Trent Carl Islam in Global Contexts Women Shaping Islam: Reading the Qur'an in Indonesia Review Pieternella van

Doorn-Harder's Women Shaping Islam: Reading the Qur'an in Indonesia is a sociological observation of the role of Muslim women in Indonesia in interpreting Islamic texts. She writes about the lives of several women activists and describes how they have begun to reshape perspectives on the role of women in the context of Islam. Pieternella van DoornHarder is Patheja Chair in World Religions and Ethics at Valparaiso University and previously taught Islamic Studies and the Study of Religion at Leiden University, the Free University in Amsterdam, and at the Gajah Mada and Duta Wacana Universities in Indonesia. In her book she is trying to portray how women have taken scholarly positions and, thus, positions of authority within a religion that has historically been perceived as very patriarchal. This gives an entirely new outlook on Islam and how it can function as a way of life within a society. Her book also challenges many perceptions that people who live in the West have about Islam and Muslims. At 268 pages it isn't a very long book however it is dense and not for the general reader. This book is best geared to students and scholars or those particularly interested in the topic. Women Shaping Islam is divided into seven chapters subdivided into three parts. Preceding the first chapter is an introduction and following the seventh chapter is a conclusion. There is also a section called Notes as well as a glossary, bibliography and index. The book follows a logical layout. Broadly the book begins with a description of Indonesia, its varying religious groups and the trajectory and role Islam played in the country. The author then gives a layout of two important women's scholarly movements in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama- this sums up part 1. The next two parts are dedicated to Muhammadiyah and

Trent Carl Islam in Global Contexts Nahdlatul Ulama respectively. The chapters divide the parts into more specific aspects of the parts title. Each chapter is then divided into smaller sections with sub-headings and even subsub-headings. This allows the reader to navigate according to topics with ease. Especially helpful is that the sub-sub-headings are italicized so that the reader can differentiate between the two. This is great for a student or scholar who wants to refer back to particular topics for further study or for reference. With that said, it would be even more helpful if the book listed sub-headings under each chapter in the table of contents. The author traces the movement of two groups, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, who are redefining the role women play in interpreting and shaping Islamic law and worldview. Major themes include the skirmish of tradition and progress, educational power, and male and female relationships. These groups are attempting to re-frame the Islamic scholarship of the past, re-interpret integral religious texts, and take more authority for women as scholars. Within the spectrum of their own interpretations, women preachers develop a range of discourses that must be placed in the women's context. The religious message not only encourages women directly but also helps subvert local structures and customs that harm them. (101) Thus, Islam is being used as a form of social progression for women and being a scholar allows a woman to take a more authoritative role in her society while simultaneously raising the level of the women who take part in preacher's lessons and messages. This is all on the basis of education. The most endearing stories told by the author are the ones of the particular women who are involved in such activities. One woman, Ibu Fatma has become one of the fore-runners in teaching Islamic education. She now heads her own pesantren or Islamic boarding school and is one of, if not the

Trent Carl Islam in Global Contexts only, female scholar to now have male students. Her school follows a rigorous schedule and she teachers the memorization and interpretation of the Qur'an (Islam's holy book), and the interpretation of Islamic law. This seems to be following the ideal laid out by Islam according to introductory books on the religion. There are, of course, noted hurdles that these activists must clear. Culture and tradition dictate most of these hurdles. For instance, generational gaps provide problems. In Javanese culture, a culture that thrives in the Javan portion of Indonesia, an elder must be given respect. This sometimes leads to younger individuals who may have more knowledge on a subject having to defer to someone more advanced in age due only to tradition and norms. The most controversial act that these women scholars are shown to be involved in is the re-interpretation of Islamic law. The re-interpretation of Islamic law is controversial itself, much less by women. But this is the bedrock of change for women's respect in Indonesia's Muslim society and it relies heavily on women's readings of the Qur'an. While many of these concepts, themes, and ideas seem very interesting, Pieternella van Doorn-Harder falls short in presentation for a general audience. In her defense, this is probably not a book intended for a general audience. The book is dense with information, some technical terms, and a lot of new vocabulary. These elements are always there in scholarly books and students and scholars should expect this. However, beyond this, she seems to be slightly distant from her material. She does not exude the confidence of really grasping the material she is writing on. She uses a lot of the women's own words but when she goes into trying to contextualize the arguments or points quoted she seems to be lacking. She often fails to give examples of past Islamic scholarship and readings which would make the women scholar's

Trent Carl Islam in Global Contexts achievements stand out clearly. There is a general lack of reference for the reader. For this reason it should be noted that the reader should be familiar, to some extent, with past Islamic scholarship. Some readers may also find her wordy. Some may also dislike the way she studied the subject- by observing the events taking place instead of immersing herself in the movements. Pieternella van Doorn-Harder's book is probably going to be an important work for new scholarship on how Islam is being redeveloped in contemporary times. This is a new subject and is worthy of study so her book is probably a trail-blazer in that respect. Anyone picking up this book should be ready to take notes, jot down new terms, and should have read a few introductory books on Islam and some history of Islamic scholarship. This is recommended for students of religion, women's studies, and Islamic studies.