Allama Tabatabaee's Views on the Status of Women: Heavenly Woman vs. Earthly Woman A Critical Review

This paper explores Allama Tabatabaee’s views on the status of women in his work known as Almizan. Allama Tabatabaee is a prominent contemporary Shia interpreter with a wide and profound impact, so his thought is of great importance. This study applies the theological theory of Fiorenza to Allama’s interpretation. As such, Allama’s view on women in his work Almizan is considered through the method of emancipatory critical hermeneutics. Based on this method, religion is qualified to provide answers to questions and problems of today’s individuals and one can explore theology to find out the factors that emancipate and empower women. Fiorenza’s theory indicates that all interpretations are biased and no interpretation is disinterested. With such a proposition, this paper explores Allama’s social theory in the realms of marriage, divorce and heritage, inspired by his theological insight. Allama, based on his theology, considers women as similar beings to men and equal to them in dignity and worth. However, his social theory diverges from his theological insights. He believes that men and women are naturally different and because of this, they have different social rights. Men based on their nature are active and wise, while women are passive and emotional. Allama suggests that men and women’s rights are related to their nature, and since men have more natural advantages, they enjoy more rights compared to women, as such, men have guardianship over women. A comparison of Allama’s theology and his social theory reveals 'heavenly woman', inspired by his theology, and 'earthly woman', emerging from his social theory. He talks about general man and woman because he views them as dependent on their natural conditions. However, in real world, particular individuals of men and women exist, individuals brought up in specific social, historical and cultural contexts.