... is the primary source of Islamic jurisprudence and theological interpretation (El Saadawi, N., 1982, pg 198). The hadith (or traditions) are narratives collected into written form in the three or four centuries after Muhammad died, which encompassed the revered precedent of the Prophet and his Companions and what he or they said, did and tolerated (Stowasser, B. F., 1984, pg 13). The hadith works alongside the Qur'an as a source from which to derive acceptable social practices and the law (Ahmed, L., 1992, pg 73). As the Islamic community grew, Qur'an commentators made interpretations of the Holy book to legitimise and accommodate changes in the Islamic Empire (Stowasser, B. F., 1984, pg 13). Then and now the interpretations, particularly in regard to women, vary widely among the many cultures and societies that practice the Islamic faith. An aspect of the Islamic faith that causes much contention are the many inconsistencies in ...

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