Matrilineal, Matriarchal, and Matrifocal Islam The World of Women-Centric Islam

“Islam is commonly stereotyped as a patriarchal religion. Matrilineal, Matriarchal, and Matrifocal Islam edited by Panakkal and Arif challenges this stereotype through eleven case studies of Muslim societies in which women and mothers are to varying degrees elevated and centered. … These case studies are a welcome antidote to common perceptions of Islam as necessarily patriarchal and oppressive of women and their position in society.” (Thompson, Eric C, Asian Journal of Social Science, Vol. 54 (2), 2026)

Abbas Panakkal , The School of History, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom.  

Nasr M Arif , Visiting Professor, University of St Andrews, UK and Professor of political science,  University  of Cairo, Egypt.