Fiqh Al-Sīrah: MUHAMMAD (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) Speaks for WOMEN: Reclaiming the Women’s Space in Sīrah

The discussion on women's rights got its impetus from feminist discourses in the West, and globalisation has led to the penetration of this contemporary thought into Muslim societies, with a visible impact on Muslim women in Pakistan. Under the prevalent socio-cultural environment, instead of outright rejection of contemporary thought, Muslim scholars have a responsibility to identify its confluences with Islam and provide a response to the conflicts that may lead to challenging our social system. This book is seen as an effort in this direction, as it may equip Pakistani Muslim women to face contemporary issues through Fiqh-al-Sīrah. To avoid deviating from the main point, the author has briefly mentioned the social environment in relation to Muslim women in Pakistan that allows for the ingress of contemporary thought while emphasising its influence in shaping the domestic concept of women's emancipation and empowerment. The book's main thrust is a contextual analysis of the Prophet Muhammad's صلى الله عليه وسلم Sīrah in relation to women and the examples of Ummaht ul Mominn (the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم wives) in the wake of feminist thoughts. The book certainly offers direction in all aspects of women’s lives in the light of the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is viewed as an effort to close the knowledge gaps in women's understanding of Islam and remove the religion's Fiqh Al Sirah: Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمSpeaks for the Women's marginalisation in daily life. This book will offer the light that is essential to illuminating the path of Muslim women's lives, and it will provide Muslim women with the spiritual weapon that is necessary for them to protect themselves against the destructive impact of feminist thought. This book would be beneficial not just to Muslims but also to non-Muslims and especially social scientists. The book can be regarded as one of the attempts to bridge the gaps left by the authors of the Sīrah, whose tales are dominated by masculinity and include fewer narrations concerning the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم connection with women.

Professor Dr Mustafeez Ahmed Alvi 
Head of the Department of Islamic Thought
Former Dean Faculty of Social Sciences 
National University of Modern 
Languages
Islamabad, Pakistan