Islamic Feminism: a new feminist movement or a strategy by women for acquiring rights?^*

This article focuses on the phenomenon of Islamic feminism. It provides a detailed summary of the defining theories and objectives of the movement and its role in contributing to raising awareness and as an agent for change as well. It highlights the expanding boundaries of the phenomenon and the implications this has had on its content, orientation, and role in a world where globalization and Islamophobia are affecting the process of developing Islamic feminism. The article traces the factors that contributed to the rise of Islamic feminism and explores how these interacted to produce the phenomenon in the changing contexts. It analyses the inherent problems in the movement and its argument from a critical point of view. The article concludes by asking a number of questions that help in understanding the nature and the limitations of Islamic feminism, its role, social, religious, political and academic implications.