Wahyuningsih Wahyuningsih

Muslim feminism: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Introduction

Muslim feminism: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. Systematic review & bibliometric analysis maps Muslim feminism's evolution as an epistemological framework. Explores gender justice, equality, and human rights in Islamic studies.

Abstract

Background: Islamic feminism has emerged as a critical epistemological framework that integrates gender justice with Islamic values, necessitating systematic exploration due to its fragmented and context-dependent nature. This study aims to map the development of Islamic feminism through a Systematic Literature Review using the PRISMA framework to identify theoretical trends and gaps within the field. While it promotes women's agency through contextual, faith-based strategies, its acceptance remains contested due to political resistance and limited intersectional solidarity. Methods: This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach based on the PRISMA framework to evaluate literature on Islamic feminism as an epistemological approach in Islamic studies. Articles were collected from the Scopus database, limited to English-language publications from 1990 to 2025. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer to map keyword trends, author networks, and citation relationships among the literature. Findings: The findings reveal a significant development in the discourse of Islamic feminism, particularly in the Global North and in Muslim-majority countries such as Iran and Indonesia. The main emerging themes include the reinterpretation of religious texts and critiques of patriarchal social structures within Muslim societies. However, the integration of hermeneutical approaches and social critique into a cohesive epistemological framework remains suboptimal. Conclusion: This study concludes that Muslim feminism is a dynamic and expanding discourse that emphasizes culturally grounded social experiences and epistemological reform in Islamic thought. Its global and transnational character highlights its role as both a theoretical and practical framework for advancing justice, equality, and contextual scholarship in contemporary Islamic studies. Novelty/Originality of this article: Ultimately, this review provides a comprehensive analysis that contributes to the academic development of Islamic feminism and informs educational and policy-oriented practices aligned with human rights and social justice.

Review

This systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of Muslim feminism presents a timely and highly relevant contribution to a critical and evolving academic field. The study's rigorous methodology, employing the PRISMA framework for the Systematic Literature Review and VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis of Scopus data, lends significant credibility and robustness to its findings. Its comprehensive aim to map the development, identify theoretical trends, and pinpoint existing gaps addresses a crucial need given the fragmented and context-dependent nature of Islamic feminism. This structured approach is commendable for bringing much-needed clarity and organization to a complex, interdisciplinary discourse. The review successfully uncovers significant developments in Islamic feminist scholarship, noting its particularly strong emergence in the Global North and key Muslim-majority countries such as Iran and Indonesia. The identification of main themes, including the reinterpretation of religious texts and critiques of patriarchal social structures, provides valuable insight into the core intellectual endeavors of the field. Crucially, the study also highlights a significant theoretical challenge: the suboptimal integration of hermeneutical approaches and social critique into a cohesive epistemological framework. This precise identification of a core methodological and theoretical gap is a key strength, offering clear directions for future research and conceptual refinement within Islamic studies. Ultimately, the novelty of this article lies in its systematic and comprehensive mapping, which serves as an invaluable resource for scholars navigating this dynamic field. By consolidating and analyzing existing discourse, it not only advances the academic development of Islamic feminism but also holds profound practical implications for informing educational and policy-oriented practices aligned with human rights and social justice. The study effectively underscores the global and transnational character of Muslim feminism, positioning it as a vital theoretical and practical framework for promoting justice, equality, and contextual scholarship within contemporary Islamic thought.

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