Subject

Mir'at Al-Ta'amul fil Omou

Summary

Mir'at Al-Ta'amul fil Omou ( Reflection on issues) was first published in 1892 by the Egyptian writer and poet Aisha Taymur's early — though not very known —landmark in the modern history of Egyptian women. Its significance lies in the fact that it is the first documented attempt by an educated Muslim woman writer to engage in the religious and intellectual debate over the Islamic rights and duties of men and women, as presented in particular Qur'anic verses. The writer not only presents her reading of Qur'anic principles in the light of the contemporaneous social and cultural scene, but she also spurs strong reactions from other religious male figures. The re-publication, with a new introduction by Mervat Hatem, of this work is part of a series initiated by the Women and Memory Forum to revive women's memory and their achievements in the intellectual, cultural, and activist spheres of Arab history.