A Review of Islamic Legal Philosophy on the Formation of Gender Roles

Tinjauan Filsafat Hukum Islam terhadap Pembentukan Peran Gender.

Abstract

Gender roles in Muslim society cannot be separated from the philosophical foundations that shape them through the tradition of Islamic law. This article comprehensively analyses how Islamic legal philosophy, encompassing the concepts of maqashid al-shariah, ijtihad, maslahah, and justice, contributes to the formation, maintenance, and transformation of gender role constructions in both historical and contemporary contexts. Employing a qualitative-normative approach based on library research and a critical analysis of primary sources of Islamic law and recent academic literature, the study finds that the relationship between Islamic legal philosophy and gender roles is dialectical and non-monolithic. On the one hand, classical fiqh traditions often reinforce gender hierarchies through textual interpretation; on the other, a philosophical approach oriented towards maqashid opens opportunities for more egalitarian reinterpretation. In the contemporary context, a significant shift is visible as reformist scholars and Muslim intellectuals draw on the framework of Islamic legal philosophy to respond to demands for gender justice. The article concludes that Islamic legal philosophy, when understood comprehensively and non-reductively, has sufficient methodological capacity to accommodate the evolving dynamics of gender roles without compromising the fundamental normative principles of Islam.