UNCOVERING THE SOURCE OF GENDER-BIASED INTERPRETATION (Interpretation of the Qur’an Surah an-Nisâ Verse One)

The Qur’an, which was revealed 15 centuries ago, is considered as the main guidance for all humankind, guiding them towards the light of truth. However, to apply this guidance in daily life, a deep understanding and appreciation of the values of the Qur’an becomes essential. One of the important aspects of the Qur’anic guidance is the elimination of discrimination and oppression, including those related to gender, skin color, and ethnicity. Therefore, interpretations of Qur’anic verses that may result in gender bias need to be reexamined. A special focus is given to the interpretation of Sûrah al-Nisâ verse one, which has the potential for gender bias. The main objective is to explore new ways of interpreting this verse to make it more relevant to the context of the present time and to identify the factors that cause gender bias in the interpretation. This study poses three key questions: (1) How does the conventional interpretation of Sûrah alNisâ verse one relate to gender bias? (2) What is the new approach in interpreting the verse? (3) What are the factors that cause gender bias in the interpretation? Through this exploration, it is hoped that a more inclusive and fair interpretation of gender roles in Islam can be produced.