Female Qur’an Exegesis and Scientific Discourse: Bidan Amel’s Integrative Approach to Womens’ Nature

Riscilia, Safira Azzah

Journal of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): June

This paper examines the phenomenon of Quranic interpretation by prominent female figures, which typically addresses issues of misogyny in Islam. It considers the hermeneutical approaches of Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas, and Leila Ahmed as representative examples of this phenomenon. In contrast to these other figures, Midwife Amel not only interprets Quranic verses but also links them with contemporary scientific discoveries in order to preserve Quranic values in understanding the natural disposition (fitrah) of women in a modern context. This study employs a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis of Unlogic Birth, a book authored by Midwife Amel, as well as the Instagram account @klinikcikalmulia. John F. Haught's typology theory is employed to categorize Amel's perspectives on the relationship between Quranic verses and scientific discoveries. The categories are as follows: The typology theory proposed by John F. Haught categorizes these perspectives as follows: (1) Conflict, (2) Contrast, (3) Contact, and (4) Confirmation. The findings indicate that Amel's concept of Unlogic Birth integrates religious and scientific perspectives to address contemporary challenges in the context of pregnancy and childbirth. In her discourse, Amel predominantly employs the Confirmation Typology to reinforce religious beliefs, as evidenced by her perspectives on embryology, the story of Maryam, and breastfeeding, where scientific findings are perceived as corroborating and substantiating religious tenets. However, in certain aspects, such as her perspective on divine decrees in the womb, Amel employs the Contrast Typology, prioritizing religion over science and emphasizing the limitations of science in explaining divine dimensions. In practice, Amel tends to adopt the Contact Typology, harmonizing religion and science to provide pragmatic solutions. These include addressing pregnant women's anxiety caused by too much information (TMI) and overthinking (OVT). This divergence in approach reflects Amel's flexibility in bridging religious values and science. It also reflects her ability to adapt her approach to meet practical challenges while maintaining the integrity of spiritual principles.