Prof Dr Nasarudin Umar: Holy Books are Gender Biased!

In the contemporary study of Koran, the Koran is assumed as a product of culture (muntâj tsaqâfi). Meaning some contents of the Koran are a reflection of the social-cultural conditions in which the Koran was revealed. Therefore, besides being believed to be Allah’s universal teachings, the Koran also considered accommodating the local traditions in that time (Arab tradition). The problem arises when that tradition does not meet the spirit of the modern era, for instance regarding woman. Yet the holy books have compromised and even accommodated it. How can one analyze the relation between the holy book and this cultural element?