Departing from the belief that there is a fundamental lack of democracy within Islamic institutions, and thereby not enough of a real dialogue between individuals within its communities, two authors – one a professor of the sociology of religions, the other the director of a mosque – begin a conversation that explores and questions sacred texts traditionally attributed to The Prophet, revealing how the interpretation of these texts have had a lasting impact on women’s rights within Islamic society.
How to view the corporal punishments prescribed in the shari’a today, such as stoning or mutilation? The death penalty given to those who have renounced their faith, or to those women who have committed adultery? What does Islam really have to say about the status of women in general, about the veil, about their rights within marriage, or with regard to inheritance in the case of separation? These questions have gained greater urgency, not only for the Islamic community, but for the world at large today.
Babès, who holds a modern view of liberty and personal freedom, offers an intellectual and scientific critique of the old prescriptions while Oubrou, a spiritual leader, is still working within the framework of classical Islamic law. Each – the scientist and the religious traditionalist -- teach us much about Islamic law, and about the different ways of interpreting it.