The Position of Women in Islam: A Progressive View

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments It is difficult to convey my enormous gratitude to all those who have ungrudgingly helped me in the difficult endeavor of writing this book simply because the very list would tax the reader’s patience. But even then, I cannot but express my deep appreciation to those whose help was exceptional. First and foremost I must express my deepest appreciation to my sons, Badrudduja Syed & Shamsuzzoha Syed, my daughter-in-law, Rawnaque Elahi-Syed, and my nephew, Arifur Rahman Khan, for their dedicated cooperation and help. This is no token acknowledgment. But for their untiring efforts and labor in helping to type the manuscript, it would not have been possible for this book to be published. To my son Shamsuzzoha, also goes the credit of constant counseling and painstaking care in revising and correcting the manuscript and for contacting various publishers on my behalf. To my daughter-in-law, Rawnaque Elahi-Syed, goes the credit of researching the marketing of this work. I am especially grateful to my friend and relative, Nurun Nabi Chowdhury (ex-Ambassador of Bangladesh to Egypt) who read most of the manuscript and made valuable comments. I am under deep obligation to the pioneers of modern research on Muslim women, particularly Asghar Ali Engineer, Fatima Mernisi, and Amina Wadud Muhsin whose writings and works have had a profound influence in formulating my ideas and views. I use information and views from their works, and I can only hope this book will be a worthy continuation of their valued contributions in this field, particularly The Rights of Women in Islam, Women and Islam, and The Quran and Women. For translations of the Quran, I have depended mainly on the English translations of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and on occasions I have referred to the English translations of the Quran by Muhammad Ali. The English translations of the Quran by Muhammad Asad, Sayyid Qutb, Abul Kalam Azad, Mir Ahmed Ali, and others are mentioned in paraphrase only. In such cases I have indicated the translators name after such translation of the Quran. xiii xiv PREFACE I have carried out transliteration of Quranic verses myself, using the method of Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, another translator of the Quran. I am very grateful to State University of New York Press for publishing this work. In particular, Nancy Ellegate, deserves my special acknowledgment . She was instrumental in supporting this work throughout the process of seeking approval for publication. I shall fail in my duty if I do not record my unlimited appreciation and thanks to my loving wife, Momtaz Begum Syed. If it was not for her persistent and forceful (at times unnerving and alarming) persuasion and inspiring encouragement, this book could never have been completed. I also take this opportunity to thank the countless admirers of my speeches and writings on this subject who constantly encouraged me to write this book. Finally, my gratitude goes to Almighty God due to whose unlimited mercy this book has ultimately seen the light of day. ...