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Women and Sufism: Perspectives on History, Gender, and the Contemporary Application of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah

Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam · Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 650–681

DOI
10.22373/sjhk.v10.i1.33819
ISSN
2549-3167, 2549-3132
Published
2026-03-31
Publisher
Islamic Family Law Department, Sharia and Law Faculty, Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

This article examines the role of women in Sufism from the perspective of Islamic law, focusing on their spiritual practices, historical contributions, and contemporary relevance. It employs a qualitative interpretive approach, drawing on literature analysis, observations of online Sufi learning activities, and semi-structured interviews with women participating in Sufi study circles. The analysis is grounded in Jasser Auda’s Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah framework, through which women’s spiritual engagement is assessed in relation to key legal objectives, including the preservation of religion (ḥifẓ al-dīn), life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), intellect (ḥifẓ al-‘aql), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), and human dignity (ḥifẓ al-karāmah al-insāniyyah). The findings demonstrate that Sufi teachings, which emphasize spiritual equality and inner transformation, provide a normative Islamic basis for women’s active participation as spiritual leaders, intellectuals, and social actors. The study contributes to Islamic legal discourse by showing that women’s engagement in Sufism represents a viable and internally grounded framework for advancing gender equity and holistic human well-being within the tradition.

Keywords

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Amiruddin -Affiliation unknown1
Asma El-ZienyAffiliation unknown1

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Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/samarah/oai, first harvested 7 Nov 2026, last seen 7 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Women and Sufism: Perspectives on History, Gender, and the Contemporary Application of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Tandos, Rosita</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Kuba, Amiruddin</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Women</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Sufism</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Islamic history</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">gender dimensions and contemporary Sufism practices</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This article examines the role of women in Sufism from the perspective of Islamic law, focusing on their spiritual practices, historical contributions, and contemporary relevance. It employs a qualitative interpretive approach, drawing on literature analysis, observations of online Sufi learning activities, and semi-structured interviews with women participating in Sufi study circles. The analysis is grounded in Jasser Auda’s Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah framework, through which women’s spiritual engagement is assessed in relation to key legal objectives, including the preservation of religion (ḥifẓ al-dīn), life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), intellect (ḥifẓ al-‘aql), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), and human dignity (ḥifẓ al-karāmah al-insāniyyah). The findings demonstrate that Sufi teachings, which emphasize spiritual equality and inner transformation, provide a normative Islamic basis for women’s active participation as spiritual leaders, intellectuals, and social actors. The study contributes to Islamic legal discourse by showing that women’s engagement in Sufism represents a viable and internally grounded framework for advancing gender equity and holistic human well-being within the tradition.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Islamic Family Law Department, Sharia and Law Faculty, Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-03-31</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/samarah/article/view/33819</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22373/sjhk.v10.i1.33819</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam; Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam; 650-681</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-3167</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-3132</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.22373/bzg6vz14</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/samarah/article/view/33819/pdf</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Rosita Tandos and Amiruddin Kuba</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>