ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER’S CONCEPT ON WOMEN LIBERATION
(An Islamic Response)
Thesis
Submitted For Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Art In Comparative Study of Religion Department (S.Ud.)
By:
HASNA SAFARINA RASYIDAH H 000 120003
FACULTY OF ISLAMIC STUDIES
MOTTO
- Recite in the name of your Lord who
created
1-
DEDICATION
- This paper is dedicated for those who
want to learn -
Abstract
It is something natural, when women argue their ideas to liberate their selves to be treated equally like men did. It might be self-defense from the oppression they saw, from the limitation they had because they are the object itself. But how did men see this thing? This is one reason, why this research is limited on Asghar Ali Engineer (India, 1939-now) as one of male feminists who is also a reformist thinker of the contemporary Muslim world. He paid his great attention to the question of women liberation such as: equality, marital rights, concept of jilbab, and women as head of state while some answers are afforded to solve those problems above, based on the interpretation of Qur’an taken from Tafsir al Mishbah written by M. Quraish Shihab (Indonesia, 1944-now), which is a interpretation representative to see women liberation from the sight of Islam for it was written in the same era as the thought of women liberation raised. As a qualitative study, this research is based on a pure library research which the collected data is described, and afterwards analyzed and criticized by Islamic
framework. Interpretation of Qur’an should pass the right methodology before
using ratio and reason, because it was the only way to gain the right concept of every sphere in life.
This thesis ended up by conclusion that Engineer’s concept of women
liberation is dominated by reason which plays a very crucial role in human’s life
even though in interpreting Qur’anic verses. While Quraish Shihab, even if he lived in the same era as Engineer, and he interpreted Qur’an by ratio, but he
passed the right way of using the methodology of understanding Qur’an, not merely using the ratio or reason. He places women in the great position, neither
below men’s position nor equal with them, because even women or men, have
their own portions in living the life.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Glory to Allah Most High, full of Grace and Mercy; He sent the Prophet Muhammad Peace Be upon Him, as the Graciousness of the worlds, He created all, including man, to be His agent in this universe. For the fulfilment of this great trust,
man was further given a will, so that his acts should reflect God’s universal Will and
Law. In this splendid occasion, the writer wishes to thank the following for taking the important part of accomplishing this simple thesis:
1. Rector of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Prof. Dr. H. Bambang Setiaji.
2. Dean of Faculty of Islamic Studies, Dr. H. M. Abdul Fattah Santoso, M.Ag 3. Both Supervisor, Dr. Syamsul Hidayat, M.Ag and Drs. Suharjianto, M.Ag 4. Beloved parents, Taufiq Hartono and Tatik M. Tasnimah, also Budi Setiono and
Rochani Dwi Purwaningrum
5. Beloved brothers and sisters; Bunayya F. Rasyadi, Salwa Sofia Wirdiyana, and Barqi M. Wafi, who saw and learnt from their oldest sibling as eternal college student, so they might not follow this kind of way of life.
6. Beloved friends of Ushuluddin UMS, for sharing many things.
7. My very best friend, Wenda, for helping, translating, and above them all, becoming the part of this thesis. She really deserves better for her own thesis. 8. The last but not least, my lovely husband a.k.a life partner, Risang Arif
Wijanarko who sacrificed his time, thought and power for this wife. 12. Everybody whom she cannot acknowledge the name.
For the mentioned above, the writer can give them nothing except a prayer; May Allah grant them best reward here and here after.
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Research Questions ... 6
C. Purpose of Research ... 6
D. Contribution of Research ... 6
E. Literature Review ... 6
F. Theoretical Framework ... 8
G. Research Method ... 9
1. Type of the Research ... 9
2. Approach of the Research ... 10
3. Data Sources... 10
a) Primary Data ... 10
b) Secondary Data ... 11
4. Technique of Data Analyzing ... 11
H. Research Paper Organization ... 11
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS ON WOMEN LIBERATION CONCEPTS AND INTERPRETATION METHODS OF THE QUR’AN ... 14
A.Feminism ... 14
B.Rights of Women ... 22
C.Woman in Islam ... 23
1. Historical Approach ... 23
2. M. Quraish Shihab’s Thought on Woman ... 25
D.Interpretation Methods of The Qur’an ... 26
CHAPTER THREE: ENGINEER’S BIOGRAPHY, HIS MAIN CONCEPT OF WOMEN LIBERATION AND ISLAM RESPONSE ON IT ... 30
A.Ashgar Ali Engineer’s Life and Thought ... 30
1. Engineer’s Education and His Social Life ... 30
2. Factors Influencing Engineer’s Thought ... 32
3. Engineer’s Work ... 34
B.Theological and Ideological Thought of Asghar Ali
Engineer ... 40
1. Engineer’s Methodology of Qur’an ... 41
2. Engineer’s Concept of Women Liberation ... 49
a) The Equality of Women... 49
b) Marital Rights of Women ... 56
c) The Concept of Jilbab ... 58
d) Women as the Head of State ... 62
CHAPTER FOUR: THE ANALYSIS ... 65
A. Islam Response on Engineer’s Methodology of Understanding Qur’an ... 65
B. Islam Response on Engineer’s Rights of Women ... 67
CHAPTER FIVE: CLOSING ... 75
A. Conclusion ... 75
B. Suggestion ... 78
Bibliography ... 80
