Meaning of the Holy Quran by Ahmad Hamid and Mohamed Hamed, Dar El Shorouk, 2011. 

The first text I will explore is the Qur’an. Specifically, I will read Hamid, Ahmad, and Mohamed Hamed’s Meaning of the Holy Quran. When practicing Islam, every Muslim refers to the Qur’an as a spiritual text for guidance. I will read the Qur’an in Arabic, the original language. The authors present the Qur’an both in Arabic and in English. I chose this edition to compare English and Arabic, my native languages. 

The conversation behind clothing starts from the Surah 24:30–31. This is where the phrase “modest dress” is brought up. That is where men are told to lower their male gaze and to dress appropriately where they don’t show their private parts. Within this Surah, how everyone should present themselves emerges as a constant theme that continues throughout the Qur’an.

I choose to start with the Qur’an to examine the word of Islam in its orginal form. From there, I will explore other interpretations of the text. Islam is perfect in its ideas, but humans are imperfect. I need to consider to separate the people from the religion. 

Sahih al-Bukhari, Bukhr Muhammad ibn, and Muhammad Mohee Uddin. Sahih Al-Bukhari: Mohee Uddin, 2020. 

The second text I will be reading is Al-Bukhari Sahih Bukhari. Sahih Bukhari is the collection of Hadith, words of the Prophet Muhamad (Peace Be Upon Him). This text is read after reading the Qur’an. The Hadith explains the Qur’an from the interpretation of the Prophet. The Sahih Bukhari collection of Hadiths is the most authentic collection of the teachings and sayings of the Prophet.

The Hadith is where most Muslims disagree, and are where stereotypes of Muslims start. For instance, there is one Hadith that describes it as haram (forbidden) for women to imitate men and men to imitate women in the way they dress, because the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) cursed the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men” [Al-Bukhaari, 5546]. A lot of Muslims take this at face value where they do not question it, and reinforce it in the community they live in. However, I can’t agree with this. The Hadith contradicts itself and requires a deep reading to understand the full story. This idea was created in a time that was very different from now. There should be a modern interpretation of the Qur’an and what the Prophet has said.

I want to explore this because the Hadith is a crucial part of how Islam is taught to the next generation. I can’t form an opinion on my overall question without looking at both sides of the issue. That creates ignorance. I need to read the hadith because it gives me a better understanding when reading o interpretation of Islam or the Qur’an.  

Helwa, A. Secrets of Divine Love. Naulit Inc, 2021. 

1. Helwa’s Secrets of Divine Love is a modern interpretation of Islam and the Qur’an. It is a spiritual guide that takes an intellectual religious standpoint on what it means to be Muslim, and overall, what it means to be spiritual. Throughout the text, it communicates this topic in a gender-neutral tone that invites new readers and people with different spiritual journeys. A. Helwa is an expert on this topic that beautifully blends mystical stories, Qur’an verses, Hadith, poetry, psychology, and science. The power of her interpretation is that it feels so personal to the reader.

In the book, Helwa comments on, and breaks down Islam, in a digestible and compassionate way. Further, in Islam, there is an emphasis that that the practice of religion is ultimately up to the indidvidual, your understanding, and your connection with God. I think to understand the question of how clothes can reflect one’s religion, it is important to research the different dress practices Muslims. Islam is about the spiritual journey that enlightens who you are, and how you present yourself. When reading the Secrets of Divine Love, I realized that Islam is about oneself, and the power of knowledge. Without hearing the whole story, how will I get the answer that I need for this journey? 

The Qur’an. Translated by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, Oxford UP, 2005.

From all the knowledge and guidance I have gained, I need to further explore the interpretations of the Qur’an. I began to read  M.A.S. Abdel Haleem The Qur’an. Haleem created this book from the viewpoint that Islam is for everyone, that it does not matter your gender, race, or age. He made this book in English to make it easier for his readers to  comprehend these crucial topics. The book uses modern terminology that remains faithful to the original text, yet opens the door to incoming Muslims.

The purpose of this book is to modernize Islam. In addition to the translation, Haleem adds notes to explain geographical, historical, and personal references to clarify the Qur’anic topics. His introduction traces the history of the Qur’an, examines its structure and features, and considers issues relating to the representation of gender. Haleem understands that Islam needs to modernize as a certain part of the Qur’an feels outdated even though it is relevant today.  

I chose this text for a critical analysis of Islam and examples of how the Qur’an could be modernized. The purpose of Qur’an is to be a constant in Islam that can be accessable at any point in time.  

Quran: A Reformist Translation by Yüksel Edip, et al, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 

I decided to explore the Quran: A Reformist Translation by Yüksel Edip. This text is another example of a translation of the Qur’an and the Muslim religion. Yüksel intended this interpretation to be a non-sexist and non-sectarian understanding. It was a collaboration between three translators, two men, and a woman. It is another modern interpretation of Islam. 

This text is unique because it combines multi-generational and multi-gender perspectives. This text annotates the Qur’an and the core fundamentals of Islam. Similar to the rest of the texts I have read, this text approaches Islam with reason. This text focuses on the criticism of Muslims who follow a strict interpration of Islam because it forces men and women to act in specific ways without really knowing the context and reasons behind it. The power behind modernizing the Qur’an is that it allows the same themes, rules, and scripture to adapt now to the next generation.

This text is crucial to this project because it allows me to build upon what I have learned from the Hadith and the Qur’an. This text led to the question: How far do we modernize the Qur’an to allow room for change, while keeping the Qur’an as close to the original as possible?  

This balancing act requires everyone to look at multiple perspectives,  but see for themselves what Islam means for them.