This book presents a critical and contemporary examination of the relationship between women, Islam, and modernity, focusing on how social change, global influences, and reformist thought shape women’s lives in Muslim societies. It explores the ways in which women negotiate identity, faith, and autonomy within changing social, cultural, and political environments. The book examines modernisation as a lived process, highlighting how education, mobility, and public participation influence women’s roles and aspirations.

The discussion engages with debates surrounding dress, representation, and social independence, analysing how these issues are understood differently across regions and cultural contexts. Attention is given to reform movements and the evolving participation of women in social dialogue, peace-building, and public life. By situating women’s experiences within broader processes of globalisation and modern social change, the book avoids simplistic interpretations and emphasises diversity within Islamic societies. It offers a nuanced understanding of continuity and transformation, showing how tradition and modernity interact in complex ways. Intended for students, researchers, and general readers, this work provides an internationally relevant and academically grounded perspective on women and modernity in Islam.