Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah
<p>The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how uninstitutionalised female preachers, or <em>dāʿiyāt</em>, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia construct authority in a context in which male ulama dominate the production of religious knowledge and represent the apex of the religious and...
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| Formatua: | Thesis |
| Hizkuntza: | English |
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2012
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| Gaiak: |
| _version_ | 1826297604771676160 |
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| author | Al-Saud, R Reem M. Al-Saud |
| author2 | Talib, M |
| author_facet | Talib, M Al-Saud, R Reem M. Al-Saud |
| author_sort | Al-Saud, R |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p>The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how uninstitutionalised female preachers, or <em>dāʿiyāt</em>, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia construct authority in a context in which male ulama dominate the production of religious knowledge and represent the apex of the religious and social hierarchy. The study was broad, descriptive, and explanatory and drew primarily on the framework known as ‘accountable ethnography’. Data collection occurred between June and December 2009 and consisted of observations, interviews, and collection of literary artefacts, which were reviewed alongside literature published internationally. A flexible mode of inquiry was employed, partly in response to constraints on public religious discourse imposed in Saudi Arabia after September 11, 2001. The study concludes that the <em>dāʿiyāt</em> construct authority predominantly by relying on male ulama as <em>marjiʿiyya diniyya</em> (religious frame of reference) when issuing fatwas, as pedagogical models, as sources of charismatic inspiration, and as providers of personal recommendations. The dissertation also addresses a set of ‘alternate’ strategies of authority construction employed by Dr Fāṭima Nasiīf. Almost uniquely, this <em>dāʿiyā</em> is found to construct authority that goes beyond reproduction of institutionalised views by developing scholarly arguments to support interpretations of Islamic texts that are responsive to women’s perspectives and needs. In doing so, she expands the parameters of religiously permissible practice while remaining, for her part, within the confines of orthodox practice. Thus, although her society and most researchers perceive knowledge as a masculine attribute in the Saudi religious sphere, in matters relating to women, as well as through active leadership in ritual practice, Dr Fāṭima demonstrates that the <em>dāʿiya</em> can become the authority. Nevertheless, for her and for the other <em>dāʿiyāt</em>, the study finds that legitimatising female religious authority depends upon maintaining the established social order, including the hierarchy that places women in a subordinate position to men.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:34:11Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:cf61954d-93ef-46c2-a1ca-3e38e12bd9ec |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:34:11Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:cf61954d-93ef-46c2-a1ca-3e38e12bd9ec2022-03-27T07:41:59ZFemale religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in JeddahThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:cf61954d-93ef-46c2-a1ca-3e38e12bd9ecEthnographic practicesSocial statusIdeologiesPhilosophy,psychology and sociology of religionEducationTheology and ReligionSocial SciencesGenderSocial anthropologyIslamAnthropologyModern spiritual movementsScience and religionEnglishOxford University Research Archive - Valet2012Al-Saud, RReem M. Al-SaudTalib, MMichael, W<p>The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how uninstitutionalised female preachers, or <em>dāʿiyāt</em>, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia construct authority in a context in which male ulama dominate the production of religious knowledge and represent the apex of the religious and social hierarchy. The study was broad, descriptive, and explanatory and drew primarily on the framework known as ‘accountable ethnography’. Data collection occurred between June and December 2009 and consisted of observations, interviews, and collection of literary artefacts, which were reviewed alongside literature published internationally. A flexible mode of inquiry was employed, partly in response to constraints on public religious discourse imposed in Saudi Arabia after September 11, 2001. The study concludes that the <em>dāʿiyāt</em> construct authority predominantly by relying on male ulama as <em>marjiʿiyya diniyya</em> (religious frame of reference) when issuing fatwas, as pedagogical models, as sources of charismatic inspiration, and as providers of personal recommendations. The dissertation also addresses a set of ‘alternate’ strategies of authority construction employed by Dr Fāṭima Nasiīf. Almost uniquely, this <em>dāʿiyā</em> is found to construct authority that goes beyond reproduction of institutionalised views by developing scholarly arguments to support interpretations of Islamic texts that are responsive to women’s perspectives and needs. In doing so, she expands the parameters of religiously permissible practice while remaining, for her part, within the confines of orthodox practice. Thus, although her society and most researchers perceive knowledge as a masculine attribute in the Saudi religious sphere, in matters relating to women, as well as through active leadership in ritual practice, Dr Fāṭima demonstrates that the <em>dāʿiya</em> can become the authority. Nevertheless, for her and for the other <em>dāʿiyāt</em>, the study finds that legitimatising female religious authority depends upon maintaining the established social order, including the hierarchy that places women in a subordinate position to men.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Ethnographic practices Social status Ideologies Philosophy,psychology and sociology of religion Education Theology and Religion Social Sciences Gender Social anthropology Islam Anthropology Modern spiritual movements Science and religion Al-Saud, R Reem M. Al-Saud Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title | Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title_full | Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title_fullStr | Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title_short | Female religious authority in Muslim societies: the case of the Dāʿiyāt in Jeddah |
| title_sort | female religious authority in muslim societies the case of the daʿiyat in jeddah |
| topic | Ethnographic practices Social status Ideologies Philosophy,psychology and sociology of religion Education Theology and Religion Social Sciences Gender Social anthropology Islam Anthropology Modern spiritual movements Science and religion |
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