Muslim women in Kerala form a heterogeneous cultural group with their own vertical and horizontal divisions, following the traditional Islamic law in terms of traditional and customary cultural traits. Inspite of these dichotomous divisions found in the life of Muslim women in Kerala, an additional element of a Pan-Islamic core has also been seen in recent years. This book, while it aims to understand the dynamics of Shariah with regard to Muslim women, also examines various mechanisms through which they can be integrated into the socio-economic ethos of a multi-cultural and pluralistic society like that of Kerala. The book proposes a re-evaluation of the existing law prevalent among them and a re-reading of the tenets available in the Quran and Sunnah to review the laws in accordance with the human rights and privileges possible in a democratic system. In this connection it demands the urgent attention of intellectuals, religious scholars and activists. It also aspires to throw fresh light on sensitive contemporary issues like "to veil or not to veil" and the "gender crisis" that mark the threshold of modernity and social mobility. An attempt has been made to do a conceptual analysis of the rights of women in Islam and the question of equality and empowerment in the social life of Kerala. (jacket)