Navigating Women’s Rights in Islam: The Musawah (Gender Equality) vs 'Adalah (Gender Justice) Debate

The concept of gender equality, historically absent from Islamic conceptions of justice, has gained prominence in contemporary discourse due to the influence of human rights and feminist movements. This notion, however, is often perceived as a Western imposition, prompting advocates for Muslim women's rights to seek alternative frameworks. This paper analyzes three main perspectives on Islam and gender equality: (1) malestream fiqh, upholding the patriarchal order through conservative Shari'a interpretations; (2) gender justice, seeking reform within Islamic principles while advocating for the "complementary of rights"; and (3) gender equality, championing full and equal rights. While both gender justice and gender equality perspectives aim to empower women and reject female subordination, their approaches and interpretations diverge significantly. These disparities are evident in understandings of women's rights, their societal and familial roles, and strategies for achieving liberation. This paper examines the positions of contemporary female Muslim thinkers and activists, including Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Kecia Ali, Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu, Asma Lambaret, and Huriye Martı, to elucidate the complex and evolving discourse surrounding gender reform within Islam.