Linguistic Critique of Amina Wadud’s Quranic Perspectives in Light of Paul Ricoeur’s Hermeneutics of Suspicion and Trust

Islamic feminism has reexamined religious texts through a gendered lens, challenging traditional interpretations. Amina Wadud’s Qur’an and Woman (۱۹۹۹) advocates for gender equality in the Qur’an using philosophical hermeneutics while critiquing patriarchal exegesis. This study conducts a linguistic and hermeneutical critique of Wadud’s interpretations of key verses (Q. ۲:۲۲۸, ۴:۱ & ۳۴, ۳۳:۳۵, and ۹:۷۱) through Paul Ricoeur’s dual hermeneutics of suspicion (critical interrogation) and trust (faith in textual meaning). Employing a critical-analytical method, the research examines Wadud’s lexical, syntactic, and contextual analysis, comparing her readings with classical and contemporary exegeses. Findings indicate that while Wadud’s approach promotes gender justice and holistic Qur’anic interpretation, it occasionally deviates from textual and traditional meanings due to insufficient linguistic analysis and overreliance on feminist presuppositions. From a Ricoeurian perspective, her methodology leans excessively toward suspicion, undermining trust in the text and interpretive tradition. The study argues that a balanced exegesis of gender-related verses necessitates harmonizing text-centered analysis with ideological critique, preserving textual authenticity while addressing modern ethical concerns. By systematically evaluating feminist Qur’anic hermeneutics, this research fills gaps in the field and proposes an integrative framework for gender-sensitive exegesis. Wadud’s contributions remain pivotal in advancing Islamic feminist discourse, yet this critique highlights the need for greater hermeneutical equilibrium. The study highlights the importance of linguistic rigor and a dialectical engagement between suspicion and trust, ensuring both scholarly fidelity and progressive reinterpretation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Qur’an ، Islamic Feminism ، Amina Wadud ، Paul Ricoeur’s Hermeneutics ، linguistic analysis