Module manager: Sajda Khan
Email: s.n.khan@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module is designed to give you an insight into the status of women in Islam. The module explores the rights of women in Islam and the influences of culture and tradition in different societies. The module will also examine how Muslim women are perceived in the West and will analyse the distinction between the normative teachings of Islam and diverse cultural practices. In addition, it will also critically evaluate the diverse interpretations within Islam on various issues relating to women.
This module will give you an overview of the diverse interpretations within Islam in relation to Muslim women. It will consider the status of women in Islam, focusing on the rights of women, and the influence of cultures and traditions on the status of women. The module will explore and contextualise some of the different factors that influence the status of Muslim women in society. The module will support your skills development in critical thinking through critically evaluating some of the prominent discourses relating to Muslim women.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Demonstrate an overview of some of the rights of women in Islam.
2. Identify how in some parts of the world Muslim women have been subjected to cultural oppression.
3. Apply some knowledge of the different factors that influence the status of Muslim women in society.
4. Apply an understanding of some of the diverse interpretations within Islam in relation to Muslim women.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Critical Thinking: Apply critical thinking to understand and contextualise the different factors that influence the status of Muslim women in society.
2. Information searching: Derive conclusions and engage with module topics relating to the status of women in Islam by undertaking and evaluating independent research.
3. Academic Writing: Analytically engage in discussion and debate of the discourse of women’s rights in Islam and communicate arguments and perspectives within academic writing
Syllabus:
• The status of women prior to Islam (Arab Peninsula).
• Rights which Islam bestowed to women (providing examples from the Qur’an and the Prophet's tradition).
• Various cultural practices conflated with Islam
• Muslim women’s image in the west, including the influence of Orientalism
• Diverse interpretations amongst scholars and academics
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 89 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 11 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Private Study - 89 hours
- 25 hours Research and writing the Q & A book
- 64 hours Research planning and writing of essays.
Students have the ongoing support of the tutor, and access to the academic facilities offered by the LLC and the University.
Progress is monitored via contributions to seminar discussions; an assessed essay, and the short answer book alongside a seminar presentation.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2,000 word | 70 |
| Written Work | 1,500 word short answer question book | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 12/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team