IIUM Journal of Religion and Civilisational Studies

Editorial Note

Fauziah Fathil — 2026-01-30

A Response to Feminist Theology on Women's Access to Knowledge in Islam: A Qur'anic Reappraisal of the Amanah

Waresa Azizi — 2025-12-31

This paper examines contemporary feminist theological critiques of Islam that highlight the historical marginalization of women in religious knowledge and authority. They argue that patriarchal interpretations have overshadowed the Qur’an’s egalitarian message, excluding women from epistemic participation. While these critiques offer valuable insights, they often assume that Islamic epistemology is inherently patriarchal or irreversibly shaped by male-dominated traditions. This study challenges that assumption by analysing the Qur’anic concept of amanah (trust), which frames both men and women as rational agents equally responsible for seeking and upholding divine knowledge. The paper unfolds in three parts. First, it analyses Sa'diyya Shaikh’s feminist approach to hadith and Qur’anic interpretation, identifying methodological limitations and selective readings that risk undermining the coherence of the Islamic epistemic tradition. Second, it reconstructs a Qur’anic epistemology centred on amanah, emphasizing knowledge-seeking as a divine mandate shared by both genders. Finally, the study synthesizes these insights to propose a constructive theological vision rooted in the Qur’an’s ethical and metaphysical framework. Rather than merely responding to feminist critiques, this paper reclaims Islamic theology as an inclusive and universal space that mandates women’s active role in the production and transmission of knowledge.

The Karađoz Beg Mosque: A Gem of Islamic Architecture in Mostar Attributed to Mimar Sinan

Spahic Omer — 2025-12-31

This article explores the architectural luminosity of the Karađoz Beg Mosque in Mostar, a masterpiece attributed to Mimar Sinan. As a gem of Islamic architecture that harmonizes the physical and divine orders, the mosque stands as both an artistic and conceptual benchmark, not only for other mosques in the city but for the entire corpus of Islamic architecture in Mostar. Despite experiencing functional fluctuations due to regime changes following the Ottoman departure from Bosnia and Hercegovina, the mosque has consistently stood “tall,” radiating the supremacy, persistence, and resilience of truth, and defiantly confronting its antitheses. The article analyzes the mosque’s major architectural components: the dome, minaret, windows, mihrab, minbar, mahfil (gallery), entrance, portico, and decorative strategies, relating each to the principles that govern both terrestrial and otherworldly dimensions of life. Through the Karađoz Beg Mosque as an archetype, the study affirms that Islamic architecture is not merely a dialogue between form and function; it is a metaphysical expression of the earth–heaven axis, affirming man’s existential purpose and his noble mission as vicegerent (khalifah) upon the earth. The methodology employed combines descriptive and analytical approaches, treating the mosque as both a conceptual and perceptible reality.

Patani Sultanate; Struggle For Independence In The Triangle of Siam, Britain And France

Metin Zengin — 2025-12-31

This article examines the Patani Sultanate’s struggle for independence within the complex geopolitical triangle formed by Siam, Britain, and France in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. While existing scholarship has largely focused on bilateral colonial relations in Southeast Asia, this study addresses a gap in understanding how competing Western imperial pressures simultaneously shaped local autonomy and indigenous resistance. The research demonstrates that Siam’s annexation of Patani in 1902 was not solely a product of Siamese expansionism, but rather a direct consequence of Anglo-French competition for regional influence. Through the analysis of archival materials from Singapore, British colonial accounts, and contemporary sources, this article reveals how the Anglo-French Declaration of 1896 and the Anglo-Siamese Secret Convention of 1897 fundamentally altered the power dynamics that had granted Patani significant internal autonomy despite Siamese rule since 1785. This article contributes to Southeast Asian historiography by illuminating how local Malay resistance under Tengku Abdul Kadir intersected with great power diplomacy to reshape the Malay-Muslim political identity in Southern Thailand. This multilayered analysis offers new insights into how colonial rivalries, rather than outright colonisation, determined the fate of semi-autonomous sultanates in the region.