VEILING AND VISIBILITY: NAVIGATING IDENTITY AND AGENCY IN QAISRA SHAHRAZ’S THE HOLY WOMAN

Abstract

The veil is a complex symbol deeply intertwined with notions of identity, agency, and resistance, carrying diverse meanings across cultures and narratives. This article explores the veiling paradox -- the veil as both a symbol of resilience and a product of the male gaze -- revealing its dual role as a site of empowerment and contention. Qaisra Shahraz's The Holy Woman (2001) celebrates the veil as a form of empowerment, while insights from Arab Muslim writers and Western critiques deconstruct traditional assumptions. The article conceptualizes veiling as a historically layered and culturally contingent practice situated at the nexus of religion, gender, class, and power. By incorporating Islamic feminist hermeneutics, transnational critique, and material-cultural analysis, it provides a comprehensive and adaptable lens through which to examine veiling in Shahraz’s The Holy Woman and within broader Muslim-majority literary traditions. This approach resists reductive interpretations by foregrounding the multiplicity of meanings embedded in veiling practices, thereby acknowledging both their restrictive and emancipatory dimensions. Ultimately, the framework seeks to facilitate critical scholarship that engages with diverse voices, contexts, and interpretive traditions.

Keywords: veil, agency, identity politics, Islamic feminism, resistance.