Islamic Agricultural Gender

Islamic Agricultural Gender is a concept that has not been widely discussed explicitly in academic literature, but its substance has long been discussed through issues of gender equality in Islamic economics, land ownership rights, and women's roles in agriculture. In modern scholarship, gender is often associated with women and equality, although debates about the position of women in Islam are often influenced by Western perspectives that view Islam as patriarchal. However, several studies indicate that gender inequality in many Muslim countries is more influenced by structural factors such as economics (e.g., dependence on oil), rather than Islamic teachings themselves.

From an Islamic perspective, men and women have equal status as caliphs on earth, with the measure of dignity determined by piety, not gender. Since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, women have played an active role in various fields, including economics, education, health, and even warfare. Figures such as Khadijah and Aisha, as well as other female figures in Islamic history, demonstrate that Islam provides ample space for women to contribute in the public sphere.

In the context of agriculture, Islamic Agricultural Gender can be understood as the arrangement of roles and relationships between men and women based on the principles of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. However, in practice, gender disparities persist in many countries, including in access to land, technology, education, and financing. The phenomenon of the feminization of agriculture also shows that women are increasingly dominant in this sector, but this is not accompanied by adequate access to and control over resources.

Various initiatives have been undertaken to address this gap, both by international institutions and organizations in Muslim countries. Training programs, literacy programs, microfinance programs, and women's empowerment programs in the agricultural sector have been implemented in countries such as Bangladesh, Jordan, and African countries. Institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) also encourage the integration of a gender perspective into development projects, including through women's empowerment policies to support inclusive growth and poverty alleviation.

Conceptually, Islam already has a strong foundation for supporting gender equality, including in the agricultural sector. Scholars such as Margot Badran and Asma Barlas emphasize that the Quran contains egalitarian principles that support women's active roles. Therefore, the desired gender relations in agriculture are fair, equal, and complementary, in accordance with each individual's natural abilities, thus boosting productivity and achieving shared prosperity.

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