Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part K (2025)

This paper examines and explores the emergence and historical development of Islamic feminism as a scholarly and activist movement that reclaims the sacred from patriarchal interpretations of Islam. So the paper focusing on the late 20^th century as the formative period of Islamic feminism, the study explores how Muslim women scholars and thinkers began to assert interpretive authority over religious texts through gender-sensitive exegesis and a critical re-engagement with Islamic tradition. Partly, starting with the Prophet Muhammad’s era, this analysis centers on the intellectual contributions of feminist pioneering figures such as Nawal El-Saadawi, Fatima Mernissi, Amina Wadud, and Asma Barlas, who laid the foundations for a distinctly Islamic feminist discourse. The paper also discusses the institutionalization of Islamic feminism through academic networks, research collectives, and transnational advocacy efforts, highlighting its role as both a faith-based and socially transformative movement. By situating Islamic feminism within broader debates on modernity, postcolonial identity, and religious authority, the study underscores its significance as a movement that not only reclaims sacred texts but also redefines gender justice within an Islamic epistemological framework. Finally, this research paper discusses that Islamic feminism represents a critical and evolving project that bridges tradition and reform in the pursuit of gender equity.