Islam has been my way of life since birth, it has taught me how to live for as long as I can remember and it continues to be my way of life. I was always familiar with the word “tawhid”, the oneness of God, but I never truly delved into the idea. When reading “The Tawhidic Paradigm” by Hidayatullah, it was the first time I encountered the phrase “tawhidic paradigm” and read so deeply into the concept.
Tawhid is the central concept of Islam, as Muslims believe that we were created to worship God and God alone. The phrase “tawhidic paradigm” emphasizes the absolute unity and sovereignty of God (11). As Hidayatullah explores the tawhidic paradigm, she also analyzes the feminist aspect of it, specifically pertaining to the Arabic language and the gendering of God in the Quran. Hidayatullah emphasizes that the Quran is God’s word, which transcends us as human beings. The Quran is in the Arabic language, which is itself a translation of God’s divine words into a language humans might be able to grasp a slight understanding of.
In the Quran, God refers to Himself using male pronouns. As Muslims, we know that God has no gender, but because of the complexity and grammar of the Arabic language, God refers to Himself using male pronouns. As an arabic speaker, I have never really thought too deep into the “gendering of God” because it was something I just always understood as a language barrier. Hidayatullah explores how feminist scholars reevaluate interpretations of the Quran, emphasizing the universality of divine attributes beyond gendered conceptions. Through this lens, Hidayatulla demonstrates how the Tawhidic paradigm also serves as a foundational framework for feminist interpretations of Islam, challenging gender norms and conversations within the Muslim community. By engaging with the Quranic text and the concept of Tawhid, we are able to find a common goal between traditional Islamic thought and feminism.
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