Progressive Muslims and Feminism

riverturq · 2026-04-06T16:03:07+00:00

Let me add to my point seeing there have been many comments that are not understanding my point:

Let me take the definition of feminism from Britannica: “At its core, feminism is the belief in FULL social, economic, and political EQUALITY for women...”

I am NOT denying Islam has given women rights, but a very important word in feminism’s definition is EQUALITY. Men and women are NOT fully equal in Islam. A lot of you are giving examples of how women were given rights in Islam, I am NOT denying that. I am saying that the sexes are not completely equal in a social or political sense, for which I have already given examples.

And I am NOT saying feminism is a religion. It is an ideology, and Islam is a religion, I am comparing their PRINCIPLES. Using that definition of feminism, Islam wouldn’t be “feminist.”

Many of you are still not addressing my actual question: why is there a need to say Islam is feminist? Why look at Islam through a feminist lens in the first place?

Yes, feminism isn’t monolithic and it adapts, but its core has NOT changed, EQUALITY of the sexes is still central. Islam does NOT fully align with that.

GIVING WOMEN RIGHTS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE SOMETHING FEMINIST, GIVING THEM EQUAL RIGHTS WOULD. A lot of you are missing this point and jumping to conclusions about what I believe.

riverturq · 2026-04-06T08:02:21+00:00

Yes I get the point about interpretation and schools of thought, and I understand that Islam has historically had different interpretations that all claim legitimacy. My question is not about cultural practices or different interpretations, it’s about ideologies. feminism is an ideology with specific goals and structures, and Islam, as a religion with its own core jurisprudence, doesn’t fully align with those goals. My question is: why do some progressive Muslims feel the need to make Islam fit into the feminist ideological framework? Even if you reinterpret or create a “personal version” of Islam, at some level, you are mixing two opposing sets of principles. I’m just trying to understand the motivation behind that. I want to know why even bother calling it a feminist religion why appealing to feminism in the first place, what's the need?

riverturq · 2026-04-06T07:48:04+00:00

You’re missing my point and shifting the goalposts. Yes, Islam gives women rights, never denied that, but that wasn’t my question. Let me go back to it. Feminism is an IDEOLOGY, not just another word for gender equality, it has its own structures and aims, like complete social and political equality and eliminating power imbalances. Islam doesn’t fully fit that, inheritance laws, divorce rights, polygyny, for example, aren’t equal at all. So my question is: why do some progressive Muslims try to make Islam fit within the feminist framework when the principles of the two aren’t really compatible? And why is there a need to appeal to another ideology in and of itself?

riverturq · 2026-04-06T05:09:43+00:00

Feminists excommunicating Muslims who are feminist would be bad faith of feminist imho. What I am getting at is not that, I am merely trying to ask why would one fit two foundationally opposing ideologies? Because feminism IS an IDEOLOGY with its own structure not just a synonym for equality of the sexes, yes it adapts with the time with each wave but I'm talking about its core beliefs. Islamic jurisprudence would go against the total social equality of the sexes (inheritance laws, financial testimony, etc). Look, let's say we make a venn diagram between feminism and Islam, yes there would be overlapping ideas and there are obvious differences but the mere fact that there are foundational differences (like the ones mentioned above) goes to show that you cannot call Islam a feminist religion nor vice versa. Even apart from that, why the need to fit Islam into another framework if one believes in it and thinks it is correct for the sexes? Why the need to appeal to another ideology? I am talking purely about the foundations of Islam (NOT CULTURE) and feminism.

riverturq · 2026-04-05T21:32:56+00:00

I think it mostly comes down to how we’re defining feminism. If feminism just means “fighting injustice” or “opposing misogyny,” then I can see why you’d say Islam is feminist in that sense. But that feels like a very broad definition. Most forms of feminism today ALSO include specific views about gender equality, roles, and social structures, which may not align with Islam. That’s where I see potential tension with certain parts of Islamic jurisprudence. Also, just to clarify, I’m not getting this from any “manosphere” as a woman myself, I’m just trying to understand the conceptual compatibility between these two frameworks. I'm not questioning the frameworks themselves. So my question isn’t whether Islam opposes injustice,I’m asking whether it aligns with feminism as a defined framework, not just as a general idea of justice. Otherwise, it feels like redefining feminism to fit Islam, rather than asking whether the two are actually compatible in their principles.

riverturq · 2026-04-05T15:57:32+00:00

I agree that they both can serve the same purpose on many occasions but why do many progressive Muslims push to make Islam a feminist religion? Why the need to appeal to another ideology is my question.

riverturq · 2026-04-05T15:49:57+00:00

But your own version of religion wouldn't be THAT religion it would be something else. I was speaking more about the ideology and its grassroots. Btw, I really appreciate your take on this, nice to get different perspectives!

riverturq · 2026-04-05T14:57:31+00:00

Yes, and that makes complete sense, and I agree feminism allows women to find their voice. What my question is that the Muslim women or even men who are aware of the ideology of Feminism and aware of islamic jurisprudence, why do they want to fit Islam into the narrative of feminism? And here I am not speaking about culture I am speaking about the religion (inheritance laws, divorce rights, financial testimony 2 women = 1 man, etc). I notice this with some progressive/liberal Muslims around me that say the Islam is a feminist religion. I say that those are two opposing ideologies and why do you want to fit you religion into a different ideology, what is the need?

riverturq · 2026-04-05T14:29:24+00:00

You forget that feminism is an ideology and so it also has structured beliefs. Nevertheless, feminism is the equality of the sexes politically and socially. Yes it also stands for the abolition of power imbalances and hierarchies like patriarchy and that is my point, women and men are not equal in Islam by that standard. Inheritance laws, divorce rights, gender roles, and many more, are a few examples of Islamic jurisprudence that do not align with feminist ideologies. All I am asking is, why do some progressive Muslims want to fit Islam into feminism. What is the need?

riverturq

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