Dr Rawand Osman is a researcher in classical Arabic at the University of St. Andrews. She received a BA in History from the American University of Beirut (2003), and an MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Edinburgh (2005) and the University of Birmingham (2011), respectively. Her research interests include textual analysis of Islamic scripture with emphasis on Shi‘i sources, women’s history, and feminist theology and hermeneutics.

"Osman’s work is a significant addition to the growing body of literature on the representation of women in the QurÞan, sunna, and exegetical literature. Its main contribution lies in its focus on ShiÝi exegesis and on the legacies of KhadÐjah, FÁÔimah, and Zaynab in ShiÝi communal memory."Asma Sayeed,University of California, Los Angeles

• Introduction 1 Eve: Woman in Creation 2 Female Personalities in the Qur’an 3 Female Personalities in the Sunna 4 Female Personality in the Hadith

Dr Rawand Osman is a researcher in classical Arabic at the University of St. Andrews. She received a BA in History from the American University of Beirut (2003), and an MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Edinburgh (2005) and the University of Birmingham (2011), respectively. Her research interests include textual analysis of Islamic scripture with emphasis on Shi‘i sources, women’s history, and feminist theology and hermeneutics.

"Osman’s work is a significant addition to the growing body of literature on the representation of women in the QurÞan, sunna, and exegetical literature. Its main contribution lies in its focus on ShiÝi exegesis and on the legacies of KhadÐjah, FÁÔimah, and Zaynab in ShiÝi communal memory."Asma Sayeed,University of California, Los Angeles

• Introduction 1 Eve: Woman in Creation 2 Female Personalities in the Qur’an 3 Female Personalities in the Sunna 4 Female Personality in the Hadith