عن كتاب MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE:
The Islamic Foundation has been running its fortnightly

seminar programmes for several years. The seminar is ad-
dressed by scholars and researchers both from the Foundation

itself and from outside. In the past, a number of visiting pro-
fessors and Muslim scholars from abroad have presented

papers on a variety of topics. Some of these papers ore of
high academic standard and deserve wider circulation to

researchers and scholars interested in the field. The Founda-
tion now proposes to arrange its semi nor programmes on a

thematic basis.

An attempt is being made to publish some of the im-
portant papers. We hope to publish a series of such papers,

based on the seminar programme, thoroughly revised and
edited, the authors having taken into consideration the

observations, suggestions and comments made by the parti-
cipants in the seminar.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce Dr. Zakaria Be-
shier's paper on 'Muslim Women in the Midst of Change'.

Dr. Zakaria Bashier was born in the Sudan and was educated
in Khartoum, Durham (England) and Pittsburgh (U.S.A.).
He taught Islamic Studies at the King Abdul Aziz University,
Jeddah, for a number of years and also served the Islamic
Foundation as senior Research Fellow. At present he is

teaching Philosophy at the University of Khartoum. Dr. Be-
shier has written books on the Sirah of the Prophet and the

concept of social change in Islam, and has contributed
papers on a variety of topics at international seminars and
conferences. The topic of 'Women in Islam' has long been a
subject of heated discussion and controversy among scholars
in both East and West. Several authors have produced books
and pamphlets on this topic. Dr. Zakaria Bashier in this
short paper has made a successfu I attempt to summarize

the viewpoint of different scholars and vindicate the 'T radi-
tiona! viewpoint' based on the strict interpretation of the

Qur' an and the Sunnah. I hope his researches on an issue of
such importance will give new direction and a fresh approach
to all who want to uphold the Islamic viewpoint without in
any way compromising with modern Western culture.
I pray to Allah to accept our humble effort and make it
a source of inspiration and guidance for all.