Synopsis:

“Those who entrust their affairs to a woman will never know prosperity.” This saying is attributed to the Prophet Mohammed. However, as Mernissi tries to show, the position of women in Islamic societies is far from unambiguous. She argues that the Prophet Mohammed, far from being the oppressor of women which many assume him to have been, upheld the equality of all true believers. She finds among the literary evidence pertaining to the Prophet instances of his wives discussing politics with him and even going into battle. The book aims to reconcile the teachings of Islam with feminism.