Fourteen centuries of Islamic thought have produced a legacy of interpretative readings of the Quran that have been almost exclusively authored by men. With "Quran and Woman," Amina Wadud now offers the first interpretative reading by a woman, a reading that validates the female voice in the Quran and brings it out of the shadows. Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion itself, but the patriarchal interpretation and implementation of the Quran that have oppressed women. For many, the path to reform lies in the examination and reinterpretation of religious texts. "Quran and Woman" makes a gender-inclusive contribution to one of the most fundamental disciplines in Islamic thought, Quranic exegesis. Wadud analyzes specific texts and keywords that have been used to restrict the public and private roles of women, even to justify violence against Muslim women, and reveals their original meanings.