Nisā’ dalam Al-Qur’an: Kajian Morfologi dan Semantik Arab

Abstract

Contemporary Islamic law is often criticized as being discriminatory toward women, prompting Muslim feminist movements to demand gender equality and a reconstruction of Quranic interpretation. This study explores the semantic and morphological complexities of the term "Nisa’" in the Quran, challenging traditional interpretations that often frame women in a position of domesticity or intellectual inferiority. The research utilizes a linguistic approach, referencing the Lisan al-Arab dictionary and semantic theories to analyze whether "Nisa’" acts solely as the plural of mar’ah (woman) or if it also derives from nasi’ (something delayed or added). The analysis yields two significant reinterpretations: Surat an-Nisa: 34: The term al-rijal (often translated as "men") is interpreted as a quality of "active movement" (at-tarajjul), while al-nisa’ refers to those who are socially or economically "lagging". Consequently, leadership is not a gender monopoly but a role granted based on competence, ethics, and financial ability. Surat al-Baqarah: 223: Rather than being interpreted in a sexual context, the verse is viewed as a command for social charity. Here, al-nisa’ refers to the socially, economically, or intellectually marginalized, and the "plowing" (al-hars) refers to the act of gathering good deeds by uplifting these disadvantaged groups. The study concludes that interpreting al-nisa’ as a plural of al-nasi’ provides a more dynamic and gender-just horizon for Quranic exegesis, aligning the text with modern social realities.