SADIYYA SHAIKHS FEMINIST APPROACH THROUGH HER INTERPRETATION OF SUFI THOUGHT IN IBN ARABI

The discourse on womens rights, feminism, and gender justice within the context of Islam has gained increasing attention, especially as it is brought to the global stage and highlighted in secular European societies. In the wake of post-9 11 Islamophobia, where Muslim women are often portrayed as oppressed figures, there arises a critical need to present alternative narratives that are more just and inclusive in discussions on gender within Islam. This is where figures like Sadiyya Shaikh, a contemporary Islamic scholar from South Africa, emerge with unique approaches that combine Sufi feminist perspectives and Quranic hermeneutics in re-evaluating the roles and status of women in Islam. This article examines the feminist perspectives and methodology promoted by Sadiyya, particularly through her engagement with the Sufi thought of Ibn Arabi in constructing a spiritually-grounded Islamic feminist discourse. This study employs a qualitative design by analyzing her ideas through content analysis of Sadiyya Shaikhs book, Sufi Narratives of Intimacy: Ibn Arabi, Gender and Sexuality, and other related writings. The findings reveal that Sadiyyas approach presents an alternative response to the misrepresentation of womens status in Islam as perpetuated by Islamophobic narratives. She draws upon Ibn Arabis arguments regarding the equality of men and women in various aspects of Islamic spirituality, thereby affirming the elevated status of women in Islam.