Gender and Religious Authority in Muslim Communities: A Systematic Qualitative Literature Review (2000–2025)
Abstract
Gender relations in Muslim community’s influence access to religious authority, leadership, and participation in social and spiritual life. Despite increasing research on Islam and gender, there is still limited understanding of how these dynamics are constructed, negotiated, and changed in various contexts. This study aims to examine how gender affects religious authority and social roles in Muslim communities through a detailed qualitative literature review. The research uses a qualitative meta-synthesis method, following PRISMA 2020 standards. It gathers data from peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025 in databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR. Each study was critically evaluated using the CASP checklist, and the findings were interpreted thematically. The analysis shows that gendered hierarchies still shape religious authority. However, women and marginalized groups are increasingly exercising informal and interpretive power in educational and community spaces. Additionally, new reformist ideas based on Islamic feminism challenge patriarchal interpretations of religious texts and institutions. The review concludes that religious authority in Muslim communities serves as both a source of restriction and change, as gender norms are constantly questioned and redefined in response to evolving social, theological, and global conditions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Alwy Ahmed, Hanan Zakirah Harun, Usman Aliyu Yunusa
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