Modernism and Feminist Movements: An Islamic Analysis

جدیدیت اور نسوانی تحریکیں (Feminism): ایک اسلامی تجزیہ

Abstract

This study examines Modernism and Feminism from an Islamic perspective, focusing on their intellectual foundations and socio-cultural impact. Modernism, shaped by the Renaissance and Enlightenment, emphasized human reason, materialism, and individual autonomy over divine authority, thereby laying the groundwork for secular and feminist ideologies .Feminist movements, while advancing critical rights such as education, suffrage, and economic participation, often promote principles that conflict with Islamic teachings by advocating absolute equality and unbounded autonomy, challenging women’s natural, familial, and ethical roles. The research traces the historical evolution of Feminism through its four waves and highlights socio-economic and cultural factors, including the Industrial Revolution, that facilitated its rise in the West .Contrasting Western feminist thought with the Islamic conception of womanhood, this study underscores that Islam upholds dignity, moral responsibility, familial complementarity, and spiritual fulfillment. The Islamic framework provides a balanced model of freedom and honor, preserving ethical and spiritual boundaries while ensuring women’s rights, offering a coherent alternative to secular feminist paradigms.