perspectives of the reader to demonstrate why this religion is empowering to women and promotes them within the society.
To ensure the integrity of my data and information I will restrict myself to using only authoritative textual sources to confirm my arguments and to refute any misinterpretation of the Holy Quran. I will also use these sources to show how cultural implications have given backing to the abuse of women in Islamic societies over time. That way I will be able to do a comparative and historical analysis to establish any biases in the false sentiments and opinions put forward by scholars committed to using the Holy Quran to sanction mistreatment of women for their own selfish gains. For purposes of ensuring productive and objective use of the data and information gathered from the sources consulted I will combine related textual analysis methods in my interpretation and analysis Bazerman and Prior, 31.
Works Cited
Bazerman, Charles and Prior, Paul.A. What writing does and how it does it: an introduction to analyzing texts and textual practices. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2004.
Campanini, Massimo. The Qur’an: Modern Muslim Interpretations. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2010.
Oeming, Manfred. Contemporary biblical hermeneutics: an introduction. Hampshire, UK: Ash gate Publishing, Ltd, 2006.
Silverman, David. Doing qualitative research: a practical handbook. New York: SAGE, 2005.